First day in Bucharest

Think I got off the train here for a cigarette en-route to Amsterdam. Many years ago. Obviously, that doesn’t count as having visited a country.

Having met so many Romanians through work, it’s long summer and the fact that I originally planned to come here before I got made redundant have meant that I ‘stuck to my original plan’ and came here anyway.

Cycling

I brought my bike, with Wizz air this time.

It arrived with only a minor injury, the front brake disk has warped. This can happen very easily just a hefty weight for a couple of hours will warp the disk. It’s happened before whilst moving the boat around. Luckily, disks are easy to pick up. Got one today for £5.50 from the bike shop. Took 5 minutes to put on.

The bike is ready to roll!

Cost £161 with the bike from Luton if anyone is interested.

Looking around Bucharest

I haven’t yet. :)

Went out last night and got picked up by a working girl who took me around all the Gogo bars in town. Or at least it seemed that way. Prices are high. Having been to Thailand, a fact I didn’t mention to the girls, it really seemed like they were wasting their time. It was fun though. I did buy my companion a few drinks and by the time we finished off, I was pretty wasted.

Dentist

Today, I’ve been looking to sort out some dental issues I’ve outstanding.

The dentistry here is a damn site cheaper than the UK and up to EU health regs. So, no real point in paying the extra in the UK.

Today, I’ve been investigating these Romanian dentists through Google maps.

With the bike, it’s been fairly simple to get around the ones I’d selected rapidly.

The first one I visited, didn’t exist. At least not at the address I’d been given on Google maps.

Back to the drawing board.

I guess through a process of elimination, the next was much more successful.

The consultation cost £50.

Work to be done:

• Cleaning: £100
• Filling: £120

The total cost of dental work, consultation, cleaning and filling £270.

There’s a long list of other treatments the dentist gave me, but as I’m not feeling particularly flush at the moment, those will be on the back boiler until I have the time and money to get them seen to.

The rest of the day I’ve been resting and sleeping a little.

Traditional Romanian

Sausages I’ve bought from the supermarket.

Prices here are Western, at least when you eat out.

In my experience, you’re better to eat the traditional foods away from the capital city. Here in the capital, you’re paying tourist prices for a product widely available and better prepared elsewhere.

I’m going to cook something up with the ingredients left around my apartment, which is rather nice, and go out for a beer later on. A beer usually costs about £3, food is about triple that for a main.

It’s not a great deal of money, but I blew a lot wandering round last night. I’d like to sample some of the local food and beer in the apartment, see what I make of it without outside interference or influence.

Until next time!