Bucharest is a lovely city that looks older than it actually is. Much of the downtown area resembles cities that were built 100 to 150 years ago, but was actually built within the past 50 years. This is due to a couple of factors; a devastating earthquake in 1977 and the communist regime from 1947 to 1989.
Following the earthquake, the Communist dictator, Nicolae Ceaușescu, tore down a large section of the old town to start construction on what eventually became the Parliament Palace. This building was built between 1984 and 1997 and is the second heaviest in the world (after the pyramids) as well as the 2nd largest administrative building ( after the Pentagon). The street in front of it was designed to be a small Champs - Elysee, but the buildings are based on the architecture of Pyongyang. There is also an Arc d’Triumph in a different part of the city. Over the years following the end of Communism, Bucharest has evolved from being a heavy industrial city to become a service based city.
I definitely think that being a Tuk tuk driver here takes nerves of steel as traffic is heavy and scary.
The Parliament Palace
Brian and our guide, Valentine in front of the street based on the North Korean capital. 
A new private home designed as a copy of the Rodin Museum in Paris.
A private home in the traditional Romanian style.
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