Two Walking Tours

The Marmorosch Bank (now our hotel) was built in 1943 across the street from the 1899 National Bank of Romania. Thus begins our walking tour of Old Town Bucharest.

Bucharest was a medieval walled city from 1400’s but in the late 1800’s the French came in a began building so it became known as “Little Paris”.  In 1948 following WWII the communist took over from the French.  During the war, Romania was aligned with Germany because Russia forced them.  The  eclectic architecture of Bucharest reflects the various occupations from Germany, France and Communist Russia.  Most of the churches are Greek Orthodox with a few catholic and fewer still protestant churches. Only 5% of the population are Muslims or Jews.

The National History Museum used to be a post office, the Czech Bank was the only building built as a bank and still used as a bank, the Hospital of Bucharest was started in the courtyard of a Catholic Church in 1704 and is now grown and was renovated in 1888 but still run as a national hospital today.

We walked past many churches, monasteries, and orthodox churches.  The communist built buildings were easy to spot and we were told that many of the run down homes were once owned by Romanians, but then the communist took them over and now it is disputed as to who owns the building so nothing happens to keep it from falling apart.

Yesterday we had lunch in a lovely German style building and we learned today that it was called a Beer House.  

This afternoon was spent on a Food Tour in the center section of the city.  It started with a tasting of meats, cheeses and vegetables tray (what we would call a charcuterie) covered with sausage, salami, sour cheese, a cheese with walnuts, pepperoni and lard.  On the side we sampled mashed aubergine seasoned with onion, garlic and nuts and a local dish called zacusca which is also egg plant and peppers that are roasted then mashed with onions, garlic, celery, olive oil and other seasonings.  Both very tasty on homemade bread.

We heard more of Romanian history as we walked past a farmer’s market and to our next stop where we tried a street food made with sour cheese wrapped in very flaky crust and baked until the cheese melts.  It was very filling.  Then we sat in a restaurant for the main course of Mici, a meat roll of beef and pork, coriander and thyme. On the side was salted cucumbers, sour cabbage and roasted red peppers.  A polenta dish with soft egg, and cheese.  Very good!  The white wine was from a Romania grape called Tamiosa.  It was kind of like a Chardonnay but tarter.

We selected some delightful eclairs which we took back to our room as we were very full.  But before we walked back we peeked inside the 1888 Atheneum Concert Hall. A lovely theatre dedicated to the composer and musician George Enesco who wrote La Tosca in January 1900.