European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 7, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 26 stars and str i p e s june 7 2007 Page 27 the View from Romanias parliament building Balcony in Bucharest is considered the Best in the the Boulevard with a Row of fountains running Down the was designed to Mirror Paris famed but is exactly a meter the grand scheme of things Romanias parliament attests to an ambitious National spirit photos by Ben and stripes by Bryan Mitchell stars and stripes imagine representatives from Revlon and Max Factor setting up stands to Hawk cosmetics in the hallowed Halls of the think Young women in saturday night Short skirts and bored looking men escaping to a hidden Corner for a Quick that a Quick but Apt description of the scene inside the romanian parliament build ing in Bucharest during a recent sunday afternoon but after Little More than an hour or two in this capital its difficult to find the mini makeup convention in the hallway leading to the Senate chamber As anything More than just another Odd event in a City oscillating comfortably Between european grandeur and illicit in Many ways an hour Long tour of the parliament building provides a weekend visitor to this City of million with a very tangible if not absurdly profound understanding of the mindset of a nation transitioning from East Ern bloc Backwater to newest european Union the parliament building is the second larg est office building on Earth behind Only the Pentagon and was built during the final years of the reign of communist ruler Nicolae when National pomposity was surpassed Only by paranoia and opulence could never fall victim to Ceausescu employed 700 architects and builders working in shifts around the clock for five years starting in and yet the building was still not finished by the time a popular revolt overthrew and executed Ceausescu in december but the labourers did have time to Complete a series of grand ballrooms designed to rival those found in Paris and Complete with Boles in the ceiling pumping in fresh oxygen to Avert the risk of with its position at the Center of Bucharest and its overwhelming its impossible to ignore the buildings borderline obscene there was a heated National debate concerning the future of the massive Struc Ture in the Early when the unstable nation was unsure of its place in a rapidly changing some argued the building should be destroyed to vanquish All symbols of comm others suggested the building should be converted into a but in the More pragmatic Heads less concerned with correcting past abuses of Power or transforming Bucharest into a gamblers Paradise and the democratic idealists opted to rename the building the Peoples it after designed entirely by Roma Nian built entirely by romanian labor and constructed entirely from Roma Nias natural it is despite All the nations other that romanians can indeed strive for architectural great Ness on Par with their european the building took on its current name in the mid1990s when parliament moved much of the building can still be rented for the right Price for just about any not far from where romanian Sena tors meet to Chart the country path Forward on a team of unapologetic ally gorgeous Young Beauty professionals dispense advice on the trendiest combinations of Mascara and the tour also provides visitors a breathtaking View of the City from the Senate Cham Bers from the grand Visi tors enjoy an unobstructed Vista Down onto the Fountain laced Boulevard designed to Mirror Paris famed champs Elysee but constructed exactly one meter the romanians might not enjoy the terrific property values Frances most famous Avenue but its proof again of a nation not afraid to aspire to email Bryan Mitchell at . Behind the fountains of the Boulevard uni Rii sits the romanian the worlds second largest office following the know go above traffic speeds by Bucharest own Arcus de Triumfo Arch of Triumph on a saturday left one of Many elegant ballrooms in the parliament building gives an idea of the Money and care spent on the building that communist ruler Nicolae Ceausescu once considered a Monument to right Young romanians share drinks and puffs on a Hookah visitors can tour the parliament building from 10 to 4 enter near the gated Park ing lot on the Side of the Tours Are offered in several languages and run roughly one Cost is 15 Lei about with an extra 15 Lei fee to take a Only a Small portion of the build ing is included in the to see More of the take a Quick walk toward the uni Rii Plaza and meet up with Calea an impressive old City Center Street that runs from the heart of Bucharest out to the arc de Tri a gift from the French that very closely resembles Paris the walk takes you to a memorial in Honor of the men and women who died during Romanias 1989 uprising to overthrow the comm and passes some of the cites most impressive architectural alluring in a traditionally con Sumer oriented manner is the adjacent and fashionably Chic Pas jul an ancient alleyway turned Bohemian hang Courtesy of a Glass roof that filters natural Light to give a inviting glow to what could be a dark series of stroll in around dinner time to find Young natives sharing puffs on a Hookah pipe and Downing local there Are a handful of trendy cafes similar to what you might find in Barcelona or but also some truly authentic romanian maund a eateries where you can enjoy indigenous food at a reasonable two Tallboy a Green salad and Chicken and dumplings Cost less than at that you can afford to stay a few More discovering More about this intriguing City that is moving rapidly toward full westernization while still clinging to its roots with far More Pride than for More on the and Romania in see the web site Bryan Mitchell