BACK in 1984 former president Nicolae Ceausescu ordered work to start on the building that was his greatest folly.

But today, although no-one would admit to it, the uncountable billions of lei (Romanian currency) it cost to construct was worthwhile at the time - the Palatul Parlamentului is the country's finest and most famous structure.

As you look out from the JW Marriott Hotel, where the press corps are staying, you are greeted with the breathtaking view of the world's second largest administration building. Only the Pentagon in Washington is bigger.

Just to walk around the perimeter wall of Parliament Palace (English translation) takes over an hour and when you consider its construction involved 20,000 workers and 7,000 architects it is easy to believe why.

In terms of height above the ground it rises to 276ft but it is also understood to go just as far underground, where Ceausescu demanded a nuclear bunker that could contain his entire Communist government.

It is not just the outside that has to be seen, as the guided tour of the inside is something recommended to whoever arrives in Bucharest.

Grand staircases, marble-plated halls, 3,500 tons of crystal on the many chandeliers and gold-studded curtains all add to the effect, while there is also an opportunity to go on to the balcony which Ceausescu envisaged standing on for many, many years.

Amazingly, inspired by the North Koreans, the largest room (Sala Unirii) even has a sliding roof designed to allow a helicopter to land if the need ever arose for the dictator to make a discreet getaway.

A FURTHER sign of how the country is struggling to emerge from years without the financial muscle most of Europe has enjoyed is the state of its National Stadium.

The Lia Manoliu, where last night's game took place, is a venue which smacks of Communism from the moment the coach approached the ground.

What seemed like a park, an area named Lia Manoliu, surrounds the actual stadium and there were tennis and football courts all within the grounds.

But where many of the gardens were pretty, even if they were home to many of the city's 100,000 stray dogs, the stadium was nothing short of a disgrace.

It's hard to imagine there has been a worse venue for a semi-final of a European competition in recent times. No turnstiles, just gateways that looked like they would collapse at any time.

It's all-seater but certain sections are deemed unsafe and that was why last night's encounter was not a complete sell-out.

Nevertheless, considering the embarrassing Wembley fiasco, at least Romania can boast they do have a National Stadium.

BUCHAREST is a city which loves it's football and Steaua are one of four teams - Dinamo, National and Rapid are the others - from the capital which dominate the Romanian league.

There is also strong interest in basketball, they won the European Championship in 1999, volleyball and tennis but there does not seem to be much love for golf. Throughout the entire city of Bucharest there is just one nine-hole golf course, even then you have to be an exclusive member.

THERE was no Bernie Slaven on the trip to Romania. The Dennis Bergkamp of the official party refused to travel for his fear of flying.

The Boro legend has been on all the other trips but when he was informed of a drop off today at Birmingham airport, before taking off again for Durham Tees-Valley, he decided enough was enough.

So if you listened to Century radio last night and you wondered why Slaven had turned into Curtis Fleming for the night, that was why.

But while there was no Bernie at the Marriott, Sven-Goran Eriksson checked in yesterday afternoon.

The England coach understandably decided to support the man who could eventually succeed him, Steve McClaren.