Funny Finnair

[craven morehead]

Anyway Craven, I have been making some note on word so hear goes. I get a lot of info and entertainment form AFF but I do not contribute as much as I should.

This trip started last year in the BNE lounge waiting for my flight to EMD. For some reason flights on QR through Velocity were wide open from MEL to many European destinations. I had wanted to go to Budapest and Eastern Europe for some reason, so I booked in to Bucharest there and then. Work the rest out later.

QR905 from MEL-DOH connecting to OTP. 23 APR

Booked around June last year with Velocity points. Around 130000 points plus ~$700 in taxes.

After check in straight through security and immigration very promptly, hardly anyone there. Did not have to take toiletries or laptops out. Very simple.

I found out at check in if carry on only, one can just proceed through security and they will print a boarding pass for you at gate.

Enjoyed the very excellent ML F lounge. I was offered a massage shortly after arrival too. So much nicer than the SYD equivalent.

After a light tea I checked out the whatever lounge QR offers. I forget the name save to say it Pretty depressing in all aspects. I did not stay there more than three minutes.

Yes mate, I've been a bit slack lately myself. Have had a few more trips and haven't had the energy required to put out a decent TR.
As you said, a lot of us get entertainment and travel education from this forum so it's only right to have a crack now and then
Agree, the MEL FLounge is very nice

 

[Cessna 180]

Boarded seat 1K which is pretty swish. Good service, plenty to eat and drink although I was not particularly hungry but still wanted to enjoy it. A lot has been written about Q suite so not really anything to add. One thing I will say is that I find the door a bit gimmicky. I’m not doing anything in there that I need extra privacy for. So long as the seat lays flat and I have a bit of room around me I am content.

Laid the seat back and slept on and off for the rest of the flight. Arrival at Doha, had plenty of time between flights so went for a decent clip around. Place is massive. Checked out the original Al Mourjan. There was some problem letting me in due being a reward seat but after a few minutes and a bit of back and forth between a couple of the staff I was in.

Showered up and went and checked out the Garden. Same deal with entry. Good to see they do not tolerate interlopers I suppose.

Time to board QR for Bucharest. A320 with similar set up to domestic Qantas 737. Went on a special J class bus with special seats to the remote stand. Oh, also not further security as Fiona mentioned can sometimes happen. Just out the door and on the bus.

 

[Cessna 180]

Obligatory champagne picture and special J bus.
I liked the garden lounge.

Not really a fan of the pink champagne

 

[Cessna 180]

Impressive lunch on the 320.

 

[Cessna 180]

Welcome to Romania!

What a great place! I think I was so excited to be there I did not quite believe it. There is a train that goes from the airport to the edge of the city. The lady at the station did not speak English, but laughed and kind of pointed me in the direction of the platform. I could not work out how to get a ticket so I just hopped on and hoped for the best. After trying to work out the ticket machine on board a young bloke said to just tap my card and and all is good. “Welcome to Romania”, he laughed. “Everything is F’d up!”

I am going to like it here I smiled to myself.

The only thing I had booked apart from my return ticket was two nights accom in the city of Bucharest. Around $75/nights for Air b&b self contained unit with a nice view of the city.

This set the trend for the next few weeks. Mostly using booking . com I found really good, well located, self contained apartments for sub $100/night.

Spent that evening on foot all around the city. Already the days were long, from around 0600 till 2100. Perfect.

The next day I tackled the underground train and ventured a little further out as well as checking out the art gallery. The contrast between the old town, brutalist and modern buildings was really cool. I love walking around but I wanted to see the real Romania. Avis seemed to have a decent deal so I was back at the airport on Friday and in front of a very helpful lady who spoke beautiful English and soon had me on my way.

My original idea was to rent a car in one city, drive it all around The Balkans and return it in another. That seems to be challenging in Europe. Not saying it is not possible, just challenging and probably expensive.

 

[Cessna 180]

Bucharest

 

[Cessna 180]

More Bucharest. I had actually started to forget how much I like this place. This is actually quite therapeutic; going back over the trip a few weeks after getting back.

 

[Cessna 180]

I have done a lot of driving in my life in most vehicles from a posty bike up to a triple road train. However, never on the RHS of the road. Anyway, that kept me on my toes for a bit getting used to that. Destination Sibiu.

People drive much more assertively in Romania than we are used to here. I think we could take a leaf out of their book. If you are too slow, you just get overtaken and/or tooted at! I soon worked out the speed limit was more of a guideline than something to be constantly worried about being fined heavily for and losing my license. Our government could learn a lot from the Romanians!

Sibiu. Possibly my favourite place for the trip. As I drove in and followed directions to what turned out to be excellent accommodation, I found myself feeling slightly deflated. I had driven through some spectacular scenery and stopped at a couple of cute little towns. This place looked a bit suburban and flat. Anyway, all day concentrating on the wrong side of the road, I wanted a shower and a beer and did not really care about my location.

My unit turned out to have a nice view of the hills in the distance and I walked in the direction of what google told me was a little place the locals eat at. Well I walked a few hundred metres and I was in what appeared to be a typical European Old town. Colourful buildings, winding, narrow cobblestoned streets. So pretty.

I enjoy going to the places that seem to be less touristy. They did not speak English here but we got by and had some more tasty pork schnitzel. Pork seems to be the most popular meat I think.

A really beautiful old citadel. I spent three nights here, could easily spend a week. The next day i found a beautiful fresh food market. Strawberrys were in season.

 

[Cessna 180]

I really miss this place. Hard to explain why. (Not the sex shop, I just found that funny in the middle of this old, historic section)

 

[Cessna 180]

Restaurant food was mostly pretty economical. A couple of drinks and a main course ~30$. Steak was a bit dearer.
After the plane food and a few days of eating out I just wanted a a bit of simple food and my favourite coffee! Oh the simple pleasures of life. There was a good little Super right across from my unit. Cheap local vodka too

 

[Cessna 180]

I just really liked this place! I'm walking around in a T shirt or with a light jacket and yet there is still snow on the mountains.

 

[Cessna 180]

Getting the hang of driving in Romania, on the Monday back in the trusty VW and off to Sighisoara. I drove through some really good farm land with quite a few dairy farms. Being late spring the crops looked amazing too. Farming looks good here, kind of reminded me a bit of the Adelaide Hills where I grew up in the 80’s

Sighisoara, was cool but seemed a bit ‘touristy’ can’t say exactly what or why, however it did not quite do it for me compared to Sibiu. Plenty of hills to walk up and the best little house I had. Two nights here and I decided to get back to plan and take the train to Sofia. Wednesday I headed to Targoviste. This is about an hour from OTP where I would return the car and take the short bus ride to Ruse.

Passed through fa_aras and some nice hilly scenery. I really enjoy the freedom of having the car and just going where I want when I want.

I had been using the MAYA esim and google maps and of course on arrival to Targoviste the network completely effed out! Fortunately, I had screen shotted the details of the accom, but I could not work out where I was exactly in relation to it. I had pulled up outside a Vet surgery and decided to go in and see if I could borrow some wifi. Most people seemed to speak a few words of English but they usually new someone who was fluent. After a bit of back and forth they located the fluent person and he was hotspotting me to his phone while his friend was ringing the number for the accom!

Soon I was in touch with the person and clear directions to just up the road where I needed to be. I really love these type of interactions and meeting local people. So helpful and friendly.

Next day back at OTP and delivered the hire car. I did not really have a good idea where to meet the Pegaus bus. This seemed to be the simplest and cheapest way to get to Ruse. Of course the bus was late and the taxi drivers were convinced I was a hapless tourist and were more than happy to convince me the bus did not exist and they should take me to somewhere.



Bus showed up about an hour late and on departure to Ruse. About a two hour drive and at the gate to Bulgaria. Bloke came on and took our passports for a bit and then brought them back and we were through and at the Ruse train/bus station.

 

[Cessna 180]

Friendly cows. And more pork schnitzel.

 

[Cessna 180]

Final days of Romania, thence across The Mighty Danube and enter Bulgaria.

 

[craven morehead]

Restaurant food was mostly pretty economical. A couple of drinks and a main course ~30$. Steak was a bit dearer.
After the plane food and a few days of eating out I just wanted a a bit of simple food and my favourite coffee! Oh the simple pleasures of life. There was a good little Super right across from my unit. Cheap local vodka too

Simple is good

 

[ellen10]

Really enjoying your trip report and photos.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[FlyingFiona]

Not really a fan of the pink champagne

I'll have it! Unless they have changed their wine list since I last flew, it's Charles Heidsieck Vintage and is divine!

 

[VPS]

Interesting TR and some great photos thanks

That brutalist architecture is well brutal

 

[Cessna 180]

Thanks for the encouragement folks! I will keep adding to it. Glad I am not boring everyone!

Ruse was quite a decent town. The train station looks a bit basic but beyond there and toward the river was pretty normal.

These random coffee vending machines were everywhere

 

[DC3]

Not really a fan of the pink champagne

On holidays, it’s okay to let your hair down

Great trip report by the way.