Romanians are
crazy about football. The day the World Cup game ends,
you can find them either dancing in the streets or in a hushed gloominess,
depending on the outcome. The main football stadium in Bucharest
is Lia Manoliu National Stadium, Bulevardul Basarabei 37-39.
Tickets to games cost US$5.25-8.25. Four Bucharest football teams
dominate the top of the Romanian First Division football league
tables – Dinamo, Soseaua Stefan cel Mare
9, National Buchuresti,
Strada Dr. Lister 37 , Rapid Soseaua Giulesti 18,
and Steaua,
Bulevardul Ghencea 35. Romania has been a formidable player on the
international circuit for 15 years.
Other popular
team sports are basketball and volleyball – Romania
won the European basketball championship in 1999. Boxing
is also thriving ahead, after Leonard Dorin Doroftei took
the WBA world title in early 2002, the first Romanian
to get the diamond belt.
Tickets to sporting events are available for purchase at the individual
venues.
Fitness centres
Afisos Luxurious,
Strada Ava Popa Marin (tel: (01) 231 5134), is a relaxed and classy
club for women only, while the Butterfly Club,
Strada Erou Iancu Nicolae 6 (tel: (01) 490 8484) boasts one of the
best swimming pools in the city, along with Jacuzzi and aerobics.
A day guest ticket costs US$15. Sydney Health and Fitness,
Bulevardul 1 Mai 60 (tel: (01) 222 3485), is gaudy and well equipped,
as well as reasonably priced, at US$10 a visit.
Golf
There are no golf courses in the city. Outside
the city, for members only, there is a fabulously
expensive nine-hole Diplomatic Club, Aleea Minova 1. However,
a new club with a nine-hole course, Lac de Verde Breaza,
Strada Carierei 24, Breaza (tel: (044) 343 525), has opened and
is situated several hours north of the city. Rates for non-members
are between US$20-35.
Horseriding
Horseriding is available at Ecvalahis, Aleea
Privighetorilor 35 (tel: (01) 659 7728), open 1030-1600, with lessons
in English or French costing US$6-8. Hipocan, Comuna Corbeanca S.A.I.
(tel: (01) 795 2957), offers similar prices. Both offer rides through
Baneasa Forest.
Skiing
The crescent of mountains that make up the Carpathians
offers good skiing. The season runs November
to March and favourite resorts include
Poiana Brasov and Sinaia (journey time –
2 hours). These are perfect for beginners and intermediates preferring
picturesque, tree-lined trails to barrelling down barren slopes.
Tennis
Tennis
is another serious sport in Romania – after all,
the tone for John McEnroe was set by local hero Ilie Nastase in
the 1970s. One of the best places to play is Herastrau Park
sports complex, Soseaua Nordului 7-9 (tel: (01) 232 2128
or 9668), where courts cost US$4.50 per hour weekdays and US$6.25
per hour evenings, on a floodlit court. Equipment can also
be hired. Other tennis courts are the
National Tennis Centre, Bulevardul Pierre de Coubertin
8-10, open 0900-2100, with lessons available, and Tenis
Club Herestrau, Soseaua Nordului 5-7, which has 21 courts. |
