To Bucharest - May 21st

It is time to farewell Sorrento  - a last venture to the balcony to survey the view along via P.Regionaldo Guilliani -  a last look at the Trattoria – a last look at the poacher’s camp – packing is completed – we are ready to go.

We wander the 100 metres to the square – the spruicker at the end of the via stops us – where are you off to – Romania – “I am from Romania” says he –“where are you going in Romania” says he – “no good – I am from the north” says he – ah a Transylvanian thinks I – Romania is yet to be truly unified!

The car picks us up – off towards Naples – thee outskirts of Sorrento quiet - the tunnels clear – the freeway repaired – the traffic jams not traffic jams at all – we are at the airport in no time – the airport? – modern! – the signage? – clear! – we are early – early – early! – we find a table  upstairs and sit and sit – check-in is announced – the process proceeds smoothly – the check-in girl takes our passports – she leans across to her colleague “Italian name but Australian passport”” she whispers.

We sit some more – we watch people – I remark on the propensity of people young and not so young to denim jeans that display tears and cuts in the legs and white sneakers– Bernie reminds me that it is “the fashion” at the moment – she goes on the say that the really fashionable individuals sport slashed denims that come complete with an internal lining that covers any skin that would normally be exposed by the rips and tears of the fashion statement.

We sit some more and even a little more – the gate is yet to be announced – we are naïve – of course the intelligent traveller would know that there is common security and passport control for all gates but these travellers sit and sit waiting for the actual gate to be announced before tackling security.

The departure gate is finally announced closer to departure time than slow travellers would recommend as being consistent with the speed with which they are capable of moving through security and passport control. They select a queue through security – wrong queue! – their queue has an exceptionally diligent screening operator – they become increasingly anxious – boarding announced – we are still in the queue – finally we are through – boarding is not yet complete – we make it to the bus.

As we sit in the bus and await the completion of the loading Bernie says “look Mike see how those slashed jeans have fabric under the slash” – “see that chap – and that chap” she says – she pauses – the expression changes  “oh I think that might be the fellow’s boxer shorts!”

Eventually we make it to the neat and tidy Blue Air Jet - The flight? – as good as any other flight we have experienced – the Romanian airline has exceeded our expectations!

In 60 minutes, we are flying over Bulgaria and into Romania – the countryside below us is green – the numerous rivers and streams flowing generously – the large tracts of crops – large tracts of forest – lush agricultural crops springing out of the ground at every point of the compass – somehow it is not what we expected!

We arrive at Bucharest – an airport of moderate size with the normal amenities one expects of a national airport – the budget nature of Blue Air justifies a transport pus rather than a airside loading corridor but the bus is timely and efficient – the terminal? – neat – modern - well signed. Passport control? – efficient – queues short – officers polite.

We head for a taxi – we ae pointed to a series of terminals that could be considered as close relations to the modern check-in terminals that now dominate the entry halls of modern airports – signs tell to use the terminals to select a taxi, find its charge rate and identify an approved car – “beware rogue taxis!” says the sign – we touch the terminal – select the average priced taxi company – they identify a car – they issue a ticket with a taxi number – we head to the rank and find the cab with the corresponding number – off into town – we feel confident in the taxi and driver – not a bad system!

We head into Bucharest – 17 kilometres – the charge 60 lei - $20 Australian dollars – the taxi neat – tidy – modern - what will Bucharest be like? – our expectations are low – as we approach we are surprised! - modern buildings - stately homes – great roads - modern vehicles - disciplined traffic - lovely parks – more and more lovely parks.

We are met at the front door by Brian Royal – the others have headed out to dinner – the Royals will wait for us!

We are ready in a flash – the others stop at the Terminus bar just around the corner – they have already started the behaviour that we can reasonably expect them to exhibit for the duration of our floating expedition down the Danube Delta – we join them – a great start to trip.