Table of Contents Welcome to Bucharest and Romania 2011.......................................12
What do you mean you’re leaving Romania? .................................................................................14 La Revedere! ...sort of........................................................................................................14 Five years – Cinci ani!.........................................................................................................15 Hai Hai Romania …............................................................................................................16 Overview 2010: Romania shifts gears to face new realities . ........................................................18 Beyond Bucharest..............................................................................................................................23 Out and about in Romania .................................................................................................23 Brasov: Medieval heritage and gateway to mountain stations............................................26 Sibiu: European Culture Capital 2007.................................................................................32 Sinaia..................................................................................................................................36 Timisoara............................................................................................................................39 Beyond Romania................................................................................................................................42 Chisinau, Republic of Moldova ..........................................................................................42 Bulgaria Outdoors...............................................................................................................47
Bucharest Guide 2011.........................................................................50
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Romania’s History in a Nutshell..........................................................................................50 Introduction - Getting along in Bucharest.......................................................................................52 General information............................................................................................................52 Important things to remember!............................................................................................53 Punctuality..........................................................................................................................54 Romanian Holidays.............................................................................................................54 Some informal mini - hints about superstitions...................................................................55 Parking................................................................................................................................55 Driving.................................................................................................................................56 Stray Dogs..........................................................................................................................56 A Weekend in ‘Little Paris’: Suggestions for the Bored.......................................................58 Bucharest Treasure Hunt - for Beginners...........................................................................59 About City Compass Services..........................................................................................................60 City Compass Newsletter....................................................................................................60 Tours...................................................................................................................................60 Cultural Workshops, Business Coaching and Orientation Courses . .................................61 Police and Emergency Telephone Numbers....................................................................................63 112 Saves Lives, Protects Citizens and Property...............................................................63 Romanian Police.................................................................................................................63 Private Security Companies................................................................................................64 Eating, Drinking and Fun...................................................................................................................65 Restaurants.........................................................................................................................65 Catering and Delivery Services...........................................................................................68 Cooking Classes.................................................................................................................69 Fox’s Bar Review................................................................................................................70 Pubs....................................................................................................................................72 Cafés...................................................................................................................................73 Teahouses...........................................................................................................................74 Clubs...................................................................................................................................75
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Wi-Fi Hotspots....................................................................................................................76 Movie Theatres...................................................................................................................77 DVD Rental Stores..............................................................................................................78 Costume Shops..................................................................................................................79 Music Shops and Lessons..................................................................................................79 English Bookshops.............................................................................................................79 Kids’ Entertainment.............................................................................................................80 Hotels and Travel Agencies...............................................................................................................83 Short-term Apartments and Hostels....................................................................................84 Travel Agencies..................................................................................................................85 Traffic and Transportation.................................................................................................................90 Road Tax . ..........................................................................................................................90 Subway...............................................................................................................................90 Street - Level Transportation...............................................................................................91 Busses................................................................................................................................91 Trams..................................................................................................................................92 Trolley.................................................................................................................................92 Bus Stations........................................................................................................................92 Domestic Destinations............................................................................................92 International Destinations........................................................................................93 Taxis....................................................................................................................................93 Railway System..................................................................................................................94 Bucharest Main Train Station - Gara de Nord.........................................................95 Automobiles........................................................................................................................95 Vehicle Registration................................................................................................95 Road Network.........................................................................................................95 Driving in Bucharest................................................................................................95 Dealing with Accidents............................................................................................96 Car Towing..............................................................................................................97 Auto detailing .........................................................................................................98 Car Rental...............................................................................................................98 Car Services............................................................................................................99 Car Wash in Bucharest by Sector...........................................................................99 Bicycles...............................................................................................................................99 Bike Paths.............................................................................................................101 Bike Parking..........................................................................................................101 Bike Shops/ Bike Repair.......................................................................................101 Airports..............................................................................................................................102 Flying with pets.....................................................................................................104 Health System...................................................................................................................................105 Emergency Hospitals........................................................................................................106 Private Clinics...................................................................................................................107 Dentists.................................................................................................................108 Osteopathy............................................................................................................108 Pharmacies.......................................................................................................................110 House and Home..............................................................................................................................111 Real Estate Agencies........................................................................................................ 111 Moving, Relocation and Storage Services........................................................................114 Postal and Shipping Services...........................................................................................119
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Romanian Postal Service......................................................................................119 Sector Postal Offices.............................................................................................119 Parcel Services.....................................................................................................120 Courier Services....................................................................................................120 Utilities..............................................................................................................................121 Electricity Bill.........................................................................................................121 Gas Bill..................................................................................................................122 Phone and Internet Bills........................................................................................122 Internet Providers..............................................................................................................123 Recycling Centres.............................................................................................................123 Home Services..................................................................................................................124 Cleaning Services.................................................................................................124 Interior Designers and Landscapers.....................................................................125 Name Label service..............................................................................................125 Glassblower..........................................................................................................125 Architects..............................................................................................................125 Building Contractors and Constructors.................................................................126 Handymen, Electricians, TV..................................................................................126 Plumbers...............................................................................................................126 Air Condition Specialists.......................................................................................127 Washing Machine Repair Service.........................................................................127 Locksmiths............................................................................................................127 Carpentry Shops...................................................................................................128 Windows (Thermo-insulating)...............................................................................128 Doors (Thermo-insulating)....................................................................................128 Joinery Repairs.....................................................................................................128 Personal Services.............................................................................................................128 Drugstores.............................................................................................................128 Professional Photographers..................................................................................130 Photo print art shop...............................................................................................130 Beauty Salons and Spas.......................................................................................130 Massage................................................................................................................131 Coiffeur..................................................................................................................131 Tailors....................................................................................................................131 Shoe repair / Cobbler............................................................................................131 Dry Cleaning and Laundry Services......................................................................132 Watch Repair.........................................................................................................132 Opticians...............................................................................................................132 Family Services.................................................................................................................132 Maternity Services.................................................................................................132 Babysitting.............................................................................................................133 Veterinarians.........................................................................................................133 Event planning......................................................................................................133 Shopping and Hypermarkets...........................................................................................................134 Bakeries............................................................................................................................134 Butchers............................................................................................................................134 Delicatessens....................................................................................................................135 Wine Dealers....................................................................................................................135 Bucharest Shopping Centers............................................................................................137
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Hypermarkets....................................................................................................................138 Home & Garden Retail Stores..........................................................................................139 Organic Shops..................................................................................................................140 Maternity, Baby Clothes & Toys........................................................................................141 Fashion Boutiques............................................................................................................142 Traditional & Antiques Shops............................................................................................142 Traditional Markets............................................................................................................143 Mass Media.......................................................................................................................................145 Radio.................................................................................................................................145 Newspapers and Magazines with English Sections..........................................................145 International Press............................................................................................................146 English Newsletters..........................................................................................................147 Legal and Business..........................................................................................................................148 Visas and Employment in Romania – Some useful information.......................................148 Expat Services..................................................................................................................150 Law Firms.........................................................................................................................152 Helpful Tips for Newcomers who are searching for employment......................................153 HR Agencies.....................................................................................................................154 Chambers of Commerce...................................................................................................156 A short introduction to tax issues in Romania...................................................................157 Tax, Accounting and General Consultancy.......................................................................160 Workplace Health and Safety Advice Service...................................................................160 Strategy Consultants.........................................................................................................160 Short-term Office Space Solutions....................................................................................161 Legal Translation Centers.................................................................................................161 Notaries Public..................................................................................................................161 Visa Services....................................................................................................................163 Personal Coaching ..........................................................................................................164 IT and Database Management Services...........................................................................166 Graphic Design.................................................................................................................167 EU Funding Consulting.....................................................................................................167 Banking.............................................................................................................................167 Culture and the Arts.........................................................................................................................171 Contemporary Art Centers................................................................................................171 Fine Art Galleries and Auction Houses.............................................................................171 Regular Cultural Events....................................................................................................171 Theatres............................................................................................................................172 Museums..........................................................................................................................174 Cultural Centers................................................................................................................174 Churches and Monasteries...............................................................................................175 Historic Monuments..........................................................................................................177 Non-Governmental Organisations....................................................................................178 Education..........................................................................................................................................181 Kindergartens....................................................................................................................181 Schools.............................................................................................................................181 Universities (English Language Instruction)......................................................................183 Romanian Language Lessons and Centers......................................................................184 Music Lessons..................................................................................................................185 Children’s Art Classes.......................................................................................................185
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Sports................................................................................................................................................186 Jogging.............................................................................................................................186 Billiards.............................................................................................................................186 Bowling.............................................................................................................................188 Football.............................................................................................................................188 Stadiums...........................................................................................................................189 Dance Lessons and Gear.................................................................................................189 Climbing............................................................................................................................190 Mountain Guide.................................................................................................................190 Equestrian Sports.............................................................................................................190 Karting...............................................................................................................................190 Darts.................................................................................................................................191 Yachting............................................................................................................................191 Swimming (pools, saunas, spas)......................................................................................191 Yoga..................................................................................................................................192 Jiu-Jitsu.............................................................................................................................192 Ski and Snowboard Shops................................................................................................192 Fitness Centers.................................................................................................................193 Pipera/Baneasa Area . .....................................................................................................................194 Interesting links................................................................................................................................198 About the Authors............................................................................................................................199
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