Yep, the local beer is more like a lager or pilsener. It is not bad. I have also not felt ripped of in Bucarest. The beggars are a nuicance though. I have been to the historic center of town which has some nice enough places to hang out. The menues are availabe in English, still, prices are very reasonabe. I would go as far as saying dirt cheap. I do agree that housing is too expensive but that is also true for the locals who are having a hard time on the local salaries. I spoke to a few locals (all of them in aviation) an they all have been helpful and friendly and I don't speak a word of the language. I flew as a pax (in uniform) on Blue Air the other day and got chatting to the cabin crew. I asked them if the taxies at the airport would accept Euros and how much I should pay for the trip to the hotel and they offered to give me a lift. Had a friendly chat with them on the way and when they dropped me off I tried to give em a bit of money for the fuel and they would not accept it. One of them said that they don't like the gypsies because they give Romania a bad name etc. but apart from that they seemed very oppen and that includes foreigners. If you read this guys , thanks again!