We're back in Romania, here to complete the trip we started 6 months ago. Then we had visited the castles and palaces of Transylvania before our trip was cut short by a family emergency and we had to head home. Now we are back to finish what we started and board our river cruise from Bucharest to Budapest.
Perhaps the interruption explains my fondness for Romania, but I suspect there is more to it than that. If I had to guess, I would say it's the people. The Romanians are proud and, despite rumors to the contrary, hardworking and progressive. They haven't had an easy road and yet now they seem so grateful to be free of the burden of Communism that they have an energy much of the world lacks.
After the fall of Communism, old town Bucharest was mostly abandoned as the government worked through the slow process of reuniting original property owners or their descendants with property seized by the Communists decades prior. Tracking down landowners, many of whom had left the country, took time and during the process, Old Town was taken over by drug users and others, an area where police stayed away from.
Yet in a period of under 5 years, Old Town was transformed. Original property owners either rebuilt or sold their homes to developers and most buildings have been restored to their original gradeur. Cafes, theaters, and artisan shops have moved in to make this a vibrant, beautiful area safe to explore day or night.
We enjoyed a return visit to Carucabere, a lively restaurant in old town with local music and dancing. Despite the 4 page menu, we both ordered the same dish we had 6 months ago, steak and potatoes prepared on a hot stone at our table. We explored Old Town with our guide and drove past the Parliament, the second largest administrative building in the world, with only the Pentagon surpassing it. The Communists built it as a central meeting place for party members. When they were removed from power, the building sat empty for a time, locals for a time feeling such resentment for the Communist presence that they didn't want to have anything to do with it. Pragmatics eventually won out and the massive structure was put to practical use.
After our tours, we transferred 90 minutes to the port of Giurgiu to board our Danube River cruise.
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.