Back to Sinaia (police station)
After a busy day we finally get a taxi to the police station (which I order from the same hotel lobby as earlier). When I ask for Sinaia the driver frowns and throws his head back. There's loads of traffic on the road. At first I worry this will delay us but then I realise the traffic is all the other way. His concern is the journey back. But that's not our worry. However, the taxi rate is more than three times Bucharest and the meter seems to shoot up faster than I've seen the whole holiday. The trip back turns out to be the most expensive taxi ride so far. But at about £5 I can't really complain.
Arriving at the police station we are quickly recognised. Although I don't see the policeman from yesterday we are surrounded by the police chief, an inspector and another one or two offers (I lost count). They say we must wait for the translator to arrive. We only have to wait five minutes and in rushes a young woman who tells us how beautiful she thinks London is. We then proceed to give the statement while the translator gives us the English and the inspector translates to policespeak to a seated officer who is hand writing the whole thing. It gets a little confusing as questions go back and forth over the events but eventually we get it all down on paper and although we don't get to read the final statement we have to trust them that it's matched what we spoke. In any case they were very friendly throughout and gave every impression they were doing their best to capture our statement accurately. Finally they stamp the record, the translator signs, I sign, and Katarina signs. It's done.
Before we leave the police chief offers us a lift back to the hotel and we are relieved. Well, until we get in the car and the seat belt doesn't work and he drives like a lunatic at high speed up the winding mountain road narrowly missing cars and walking pedestrians. But he was very jovial and very helpful and it's 5.30pm and we've finally arrived back at the hotel.
Arriving at the police station we are quickly recognised. Although I don't see the policeman from yesterday we are surrounded by the police chief, an inspector and another one or two offers (I lost count). They say we must wait for the translator to arrive. We only have to wait five minutes and in rushes a young woman who tells us how beautiful she thinks London is. We then proceed to give the statement while the translator gives us the English and the inspector translates to policespeak to a seated officer who is hand writing the whole thing. It gets a little confusing as questions go back and forth over the events but eventually we get it all down on paper and although we don't get to read the final statement we have to trust them that it's matched what we spoke. In any case they were very friendly throughout and gave every impression they were doing their best to capture our statement accurately. Finally they stamp the record, the translator signs, I sign, and Katarina signs. It's done.
Before we leave the police chief offers us a lift back to the hotel and we are relieved. Well, until we get in the car and the seat belt doesn't work and he drives like a lunatic at high speed up the winding mountain road narrowly missing cars and walking pedestrians. But he was very jovial and very helpful and it's 5.30pm and we've finally arrived back at the hotel.
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