Beggars
You should better ignore beggars in Bucharest who often act aggressively. If you start talking to them it will be difficult to get rid of those fequently obtrusive poeple. Old people who helplessly beg with their hats without causing you any inconvenience, however, really deserve support. Their pension is often not enough to survive. They are often too old to work and thus die from hunger. They are even happy about the smallest donation.
Taking photographs/filming
You should especially take care when taking pictures of bridges, aerodromes and military institutions because in front of which often prohibition signs can be found. Roma people, however, do not "wear" signs but you still should not take pictures of them because some of them believe that a photograph would steal their souls.
Banks and credit cards
Banks are opended on weekdays from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., you can also cash traveller cheques here. The exchange of money is, however, frequently cheaper in bigger hotels or private exchange offices. Do not exchange money in the streets, this almost always has to do with fraud.
„Where are you, Ţepeş, Master?” – many Romanians still ask for their most famous inhabitant, Vlad Draculea Ţepeş, also known as Count Dracula; a declared opponent of disorder, idleness and chaotic grievances. Not that the Romanians need an sovereign like that nowadays – it’s just that the tourists love the dark fellow so much.
On the other side there is a stunningly manifold architecture and culture, a colourful potpourri of gorgeous French boulevards, Viennese "şniţel" (Schnitzel)as well as the major contrabass of Romany music. The city was first mentioned 1459 with Vlad Draculeas’ signature. Nowadays everyone quarrels for the best place in the sun: thick tree roots fight their way through the concrete as well as the population who in the midst of permanent upheavals succeeded in maintaining their traditions and black humor.
