My last day exploring Bucharest before I head north for a few days. This city is incredible — and truly unique.
Today I had a local tour guide, a new friend (he’s a coworker of my wife), walk me through the history, the present, and the future of Bucharest. It’s a city that’s seen some things, and it shows — especially in its architecture.
It actually reminds me of visiting the ice caves in Iceland. There, you can read the history of the land in the layers of ice. Here, you read it in the streets and buildings. Each section of the city, each style, tells a story.
The Great Nations period left behind ornate, artful designs. Communism came in a few flavors: Function with Some Style and Function with No Style. Then you have the 1990s layered on top for good measure. And a resurgence of that classic design in modern days. The result is a fascinating clash of eras — a mishmash of voices from the past all trying to be heard.
The monotone here is strong. Black and white feels right at home. I’ve always believed black and white is beautiful — and so is Bucharest, no matter the era.
tr/trp
hold life still
