The Palace of Parliament, Bucharest, Romania.

 The Palace of Parliament was built by Communist Party leader, Nicolae Ceausescu, the colossal Parliament Palace (formerly known as the People's Palace) is the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon. It took 20,000 workers and 700 architects to build. The palace boasts 12 stories, 1,100 rooms, a 328-ft-long lobby and four underground levels, including an enormous nuclear bunker.

 The Palace of Parliament it is the world's second-largest office building in surface (after the Pentagon) and the third largest in volume (after Cape Canaveral in the U.S. and the Great Pyramid in Egypt) The crystal chandelier in the Human Rights Hall (Sala Drepturilor Omului) weighs 2.5 tons. Some of the chandeliers have as many as 7,000 light bulbs

 When construction started in 1984, the dictator intended it to be the headquarters of his government. Today, it houses Romania's Parliament and serves as an international conference centre. Built and furnished exclusively with Romanian materials, the building reflects the work of the country's best artisans. A guided tour takes visitors through a small section of dazzling rooms, huge halls and quarters used by the Senate (when not in session). The interior is a luxurious display of crystal chandeliers, mosaics, oak paneling, marble, gold leaf, stained-glass windows and floors covered in rich carpets.

 The staircase in the above photo is solid marble.

 All the carpets in the building are hand made.  I was very impressed with some of the lighting in the Palace. 

 I took the above photo whilst standing on the very top of the Palace.

 Another photo of one of the many ball rooms in the Palace. 

 The above photo is my favorite.  This is looking back down the boulevard.  In the carpark shown in the photo many famous artists like Jon Bon Jovi, Madonna and others have performed.

After spending nearly 2 hours in the Palace we walked back down the Boulevard to catch the tram back to our little hotel.  The photo above is typical of the tram system in Bucharest.  It's very easy to use, and most importantly, it's cheap.

Tomorrow is another day of sightseeing and then it's time to get back on the bike and do it all again.

Until tomorrow, safe riding.