Romania - a country we chose to drive purely based on the Top Gear's now famous and according to some a bit over hyped rating of Transfagarasan as the best drivers road in the world. That and the fact that we had missed out photographing well enough European brown bears while we were on the roads in Norway and Sweden the last summer. I definitely wanted to give bears a shot and what better place than the Carpathian mountains of Romania which now harbours almost 40% of all European brown bears today. It is almost a year since Romania fully banned hunting of bears and I heard sighting them have become easier.
We quickly booked hotels and decided to zig zag the Carpathians multiple times to drive all the three roads that we wanted to drive - in some cases, both ways (These were, apart from the formidable Transfagarasan, Transalpine and Transbucegi). Most non-driving fanatics would have called us mad Don Quixotes since our itinerary was probably the least efficient way of seeing the country. But our windmills were the roads and there was no way we were going to sacrifice driving experience for efficiency. Ofcourse, our son would ask, as is his wont every one of our vacations, why we never reach anywhere during our vacations and why we sleep in a different room every night (Unlike his friends). Well, when the road is the destination, what is the hurry to reach anywhere.
I booked car through Avis - checked some of the more interesting ones especially the Beemers and found them to be way over our budget. Hence finally zeroed in on Ford Fiesta which I knew being a ford would do its job on the mountains from a handling point of view. Looking back, it was a great decision and she never let us down, either on curves or on the straights.
Day 1
The day arrived and we went off excited to Dubai Terminal 2 to take our Fly Dubai to Bucharest. A non stop 5 hour one thankfully. Landed at 3 pm local time (1 hour behind Dubai, so no jet lag either) and got through the efficient passport control and was met by our pre-booked driver. Smooth transition to Sheraton at 18 euros. Roads looked fine and traffic okayish - lot of my European friends had warned me about driving in Bucharest and I realised its couple of notches better than India. So I should not be too bothered as long as I keep my wits about me.
Checked in at around 430, freshened up and took a taxi to parliament palace - second largest building in the world after the Pentagon. We did not want to go inside and spend the money and more importantly the many hours needed to complete the tour.
Hence decided to walk over to the old city. The main plan was to visit the Stavropoleos monastery - oldest greek one in Bucharest and then have dinner at carul cu bere (again one of the oldest and most famous of restaurants in the old historical city parts).
It was a grand start to the vacations - sitting in the middle of an amazing historical city, overlooking pretty old structures and having good meal. Pretty fantastic vegetarian stuff also - including rice dishes for sides.
Took a taxi to Sheraton which should ideally cost around 10 Lei. Taxis, I knew, are the biggest scam in Bucharest. But even then I was shocked when the idiot asked for 45 Lei. He had told before entering that its night and he would charge double. But unknowingly to us he had started the meter beforehand and hid it from us. We of course fought with him after reaching Sheraton and finally threw two Tens at him and asked him to scoot. He abused us in Romanian and we abused him in Hindi and everything was well and square. What a great start for an adventurous vacation.
Day 2
2nd day : Bucharest Pitesti Novaci
Had break fast from Sheraton and went out to the Cismigiu gardens close to Sheraton. We realised best way to get Taxi was to take a token from hotel - no hassles, no haggling, and no cheating - but we soon realised Uber was even better. Weather was kind at sub 30, so walking outdoors was not super hot or draining.
The park was small with an artificial lake in the middle for boating. Walked, drank plenty of fuids, took Aarav in a pedal boat whose rudder did not work - so left was left, right was left and you had to plan strategically to reach point B from A !! Probably the most difficult driving I did in the entire trip, looking like an idiot to all others who were zooming away in their little boats.
After grappling with fluid dynamics and non-existant steering control of the boat, we decided enough was enough. We came once too close to the fountains and escaped getting fully drenched banging into them which prompted the decision though my son was not super happy with that.
I decided to go get my pre booked Ford fiesta and get back to the kind of steering I crave for.
Took the car from Avis at Intercontinental hotel - waited half an hour for the child seat to get back from another car. Checked the GPS - normal Garmin which Im used to around the world without too many bells and whistles. Ford was decent - nice Gray colour with a sports mode, automatic (though I'd have preferred manual, my UAE license being Auto and unsure if they would accept my Indian one since IDP was on UAE one) stuck to auto.
Took it back to Sheraton to load the luggage, food, water, wife and kid - not necessarily in that order. Bought around 20 l of drinking water, some more food and snack for the road, SIM for google maps as back up and off we were to Pitesti.
After leaving Bucharest, we immediately got onto the A1 motorway. Fantastic road with possibility of easy mid-triples (130 is official speed limit) to which the Ford did not complain much and was broadly steady barring some instances of overtaking huge trucks where it would be a little unsteady but nothing to be worried about. It was a feeling of being light on the feet after having driven my old Ford truck for ages.
Reached Pitesti quicker than anticipated. Hence decided to move on to Novaci without a relaxation break - did take couple of short breaks at various nice views especially one over the Carpathians under a setting sun while clouds were bursting at far end on a lovely stormy evening. How can stormy evening be lovely, you ask ? Anything associated with rains is pleasant for someone coming from 45 degrees of Dubai desert. Drive onwards from Pitesti to Novaci was a strain - hitting villages and 50Km speed breaks often slowing down the average considerably.
Finally reached Novaci at 530 - after which we freshened up in our little lodge next to a hill with a stream flowing next to it.
Went to Mario cafe as suggested by lodge owner for some dinner. Came back and went off to bed at 10 as the sun was setting down.
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