Short Weekend Report

If you ask me what I did last weekend, I wouldn't know to tell. The only thing I remember it is we went in Herastrau Park, but for everything else, I cannot say too much. House work, you know, what you do when you have kids and need to refresh the food supplies, to prepare the clothes for the kinder-garden and for work, to rehearse with Mara for the end-of-the-year-show, to feed and entertain them. Stuff like that. Nothing spectacular.

But... in Herastrau was magic! Is the biggest park in Bucharest, with a huge lake, and you wouldn't guess before 1930 here was nothing but a swamp. 

We entered the park after a very long drive, because we live very far from that park. But it's worth the effort!

Radu started to play with some dogs...

 ... girls only watching...

 Then, Runa took Mara for a spin...

Mara can do it on her own very well, too...

Bogdan played modelling with them... 

The water in the background is very inspiring...

Radu was listening very careful to his father... 

...while Mara did what she does best: jumping and flying all over the place.

 

Caught by the pilot of the boat, auch!

 Then, after she was rebuked, she was sitting down, trying a romantic pose...

She played ashamed...

 

Radu did his show, too...

Well, she really knows how to look at the camera... she can melt my heart with those eyes, you know...

Back on the solid ground, Runa has spilled a bottle of water in Radu's head, by mistake. I had to change his t-shirt and to wipe his hair, but we had a lot of fun, because last week Runa has spilled a full bucket of water in his head. So, she did it again. I will warn her: she needs to teach him to swim, for the next time she will spill some more water on him.

Runa gave him her undervest, and please, just have a look at his face!

It took us forever to go to the car and to return home... not before watching the swans on the lake, in the sunset's sweet light.

 

Happy Tuesday, my friends! May the happiness and the light be with you!

Muffins

We have a new cook in house. Radu helped Runa with the muffins, while I was giving instructions. And, of course, I gave the ultimate touch. Mara was keeping an eye on the oven to be sure everything is done on time. 

Bogdan took some pictures. 

Nice way to start the weekend!

More about the weekend, tonight!

Have a fabulous week, my friends!

This Moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

{from www.soulemama.com}

Saint Tropez

We've been to Saint Tropez long time ago, in the beautiful summer of 2004. I remember the luxury, the gorgeous boats and cars, the boobies all over the place (like us), but above all, I remember the sweet light, the small public beaches between the buildings, the feeling that everything is gonna be there forever (even is certain is not).

 

Some other famous things about Saint Tropez I'm sure you know:

image source: http://www.decouvrez.fr

"Sandales tropéziennes", simple, elegant and handmade, never go out of style, thanks to the celebrities who have worn them. This local footwear, made in genuine French leather that has been treated to resist salt water, is also interpreted with various designs and trends, as you will discover in the city's more upscale boutiques.

Two families make the tropéziennes sandals: Rondini and Keklikian (K. Jacques sandals). Even if some form of rivalry is unavoidable, no conflict like in Romeo and Juliet here, each with its specificities. The Rondini's are more in the traditional, while Keklikian are more "fashionable ". They created models for Karl Lagerfeld, Kenzo, Kookaï, Balenciaga, Lolita Lempicka, Givenchy, NafNaf, Paule Ka, JC de Castelbajac and Paco Rabanne. Twenty employees work in K. Jacques, and only a few in Rondini at the rear of the old shop on Rue Clemenceau.

image source: http://www.abc.net.au

image source: http://hollywoodhottestactress.blogspot.com

image source: http://hollywoodhottestactress.blogspot.com

  B.B.: a generational film and style icon in the '60s, a libertarian, rule-breaking and counter-current spirit, the sensual promoter of the bikini on the beaches of Pampelonne, and the famous symbol of St. -Tropez, the movie star Brigitte Bardot created a scandal when she starred in the film "Et Dieu... créa la femme", shot here with her husband-producer Roger Vadim. Thanks also to this claim to fame, the city became even more established as a preferred destination for the Parisian well-off and the international jet-set. Once she retired from the silver screen, in 1970, B.B. became known for her activism for animal rights, as well as her extreme political positions. B.B. still has her villa here, La Madrague.

Fever

Despite the measures we took in the weekend to keep us warm and safe, I'm laying in bed with fever and huge pain all over my body. Not good. Not good at all.

Sunday Trip - Aninoasa and Corbii de Piatra

Yesterday, after so much barbecue and beer, we decided to take a round trip in the area. We loaded the kids in the car and we headed to see some forgotten attractions. 

If from Pitesti you choose to take the road to Mioveni (the place where Dacia Renault has the factory), then you drive some 30 more minutes, you will cross a wonderful area, with tender hills full of Acacia trees in bloom. Maybe is the spring, maybe is the view, but you can sure feel the nature with all the body and soul. All the hills were whitened with flowers and everywhere we saw lots of truck with bees. That's because the Acacia honey is very popular here.

We first went to see Aninoasa Monastery, easier to reach from Campulung (only 18 kilometers), situated on the left side of Bratia river. It was build in XVII-th century, founded by a local nobleman, on his name Tudoran Vladescu. Is a sad story, his wife died in the first year the building started, so he decided to become a monk and to change his name in Teodosie. The paintings on the walls are done by a famous religious painter, Parvu Mutu, who soon became the official family painter of Cantacuzino family.

The Monastery's walls can reach 1,84 m in thickness, is a fortified building, with battlements on the entrance, proving it was conceived for defense, not only for praying. It was also very rich, with many lands in possession, thousands of horses and cows, which made it a very desirable target for thieves.

In our days is a nun's monastery, very well-cared and, of course, very quiet.

Next stop was Corbii de Piatra, an amazing place, a church carved in a stone block, dating from 1512, as per official attestations. There are proofs that the cave was a monastery long before this date, from very early times, and it sure was an orthodox place of prayer. The paintings are the original ones, there was no restoration ever. Is not difficult to reach there, but you need to carefully follow the signs, not so visible sometimes.

We stopped on our way back to the river to see the horses, then to capture some more pictures on the road. The architectural style of the area is quite charming, with picturesque arches and verandas. This is the kind of house I'd like to have.

 

We returned back and we hurried to come back home on the daylight, but before we left, Bogdan took some pictures of the dramatic light in my brother's yard. Isn't it beautiful?