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Interesting Times Team

Maria

Meet Maria

...the city is evolving and becoming a more popular city for city breaks.

Maria is part of the ITB team, and 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!

How did you end up becoming a tour guide?

I first attended some walking tours around Bucharest and I immediately thought I’d like to be able to be a tour guide myself. Then, I contacted Interesting Times Bureau, who welcomed me with their arms wide open.

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

What about Bucharest makes you proud?

In the last 10 years, many festivals and cultural events started happening in and around Bucharest after a time (especially in the early 2000s) when the city felt dull. It may not seem much, but I am proud of it because it shows that the city is evolving and becoming a more popular city for city breaks.

Do you have any favorite local traditions?

It’s not necessarily local to Bucharest, but my favorite tradition is the gathering on Easter evening. The Orthodox Christians meet outside churches closest to their homes and wait for the holy light coming from Jerusalem. At midnight, the priest starts giving the light to the people around him, then they give it to the ones on the back, and so on, and that’s how the light spreads to everyone who’s there. I am not a religious person, but this event gives me a strong sense of community and, at the same time, I feel the sanctity of the moment.

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

Bucharest is not the classical city break destination in Europe. At first glance, it may seem rough around the edges, but once you discover its complicated history, it all starts to make sense. There are a lot of hidden gems to be discovered, you just have to wander around and pay attention to the small details.

What’s your favorite neighborhood in Bucharest?

The award goes to the Grădina Icoanei neighborhood. Even though it’s located in the central part of Bucharest, the area is quiet but still with a lot of coffee shops, small parks, and beautiful old houses

Whenever I have a bad day, or I just need a little breather, I take a walk in this park and all the problems seem to disappear.

What’s your favorite spot in Bucharest?

That would definitely be Tineretului Park. It’s one of the largest parks in Bucharest and the nicest one. I may be biased because that’s where I spent most of my childhood and teenage years. But whenever I have a bad day, or I just need a little breather, I take a walk in this park and all the problems seem to disappear.

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

I am a big fan of ice cream but, besides that, my ideal evening in Bucharest includes a platter with local cheeses, some white wine, and my closest friends of course. It’s more on the expensive side, but my favorite place to experience this is “Pâine și vin”.

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