Forbes blog editor offers not-so-flattering review of Romanian experience

Forbes reporter Jon Bruner was sent to Romania by editor Michael Noer to stress test laptops and tablets, with Noer offering a quite virulent review of his colleague’s adventures.

Michael Noer announces his colleague’s story under the following title “Reporter misses Flight Home After Braving Blizzard, Feral Dogs, Illness To Write Laptop Review”. Romania’s difficult traffic is also criticized: “Tarom, the national airline of Romania, apparently doesn’t think much of foreigners who are stupid enough to allow just 20 minutes travel-time to the airport in bloody Bucharest and they wouldn’t honor Jon’s discounted ticket for a future flight.” Surely, on this concern, Bucharest is not the only capital city in the world with traffic issues. However, concerning the stray dog situation, it is unfortunately, at least partially, realistic, since a woman recently died after being attacked by a pack of stray dogs in Bucharest.

On the other hand, Bruner’s review of his Romanian experience takes into account “the pleasure of Bucharest”. He mentions the aspects for which Romania is known worldwide, according to WikiTravel: the Carpathian mountains, wine, the electronic microscope, Dracula, insulin, stuffed cabbage leaves, multi-ethnic peace, the jet engine. Bruner also contradicts Noer’s title, stating that he “encountered neither canine nor ursine harassers.“ Noer spoke well of other Bucharest experiences, emphasizing the people, the language and the city’s aspect: “everyone I encountered was warm and helpful; the city retains, in some areas, a delightful pre-war charm that evokes Paris; the Romanian language has a lovely musical sound to it.” The IT reviewer was also impressed with the People’s House / Parliament building, adding that “a walk from one side of the complex to the other takes about 20 minutes.”

Following the recommendation supplied by the IT gadgets that he was reviewing, Bruner went to downtown Bucharest to enjoy a local restaurant. ”I ended up at an atmospheric beer hall where I ate a delicious bean-and-sausage stew”, he concluded.