The long, long day

We've now completed what is surely the longest day in JT history. This was always gonna be a short, sharp tours so we had to make use of every minute in Bucharest. We arrived from the airport and when we stepped off the bus we were greeted by a big, noisy, smelly working city - the polar opposite of the peaceful, beauty of Heidelberg last year. But these as the city which the foundations of JT was built apon. Due to a re-organisation of my accounting and filing systems back home I didn't have the time to carry out the usual in depth research so all I knew about the directions to the hostel from the city centre - was that it had a pointed roof. So we set off walking round the biggest city in this side of Europe looking for a hostel with a pointed roof. 2 hours later after trawling through rain showers, avoiding numerous craters in the pavement and live wires hanging from lamp posts we found enough wifi to locate the hostel. This wasn't before meeting an equally lost American every time we turned the corner into road in the maze if streets, and stopping off on the most avant garde coffee shop where we sipped a beer from a crystal goblet whilst sitting on Louis XV1 Furniture. After finally settling in to our hostel we set off for a walk to explore the city. After once again avoid all the h&s concerns and nutty drivers we made it to the old town of Bucharest. Although much of the town is crumbling there is a stretch of bars and restaurants taking up much of the old town. It looked promising for a good night out tonight. After a couple of beers, some Romanian food and a good bit of people watching we went back to the hostel for the 'John odonnell' (10 min kip-shower,dress,out) in ready for a big night on the town in what continues to be the longer day in JT history.