We traveled by motor coach from Constanta to Bucharest, which has served as the capital of Wallachia, and later Romania, since 1659. The city is a mix of architectural styles. A notable building here is the Palace of the Parliament. This is the second largest administrative building in the world. This massive building was built at the direction of the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausecu. Ceauescu recruited 700 architects and about 1.5 million factory workers to complete the project. However, he had died before the massive undertaking was finished in 1994.

A man who had be in the 1989 revolution that overthrew the Ceausecu led communist regime talked to us. His vivid description of that time was heart wrenching, especially hearing about his best friend being shot dead beside him by the soldiers. He exhibited one of the original flags from the demonstrations that had the Romanian Communist emblem cut out. The uprising resulted in the overthrow of the Ceausescu government as well as he and his wife’s executions.

We stopped at an impressive book store that is so large we have two photos of it. One is from the entrance door and the other from the opposite end on the top floor.

Click here to go to some on the ship photos .