A Birthday - 23th May

We are settled into Bucharest – another of the free city walking tours comes highly recommended by our fellow travellers – the history of Bucharest and the old city. We take a taxi – the others walk – we meet the guide at the central fountains – a delightful square.

Our arrival is timely – the guide? – a delightful young Romanian girl from Bucharest

 We tour the old city – “watch out for your belonging” she says!- past churches relocated to make  way for a folly – the construction of the second largest building the world - the Palace of Parliament!– down narrow streets turned in restaurant strips - past churches and fresco – past convent and monastery.

As we wander along in pursuit of the guide we take care to avoid the miniture bollards deigned to trip up the unwary

“Watch your belongings” says the guide –“I thought all the Romanian Pick-Pockets were in London” says the Brit of advanced years – Not an instant later -  ‘Oh damm!” says the Brit of advancing years – “she has done me!” says he – A young girl has transferred his wallet from his back pocket into some location known only to her – she is gone!- he departs the tour  in the company of police – how hard will they try? – who knows!

Knud’s birthday – the group is booked into Caru' cu Bere – we arrive – stunned – amazing place – enormous – a former 19^th Century Beer trading hall – as impressive as the orthodox churches we have visited – the atmosphere? - stimulating – the crowd? – enormous! – we await our table – beer glasses of significant proportion are distributed by fleet-footed waiting staff and consumed by enthusiastic patrons – the folk dancing starts – Romanians performing local folk dances – Sam Royal reluctantly agrees to join them  - Brian captures the moment.

Our table is ready – a significant quantity of beer already processed by collective Australian digestive systems – wine is selected and ordered in a fashion and with dexterity which only Paul Robb and Ian Crossley collectively could achieved – the wine is progressively devour with a more concerning expertise by our fellow travellers.

The costume man arrives – he provides hats for all – of course his generosity come with a  caveat – if you want to have a photo taken then place 5 lei each into his practiced money receiving hand! – we all oblige.

A wonderful night – a wonderful place – wonderful friends.

A taxi home – a jovial taxi driver – a con artist? – absolutely – he attempts to charges us 10 times the going rate for our return journey to the hotel – “night rate” says he – we are too overcome with the effects of the delightful wine to take the appropriate action – the appropriate action? -  to step out of the cab and tell him to call the police! – we achieve a compromise that is well weighted in favour or the scoundrel.