Bucharest - I am Legend

We arrived to Bucharest on a Sunday, not expecting very much as the city had been universally slated as disappointing by just about everyone we met (save for one canadian man).

We arrived early in the day and decided to pay a visit to the contemporary art museum located in one of the wings by the abandonded presidential palace. Ceausescu comissioned this enormous palace (the second largest building in the world, after the Pentagon) during his tenure. The building was never completed before his assasination, and it remains empty save for tour groups and the odd conference. To walk around the block outside the building is some 4 kms! In addition there are many other abandoned buildings close by that give the area a rather derelict feel.

Arriving on a Sunday is very spooky because there was almost nobody to be seen in the city in this area, the buildings are half built (or half demolished) and there are gleaming motorways without a single car passing - all we needed was Will Smith to pop up with Alsation to perfectly mirror the apocalypic setting for "I am Legend"

The Contemporary art museum however was very good and the space well designed. We also took a tour of the Palace the following day and marveled at what is essentially an almost complete grand luxury hotel with masses of marble large opulent rooms.

PS We were informed that Michael Jackson was one of the last people to give an address from the Palace balcony, when he reported said "Hello Budapest" !!!