Romania > The huge parliament building

From the hotel, we walk into the city. We are looking for the Darvari Hermitage Church. This is the first stop of a walking tour from the guidebook. A service is taking place in the church. It is noticeable that only women are present. We remain modestly at the back of the church watching. When we try to follow the route further, it becomes clear that this could never have been the Darvari Church. We are at the wrong location. The correct church is a few streets further. A service is also taking place there. Through Ioanid Park, we reach the Casa Oamenilor de Stiinta, the House of Scientists. This building now houses a restaurant. The doorman indicates that the grounds are now closed. Across the boulevard, we look for the Emanu El Tova Synagogue. The building is squeezed between the surrounding houses. An anti-terror unit guards the building. We decide to keep walking. In the neighborhood around the synagogue, we stop for coffee. Via Calea Victoriei, the oldest street in the city, we reach the National Museum. This area also includes the Lipscani district, the old part of Bucharest. We walk through the narrow streets. Cafes and restaurants are everywhere. There are so many terraces that I can hardly imagine them all full. At many terraces, girls advertise the menu. In Strada Lipscani, there is a former inn from the 17th century. Today, there are mostly souvenir shops and restaurants. We also visit several small churches and the Stavropoleos Monastery. It is chilly today. The temperature does not even reach twenty degrees. When we sit on a terrace for lunch, a patio heater is not superfluous.

Romania - The Biserica Kretzulescu in the center of Bucharest

Across the Dambovita River lies the Parliament building. This building is the second-largest building in the world, only the Pentagon in the United States is bigger. Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu ordered the construction of this enormous building in 1984. When he was deposed and sentenced to death in 1989, the building was not yet finished. It was decided to complete it. Many of the required materials had already been ordered. Construction was completed in 1997. From the six-kilometer-long boulevard, we can already see the Parliament building. We walk toward it. Just before the building, on the left side of the boulevard, we visit an Armenian monastery. Part of the monastery was relocated to make way for the boulevard. The church exudes calm. Behind the church is a small museum. The door is closed. When we try the door, a monk opens it. He hurries to another building to turn on the lights. Inside, he explains in broken English that the monastery was founded by Saint Antim Ivireanu, who introduced printing here in the 18th century. Several books and religious items of Antim Ivireanu are on display. We do not have much time for the museum. At three o’clock, we have a guided tour of the Parliament building. Because the building is so large and we do not know exactly which side to enter from, we take some extra time. A taxi driver in the square in front of the Parliament building points out that we must enter on the right side. A short while later, we enter the Palatul Parlamentului.

Romania - The enormous Palatul Parlamentului is the largest building in Europe

Arina welcomes us for the tour. First, passports are scanned. Then follows a security check, like I am used to at an airport. The building was designed by a 21-year-old woman at the time. Over 700 architects worked on the construction. Work took place 24 hours a day in shifts. Arina shows the large halls, the various conference rooms, and the enormous ballroom. This hall, more than a thousand square meters, is nineteen meters high. Everything is extremely large in this building.

Romania - One of the enormous reception halls for over 2000 visitors

It is almost surreal that such a thing was designed so recently. Via the grand staircases, we reach the balcony. From the balcony, the boulevard is clearly visible. The boulevard is even longer than the Champs-Élysées in Paris. It is unimaginable how many houses were cleared to make this enormous project possible. At the end of the tour, Arina indicates that we have walked two kilometers inside the building. She also explains that we have not yet seen even five percent of the building. Full of awe at this massive complex, we order a beer in the old district. In the evening, we also have dinner in this district. It is significantly busier. All terraces are practically full. It is possible after all. There is a lively atmosphere in the center of the old town. While we enjoy our meal, we watch the people walking by from the terrace.