Gifts.Magic.Unique

As spring arrived, my desire to visit Iasi reappeared. Among those places that I cherish so much in this controversial town, full of history and still lively, is The Hall of the Lost Footfalls (Sala Pasilor Pierduti) of Al. I. Cuza University. I was always a fan of Sabin Balasa's painting style, starting with my childhood and the illustrated covers of "Ciresarii" collection.

CELLA SERGHI and BALCHIK. Reading "Panza de paianjen" ("Spider's web") for so, but SO many times, has built in me this fascination for Balchik, a seaside resort at The Black Sea in Bulgaria. I discovered the real Balchik only 6 years ago, and, surprisingly, it was like in my dreams, like in those evenings back then when my imagination had no boundaries and I felt each written line of the book like I was literally THERE. "Panza de paianjen" is one of the dearest books of my soul, the one that I go back every time I feel romantically sad, every time the summer approaches and I have days when I am overwhelmed with melancholy.
The book is mainly autobiographic, as Cella Serghi became a writer by chance after falling in love with the writer Camil Petrescu. I DO love every line of this book, it has such an incredible capacity of making you indulge in its world, you feel you are transported in that period, with those characters, you feel the sand and the salty air, you hear the waves and you, for sure, but FOR SURE, become Diana Slavu, the name Cella Serghi chose for herself in this book.

“Mi-am spus: ceea ce mă atrăgea la el era impresia pe care mi-o dădea că e singur, nenorocit, că unicul lui stimulent in viaţă sunt eu, că sunt singura lui bucurie, unica lui preocupare. Dacă nu-i aşa, nu mă interesează. Nu mă interesează un bărbat decât în măsura în care cred că-l stăpânesc ca femeie, în care cred că sunt pentru el, într-un moment din viaţă, o fiinţă unică, de neînlocuit.”
― Cella Serghi, Pânza de păianjen

BEIJING, IMPERIAL PALACE. My home-away-from-home is for sure China -if indeed we have several lives, for sure one of my previous was lived there. I can't describe the mix of emotions, peacefulness, enthusiasm, energy that I have each time I go back there.
Reading yesterday one of my favorites blogs, it comes out that the girl visited recently The Forbidden City in Beijing. So I took a leap in time, backwards, and fulfilled my heart with what dictionaries describe as nostalgia.

"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them." Ernest Hemingway
I like very much Hemingway's writing style. But, to be honest, I've read only one book, "For whom the bell tolls", an impressive and powerful picturesque novel about a love story during the Spanish Civil War. Somehow, I didn't manage to come across any of his other writings.

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ART OF ROMANIA. Expecting sunny and warm spring days for an afternoon spent looking at paintings, followed by a stroll on Bucharest old streets.

INCREDIBLE "CLAIR DE LUNE" BY DEBUSSY. Listening to this masterpiece, amazing masterpiece!, and imagining Claude Debussy boehme life in Montmarte, at the regular Tuesday gatherings at poet Stephane Mallarme's house, attended also by poets Paul Verlaine, Rainer Maria Rilke, Yeats...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvFH_6DNRCY

CLAUDE DEBUSSY: CLAIR DE LUNE NOW AVAILABLE!!! THE MIKE & TONY SHOW Click the link-http://www.youtube.com/user/papadoc73 Channel 3 YouTube-PLEASE SUBSCRIBE

MIRCEA ELIADE. Celebrating today Mircea Eliade, born on March 9th 1907, Romanian historian of religion, fiction writer, philosopher, and, first of all, my favorite and most inspirational personality. This post is a tribute to the influence he had on developing my confidence in chasing my dreams.
Here are some of his books that I enjoyed mostly.

LE LOFT, VIENNA. If ever in Vienna, don't miss Le Loft restaurant on the 18th floor of Sofitel Stephansdom hotel. The unbelievable 360 degrees view combined with the illuminated ceiling designed by Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist, and also the three Michelin stars granted make your visit an unforgettable experience.

Couldn't have been more excited to receive this piano sheets book from Amazon! Yes, indeed, it says "beginners", but this is how big dreams start, with a first small step! Not planning though on being the lead name in a piano concert :). But it is a part of the change, of the self-development and business plan of 2014. For each of us, there are no limits, we can achieve what we desire.

Among all, spring is by far the most vivid season, feeling the fresh air, enjoying the flowers blossom, so much young green around, these all are simple pleasures that sometimes we forget to notice, being too involved in daily meetings and deadlines.
For this year's spring, we promise ourselves to live, not only to dream.

TODAY'S DELIGHTS. "History of Art" book, vintage leather bag and silk scarf (www.vintagebazar.ro), "Guilty" perfume by Gucci, Nissa cuff bracelet, Zara black&golden necklace, Bohemia Banana& Charm tea, Chinese style tea cup.

ATRA HOTEL, DOFTANA VALLEY. Words are not necessary.