Turkey trip ...Istanbul details

Yep...that's right. Cell phones on Airplane Mode, please! :D 

I can't tell you how happy I am. But I'll try :)) Bottom line is: part of our theatre crew is going to the "Black Sea" Int. Theatre Festival in Trabzon, Turkey. It's like a gift, a dream coming true. I've worked for it like 6 months, from the first step...sending the DVD with the theatre play to Turkey (that was selected a couple of months later), till arranging the mini coach to take us form the Istanbul airport to the Old Center of the city(to visit it) and back... 

Stay tuned...this is the beginning of a beautiful journey!!

The fact that we had to wake up at about 4.30 am, to be at 6 at the Baia mare Airport for our flight to Bucharest...is not even worth mentioning :)) We were all there...smiling, excited (at least I was)...and with a terrible feeling longing to fly. For me it's a true joy to get out of the country. After we passed the check in area, we all waited patiently to board the little "tractor" that was going to fly us in the heart of Romania...

...our first flight from Baia Mare to Bucharest... :)

Time flew by...and before we knew it, we took our second flight form Bucharest to Istanbul. It was fun to see some of the people in our group  saying.." I'll be ok on air "...well, things changed when they didn't knew how to react faster once the plane took off :)) I thought they were going to tear up the front seats, that hard they clenched them :)) 

Anyways...in the Ataturk Airport, after we left our big luggage at a special office, we got in a mini coach that led us right in the middle of the Old City center of  Istanbul. here are some pics I took form the coach of the surroundings. It was the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II (408-450) who expanded the area of his imperial capital of Constantinople by building these great land walls farther out into the country. When finished, the Theodosian Walls were almost 7 km (over 4 miles) in length. With periodic repairs, they defended the city effectively until the late 19th century.

Hand painted ceramics from the Turkey are among the very finest quality in the Mediterranean region.

Turkish cuisine is largely the heritage of Ottoman Cuisine which can be described as a fusion and refinement of Central Asia Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisines Turkish cuisine has in turn influenced those and other neighbour's cuisines, including that of western Europe. The Ottomans fused various culinary traditions of their realm with influences from Middle Eastern cuisines along with traditional Turkish elements from Central Asia (such as yogurt), creating a vast array of specialties - many with strong regional associations. It was a true delight for the eye and not only to see these dishes!

One of the many various architectural type of buildings on the Istanbul streets...

If you wanted to buy a nice carpet...well, Turkey is the finest spot!

a huge type of bread! :)

How nice was this setting...just perfect for sippin' an apple tea or enjoy a hookah (nargileh).

And then...the Turkish sweets...Oh, dear Alah...or God...or whomever... these windows were a true heaven for sweets addicts like me. This is just one pic...you'll see more!

Stay tuned! The journey has just began!

strawberry moments

It's set. Every season I'm stuck on a certain type of fruit....let's say every month of each season, to be more precised. :)) This month...well you can see for yourselves in the pics...

The thing is...once I start eating strawberries...well...it's a "die hard" situation. Although, I need to rest a couple of hours before doing anything that requires getting up from bed, I know I'm going to do it all over again the next day.

 I plead guilty. :)) -Fruit Police...arrest me! :))

a snack in Sighisoara

On our way back to BM, we've decided to stop for a breath of fresh air in Sighisoara :) There are so many things to tell about this place...Sighisoara is probably the best preserved fortified town in Transylvania, being built by the Saxons between the 12th and the 17th centuries. It is located on the Tarnava Mare river in a picturesque setting. The citadel, a beautifully preserved medieval complex, dominates the town with its hilltop setting. The old town enclosed within the citadel walls has narrow cobblestone streets and brightly painted 16th century Saxon houses. There are nine surviving towers; the most beautiful is the striking Clock Tower, the main gate into the citadel. (source) . We were all of us hungry so we stopped at "Casa cu Cerb" (pension /restaurant) to eat smth. Casa cu Cerb is situated in the medieval fortress of Sighisoara. Monument is categorized. The name is due to exterior wall painting, representing a deer in size, and head trophy mounted on the wall. Cerb house is one of the oldest buildings in the Castle and the most interesting in terms of architecture. During the time he suffered numerous and profound changes, from the rudimentary wooden house (XIII th) to form complex in the final section. XVII and preserved until today. 

In all this time, the Casa cu Cerb destination of payments. It was inhabited by people with high-function administrative or judicial clerical / religious. Between 1997-2001, "Casa cu Cerb" was restored and fully competent in care Messerschmitt Foundation in Munich.

 Here is their site.

And after finishing our deserts ( in my case a delicious hot brownie with fruit ice cream), we've returned happy and satisfied to the car, leaving the beautiful monuments of Sighisoara behind...

See ya in BM...and stay tuned...a trip to Turkey is about to happen!

Love, Gab~

Brasov customs

 This is the reason there was such a crown on the streets of Brasov...and I was so glad to be part of...as a spectator :) The Juni of Brasov. 

The Juni (youth) festival takes place in Braşov at the end of May. Perhaps the largest and most colorful event in the city, the festival begins with a gathering of people at Uniri Square. From there, young men from the Şchei neighborhood of Braşov (formerly a traditional Romanian village), dressed in folk costumes parade through the city on horseback followed by bands of musicians and crowds of participants, ending at Soloman’s Rocks.. Some of the costumes are over 150 years old, trimmed with up to 4,000 spangles weighing close to 88 pounds!  

Originally, Juni of Braşov used to stretch over 10 days: it started on March 25, on the day of Blagoveştenie – an important holiday in the folk and religious calendar – continuing past Palm Sunday for another eight days until Easter Sunday. The celebration combines pre-Christian and Christian practices celebrating the ritual death and rebirth of the seasons. It is a mystery whether it originated as an initiation ritual of the young or whether it marked the only day of the year when Romanians were permitted to enter the Saxon town of Kronstadt (Braşov).

Certain rituals were carried out at precise times of the day, with interdictions connected to the age of the participants in these rituals, ritual feasts and dances (the căţeaua, the hora) were organized, ritual items were used (the fife, the mace), fertility and virility practices took place, etc. The hora at Solomon’s Rocks once functioned as a folk trial, because those who disrespected the rules imposed by the community were not permitted to join the circle. If they did join the circle, the hora was stopped until they left it.

 Many of the original purposes of these rites were lost once the village of Şchei became a district belonging to the city of Braşov, but the celebration remains nevertheless an extremely interesting event. One practice that remains unchanged is throwing the mace, a test of men’s power and virility.  -> info source  <-

It was one of the few things that made me proud of being Romanian...A true show of  power, beauty, strength, control, distinction and delicacy. Hope you enjoy the pics!

 See ya soon!

Love,  Gab~

give me the rope!

Although I've been to Basov hundreds of times...this was my first time to walk on the Rope Street.  It was built during the early 13th century. It's purpose was to be an access corridor that firemen could use. It is the narrowest street in Romania and an important tourist attraction in Brasov. It is the only street whose side-walls can be touched with both hands at the same time. The narrowest street in eastern Europe has been restored recently and returned to the tourist circuit. 

And ..of course...it's a beautiful spot to take pics :)

The Black Church...in the centre of Brasov :)

...and lots of people at a traditional event...(I'm telling you more about it in the next post)

Brunch ...:)