Date of Visit: 2019
Bucharest surprised me.
It reminded me a lot of Germany – old architecture sitting right alongside newer builds. That mix always gets my attention, and there were plenty of moments just walking around where I found myself stopping to take things in.
I did a full tour of the Palace of the Parliament, and yeah… that place is massive. Apparently it’s the second largest government building in the world, behind the Pentagon, and after walking what felt like endless corridors and rooms, I fully believe it. The scale is borderline ridiculous, but it’s still very cool to experience.
We hit the Christmas markets too, which felt familiar – if you’ve done Manchester’s markets, you know the vibe. Different setting, same mulled-wine energy.
One thing I always notice when travelling is how comfortable I feel in a place. Being a person of colour in a new country, I subconsciously look for signs that say “yeah, you’re good here.” During the week I was in Bucharest, I didn’t see another person of colour. That doesn’t make it unsafe – Beijing felt similar – but it’s something I clock. It’s just part of how I assess new places.
One of the highlights was Therme, a huge water park just outside the city. Think Disneyland, but if Disneyland was all pools, palm trees, and warm water. Easily one of the best water-park experiences I’ve had.
Overall, it was a solid trip. I got to meet my partner’s family, saw some impressive sights, and experienced a part of Europe I hadn’t really explored before. Not life-changing – but definitely worth it.
