Chopin’s Warsaw

In Warsaw I traveled only for work many times. And the memories are a puzzle, while the seasons are changing. Summer after work on the main street Novi Świat or an autumn night, accidentally attending a Chopin piano concert in a bookstore. A winter morning, in a taxi seeing the city covered with snow or in spring at food market Hala Koszyki. Warszawa reminded me of Bucharest, that made me a bit melancholic. Polish language is also very different, but some sounds are familiar. I felt as I traveled in time.

A I D AOctober 1, 2020October 13, 2020Leave a comment

Journal, Postcard, United Kingdom

Destination: London

In an early Friday morning I am at the Brussels Midi train station, about to board the Eurostar and go to London for an extended weekend. My first time traveling with the Eurostar train. And I am looking around, listening to people speak French or English with a superb accent, thinking how lucky I am and how cool is Europe!

A I D ASeptember 26, 2020October 5, 20202 Comments

Journal, Norway, Postcard

Oslo Opera House

From different cities there are moments, people and places that stay with us. When I think of Oslo, I remember first the Opera House. I never saw till this day a more impressive modern Opera. I haven’t been to Sydney yet, and the Copenhagen Opera is also contemporary. But I dare to say this one in Oslo is one of a kind.

A I D ASeptember 20, 2020September 21, 2020Leave a comment

Events, Italy, Journal, Photography

Venice – La Biennale 2020

September. Movies. Bella Italia. From today until the 12th of September, the 77th edition of the Biennale Cinema di Venezia will be held. The Venice Film Festival is promoting international cinema in all forms “as art, entertainment and as an industry.”

A I D ASeptember 2, 2020October 13, 20202 Comments

City Guide, Czech Republic, Journal

Photo journal from Prague

Since I visited Prague twice, once in winter weather, and in summer, I feel I saw and photographed two different contrasting cities, both beautiful. I explored so far only districts Praha 1 and Praha 2. May sounds as Hunger games, but in fact Prague is more bohemian than entertaining, more Kafka than Hollywood, and this is awesome.

A I D AAugust 29, 2020September 26, 2020Leave a comment

City Guide, Journal, Romania

Visit Transylvania

Three recommendations with love, from the heart of Transylvania and one cliché, as usual. The historic region is synonym with mystery, but travelers must look past Dracula to discover it properly. It has much to offer, from nature, adventure, mountains, fortified cities, Saxon villages and yes, appropriately spooky castles.

A I D AJuly 23, 2020October 17, 2020Leave a comment

Croatia, Journal, Photography

Dubrovnik. Postcards from the past

Summer days in the Dalmatian coast. Sunset on a isolated Saint Jakub beach, Croatian wines between the walls of Dubrovnik on busy Stradun, piano concert, sightseeing, red-brick roofs and turquoise water, swimming in the Adriatic Sea, trips to Srd mountain and to Island of Lokrum.

A I D AJune 11, 2020October 13, 2020Leave a comment

Belgium, Brussels, Journal, Photography

In Bruges / Brügge

Revisiting past memories is an opportunity for closure and to look at things from a different light. With clichés and all. In my Belgian years I tried to travel often inside the country and understand Belgium as much as possible. What I remember about Bruges is the vintage atmosphere and smell of gingerbread mixed with melancholy, where I felt like Gretel.

A I D AMay 30, 2020October 2, 2020Leave a comment

Belgium, Brussels, Journal

The Belgian Coast & De Kusttram

Did you know that you can see from a tram in a day the entire Belgian coastline of the North Sea from the border with the Netherlands until reaching the dunes of sand near France? C’est posible!

A I D AMay 23, 2020June 27, 20201 Comment

France, Journal

Côte d’Azur. Éclat & Belle chérie

We still cannot make plans for the summer, but we can dream and revisit past travel destinations. In the last days I reflected on favorite summer trips where I would like to return, from a Promenade in the South of France, fado rhythms of the Atlantic Ocean, Italian towns, to German castles and my hometown at the shore of the Black Sea.

A I D AMay 6, 2020October 13, 2020Leave a comment

Journal, Photography, The Netherlands

I Amsterdam

Most photogenic city in Europe must be Amsterdam. This Dutch city is pretty at every corner with the picture perfect charming houses, over 1000 bridges bridges for 165 canals and world-class museums. I was lucky that I visited the cozy city 4 times during the years I lived in Brussels, so I wrote down from my journal 4 memories.

A I D AApril 25, 2020October 13, 2020Leave a comment

Journal, Photography, Spain

Spain ~ Gaudí ~ Barcelona

No place like home, except the seaside. Difficult to say what I liked more in Barcelona – sangria on our first night, the flavors of paella, eating the Boqueria market fruits next to the Mediterranean, strong coffee on Passeig de Gracia while admiring the Gaudí architecture and being called “señiorita”. Si. With flamenco in the background.

A I D AApril 19, 2020September 25, 20204 Comments

France, Journal

Once Upon a Time … in Colmar

Wandering around in Colmar among well preserved half-timbered houses, I was inspired to stop and write a sentence or two instead of photographing. Is amazing when this is happening.

A I D AJanuary 31, 2020April 3, 2020

City Guide, Events, Italy, Journal

Memories – “Aida” in Verona

Even though Verona is famous for tragical Romeo & Juliet of Shakespeare, what I remember from that holiday are pumpkin ravioli, pecorino cheese, tiramisu, lake Garda, stunning architecture and opera. Yes, Italian opera! Is so easy to keep finding reasons to return to Italy, right?!

A I D AJanuary 13, 2020June 20, 20201 Comment

City Guide, Journal, Story

From Vienna with Music

🎼 Vienna, the city of waltz. Beautiful and elegant. You see everywhere it used to be an imperial capital.

In a December morning before Christmas in 2017 I was drinking my coffee at Café Demel, where it smells phenomenal (Kohlmarkt 14, 1010 Wien).

Continue reading “From Vienna with Music”

A I D ADecember 24, 2019October 2, 2020Leave a comment

Journal, Postcard, Romania

Story of Constanța & the Black Sea

Hometown and first love. I wrote about many trips and my life in Germany & Belgium, but writing about my home city proved to be more difficult than I thought. Maybe because I don’t live there for many years, the touchable memories mixed with my imagination.

Or perhaps because I was taking it for granted, like we always do with our hometown.

Continue reading “Story of Constanța & the Black Sea”

A I D ADecember 1, 2019June 19, 20202 Comments

Germany, Journal, Postcard, Stuttgart

Baden Baden is beautiful beautiful

Lovely city. Beautiful as the name. Baden Baden is a spa town and perfect day or weekend trip from Stuttgart during autumn.

Continue reading “Baden Baden is beautiful beautiful”

A I D ANovember 2, 2019October 8, 20201 Comment

City Guide, Copenhagen, Denmark, Journal

Erasmus revisited

Receiving an Erasmus scholarship at 19 years old I actually received wings! 10 years feels like a lifetime and is beautiful to look back. I realize we are walking in circle. Only that those circles get wider.

A I D ASeptember 29, 2019September 20, 20202 Comments

Travel Journal

City wonders ✈

Category: Journal