BEARS ON THE ROAD

After our Dracula interlude, our tour continues towards Bucharest. But you don't just get there. Then you first have to cross a mountain. The Fagaras. If I'm right, that's part of the Carpathians. There is a short way and a nice way. That choice is not difficult. It will be the beautiful.

And this is not just any pretty road. Connoisseurs have proclaimed it the most beautiful road in Europe. Of course we won't let that pass us by.

This road - the Transfagarasan, 90 km long, and labeled "the road to the clouds" - was once built on the initiative of Nicolas Ceausescu, the communist ruler. The last communist leader before the populace fought themselves free and stormed his palace in a revolutionary uproar and summarily killed him, in December 1989.

Many stories circulate about Ceausescu. For example, about how he came to power. A power struggle had broken out at the top of the communist party in Romania. A few strong leaders held each other tight, preventing the battle from coming to an end.

In the end, Ceaucescu was put forward as a compromise candidate and accepted by all the belligerents, because he had no education, and everyone was convinced that he was too stupid to become dangerous to anyone.

He is also the man who ensured that the Transfagarasan was built. Officially to have the possibility to quickly move the troops from Bucharest to the north if the Russians should unexpectedly attack.

But that argument doesn't hold up when you know that a troop movement on existing roads would only mean a 50-kilometer detour. So it is suspected that the road was built because Ceausesco wanted to prove that as a leader he was quite capable of bringing something beautiful to his country. So it's a prestigious project.

The Transfagaras starts after a few kilometers from our last campsite.

And it must be said, he is beautiful. This is mainly due to the large differences in height, which means that there are many hairpin loops. In some places there is no vegetation so that all those loops can be seen at the same time.

Along the way it is very busy here and there. At the top and also at a lake the tourists gather, and there are immediately the sellers with their trinkets. For us, that means moving on quickly.

At the back of the pass we encounter some quieter nature. That is more our piece of cake

A group of donkeys suddenly crosses the road.

But of course the first prize goes to Bruin de Beer, who we suddenly see from the corner of our eye along the road.

Because there is a guardrail between him and us, we can approach him very closely by car (with open window). We manage to get to one meter.

Apparently he is not afraid of people, because he just stays in place. Fascinating!

Somewhat dazed, we continue on our way. In the wild, this feels completely different than in a zoo.

Then we finally arrive in Bucharest. There we stay with Dan and Nicoleta Bobe.

Bucharest is not just a city for me. There I experienced one of the most moving episodes of my World Children's career.

I met Nicoleta 30 years ago. At that time she was a pediatrician in one of the 64 children's homes in Bucharest. Ceausescu was killed in a popular uprising. And with it his regime. After that, all abuses in the children's homes came to light.

That was awful. The children had too little - and one-sided - food, no stuff, a lack of sufficient carers, no medicines, AIDS due to the reuse of (contaminated) needles, etcetera.

One month after the fall of Ceausescu, I traveled there as director of Wereldkinderen, to see if we could do something in that situation with adoption or emergency aid.

In my wake, a camera crew from - if I remember correctly - Avro's Televizier traveled with me. That was one of the leading current affairs programs on the tube at that time. They captured everything - looking over my shoulder - with the camera.

In return I had stipulated that they would show the giro number of Wereldkinderen in the TV broadcast. They kept their word. A week later, the World Cup was two million guilders richer, which of course we had to spend for Romania.

I immediately got into an argument with the cooperating aid organizations. They had also raised about two million guilders with a national campaign, and they thought that I had helped them with my initiative. Of course I don't think so.

In any case, we delivered more than 30,000 guilders worth of emergency aid to each of the 64 homes. Food, clothes, medicines, toys. And Nicoleta was the pediatrician of the first home I entered.

By the way, EenVandaag is coming around Christmas with a program in which 30 years later, an extensive look back at the situation at that time, including our campaign. This time without a giro number. Is no longer necessary.

But for me it is very special to stay with Nicoleta and to be able to retrieve old memories.

Bucharest was in my memory as a gray, somewhat depressed city, where people had gained hope, but where there was also fear about what the future would bring.

How different is the reality of today! When we enter the city we fall with our noses in the herb butter again. There is a street - Calea Victoriei - which is known for being where the elite used to flaunt its wealth. And that is commemorated today with a kind of street festival.

The fun is gone. The atmosphere in the city is airy, cheerful, free. There is music, street art, and everyone is having a great time. What a contrast with the images of the past that I still have in my head.

Ceausescu had built himself a palace in his time. Way too much palace for one man. But yes, a dictator not taken very seriously. Then you get that kind of megalomaniac things ..... I also think that about the Trump towers .....

Today the Romanian Parliament is housed in Ceaucescu's former palace.

In another wing is an exhibition of modern painting. Well, multi-purpose building

We will also visit the Hotel Intercontinental. Thirty years ago that was the only hotel where you could stay as a foreigner. I still remember many details, such as the shape of the building,

the view of the reception,

and the dining room. To my delight I also discover a beautiful grand piano. Of course I'll have to figure that out.

And I intend - action point for the near future - that I want to perform here one day with Angela, the singer with whom I play together. In honor of the past.

Of course we also look at the Baroque-looking buildings of Bucharest. It is not called the Paris of Eastern Europe for nothing.

And, while we are on pilgrimage, we must of course visit some beautiful churches. And that is really enjoying here. They come in all sizes and types. New ones are even being built.

We also get another insight into the rich orthodox religious experience.

In addition to the churches, there are also the theaters that radiate a fantastic beauty.

And some hotels can also do something about it.

And even humor is starting to thrive here.

We had a great time here in Bucharest. Our next destination is Bulgaria. And we are curious whether this will also provide us with pleasant travel experiences.