Pelicans in the Danube Delta

Click the link to see more of our tour in the Danube Delta and the white Pelicans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz9ztj6coTg

 

                 

                   

                 

First of July fireworks in Bucharest

Check out our fireworks video link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zdh7qXQ9xU

   

Bucharest

They say the best way to visit a place is to see it through the eyes of a local. A school friend of mine, Sharon Bey (now Beacom) and husband Mark, has been living in Bucharest for approximately the last 7 years. They live in sector one, a lovely part of the city, to the north and directly across the street from the Herastrau Park. This location is convenient because most everything is within walking distance or at least a short taxi ride. We had secure underground parking for the Suzuki and a extremely comfortable bed on which to lay our head. During our week stay in Bucharest we visited many of the local eating and drinking establishments, took walks in the park, visited the old city and took the 'Hop on Hop off' bus which took us to places like the Romanian Arc de Triumph, the People's Palace and several museums. We happened to take this tour on the hottest day of our stay, with temperatures into the 40's we fried like eggs sitting up on top of the open air bus.

What a great stay in Bucharest, Sharon and Mark were such gracious hosts, we had to tare ourselves away. It was great to reconnect with old friends, let's not wait so long next time!

For lunch, Sharon and I get ready to chow down on an awesome salad made by her housekeeper, Katy. Yummy, and healthy too!

Jump on, jump off buses are a great way to see cities and Bucharest is no different. We took an afternoon with Sharon and Mark to see the historical sites. Downfall...the temp was at least 40 degrees sitting on top of the bus.

Wearing our earphones we headed out and...wait a minute is that the Arch d Triumph in the background? No just a good replica...doesn't every city have one?

The Peoples Palace, the second largest building in the world next to the Pentagon. It was built by ex-president Nicplae Ceauseccu, starting in 1984, for the rest of the story you had better google it. Wow.

Bucharest has many beautiful facades of old buildings but I'm not to sure why they would do this...besides the fact that KFC chicken is pretty popular here.

Come on, more sights around town. A tribute to Michael Jackson even after he called Bucharest...Budapest during a concert.

Caru'cu Bere restaurant in old town Bucharest. We were served a great pork knuckle with all the fixings while Romanian folk dancers kicked up their heals. In all its grandeur, the hall was once a boarding house serving drinks and food and as far as we're concerned, still doing a great job of it today.

Here's looking up your kilt!

Downtown, July 1st, a big tribute to Canada Day!

Who's this little cutie? Sharon and I let the boys head home, after dinner, and we took in a cocktail and a dance at Il Locale in sector 1. That's us rubbing elbows with the who's who from around town.

What? Fireworks just for the visiting Canadians?

Here we are at the largest beer hall in Eastern Europe, that seats over 1000 people...

And the sausage tray wasn't so bad either! The four of us couldn't finish it off. You might think we are doing a lot of eating and drinking, but...

I joined Sharon for a Pilates class. After not being too active lately I was a little sore the next day to say the least.

Heading To Eastern Europe

After the amazing scenery and riding conditions of the Alps it was a different ballgame heading east, not bad just different. The horizon flattened out and as we left the mountains behind we ventured into rolling hills with vineyards and lowlands of fields growing pumpkins, sunflowers and corn. As we reached Slovenia the villages became not as modern in appearance and the look of the houses changed as outside walls became covered with tile and ornate wood work. Yards turned more to gardens with potatoes, peppers, tomatoes and corn. By the time we finished riding through Hungary and into Romania little benches lined the roadway with older people sitting, visiting and watching the cars go by. Many of the younger generation have left the countryside, going to the city and other countries in the EU where work is more plentiful. A growing amount of store fronts are closed up or are for sale as declining numbers in the villages demand less retail. 

The weather deserves mentioning here as temperature climb into the high 30's. We are sweating it out in our riding gear, every vent is open in jackets, pants and helmets.  The problem with the extreme warm comes extreme thunder storms which aren't that much fun on a motorbike either (really! I had to find something to complain about).

We are loving the countryside but our big destination in Romania is Bucharest. Last time we visited Romania we skirted the city on purpose but this time we have big plans of visiting friends and we are really excited about that.

In southeastern Austria we toured small roads weaving through wineries on the hillside. Like the Okanagan you could stop for a taste, a meal or if you had the time a stay. Also in this area we found kernol, a delicious oil made from pumpkin seeds, which found later to be very tasty on salads, fresh bread or toast.

In Sylvania, storks find a safe place to build their nests on rooftop chimneys.

Western Hungary boasts lakes for the fishermen. Row boats line the shores and small fishing cabins are built in amongst the reeds and islands of the shallow lakes. There are huge catfish and carp living in this small lake. We stayed a night in a room overlooking this lake and enjoyed a evening with our host and friends BBQing sausage and drinking wine.

 

Your typical Hungarian house, I liked the flowers on the bike.

Lake Balaton in Hungary, a must see according to the Hungarians but we were not quite as impressed as some. Although it is approximately the same size as the Okanagan Lake it is only 11 meters deep in the deepest spot and averages only 3 meters, thousands of people were at the lake for the weekend enjoying the 26 degree water temperature. We realized how lucky we really are living on the Okanagan Lake.

A cozy cafe/bar in Voineasa, Romania, a small town on the Transalpina. The Transalpina is a road that twists through the mountains from Transylvania to Bucharest, sometimes paved...sometimes not.

Ken buys some wild mushrooms from a gypsy along the roadside. Not a great buy as they were a little to wormy for us, but we did manage to trade them for 2 yellow peppers at a stand a ways down the road.

The Grosslockner Pass

Just another great ride, check it out. Ok maybe this is the last of many bike videos....but I doubt it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK3SeQ5FjxQ

                 

                   

                 

Klausenpass, Switzerland

You have to agree this is a beautiful spot. We think the ride was even better. Sorry for the video wind noise, but maybe just turn down the volume. My technical problem.

Just click on the link below.

https://youtu.be/MskU6ODBh2w

Hiking Hafelekar in the Nordkette at Innsbruck

Check out our hiking video on You Tube by clicking the link below. Thanx George for the your contribution.

https://youtu.be/_-8z0-6RQic