A blogger who traveled to more than 100 European cities made a list of 5 destinations on the old continent that he would never return to, among which he included Bucharest.
Vinicius Costa, a French blogger, stated in an article on the website Travel Off Path that he has traveled to all but three European countries: Andorra, Belarus and the Republic of Moldova.
“After 100+ cities, it was inevitable that I would have my favourites, but also places that I disliked, to be mild. I’ve already had the opportunity to rave at length about the cities that stole my heart, but I’ve recently realized that, apart from a few acid remarks thrown in here and there, I’ve never been completely honest with you about the European destinations that just blow me away.” wrote the blogger.
Dublin, Ireland
About the capital of Ireland Costa writes that “could be a decent city break destination if it weren’t for the unreasonably high prices and alarming lack of safety.”
He also adds that the city is expensive, unsafe and rainy, and walking around the city can make you regret coming there.
“I don’t know about you, but nothing annoys you more than paying €20 for a pint or two of Guinness just for walking into a pub. And the gloomy weather, constant rain and gray skies? The cliché is real: just two days in a row in the Irish rain makes you wonder why you flew all the way there“, writes the journalist.
Bratislava, Slovakia
“Bratislava is the kind of city you pass through, not a final destination. It’s a surprisingly small national capital right on the border with Austria, which probably explains why it seems secondary and slightly disappointing when Vienna is only a 50-minute train ride away.” writes Costa.
He notes that Bratislava is a capital that can be visited quickly.
“Unless I develop a sudden fondness for communist blocks, I don’t see myself ever returning to explore Bratislava beyond the medieval core — which, again, is nice, but not exactly among the most impressive I’ve seen.”
Helsinki, Finland
About Helsinki, the blogger writes that “it’s one of those cities whose popularity I never quite understood.”
“It’s perpetually grey, lacking the medieval charm that most European capitals boast, and it found its place as a Baltic hub quite late in history. Its greatest achievement? About a public sauna every few square kilometres.” emphasizes the blogger.
It states that the only notable attractions are the Temppeliaukio church and the Suomenlinna sea fortress, built by the Swedes.
Zurich, Switzerland
About Zurich, the blogger writes that it is nowhere near an “exciting” city. The city is expensive, pretentious and unglamorous, and the only reason to like it is if you haven’t explored other nicer and quieter European lakeside towns.
“Between quietly sipping an 8-franc pint next to indifferent locals in one of those pretentious, flag-festooned bars in Kreis 1 that try too hard to attract tourists, and tossing the remains of the most expensive croissant you’ve ever bought at the lone swan floating on Lake Zurich on a rare sunny day, the place barely inspires any enthusiasm.”
What is written about Bucharest
The French blogger writes that he had high expectations from the so-called “Paris of the East”.
“But as the plane descended and below me unfolded a landscape of communist blocks and massive concrete towers stretching to the horizon, I knew something was wrong. Still, nothing prepared me for what came next.” write this one.
Costa tells that, when he arrived at the accommodation in the Old Center, an apartment “furnished in 19th century style – which, I was to quickly find out, in Bucharest usually means dust, dampness and endlessly postponed renovations”.
“The chaos that followed included fliers for dubious strippers every five steps on Șelari Street, persistent beggars following you through parks and the realization that the most interesting activity in Bucharest is watching its Soviet-style buildings compete for the title of ‘tallest, most colossal and hideous concrete monster'”. he also told.
The blogger notes that the most “Parisian” thing in Bucharest is “a shabby center with only a few pedestrianized streets and buildings from the end of the 19th century escaped from the communist regime – which still cannot be compared, not even remotely, to the pomp and grandeur of Paris.”
However, the blogger recommends those who want to travel to Romania to visit Brașov, “a medieval postcard town, located in the heart of Transylvania.”
About Brașov, he writes that “it has an intact 15th-century cityscape, dominated by the imposing Gothic-style Black Church and framed by the wooded slopes of Mount Tâmpa.”
“Piața Sfatului is an obvious attraction, considered among the most atmospheric in Europe, the cafe scene is excellent and the access to nature is, in my opinion, hard to match.
what can i say Sometimes capitals are overrated,” concludes the blogger.
