Gradina Botanica Bucuresti/ Botanical Garden Bucharest

The botanical garden in Bucharest should probably be visited in the summer. In the spring, most of the flowers and plants haven’t bloomed yet. On top of this, part of the garden is more of a forest than the european-style botanical garden I’m used to. The backdrop to the botanical garden is a power plant, which is frustrating at first, and quite amusing afterward. I have no idea how that happened, but it did.

There were a few baby puppies in the garden – strays most likely. New with their bodies, curious and sleepy, I played with them and watched them bark at other dogs. I really wanted to bring one home – but that’s one of the tough parts of traveling here. There are so many gentle and playful stray dogs, but knowing I can’t bring any of them back with me sucks.

The entrance was 5 lei. Across the street from the Botanical garden is the Romanian “White House” where the president hangs out. You can visit it, but with an appointment, which I didn’t make, so I was not allowed in. Looking back, I probably should’ve just acted like I was 100% American, and they would have let me in.