2021 new tourist arrival holy place! Inexpensive travel in traditional European style

2021 new tourist arrival holy place! Inexpensive travel in traditional European style

City and country

If you go to Romania today and visit different cities and regions, you will notice a huge difference between urban and rural life. Romania is roughly size of Guangxi province, so it is a medium-sized European country with enough space for its citizens to live. Bucharest is modern and is associated worldwide with remnants of old communist regime. Small cities, remote villages and towns are often quite traditional in terms of architecture, transportation options and social life. These areas are very calm and cozy. In countryside, a more traditional and unique Romanian scene can be found, while in larger cities such as Bucharest, a more modern international experience can be experienced.

Housing

The first thing that catches your eye upon arrival in Bucharest is houses and public buildings. Most of city's residents live in large apartment buildings pictured above, many of which are remnants of communist era that ended in 1989. Some new condominiums are being built, but vast majority of existing apartments are built in 70s and 80s.

In Bucharest, some wealthy Romanians live in large beautiful villas like those in Cotroceni. This is Bucharest "Beverly Hills", located near Royal Palace. Other cities also have classic Romanian beautiful villas.

In countryside, and sometimes on outskirts of big cities like Bucharest, you will find detached houses with small gardens, many of which have a unique Romanian look. Arches, porches, wide eaves and roofs made of tin or copper characterize houses in these places.

Work and transport

There are also big differences between urban and rural life in terms of work and transportation. Large enterprises are mainly opened in large cities, and only small enterprises, workshops and farms remain in rural areas. Romanians in cities work in a variety of goods and services, from banking to retail and hospitality.

You'll see Romanians commuting to and from work on various forms of public transport: buses, trams (called "streetcars") and metro, as well as traveling between cities by train.

During communist era, very few Romanians owned cars, but over past few decades, Romanian car market has exploded and cars can now be found on every street in major cities. In major cities, you can also easily catch a taxi or Uber. They are cheap and easy to use, and Uber is popular with locals and tourists alike.

Vehicle types and driving style in country vary greatly between urban and rural areas. Horse-drawn carts, unprotected herds of goats or cattle, people walking or cycling along sides of road are traditional ways of getting around back roads.

Food

Traditional Romanian cuisine is delicious and popular with tourists, and Romanians themselves love food of their ancestors. Their cuisine is mostly meat-based and similar to German cuisine, with heavy use of cabbage, potatoes and sausages. But Romanians also really know how to use vegetables generously in delicious dishes and salads, many of which are similar to Turkish dishes. Think Turkish-style grilled eggplant, roasted peppers, Turkish bread and pretzels, and white soft cheeses. Romania was part of Austro-Hungarian Empire and Ottoman Empire (Turkey) at various times, so their food has also been somewhat influenced.

Usually, locals buy all sorts of raw materials, fresh produce and other ingredients from local open-air market (which is everywhere) or choose a large supermarket such as Kaufland (a German chain mainly located in big cities). you can buy all essentials you want.

Despite fact that many Romanians quickly adopted international gastronomic trends, their traditional dishes have not disappeared. Their most famous dish is probably sarmaleh (cured meat rolls and cabbage rolls with pickled cabbage stuffed with rice), pictured below, served with a spoonful of hominy (polenta-like polenta).

Of course, big cities have Subway, Pizza Hut and McDonald's, as well as many other global restaurant chains. This Romanian burger chain Springtime has been around since 1990s. Spring burgers used to consist of a chicken or pork patty served with salad, fried egg, french fries (yes, in a burger) and sweet orange Hungarian ketchup, but they've also become international. Now they look and taste exactly like your McDonald's or Burger King burgers. I think many Romanians, especially young people, love to try these fast food delicacies, but most prefer to cook traditional food at home.