Bucharest
Bucharest, Romania, a land of legendary mystique and historical intrigue, begins with a fairy tale. The Romanians believe this majestical city was founded by a Shepard named Bucur, joy in Romanian, whose wine and flute playing dazzled the people of the area so much that they decided to name the city after him. The tradition of delicious wine and folk music are still alive, with Romania ranking the 10th best in wine production of the world by the International Wine Institute and the George Enesco Music Festival in September. Even today, legend thrives in this area, more commonly known as the home of Count Dracula. Have dinner, “of your own will”, at the Count Dracula Club Restaurant, a theme restaurant where a doorman cloaked in black quotes phrases from Bram Stoker’s famed novel, Dracula. It’s easy to see why Bucharest is a place where imaginations run wild with its ancient palaces, spectacular architecture, and unique culture. Romanian heritage is an exclusive mosaic of the Roman Empire, original Romanian aristocracy, French education, German rule, and communist dictatorship. The capital city, Bucharest, reflects this anomalous background in every corner. This city is experiencing a renewed vigor from its tumultuous past, with the fall of communism and the rise of freedom and democracy. Tourism is booming with popular destinations popping up all over Romania. Architectural treasures of Bucharest are everywhere including the Cotroceni Palace, the Russian Church, and the famous Bucharest Arch of Triumph. Bucharest is also home to more than 37 museums, 22 theaters, opera houses, concert halls and 18 art galleries. You will also find numerous boutiques to buy handicrafts and antiques, exclusive to Romania, and an abundance of distinctly decorated casinos.
