What better way to celebrate two amazing cities, Bucharest and Paris, linked by history, culture and architecture (Bucharest was nicknamed Little Paris of the East between 1848 to 1930s but with travel photography and a guessing game?
Opposite landmarks of Europe, these emblematic capital cities, Bucharest and Paris, have evolved from settlements dating as far back as antiquity into modern metropolis. Both built near large bodies of water, Dâmbovița and respectively Seine, Bucharest and Paris have survived through revolutions, world wars and have seen their cobblestone streets spilled with blood, but also with champagne.
Bucharest and Paris are cities that represent an entire world, where everyone can discover something to connect with, something of interest… be it listening to the romantic tunes of the accordions and living la vie en rose at the vaudeville or at the opera… strolling along their streets (Paris, City of Light, or Bucharest, the first city in the world that introduced gas lighting in 1857)… Paris, the gateway to France, or Bucharest, the gateway between the Tsars and the Ottoman Empire of the east and the Christian kingdoms of the west – ever since Vlad Țepeș, “Lord and ruler over all of Wallachia, and the duchies of Amlaș and Făgăraș” (Vlad III, Vlad Dracula) first mentioned his new fortress of Bucharest as his “princely residence” on 20 September 1459 (Curtea Veche, the Old Princely Court today).
Bucharest or Paris? Travel Photography and a Guessing Game – are you ready?
First look at the photos below and take your guess, Bucharest or Paris, then scroll with your mouse over the image to discover if you were right.
Wishing my French readers Joyeux 14 juillet! Happy Bastille Day!
If you enjoy books set in exotic locations have a look at my two novels below, one set in Simon’s Town, at a Naval Base during WW2, and one in Afghanistan, during the ongoing war:
Beautiful photos! I managed to get as many wrong as right.
Thank you, Daniel
I tried to make it as fair as I possibly could
Me too.
Thank you for visiting, Martie
The architecture of both places is amazing. I did horribly on the quiz.:-( But I think those who are more well traveled will do better.
Priscilla, you do get full brownie points for your honesty
I specifically set aside all famous landmarks – maybe with the exception of the respective Arches of Triumph – as I wanted to illustrate how similar the two cities are, at least with regards to their Romantic and Neoclassical architecture
Thank you for playing!
This was fun and challenging!
Bucharest and Paris look similar in many ways.
Oh, lovely Blanca
so glad you had fun!
xx
I love these photos. I got so many of them wrong too! Paris or Bucharest? Hard to tell!
I hope you had fun, though
Yes, hard to tell!
Thank you for visiting.
Thank you Pat. This was fun to do, but I admit to getting a lot wrong!
Thrilled you had fun, Brigid.
Thank you xx
amazing work!
Thank you, Nancy
Evidemment, ce n’est pas une devinette ici :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USrTJ28n0rQ
Merci, Louis.
I see you hint at the Merry Cemetery of Romanian village Săpânța, famous for its colorful tombstones and cheery inscriptions.
Great photos, Pat. I am afraid I couldn’t even venture a guess, having limited travel experience.
Oh, but you just gave me an idea, Mark
Thank you for your continuous support!
Very nice photos. Interesting that they are so similar.
Very much so, isn’t it
Thank you
I got 14 right. Suits the day you celebrated
That was fun, thank you!
Woohoo! and thank you for sharing in my joy.
We made avocado-chocolate mousse the other day, the best of both worlds!
We should celebrate
Thank you, Angela
I enjoyed your pictures, Patricia.
Thank you, Roberta!
After getting 3 of the first 4 wrong I gave up on the quiz
But there’s no shortage of stunning architecture to admire in both cities.
This was a fun post.
Thank you, Norm
Glad you found it fun.
Beautiful photos, Pat.
Thanking you kindly, Teresa
Nice pictures, thanks for sharing
Thank you very much
Great pleasure!
Wonderful historical photographs, Patricia!
Thank you so much! Not easy stopping amidst pedestrians and stare at a building, but one can regards photographs. Undisturbed.
And for the visit