Moving to Bucharest, Romania.
I will be traveling from Ruse, Bulgaria to Bucharest, Romania by bus.
As I mentioned in the previous article, the bus departs at 12:45 and is number 22.
↓ Departing from the South Bus Station.
The small shuttle departs from Rousse and crosses a bridge that is 6 km long, spanning the Danube River.
It seems that the bridge was under construction, so we had to wait for a while, but after that, everything went smoothly.
It seems that departure and arrival are done at the same time, and the driver collects the passports, which are then given to an official, and returned after a while.
When entering the country, a stamp was also placed on top of other stamps, but there seemed to be no space on the same page, so the departure and arrival stamps were also on the same page, boldly placed on top of other stamps. Sigh. Please forgive me.
And after about an hour and a half, we arrived in Bucharest.
I was worried about where we would arrive, but I was relieved that they dropped us off at a metro station.
↓ We were dropped off around Piaţa Unirii 1. The same bus seems to continue to the airport. You can get off at either this location or the airport.
There was a currency exchange office in front of me, so I exchanged Bulgarian leva for Romanian lei.
Then, I took the metro to the station near the hotel and checked in. The accommodation here is as follows:
Olive Hostel
Dormitory, 2 nights for 12 euros (approximately 1,610 yen)
Approximately 800 yen per night.
I was surprised by the descriptions of poor security (security) in Bucharest on other blogs, but it was peaceful during my stay.
The prices seem to be relatively low.
Perhaps the graffiti on the trams, the dirtiness of the subway stations, and the iron bars on the storefronts give the impression of poor security, but at least it's a peaceful capital city during the day.
In the cheapest accommodations, which cost around 6 euros per night, there are many people who are staying long-term and working or doing internships.
Despite being the capital city, there was a power outage for a few hours during the day.
What is this? This infrastructure is terrible.
As I mentioned in the previous article, the bus departs at 12:45 and is number 22.
↓ Departing from the South Bus Station.
The small shuttle departs from Rousse and crosses a bridge that is 6 km long, spanning the Danube River.
It seems that the bridge was under construction, so we had to wait for a while, but after that, everything went smoothly.
It seems that departure and arrival are done at the same time, and the driver collects the passports, which are then given to an official, and returned after a while.
When entering the country, a stamp was also placed on top of other stamps, but there seemed to be no space on the same page, so the departure and arrival stamps were also on the same page, boldly placed on top of other stamps. Sigh. Please forgive me.
And after about an hour and a half, we arrived in Bucharest.
I was worried about where we would arrive, but I was relieved that they dropped us off at a metro station.
↓ We were dropped off around Piaţa Unirii 1. The same bus seems to continue to the airport. You can get off at either this location or the airport.
There was a currency exchange office in front of me, so I exchanged Bulgarian leva for Romanian lei.
Then, I took the metro to the station near the hotel and checked in. The accommodation here is as follows:
Olive Hostel
Dormitory, 2 nights for 12 euros (approximately 1,610 yen)
Approximately 800 yen per night.
I was surprised by the descriptions of poor security (security) in Bucharest on other blogs, but it was peaceful during my stay.
The prices seem to be relatively low.
Perhaps the graffiti on the trams, the dirtiness of the subway stations, and the iron bars on the storefronts give the impression of poor security, but at least it's a peaceful capital city during the day.
In the cheapest accommodations, which cost around 6 euros per night, there are many people who are staying long-term and working or doing internships.
Despite being the capital city, there was a power outage for a few hours during the day.
What is this? This infrastructure is terrible.
Romania SIM card acquisition.
After checking into the hotel, I went to get a Vodafone SIM card.
It cost 7 euros for a new SIM card plus 2GB of data.
The additional charge is also the same.
I compared Vodafone with Orange and "T", but Vodafone had the best conditions.
For me, as long as I can access the internet for data communication, the amount of data is the deciding factor.
Orange:
They have a 3G plan for 8 euros, but they are out of SIM cards, so they only have an 8 euro plan for 1GB plus calls.
For additional charges, it's possible to add data in 2GB increments, but it seems you have to buy a 1GB SIM card initially.
I was directed to other stores, but the directions led outside the city, and I didn't want to go that far. When I asked if there were any stores in the city center, they said "no," but then I found a proper Orange store within walking distance. What a careless response. Do they answer "no" when they don't know?
"T":
The first store didn't have any SIM cards, so I was directed to another store.
I think it was about 9 euros for 1.5GB, but I'm not sure. It was probably worse than Vodafone.
It cost 7 euros for a new SIM card plus 2GB of data.
The additional charge is also the same.
I compared Vodafone with Orange and "T", but Vodafone had the best conditions.
For me, as long as I can access the internet for data communication, the amount of data is the deciding factor.
Orange:
They have a 3G plan for 8 euros, but they are out of SIM cards, so they only have an 8 euro plan for 1GB plus calls.
For additional charges, it's possible to add data in 2GB increments, but it seems you have to buy a 1GB SIM card initially.
I was directed to other stores, but the directions led outside the city, and I didn't want to go that far. When I asked if there were any stores in the city center, they said "no," but then I found a proper Orange store within walking distance. What a careless response. Do they answer "no" when they don't know?
"T":
The first store didn't have any SIM cards, so I was directed to another store.
I think it was about 9 euros for 1.5GB, but I'm not sure. It was probably worse than Vodafone.
Fighting against the terrifying giant water bug.
At night, I had another battle with bed bugs in a cheap hostel in Bucharest.
The first hostel was infested with mosquitoes and flies, making it impossible to sleep. I thought that was all, but then I realized I was also being attacked by bed bugs. If it weren't for the mosquitoes and flies, I might have noticed them sooner. It's been terrible.
On the second night, I managed to kill about 10 bed bugs and finally got some sleep.
Some were tiny, only about 1mm, while others were huge, about 5mm (0.5cm). They're terrifying.
They're relatives of stink bugs. They suck blood. When you catch them with a tissue and crush them, the blood comes out, staining the tissue red.
Because they only appear in small numbers, I would lie down to sleep, then get up if I heard a "buzzing" sound, look around the bed for them, catch them, and repeat. Even so, I still got bitten quite a bit on the second night. My hands and feet were covered in bite marks, and it was unbearably itchy.
I have about 10 bite marks on each of my hands and feet, and there are red spots all over. It's awful. Even though it's just an itch, seeing my hands and feet makes me feel disgusted, and I get hives and feel like I'm going to die.
However, I was able to manage it thanks to my experience in India.
If I hadn't had that experience, I would have wanted to go home.
More than food or fatigue, bed bugs are the worst.
Even during my time in India, I had all sorts of problems, but bed bugs were the worst. I hate them the most.
However, they weren't as itchy as the fleas I got in Turkey.
Fleas seem to cause more persistent itching.
In terms of itchiness, bed bugs are not as bad as fleas.
Fleas tend to bite on the legs, while bed bugs can bite on the hands as well.
By the way, it's said that bed bug bites can cause itching for about a month, but I don't think that's true.
The itching subsides within a few days.
However, bed bugs are very common, so you get "bitten every day." That's why the itching continues for a long time, even if it's only for a month, because you're being bitten every day.
They are nocturnal and hide during the day, so it's hard to notice their presence in the bright light. That's why, even if you think they're gone, you might still be getting bitten.
If you have a lot of red marks on your hands and feet that look like you've been bitten by a lot of mosquitoes, it's likely bed bugs, so be careful.
If you hear a "buzzing" sound at night, turn on the light and carefully check the bed. You'll see black spots scurrying towards hiding places, so quickly catch them with a tissue and crush them. If you don't kill them, they will survive and spread the infestation. There may also be eggs, so you need to tell the owner to disinfect the room thoroughly to stop the infestation.
In severe cases, you may need to throw away the mattress and bedding, or if it's a wooden bunk bed with gaps, they may be living in the gaps, so you may even need to throw away the entire bed to stop the infestation. They are so prolific that you need to tell the owner immediately if you notice them.
In my case, I told the owner about the infestation, but I don't know how they will deal with it since I've already checked out. A responsible owner would at least disinfect the room and check it regularly.
If you've been bitten by bed bugs, they may be on your clothes, so you need to shake them off thoroughly and wash them many times. Bed bugs don't die in a washing machine, so if you suspect your clothes have bed bugs, it's best to throw away old clothes you were wearing on your trip. I've found that bed bugs tend to live in cotton clothes, but not in nylon clothes.
From my experience, even if a place looks clean, there may be bed bugs.
If there are bed bugs, you can tell they're present by the black, powdery droppings around their nests. However, in hotels, especially those that are relatively clean, you may not notice these droppings.
So, even if a place looks clean, there may still be bed bugs.
As a treatment, catch and kill them as described above.
Since they come out to look for human scent in the dark, get up immediately if you hear a "buzzing" sound and crush them with a tissue. This will significantly reduce the infestation.
An even better solution is to cover yourself with a sheet, as bed bugs will come from hidden places, so the part of the sheet that's not exposed will be safe. However, be careful as they can also attack your neck and hands.
First, if you "wake up in the middle of the night," be suspicious of bed bugs. You might think you can't sleep because mosquitoes are flying around and making noise, but it could be a "complex attack" (laughs). If you have more red spots on your hands and feet, and it feels a little different from mosquito bites, it could be bed bugs.
In my case, I can usually tell if it's bed bugs because I wake up when they bite me, even if I'm itchy from mosquito bites. I don't know about other people, but that's how I can tell.
The first hostel was infested with mosquitoes and flies, making it impossible to sleep. I thought that was all, but then I realized I was also being attacked by bed bugs. If it weren't for the mosquitoes and flies, I might have noticed them sooner. It's been terrible.
On the second night, I managed to kill about 10 bed bugs and finally got some sleep.
Some were tiny, only about 1mm, while others were huge, about 5mm (0.5cm). They're terrifying.
They're relatives of stink bugs. They suck blood. When you catch them with a tissue and crush them, the blood comes out, staining the tissue red.
Because they only appear in small numbers, I would lie down to sleep, then get up if I heard a "buzzing" sound, look around the bed for them, catch them, and repeat. Even so, I still got bitten quite a bit on the second night. My hands and feet were covered in bite marks, and it was unbearably itchy.
I have about 10 bite marks on each of my hands and feet, and there are red spots all over. It's awful. Even though it's just an itch, seeing my hands and feet makes me feel disgusted, and I get hives and feel like I'm going to die.
However, I was able to manage it thanks to my experience in India.
If I hadn't had that experience, I would have wanted to go home.
More than food or fatigue, bed bugs are the worst.
Even during my time in India, I had all sorts of problems, but bed bugs were the worst. I hate them the most.
However, they weren't as itchy as the fleas I got in Turkey.
Fleas seem to cause more persistent itching.
In terms of itchiness, bed bugs are not as bad as fleas.
Fleas tend to bite on the legs, while bed bugs can bite on the hands as well.
By the way, it's said that bed bug bites can cause itching for about a month, but I don't think that's true.
The itching subsides within a few days.
However, bed bugs are very common, so you get "bitten every day." That's why the itching continues for a long time, even if it's only for a month, because you're being bitten every day.
They are nocturnal and hide during the day, so it's hard to notice their presence in the bright light. That's why, even if you think they're gone, you might still be getting bitten.
If you have a lot of red marks on your hands and feet that look like you've been bitten by a lot of mosquitoes, it's likely bed bugs, so be careful.
If you hear a "buzzing" sound at night, turn on the light and carefully check the bed. You'll see black spots scurrying towards hiding places, so quickly catch them with a tissue and crush them. If you don't kill them, they will survive and spread the infestation. There may also be eggs, so you need to tell the owner to disinfect the room thoroughly to stop the infestation.
In severe cases, you may need to throw away the mattress and bedding, or if it's a wooden bunk bed with gaps, they may be living in the gaps, so you may even need to throw away the entire bed to stop the infestation. They are so prolific that you need to tell the owner immediately if you notice them.
In my case, I told the owner about the infestation, but I don't know how they will deal with it since I've already checked out. A responsible owner would at least disinfect the room and check it regularly.
If you've been bitten by bed bugs, they may be on your clothes, so you need to shake them off thoroughly and wash them many times. Bed bugs don't die in a washing machine, so if you suspect your clothes have bed bugs, it's best to throw away old clothes you were wearing on your trip. I've found that bed bugs tend to live in cotton clothes, but not in nylon clothes.
From my experience, even if a place looks clean, there may be bed bugs.
If there are bed bugs, you can tell they're present by the black, powdery droppings around their nests. However, in hotels, especially those that are relatively clean, you may not notice these droppings.
So, even if a place looks clean, there may still be bed bugs.
As a treatment, catch and kill them as described above.
Since they come out to look for human scent in the dark, get up immediately if you hear a "buzzing" sound and crush them with a tissue. This will significantly reduce the infestation.
An even better solution is to cover yourself with a sheet, as bed bugs will come from hidden places, so the part of the sheet that's not exposed will be safe. However, be careful as they can also attack your neck and hands.
First, if you "wake up in the middle of the night," be suspicious of bed bugs. You might think you can't sleep because mosquitoes are flying around and making noise, but it could be a "complex attack" (laughs). If you have more red spots on your hands and feet, and it feels a little different from mosquito bites, it could be bed bugs.
In my case, I can usually tell if it's bed bugs because I wake up when they bite me, even if I'm itchy from mosquito bites. I don't know about other people, but that's how I can tell.
St. Joseph's Cathedral.
I went to a small church called Catedrala Sfantul Iosif, which is near the hotel.
It is small, but the inside is quite beautiful. (Photography is not allowed inside.)
It is small, but the inside is quite beautiful. (Photography is not allowed inside.)
Parliament Palace (National Palace, PALATUL PARLAMENTULUI, Casa Poporului).
I visited the Palace of the Parliament (Palatul Parlamentului, Casa Poporului), which is located in the center of Bucharest.
I had heard rumors about it, but it is incredibly huge!
It was built during the Communist era, and although it was not completed even after democratization, it seems that it was completed because it was cheaper to complete it than to demolish it.
I think it's too large in size.
The materials are good, but for some reason, it doesn't appeal to me.
It's large, but it feels like something is missing.
Since you cannot visit without booking a tour, I will book the next "Regular Tour + Underground" for 30 lei (approximately 910 yen).
After passing security, I will be guided through the tour.
According to the guide, it is said to be the second largest in the world, after the Pentagon.
When I heard the explanation, I thought it was the Pantheon, but it seems it is actually the Pentagon. The pronunciation of Romanian people is distinctive.
Taking pictures inside requires an additional 30 lei (approximately 910 yen), but according to rumors, "it's just big, not that special," so I didn't book it. However, it was quite impressive, and even without pictures, the guided tour was sufficient.
Even without booking the photo option, it was okay to take pictures of the outside scenery from the balcony.
I had heard rumors about it, but it is incredibly huge!
It was built during the Communist era, and although it was not completed even after democratization, it seems that it was completed because it was cheaper to complete it than to demolish it.
I think it's too large in size.
The materials are good, but for some reason, it doesn't appeal to me.
It's large, but it feels like something is missing.
Since you cannot visit without booking a tour, I will book the next "Regular Tour + Underground" for 30 lei (approximately 910 yen).
After passing security, I will be guided through the tour.
According to the guide, it is said to be the second largest in the world, after the Pentagon.
When I heard the explanation, I thought it was the Pantheon, but it seems it is actually the Pentagon. The pronunciation of Romanian people is distinctive.
Taking pictures inside requires an additional 30 lei (approximately 910 yen), but according to rumors, "it's just big, not that special," so I didn't book it. However, it was quite impressive, and even without pictures, the guided tour was sufficient.
Even without booking the photo option, it was okay to take pictures of the outside scenery from the balcony.
Bucharest city.
If you take a walk around Bucharest, you will find many old buildings, which is quite interesting.
The trams are also antiques.
The trams are also antiques.
Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral.
Next, I went to the Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral.
It was under renovation, but while I was in the cathedral, the priest started chanting, and I ended up listening to it for two hours.
I was shown something wonderful. A TV crew was also there.
After a period of feeling heavy and having a kind of drowsiness that was different from sleep, I suddenly became alert and felt lighter.
It was as if a burden had been lifted. This is amazing.
I think this is probably the top church in Romania. As expected, there are some amazing people among the priests.
It was under renovation, but while I was in the cathedral, the priest started chanting, and I ended up listening to it for two hours.
I was shown something wonderful. A TV crew was also there.
After a period of feeling heavy and having a kind of drowsiness that was different from sleep, I suddenly became alert and felt lighter.
It was as if a burden had been lifted. This is amazing.
I think this is probably the top church in Romania. As expected, there are some amazing people among the priests.
