The fresh, juicy slice

Now, Bucharest is divided in the minds of its inhabitants according to business and shopping areas, residential neighbourhoods and official state headquarters such as the Palace of Parliament for example.

We call such neighbourhoods "good" or "central" areas and we mostly judge them by their real estate potential: "How much is the rent?!" It is where people go to work, go shopping or simply... go out and where many of us would like to live. So, this is our fresh, juicy slice. :)

Surprisingly, there is no actual center of the town and several areas sorrounding it concentrically. :) Why... no, we've got several "good" areas scattered all over the town so that it gets quite difficult to keep track of them all.

The center of Bucharest, geographically, socially and culturally begins with Piata Victoriei and the Victoria Palace (the Government HDQ) and goes south along Calea Victoriei and Magheru Boulevard (they are parallel) to Piata Natiunilor Unite (United Nations Square) and Piata Unirii respectively.

Here you'll find another large avenue that connects the Palace of Parliament (which you will surely see iff you cross the whole Unirii Square) with Piata Alba Iulia. Whoever gets to live here is a very lucky guy. :)

Cotroceni - our favourite neighbourhood - displays entirely houses. Wonderful ones, large villas mostly built before the second World War. No communist, dull, huge constructions around here. Oh, and it is probably the safest area in town considering the President lives just across the street...

Also most envied are those that got somehow the chance to be residents of the northern part of the city, i.e. Primaverii Boulevard, Kiseleff, and all other avenues that start from The Arch of Triumph. However most of the buildings around here are embassies, museums, state departments hdq, banks a.s.o. :) Also consider Dorobanti as a very good neighbourhood - we've also got embassies, councils, the state television and many other official stuff build up on this street.

Last but not least, you will surely be aquainted with "Pipera and Baneasa Land" :) First of all there is the exclusively business area, where all multinational companies run their industries. And then - the large neighbourhood of modern villas and constructions where most of Romanian public figures live - from politicians to movie stars. :)