Romania Going to Bucharest Romania - What to see

[Jani Tiainen]

Hello,

I am going to Bucharest Romania for few days.

I wish someone could give some tips to see Orders & Medals. I know there suppose to be some museum with very good collection, but which one it is?

Any tips for / against local dealers would be nice.

Jani

Edited May 14, 2007 by Jani Tiainen

[Carol I]

I wish someone could give some tips to see Orders & Medals. I know there suppose to be some museum with very good collection, but which one it is?

National Military Museum. Take your time and a camera with a large card (it costs about 30 euro cents per photo though).

The National History Museum might also be interesting, but I do not know how many of the medals in their collections are on display.

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Jani Tiainen

The MUZEUL MILITAR NATIONAL is located at;

Strada Mircea Vulcanesci, 125 - 127 Sector 1, Bucharest.

Open from 9.00 till 17.00 last admission at 16.00

It is very close to the GARA DE NORD Train Station. (Large Black Area on Map.)

Travel down Boulavard DINICU GOLESCU take a right on to STRADA MIRCEA VULCANESCU.

The musuem is on the left hand side of the road, you will see artillery pieces in front of the building.

Its 2.50 Romanian Ron to go in and you have to declare if you want to make pictures, they will give you a badge to show you paying for the pictures, they check the camera memory for the number of pictures going in and coming out, (its 50 Bani per picture).

See my post at: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1594...ng+of+the+Green

for pictures of the museum.

The main building houses the medal collection, on my trip I never got to see it as I was busy looking at the other rooms.

Also if anywhere in Bucharest you are approached by guys saying they are "Tourist Police" and want you to pay a tax do not believe them its a scam they are con-men, if they persist call "A J I T O R - Adg i tor (help) or P O L I T I A (Police).

You will find most people very fiendly and helpful, avoid street people and beggers. Dont accept offers of taxi drivers in the street Use known taxi companys from the taxi ranks.

Have a nice trip.

PS the 19 / 20 / of May the Museum has an open day free entry for visitors!!!!

Kevin in Deva

Edited May 14, 2007 by Kev in Deva

[Carol I]

its 50 Bani per picture

Did they lower the fee? Last time I've been there it was 1 leu.

The main building houses the medal collection, on my trip I never got to see it as I was busy looking at the other rooms.

The medal collection is the largest in Romania, but unfortunately there is no medal section in the museum. However, there are plenty of medals in the modern section of the museum.

Also if anywhere in Bucharest you are approached by guys saying they are "Tourist Police" and want you to pay a tax do not believe them its a scam they are con-men, if they persist call "A J I T O R - Adg i tor (help) or P O L I T I A (Police).

It is actually "AJUTOR", but I am pretty sure you won't need it.

Have a safe trip.

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Carol I,

yes you are right Its 1 Ron should have checked my post, (so bring to memory cards as its still cheap )

(by the way I spell Romanian phoneticaly not being a native, so please forgive me butchering the language )

Kevin in Deva

[Jani Tiainen]

Thanks a lot!

I will be leaving next sunday and stay for three nights.

I am looking forward to see Bucharest and Romania, even travelling a lot I have never been there before.

Thanks for safety tips! I have a feeling that its no better or worse than most Central European cities like Praque, Budapest etc.

This is now country #38 on my "Will travel every country in the world plan"

Jani

Edited May 14, 2007 by Jani Tiainen

[Kev in Deva]

Sorry Jani, but for full qualification as a visitor to Romania you HAVE TO visit TRANSYLVANIA

Kevin in Deva, Transylvania, where the Vampires hunt around and over the garlic fields

PS I believe the Romanian Military Museum is closed on MONDAYS !!

Edited May 14, 2007 by Kev in Deva

[Laurence Strong]

When are you coming to Canada? There's a steak waiting for you out here in Alberta. You are always welcome

[922F]

Besides the Military Museum, the central post office sometimes has national symbol displays including current and past decorations.

There's an informal medal/insignia club that meets, usually once a week, near the Hilton [Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest hotel 1-3 Episcopiei St., District 1, Bucharest, Romania 010292 Tel: 40-(0)21-303 3777 Fax: 40-(0)21-315 2121]. The Hilton concierge can direct you as to exact time & place. It's about a 15 minute walk from the hotel and is a little hard to find.

Club admission is a few lei and there may be anywhere from 5 to 35 people present most of whom have things for sale and speak some English or French. Most are very friendly people. If Mark Patterson is around he may have something for sale and there are a couple of Romanian medal dealers who work out of their homes. The dealers usually come to the club meetings. Some [city center] coin shops and antique dealers display medals for sale in their windows and vitrines.

If you have the opportunity, be sure to visit Transylvania and BOTH of Drac's castles. The "real" one is much more evocative than Queen Marie's reconstruction but you can get t-shirts at hers!

[Kev in Deva]

Buna 922F

I think Janni will only be there for 3 days so he will have no chance to get down here to Transylvania

Kevin in Deva.

[Carol I]

Besides the Military Museum, the central post office sometimes has national symbol displays including current and past decorations.

That is the National History Museum housed in the former Central Post Office.

If you have the opportunity, be sure to visit Transylvania and BOTH of Drac's castles. The "real" one is much more evocative than Queen Marie's reconstruction but you can get t-shirts at hers!

Bran Castle dates from the 14th century, it was not constructed by Queen Maria. She only modernised the interiors in the 1920s and 1930s. The real Dracula's castle, Poenari, is not in Transylvania.

[922F]

As noted, Tourist Guides/companies generally "sell" Queen Marie's reconstructed Bran Castle as Dracula's because it's easier and faster to get there from Bucharest. However, he probably never actually lived there though some claim he spent a night or two at Bran. If you are interested in the Count, the somewhat hokey Club Contele Dracula 8A Splaiul Independentei St. Bucharest Phone: 021/312-1353 may be worth a visit. Perhaps the best factual Dracula book is "In search of Dracula" by Radu Florescu & Raymond McNally.

I looked for my list of Bucharest medal dealers & phone numbers for you but could not find it. Telephone directory assistance used to be able to give Mark Patterson's number; I don't know if his website is still up.

Perhaps others could help out?

[Jani Tiainen]

Thanks for all the information!

I should have reserved more days ... Transylvania sounds tempting.

Jani

[Carol I]

There's an informal medal/insignia club that meets, usually once a week, near the Hilton. The Hilton concierge can direct you as to exact time & place. It's about a 15 minute walk from the hotel and is a little hard to find.

Was this by any chance near the University (and the Intercontinental Hotel), 922F?

[Carol I]

There's an informal medal/insignia club that meets, usually once a week, near the Hilton. The Hilton concierge can direct you as to exact time & place. It's about a 15 minute walk from the hotel and is a little hard to find.

I have found on YouTube some images from the collector's fair organised more or less regularly at the Şuţu Palace (near the University). It has all sorts of antiques, but beware of fakes.

Şuţu Palace Fair

[922F]

I have found on YouTube some images from the collector's fair organised more or less regularly at the Şuţu Palace (near the University). It has all sorts of antiques, but beware of fakes.

Şuţu Palace Fair

No, to get to the club you bear right from the Hilton front corner entrance, cross the street and walk directly straight ahead (not up by the palace) for about 5-6 blocks, there was a very interesting building at that corner. Turn right and walk down 5-6 blocks. Then into a short passageway between two buildings into what looks like a garage. about 1/2 way thru the passage there's a concierge entrance & window with a door to the left. The same club used to be, maybe 7-9 years ago, at a different location more in the north central part of the city. (I was last there about a year ago & it may have moved.) The days and times change unpredictably. It was always on weekends in "socialist times". Last time it was on a Thursday. Mark was quite willing to give the location; other dealers less so.

[Carol I]

No, to get to the club you bear right from the Hilton front corner entrance, cross the street and walk directly straight ahead (not up by the palace) for about 5-6 blocks, there was a very interesting building at that corner. Turn right and walk down 5-6 blocks. Then into a short passageway between two buildings into what looks like a garage. about 1/2 way thru the passage there's a concierge entrance & window with a door to the left. The same club used to be, maybe 7-9 years ago, at a different location more in the north central part of the city. (I was last there about a year ago & it may have moved.)

Thanks for the directions. It seems a very well hidden place.

[922F]

Yes, the club is a bit difficult to find. That's why I suggest asking at the Hilton or having a dealer friend take you or provide the address. (Don't remember if the building has a number but ask a neighbor or at a nearby drinks shop.)The younger man at the Hilton concierge desk knows the place. Don't forget to check the upmarket antique market at the old stables near the walking streets (also near the Leonidas chocolate shop).

[Carol I]

I will be leaving next sunday and stay for three nights.

Is it tomorrow you are leaving, Jani?

A small incentive: a uniform of King Carol II in the collections of the National Military Museum (since I've been there they took away some of the collars since they were damaging themselves and the uniform, but the image still gives you an idea of what you may see inside the museum).

Have a nice trip and good luck for your medal hunting. I am looking forward to reading your travel impressions.

[Carol I]

How was your trip, Jani? Did you manage to get to the museums?

[Jani Tiainen]

How was your trip, Jani? Did you manage to get to the museums?

Hello friends,

It took a while to respond, though I did return back to Finland succesfully...though one tip to future travellers: Estimate the time for taxi from downtown to Airport to at least 1,5 hours... I almost missed my flight...

I did managed to get in to National musem. Some museums were closed during summer from mon-tue, which were my full days there. I will definetly go again to see thingsI missed - you can get airline tickets from Finland for around 130 EUR and my Hotel Tanja (In the heart of the downtown) was also relatively cheap and still nice.

I have been travelling most of the summer and been away from forums, but after next weeks work trip (Portugal here I come), will be back online again.

Jani

[Carol I]

It took a while to respond, though I did return back to Finland succesfully...though one tip to future travellers: Estimate the time for taxi from downtown to Airport to at least 1,5 hours... I almost missed my flight...

18 km in 1.5 hours... I did not imagine traffic was that bad...

I did managed to get in to National musem. Some museums were closed during summer from mon-tue, which were my full days there. I will definetly go again to see thingsI missed - you can get airline tickets from Finland for around 130 EUR and my Hotel Tanja (In the heart of the downtown) was also relatively cheap and still nice.

Sorry to hear that you missed some of the museums. I hope you still found something to see so that you did not feel your trip was a total loss of time. Anyhow, maybe you'll have better luck next time.