Roaming Around Romania (2/2) By Steve Rudd

(1/2), (2/2).

Indeed, Bucharest is dominated by boulevards aplenty, so there's little wonder that it was long ago dubbed 'The Paris of the East.' Hopping off the train, I'd been apprehensive. I'd heard a rumour that in the region of 200,000 stray dogs roam the city streets. Consequently, I had considered fashioning a pair of cardboard shin pads in case of attack.

In truth, very few dogs are to be seen in the city centre, while the majority of those that are roaming around rarely show much interest in passers-by unless provoked by the promise of food. The largest group of dogs I saw were actually within the train station as I prepared to leave: play-fighting on a mud-bank between platforms, they soon chased each other beneath a train ready to depart, running the risk of getting fatally mangled. I had just one more day on my current rail-pass before it expired and I aimed to get as close to Istanbul as possible. If I'd had any sense I would have caught the train that runs direct between Bucharest and Istanbul.

Instead, I opted to head south into Bulgaria first, keen to see Sofia at first light. Once we were on the move I managed to stay alert just long enough to witness us rumble over The River Danube before the heat knocked me out.

Bulgaria, like Romania, remains one of the poorest countries in all of Europe, relying on money generated by tourism to support its economy. It's just fortunate for such countries that the countryside within them both is so exquisite. Many visitors to Bulgaria can be forgiven for heading straight for the Rila Mountains, and resorts such as Borovets, yet a snoop around Sofia is still a must. Agreeable surprises lurk around every corner. Once I'd booked into 'Sofia Hostel,' I cut a course towards the most mesmerizing building within the city limits: The Saint Alexander Nevski Church. Flanking the roundabout that encircles the church were clusters of old ladies, sewing and selling shawls as they gossiped.

Built in memory of the thousands of Russian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Moldavian, Finnish and Romanian soldiers who died in the name of liberating Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire, the church remains the spiritual heart of Sofia. Meanwhile, in the expansive grounds of The National Palace of Culture, children of all ages were lapping up a large 'biking and boarding' event.

Edging away from the event, I noticed that The Rila Mountains were visible between city-edge apartment blocks. I so wished I was in them… the mountains, that is - not the apartment blocks.

The route east to Turkey passed through Bulgaria's second city, Plovdiv. Unable to resist its laid-back clutch, I staggered into the old town and found 'The Hikers Hostel.' I also found that I couldn't get a minute's peace. 'I'd recognize that accent anyway,' muttered a man from the common room. He introduced himself as Mike. Originally from London, he'd lived and worked in a tiny village north-east of Plovdiv for the past six years. And boy did he have a torrent of tall tales to spill…

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Places to Visit - Skiing In Bulgaria - Part Two By Steve Rudd
	Giant Christmas trees loomed as far as the eye could see below, as I marvelled at the extraordinary engineering it must take to make a gondola a reality. After the thirty-minute ride to the top we were immediately greeted by a stunning panorama of the surrounding countryside which was beautiful beyond words. So pristine and so serene. Well, serene if you can discount the Read more...

Places to Visit - Skiing In Bulgaria - Part One By Steve Rudd
	I could have thought of worst places to be, seeing in the New Year, as the last second of 2005 ticked over into 2006. Happy New Year indeed. For the best part of the past ten years myself and my friends have contented ourselves with heading into the town centre of Driffield every December 31st for one of the few nights of the year when it genuinely hustles and bustles. To drink Read more...

Places to Visit - Walking The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path - Part One By Steve Rudd
	Get out of the city and into the country, sooner rather than later. A great many people genuinely have no idea how scenically diverse and breathtaking some swathes of countryside are in the UK, and such a fact is a great shame, because while they might be spending all their spare time in dirty and cramped urban environments, there's often fresh air and inspirational Read more...

Places to Visit - Thailand By Rich Mills
	Expressing the experience of being here in Thailand is difficult to put into words. The sensorial experience is so mind blowing that you begin to feel overloaded. However it is the smallest of things that grab your attention, and stick in the mind. We are waiting for a taxi to take us down to the ferry, so that we can go over to the small island of Koh Maak. This is where we will get the full Read more...

Places to Visit - Ostend Weekend By John Allbones
	I needed a break. Well, you just do sometimes don't you? The constant day to day drudge of the nine to five erodes your spirit until a change of scene is all you crave. Nothing fancy, just a few days will do. Preferably abroad, it just seems more of a break when you're on foreign soil. I managed to grab a late deal on a long weekend in Ostend. So desperate was I to get away, Read more...

Places to Visit - Eight Feet and Two Weeks On Crete Part 2 by Steve Rudd
	One of the best ways of exploring the huge island of Crete is by car: in your own time, at your own speed and in your own style. Without the stress and cost of embarking on guided tours. Head into any of Crete's major cities such as Hania, Rethymno or Iraklion and you'll be bombarded by rent-a-vehicle establishments, all of which are fiercely trying to Read more...

Places to Visit - Eight Feet and Two Weeks On Crete Part One by Steve Rudd
	While I might be a massive fan of Michael Palin's epic travels, and while I do aspire to follow him in many of his footsteps, up until now I've only ever been abroad three times. The first time was in 2000, when I was lucky enough to accompany a work colleague for a month in Nepal. The second time was for a holiday with some friends, last year, to the gorgeous Read more...

Places to Visit - Greetings From Amsterdam Part One By Steve Rudd
	As the blazing red sunset slowly but surely cast Hull into shadow, the P&O ferry was ready, and so were the passengers. I'd never travelled by ferry across to the Netherlands, and thus was naturally overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the ferry and the wealth of entertainment on board, what with two cinemas, a kids play area, a restaurant and casino Read more...

Places to Visit - On The Pennine Way Part Two By Steve Rudd
	After surviving the nightmare of Kinder Scout's mountainous bulk and getting back on track, the next 'hill' of worth en-route along the Pennine Way is called Bleaklow. Just like its predecessor, it could quite potentially be the death of you if you're not careful in negotiating the peaty wastes as you go up and over and onwards towards the tiny hamlet of Read more...

Places to Visit - On The Pennine Way Part One By Steve Rudd
	Why on earth would anyone want to go walking on their week off work? That's the question that most people would routinely ask anybody who would do exactly that, as though walking - and long distance walking in particular - is something simply not to be indulged in. I always argue that there is very little more Read more...

Places to Visit - Down South By Steve Rudd
	Brighton has always been one hell of a popular place, but until one freezing cold day in February of this year I had never before spent anytime whatsoever there in my twenty-four years in this forever-overwhelming world. I thought it was high time I paid the place a visit, and seeing as though I was down in London anyway - and a return National Express coach ticket down Read more...

Places to Visit - Up North By Steve Rudd
	So, you look forward all week - at work - to your one or two days off... right? And what do you do on such days off? Housework, no doubt. Do you ever think you should do something more worthwhile with your sacred time off? Like travel, for instance. County Durham isn't that far a trip from East Yorkshire, and if Read more...

Places to Visit - To Hampstead Heath and Beyond ... By Steve Rudd
	So, you live in London and wish to escape the hustle and bustle of the inner city scene. Where can you turn to? Why, the plethora of beautiful parks of course - and there are few places nicer than Hampstead Heath, in North London, for some quality peace and quiet. Read more...

Places to Visit - On the Moors By Steve Rudd
	So much for me confiding to people that I thought we were collectively out of the woods and that Spring was just around the corner. Clearly I spoke too soon and paid for such a misdemeanour yesterday (13th February 2005) when I ventured up onto the Read more...

Places to Visit - Dinostar - THIS IS HISTORY By Daniel Laney
	In the last two months Hull has welcomed a new addition to its ever growing tourist trade. Dinostar, which opened on Easter Sunday of this year, should hopefully be welcomed with open arms by families and budding historians alike and with it being a quick Read more...

Places to Visit - Our Samhain Visit to Avebury by Janie Spencer
	Before we start on our journey, let me give you a bit of background on Avebury. It is a beautiful stone circle, so big that you can in fact fit a village inside it, as you can see from this overhead map! As well as being a tourist spot, it is both a home and a gathering Read more...

Places to Visit - Burton Constable Hall.
	Burton Constable Hall has collected several ghosts and stories from its 450 year history, the most frequently seen ghost being that of Nurse Dowdall, a much loved nanny to the children of the household during the 19th century. Read more...

Places to Visit - A day by the beach - Bridlington Harbour.
	This Sunday I was spoilt for choice - either to visit a Buddhist centre in "Kilham" or attend a strawberries and cream party. Opted to go and find Zen so duly arrived with my offspring (Katie and Oliver) at my friend's house (Cilla) punctually (for a change) at 11.30. Read more...

Places to Visit - This is Hull
	The East Yorkshire city of Kingston Upon Hull has it's fair share of bad press. That's OK, the people who live here know why so many come and stay! Visit the City and sample the eclectic mix of entertainment on offer, from the laid-back coffee shops and cosmopolitan bars of the Avenues Read more...

Places to Visit - Pickering Park Rocks
	Pickering Park rocks for the youth of Hull. Sunday afternoon, 6th July 2003 saw the first FREE open air Rock Concerts for the youth of Hull, from noon until 7pm. Bands featured included the Supatones, Crowroad, DumpValve, Freaks Union, The Favours, The Sonnet, Zap the Flak, S.P.A.F.F.F Read more...

Places to Visit - Beverley Minster By Mo
	Founded in the eighth century by John, Bishop of York - later St. John of Beverley - Beverley Minster has been described as 'the finest gothic church in Europe'. The present church, built in the 13th and 14th century, is a perfect blending of three Read more...