Saving the Bucharest for Last: 7/16/2025

Bittersweet, but here we were - the last day of our fantastic trip! This would be along day, but a good one, as so many had been. Of course, we had a wonderful breakfast on the ship, but then disembarked for the last time, boarded a bus and headed to Bucharest! Unfortunately, this day may not get as much detail as the others. There were combinations of fatigue, and feeling unwell, so a write-up in a timely manner never occurred.

The bus ride was long, the drive from the port, across the river from Ruse took nearly two hours. But, our first stop carried significant historical merit! First, we had some good views of the inner city, and particularly the palace at which the Romanian Revolution concluded. During our time there we saw a changing-of-the-guards, and listened to a first hand account of a local who had fought in the revolution!

Afterwards, we walked throughout the down-town areas of the city. We passed through a massive building where photos weren't allowed; it was full of lots of bars with smoking options. It was cool architecture but not a place we spent much time. We also visit a small local cathedral before visiting the Village Museum.

This place was so cool! When I think of a museum, this certainly wouldn't be it. Everything was outdoors, and simply, it was a museum of buildings, villages, and architectural styles of the region from years passed! The exhibits themselves were relocated and preserved buildings from different regions and eras, all around Romania. The diverse architecture and history, in the lovely outdoor weather was such a cool and unique experience!

Our final stop before heading to our hotel for the final day was the Palace of Parliament. Massive barely even begins to describe it. While it's footprint is massive by itself, the materials used in its construction have made this the "heaviest" building in the world. It is now used for far more than just government business, but it is certainly a landmark that stands out.

At this point we arrived at the hotel, and we took some time to repack and take a nap. We had another evening excursion upcoming, and would be needing to leave the hotel in the wee hours of the morning. 

Our final excursion was a chance to dine locally, and experience the cuisine of Romania. We enjoyed local beer and more of the typical brandy that we had experienced throughout our trip. The dinner that was served - to us and the other dozen-or-so guests, began with some small plates. There was bread, meatballs with dipping sauces, and a vegetable-cheese platter. 

The was then followed up by the main course which was a grits-esk style starch accompanying sausage wrapped in grape leaves and a giant pepper (the pepper was maybe just for show... it was quite spicy).

And finally, we headed to our concluding venue - both for the day and for the trip! It was a restaurant where we were prepared to have dessert, a collection of local sweets and drinks. We had a final toast, and thanked my parents as this would never have been possible without them!

With that, the trip came to an end ... accounting for the upcoming 24 hours or so of travel back home, but that is not so much worth writing about. :)

Nautical Term of the Day: No Great Shakes

“When casks became empty, they were "shaken" (or taken apart) so that their pieces, called "shakes," could be stored in a small space. Shakes had very little value.”