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Interesting Times Team

Elena Ciobanu

Meet Elena C.

I love to help travelers discover the rich history of Romania, as I try my best to keep learning and understanding new things about it myself.

Elena is part of the ITB team, and we may say she played a big part in shaping our project’s identity. She is most appreciated for her great touring experience, and for being super knowledgeable and exceptionally friendly. We must warn you – that joy of hers is contagious!

Where are you from and what led you to Bucharest?

I am born and raised in Bucharest. My parents were both born and raised in Bucharest. Proud to represent.

How did you end up becoming a tour guide?

I was at university, studying to become a civil servant, when I needed a part-time job to pay my tuition fees. And a friend of my mom’s told us that they were looking to train and hire guides, young students, fluent in international languages, at the Palace of Parliament, Bucharest’s most famous tourist attraction. That opened the doors for me to a new way to serve my country, to become a tour guide. I love to help travelers discover the rich history of Romania, as I try my best to keep learning and understanding new things about it myself.

The resilience of people in Bucharest, and Romania in general, always impressed me.

What about Bucharest makes you proud?

The resilience of people in Bucharest, and Romania in general, always impressed me. Just in the last 100 years Bucharest has witnessed bombings, invasions, earthquakes, dictatorships, and a decades-long attack by the communist party to undermine architecture, art, and community. And the fact that locals are still so friendly, so open, so cheerful, feels amazing.

Do you have any favorite local traditions?

My nephews learning Christmas carols makes my heart burst with joy every year. As so many Romanians go to work abroad, and our family is not an exception, I guess bringing the families together for the holidays is in itself a valuable tradition.

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What’s one thing people need to know about Bucharest before they visit?

Bucharest is huge. Do not plan to spend just one day or a weekend here. Give yourself enough time to enjoy the elegant old town and the famous museums, but also travel off the beaten path. Hidden behind the massive gray boulevards and thick lackluster apartment buildings from communist years, you can be surprised by a lot of contrasts. There are beautiful places of worship, lovely parks, abandoned palaces, narrow streets so quiet you can hear the birds chirping.

What’s your favorite neighborhood in Bucharest?

Obor neighborhood is next door to where I live, so some of my earliest memories from childhood are going grocery shopping with my mom. The Obor Market to me feels like the heart of the city, where people from walks of life come together. I love its colors, its smells, its sounds. I enjoy getting really delicious food, saving some money, but also supporting hardworking local farmers or small shops.

To me, remembering the sacrifice of those who came before us is essential for never taking for granted democracy and freedom of speech.

What’s your favorite spot in Bucharest?

The Cemetery of the Heroes of the Revolution in 1989. To me, remembering the sacrifice of those who came before us is essential for never taking for granted democracy and freedom of speech. The dark history of communism gets too often forgotten about in our history books and our public conversations, and for a society to thrive it must come to terms with its history.

What do you think travelers should eat and drink when in Bucharest?

For an authentic taste of Bucharest, I would recommend the “Mici” or “Mititei”, our small Romanian skinless version of sausages. Best to be devoured hot from the grill at the Terasa Obor, at Obor Market. And since I rarely drink alcohol, I am going to recommend some fresh apple juice, directly from the farmers.

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