Rainy Afternoon in Bucharest

Seems like it's raining all over the world.
Or at least in front of the Palatul CEC on Calea Victoriei

Yesterday afternoon, after the Free Walking Tour, but before my nap to be able to stay awake for the Zdob si Zdub show that wasn't supposed to start until after midnight (sometimes not being able to quickly adjust to a 10-hour time differential is a good thing), I had some time to explore the core of Bucharest.

The walking tour ended in Piata Universitatii. I walked onto the grounds of the Russian Orthodox church.

Then some old guy (really old, like five or 10 years older than me) yelled at me in a language I do not speak. Probably Romanian, but this was the Russian Orthodox church, so it seemed like it was Russian. The place was under construction, so maybe he was yelling that I shouldn't be there. Or maybe he wanted money. Or maybe he was saying a friendly hello that I completely misinterpreted. I took path of least resistance and left the Russian Orthodox church.

And soon found a Romanian Orthodox church where no one was yelling at me. In any language.

Biserica Zlătari.

Given that no one is yelling, let's have a look-see, shall we?

Tiny and beautiful.

Given how tiny the interior space is in these Romanian Orthodox churches, no wonder they need to have one every city block.

I assume the chairs along the wall are moved to the center of the room for services.

And when you walk out, there is the Palatul CEC, or "Palace of the Deposits and Consignments":

The Old Town is a very small section of Bucharest, given that the communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu destroyed about 80 percent of it in the name of "urban renewal."

But what's left is attractive and pedestrian friendly.

It even has a Mexican restaurant. Which reminds me of an observation that I had about Romania. I once made the observation that Colombia -- which is clean, litter-free, and relatively efficient by South American standards -- is what Mexico would be if it were run by the Germans. Romania is what Austria would be if it were run by the Mexicans. Romania is definitely a Latin country. It is chaotic. Clogged with traffic. Inefficient. Times are mere suggestions. But it also is relaxed. Unstressed. Everybody under 40 is beautiful.

More man-buns that Mexico, however. Many, many more man-bun hairdos here. I've never seen so many in one place as here in Bucharest. That definitely should be scored as points against Romania.

But they have a Las Vegas casino. So all is forgiven. Even the plethora of man-buns.

So does that mean Bucharest is like Mexico, if Mexico were cold, rainy and over-run with Euro-hipsters? I'm not NOT making that comparison.

That building is catty-corner from my hotel. It's an antique store. Speaking of stores:

Cool bookstore. The Cărturești Carusel.

The CDs were in the basement. No Zdob si Zdub I could find. And I looked. Since they have albums they've released that never made it stateside.