Places we Live In

Watching

2012-01-29T11:33:00.003Z

I wonder how the less fortunate animals in town can cope with these freezing days and nights.

variations

2012-01-06T13:45:00.003Z

I also have the same picture, although a bit different. it's a variation and I also have lots of this view because, remember is one of my favourite places in Ávila.
Mine is a postcard and yours is to be framed. They all belong to a collection with a nice history.
Do you remember the small newsagent's_bookshop in el Grande? The owner was a great photographer and somebody who loved Ávila very much. He died in August after a long disease and trials for a cancer. His kids gathered all his photos and published them as postcards and posters in a last homage to their father.
I found it touching and loving. A real love story!

Thank you

2012-01-06T10:33:00.002Z

I accidentally found this in my computer, while searching for a photo.

Thank you!

Castles- Lisbon and surroundings

2012-01-03T21:44:00.001Z

contrasts

2011-11-15T19:47:00.002Z

A few days ago, when we were walking to school, I saw this van parked outside. It had been raining during the night, there was a shy morning light and there was a sheet of leaves along the street. Students were coming little by little with sleepy steps. However, nobody or nothing could steal the feeling of freedom the van added. The sea scene, the small boat on the top were so inviting that I couldn't prevent from stopping and having a look. It was just an ephemeral moment but it made me start the day in a different way.
Liberty, obligation, outdoors, indoors.

Invitation to Transylvania

2011-11-09T18:50:00.002Z

This is said to be the most beautiful movie ever made about Romania and it depicts one of the areas I love most in this country.
I would be honoured if you took the time for this virtual visit.
And please remember you are always welcome for a real one!

Movie trailer

2011-10-27T16:05:00.002Z

We have legends, too. :)
And bears.

A loan

2011-10-25T16:21:00.002Z

Someone said this today, and even if this idea is by no means new, it's good to hear it expressed from time to time.
"We should see our country as it is today not as a heritage from our ancestors, but as a loan from our children."

Remember Brasov?

2011-10-22T19:09:00.008Z

Postcard

2011-10-19T11:28:00.002Z

A place for a book and a glass of wine, on a quiet street, what could one wish for more? Just for the time to stop there. Unfortunately, I had none.
Greetings from Brussels.

new trade

2011-10-09T08:44:00.003Z

Balance, sustainability are the foundations of this public exchange market. No money in between, just a shake of hands. Change the world in an alternative way! But it is much more than this, it means humanizing trade, solidarity, sharing resources, understanding.
It is the first time this kind of events is held in Ávila, perhaps crisis is making us see the world in a different way.
I only had a look in the morning and it was very early for the market to be evaluated. I think the idea is good, although the organization was a bit chaotic. Perhaps the second edition will be better.

2011-10-05T07:52:00.002Z

Good luck!

2011-09-30T19:00:00.001Z

Off to new adventures.
Good luck and good-bye!

Celtic wish stone

2011-09-06T16:22:00.002Z

medieval sounds in Ávila.

2011-09-04T20:06:00.002Z

Walking among the different medieval works allows you understand better the way life could have been.

Ancient instruments in exhibition, classical music played by amateur musicians. In this case, it's not medievla music but from the Rennaissance.

I'm not sure this was a common scene for medieval times in Ávila, but even so, markets would probably have had something like it.

Anniversary

2011-08-20T06:54:00.001Z

Grorge Enescu's 130th anniversary

Castle

2011-08-17T14:06:00.001Z

Special photos

2011-08-15T19:23:00.000Z

Here you are.

London

2011-08-15T15:02:00.001Z

Edinburgh

2011-08-15T14:55:00.003Z

In the Grass by the Lake

2011-07-29T05:11:00.002Z

I know it's not a good time for blogging, and this one has no more point to exist, but somehow I can't leave this blog, even if I tried.

I like taking pictures of insects and animals, it's demanding enough to prevent me from thinking of anything else, and makes me feel close to them.

A Reunion

2011-07-16T18:05:00.003Z

Seven of my former students who had graduated 12 years ago invited me to a small reunion last week. At first I refused, but then one of my favourite students called and said: you have to come and see us, we are so grown up and handsome we can't believe it ourselves, we got flowers for you, or tell us the address and we'll all come over. They had only invited me and their class tutor, but she is retired and was out of town.
So, I went to meet them- and she was right. They were all not just adults, but mature: the way they spoke about their lives, their plans. Successful with their studies, their jobs, most of them married, two even parents. I was proud of them.
I never post personal photos here, but here I am with the girls.It was a very affectionate and touching reunion and after I came home (they drove me because of all those flowers!) I thought I must have done something very good all those years ago. I don't know what, but it sure was something very good.

Anniversary Trip

2011-07-16T15:28:00.004Z

In 1986, when the staying in NATO poll was held, we voted by mail and went on a trip to Oropesa.
We liked the small village, el Parador, the landscape around and the people. I was given a revival of this moment for our 24th anniversay. Here are some moments.
Places have changed because a lot of restauration work has ben done, but the general atmosphere remains the same. and I liked it again.

Forever

2011-07-10T12:51:00.003Z

An image for this and a symbol for us.

Peaceful moments

2011-07-01T09:37:00.003Z

Being on holidays is not so bad, on a cool rainy morning. I've been cooking without hurry and watching TV at the same time (chicken and olives for Sorin, he suddenly craved for that, and pasta with zucchini for me) while Frodo was desperately trying to steal an olive and play with it as soon as I turned my back to her. She got slapped every time, so now she got tired. As you can see on her face, she is holding grudge. What she does not know is that I saved an olive for her and she'll get it when she wakes up and my work in the kitchen is finished. Most of the cats love olives, the smell, probably.
I have to clean the kitchen a bit and then- the balcony, a blanket-yes, it's that cool!- the laptop, a new book, the flowers, the cat. Who said holidays were bad?
Enjoy yours!

the new kids in the block

2011-06-28T14:12:00.002Z

no palyground shouts, no running pupils, no balls, nobody around. so mum chose this shadow to take out her small ones for a walk and a drink. Look at them, the new kinds on the block.

after sunset

2011-06-27T20:41:00.005Z

Brno

2011-06-20T20:50:00.000Z

Dusk to dawn at the 13th floor

2011-06-16T20:57:00.005Z

Not my pictures. Spending so much time in an office on the 13th floor can bring a lot of nice views...

Nearby

2011-06-13T14:32:00.013Z

As close as Brasov, but in another country. A town called Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria. Not bad, but I was happy to be back here.

Beginning?

2011-06-10T17:38:00.003Z

There was a student in ATOM in charge with photos at times when I could not take them. I chose him because he liked photos, he is a bit shy and it seemed a good way to encourage him, and it worked. His photos were very good, he was very proud of them, of the team's appreciation and after each occasion I commented on the photos and had a small prize for him.
He took photos both during our last Flasmeeting (100 of them!) and today, at the parents meeting. But the very last one is a surprise. It's this quote that was left on the board in he room, probably from a graduation ceremony, he must have considered it the best ending.
It says: "Any new beginning coincides with the end of another beginning".
How could I not weep right now?

Ending

2011-06-08T17:26:00.003Z

I don't like changes, I don't like endings.

Swan Lake park

2011-06-05T20:34:00.007Z

test

2011-06-05T12:34:00.002Z

ATOM on Dipity.

Busy

2011-06-03T06:25:00.002Z

There are endless activities going on in my school: week-end trips, School Day, a book fair, a photo exhibition, graduation festivities, sports competitions, an alumni meeting, activities about climate change- the photo is from one of them, projects..I must have forgotten some.
Some will go on over summer and I feel to tired now, but I would have liked to plan one too, or at least take part in the most interesting one: a Japanese Culture Week. The school is in a long term partnership with the Japan Embassy and Japanese is taught in the school curriculum, so the teacher will have a week of very nice activities, some delivered by native speaking experts: language classes during the morning and culture and tradition classes in the afternoon: origami, ikebana etc. Maybe I find the energy to take part, if there is an adult group as well.

Bratislava day and night

2011-05-25T18:21:00.016Z

pacific anger

2011-05-23T18:34:00.002Z

Getting together to start a demonstration. Young people, adults, young couples, old people. Everyone with a problem, a question to society, a desire of a better democracy where everybody is really represented. Protesting against the way politicians from all the parties have managed the crisis, unemployment, lack of expectations, even fear about the future.

"They (politicians) don't represent us" " 5 million unemployed, none in silence" "don't look at us, join us" "bankers, robbers" chants for a march where one could not feel alone.

Messages against the unfair situation of people who have lost their jobs, their houses and still have to do up with corruption, luxury life among top classes, injustice.

"In Ávila I'm worth 40 people because my friends, the young ones, are in Madrid and Salamanca" For a town which does not provide its young people a way of living.
Despite this, people have chosen to move still to the less social power.
Can anybody understand it? Are we stupid? Is there any solidarity among us? What kind of future are we leaving our children?
I would aprreciate getting the answers.
Times aren't changing! Bob Dylan is not a classic any longer, his lyrics are not suitable nowadays!
A pity we are unable to start a new revolution.

Bratislava- details

2011-05-22T21:01:00.016Z

On sale

2011-05-16T18:56:00.005Z

Pink-nosed cat, classic design. Silky multicolour front-zipped coat. Multiple sound tracks with sleep purring mode. Jumping function. Lamp shade included. Optional brain sold separately.

Randomly from Brussels

2011-05-10T19:45:00.013Z

Conclusions from the keynote speaker.

Flower market in the Grand Place.

Happy entrance

Nature in the city.

Strange combination= angel+peep-show!

Crisis time even for statues.

A place for bees.

City art.

Just joking!

Le Cercle des Voyageurs- let's have a beer together!

Bridge to the sun

2011-05-09T20:22:00.003Z

Old railroad bridge over the Danube. Sorin's photos.

Eyes

2011-05-04T18:42:00.004Z

Frodo playing hide-and-seek, hidden under the pillow in her basket. The fear in her eyes is just for play. She pretends I'm a monster.

Attentive. Don't laugh at the tulips in the pickles jar- I had bought a big bunch of lilac too and my big vase was full . I pass the market every day, there are a lot of costless spring flowers and I decided to offer myself a gift. My house smells of white lilac. And roast chicken.

Beautiful sad eyes under a car.

Nothing to do with Maths

2011-05-02T19:59:00.000Z

Symmetry from Everynone on Vimeo.

Testing Kizoa

2011-04-25T18:51:00.003Z

Spring - making a free slideshow

April 23rd

2011-04-23T09:26:00.003Z

There are a lot of celebrations today where we live.
It is our Region Day. Celebrations are mainly held in Villalar de los Comuneros, a village in Valladolid, where the rebels from our community were executed in 1521. A sad rebellion! Sad because it was fair and had no good end.
It is also Book Day. This particular year, because of family reasons, I have adopted a kind of combination of Book Day and San Jordi's Day in Catalonia. The tradition there is to give a rose and a book. Here's my breakfast table with roses and books for the ones at home.
In Barcelona there will be a different celebration, I hope.

wishing you a very good day

Earth Day 2

2011-04-22T19:02:00.000Z

This free slideshow made with Smilebox

My personal homage to Earth.

Earth Day

2011-04-22T12:01:00.001Z

unexpected views

2011-04-21T16:48:00.003Z

On Earth Hour evening I could see through some windows. And this is what some people were watching on TV. It was like a strange ghostly image from a house opposite The Walls.

Can you see the wagon with the image? It made part of a religious Easter processions, but it took refuge in El Grande.

Funny advertisement for one of the towns with the best meat in the region. Exotic meat. Pay attention to the huge fried egg. It made us laugh. I hope you also have a smile.

Pink and more

2011-04-17T16:14:00.002Z

Let the sunshine in.

Late

2011-04-16T15:32:00.002Z

Good practice examples after the first 3 years of eTwinning in Romania- see pages 48-53.
I know it's water under the bridge, but still, maybe you'd be glad to see it.

flowers in my balcony

2011-04-14T12:04:00.000Z

with my best wishes for everybody

IBD

2011-04-10T07:52:00.002Z

I have decided to start a new celebration today: the International Brainless Day. A day when I will not use my brain AT ALL. I have worked so much yesterday that today I can afford/I need to do nothing that requires thinking. I'll cook, iron, run, spend time with my family, have a long bath, maybe go to the park. I plan to do it as often as possible, maybe once a week. And, since I'm a generous person, I made it and international holiday, so everyone can celebrate.
The problem is with those who have a IBD every day....

Happy International Brainless Day! Will you celebrate with me? :)

Presentation

2011-04-09T20:10:00.003Z

This is what I am preparing for Brussels. It's not ready, just a work in progress so far, but it could use a critical eye. So if you have time too watch it, any suggestion/comment is welcome. I might even have misspelled words, I worked in a speed :).
No hurry, and please don't feel compelled to watch it.
Have a nice evening and a happy Sunday, with no allergy, if possible.

INVOLVING STUDENTS IN MATHS ETWINNING PROJECTS on Prezi

Connections

2011-04-05T19:18:00.005Z

The kids in ATOM are not my best group, but they react wonderfully to this. They enter the TS by themselves all the time and know what is going on there and on the blog, they write to me and ask for tasks details, they even offer me help when we have things to do. I scold them a lot, I am often angry, and still they never miss our extra hour.

Today, I gave them some trifles from Budapest: rulers, stickers, pins, cards, leaflets etc. As I was taking souvenirs out of the bag one by one they said: is there more? you are covering us wit gifts! Does it mean you are happy with our work?

More questions: will we have another project next year too? Could we join even if we are not good in Maths?
My favourite: If our Fibonacci book is published are we real poets now?

And Tania, the Flashmeeting girl, who is a handful, asked me last week: all in all, why are you doing all this with such passion, what's in it for you? It's getting to know them. Maybe it's silly. It's a kind of a turning point, so I tend to think of all these 5 and a half years and get a bit emotional.

Trip on the Danube

2011-04-03T20:36:00.001Z

Day two

2011-04-01T23:21:00.021Z

After a short walk, I attended two workshops, one on elearning 2.0, and one on internet safety- both were OK, not amazing, but good.
Then, after lunch, there was the workshop, more time for the exhibition ad dinner.
The place was one for train-lovers: the Hungarian Railroad Museum. The food was the usual "fancy" one, he names of the dishes were bigger than the dish itself. But the wines were very good.

Here are some things from the stands, they were not so good this year. I don't have Eleni's, you will have to ask her if you want to see it.

This is just a door I liked. I will visit a bit the town tomorrow, before flying back home.

Good night, it's 2 am here. I hope you are having a nice dream.

Day one

2011-03-31T19:36:00.006Z

The trip was long but uneventful for me. Not the same for my colleague who flew with the NSS delegation and lost her luggage. Imagine her going to bed without anything. I feel awful, because I insisted for her to come.
The keynote speaker was not good at all. His speech was nice technically but he performed like a clown, and the content was old news: ICT tools such as Prezi, Voicethread, Spicy Nodes, and a few more, mostly games. I disliked that he wanted to be funny at any cost, so I left the room and went to do the stand.Then we had the traditional buffet dinner with not enough tables.
Here is my diploma and my prize.That's all for now. Samurai is very tired, as we only slept for 3 hrs last night.
He wishes you sweet dreams.Keep your fingers crossed for our workshop tomorrow afternoon! And thank you for sharing this with me!
PS I told everyone you made the pins, as I had promised. They all said I was lucky.

Preparations

2011-03-30T15:35:00.003Z

This is a small sample of the preparations: I made 3 big posters (A1), a dozen of separate photos, 150 visit cards, 20 cubes and- the nicest by me- 30 squares with one character on one side and one riddle from the loudblog on the other, that will form a long garland across our stand after they are hung on a golden thread. I'll show you the stand.
Still some things to do before I'm done.
I'll do my best to keep you posted.

The Earth Hour

2011-03-27T15:49:00.005Z

Although only 60 minutes, it feels good to switch off, to light our candles and to go into the dark streets.
To cross this ancient loving gate in a mysterious gleam.

to find out the difference with everyday's view.

couldn't we have a different society?

Compass

2011-03-25T18:10:00.002Z

I might have shown this before, it's an object I like very much, my father-in-law's compass. He actually used during WW2. I don't know why, it makes me feel confident, it speaks to me of things we can trust, such as the right direction.
May you and all your loved ones always find the right direction and the safe way back home.
And excuse me if you have already seen it, it's just a proof I mean it.
Or a proof I'm tired. :)

Pi Day FlashMeeting

2011-03-23T17:53:00.003Z

After a snowy morning, getting ready for the FlashMeeting was really a huge task.

Congratulations Irina! Once again you have succeeded. And we are learning little by little how to manage our own problems in the Places we Live In. Well done, young lady!

spring at home

2011-03-20T17:48:00.000Z

Personalize a free digital slideshow

A bit of my balcony, strating blooming.

loving moon

2011-03-20T12:54:00.001Z

It was beautiful. I only saw it from a boulevard near my house. But anyway, I'm sure you will like it.
the mysterious love of nature!

Just something I like

2011-03-18T16:59:00.000Z

...not only in the air

2011-03-17T06:49:00.003Z

One of the themes of amulets this year was about turtles- maybe because of the crisis and because they are supposed to bring money. But there is something else funny that happened.
One of my colleagues has a pair of turtles. She has had them for many years and so far nothing happened. But yesterday as we came into the teachers' room for break, she was very confused: her husband had called from home telling that the she-turtle had suddenly laid 3 eggs. They had been very secretive, so nobody expected this, now the "mother" was fussing around he eggs and my colleague's husband asked for instructions, so that the eggs were safe. We did some brainstorming, but nobody had any clear idea. Thank god for web search!
I hope the eggs are OK and the turtle family will soon have new members. By the way, my reaction was: congrats, so now you are a grandmother!

pi

2011-03-13T21:02:00.002Z

numbers and letters, numbers and names, numbers and people. Guess which is my pi.

Enjoy the Day. It will be especial for me, I have never celebrated any Maths concept. Thanks.

Japan today

2011-03-11T19:25:00.001Z

I'm shocked and I'm grieved. Anything can happen any moment, anywhere. Don't know what else to say.

Suddenly

2011-03-10T20:05:00.009Z

A writer once said that our autumns were "restfully long" and many of our springs "adorably short". Spring seems to come suddenly this year, sweeping us off our feet, like a "coup de foudre". It will make us dreamy, lazy and frivolous.
Everything feels fragile, inside and outside us, like the snowdrops, like the humble little orchid in my balcony (one of the few plants that survived my gardening skills and the first I brought into this house) who is working hard to surprise us with a bud. We will pretend to be surprised, but I'm watching it closely while holding my breath.
It's Frodo's first spring. It's someone's last- who?

too early..too early

2011-03-10T19:39:00.003Z

I'm afraid they were too quick to bloom. They were so tired of such a long winter that they couldn't wait for more. They may be punished by nature! Very low temperatures are announced again!

before and after ATOM

2011-03-10T07:38:00.003Z

Just a few seconds before entering the school yesterday evening for my English Workshop, this cat was on duty. Half-hidden behind the square cells in the fence he watched the world pass by.

After these extremely collaborative periods at school, where Maths were done in English and questions were answered and debated, a walk was most needed. Coming back home from it was delicate in colours and warm sensations.

Vain

2011-03-09T20:46:00.002Z

I got this for March 1st from my tutor class. It's a "Best class tutor" diploma and it says: this is awarded as a token of appreciation because you manage to mix strictness and delicacy.
It's just buttering me up, but for a short moment my vanity bloomed.

Carnival where I live

2011-03-08T13:23:00.002Z

I couldn't finish recording because I ran out of memory, but the end of the parade was very good.
I hope you like it.
Have a nice day. Windy and dark here.

From far away

2011-03-01T18:52:00.003Z

Anna brought us today amulets made by her mother. Here is mine.

How could you?

2011-02-26T15:20:00.003Z

This time, I brought the green envelope home, because I did not know what to expect. I went into my kitchen, took the cat out and closed the door. I opened the parcel, and the brown bag, took out the suitcase and carefully opened it. Suddenly, my eyes popped out and my jaw dropped- a whole crowd was staring at me from in there: Alice, the Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, even the White Rabbit with his clock. It was a long moment of silence before I started laughing. I stopped after a while and looked at each of them, then at the card, then I went to show them to Sorin, who of course could not understand what it was all about. I’m looking at the details: the beads on the Queens crown, her face, the rabbit’s ears, the cat’s grin.

How could you? How could you waste all that time just for me?

You bet they will all come to the Conference with me, and I even got an idea what to say at the prize ceremony due to them. I only have one question: do they all need a passport in order to travel to Budapest legally?

P.S. Have I thanked you yet?

Everything is relative

2011-02-25T15:47:00.003Z

This is from one of my 5th grade groups today and I found it very nice, I hope you like it.

We were working with decimal numbers and I was trying to emphasize the importance of expressing the actions in an accurate way- the link between action and its expression is quite an issue at this age, weather the action is done by them or required from them.
So, I was trying to make them say we place the comma 1 position more to the left or to the right instead of to the end (or beginning) of the number. I told them a funny true story about one student who was so used to place the comma more "towards the door" or "towards the window", that he could not solve the exercises at home because the door and the window were not in the same directions. So, I said, we must refer to left and right, because they are not relative, therefore we will always be precise.

Then, I prepared to go further with the lesson and asked: can someone please wipe the first blackboard? as they have 2 boards in the room. And they asked: which one is the first?
I found this brilliant, especially for 11 year olds. :)

Gheba

2011-02-24T18:42:00.003Z

For anyone who has been in school in Romania anytime during the last 50 years, "Gheba" means "Maths book", although in fact it's a surname. The name of the author of the most widespread and well-known (and I dare say one of the best) exercise books. It's a plural because he started publishing Maths books in 1958 and now, as he's 91, he is publishing his 34th, and the first he has not "tested" on his own students. Six million copies, if numbers can speak by themselves.
Grigore Gheba's life was changed by a Math book too, a book called "1001 Maths problems", that he loved so much he knew by heart before he was 12.
I am sure his books changed some lives too, maybe more than he will ever know.

Love in th air

2011-02-23T13:10:00.002Z

It was almost impossible not to break their intimate moment. They were so loving!

First flight

2011-02-21T19:50:00.002Z

Through the hole, safely wrapped and stamped, AiW's suitcase started its first flight today.

Not through the Looking Glass, but through the window, you will have to check if our Correos delivers it on time to you.

Enjoy everything1

25

2011-02-21T18:56:00.003Z

There is nothing I can say.

My own IT expert

2011-02-21T18:06:00.005Z

She is as good with hardware as she is with the software. That is, if her own tale gets in the hardware category, because that's what she was doing on the printer- she was hunting it. And it's very hard to catch!

Ready

2011-02-20T21:33:00.002Z

Beyond technology

2011-02-19T20:46:00.003Z

You know I'm doing some online tutoring, a 6 weeks etwinning course for advanced users (although not many are really advanced), and it's quite popular, there are over 400 trainees each session.
One teacher there was writing about her first project: a simple Xmas cards thing. She teaches in a village, her pupils don't have computers at home and many of them walk for 14 km in order to get to school. She says: I can't describe the kids' reaction as they got a bagful of letters from children in the UK, Portugal, Poland, Spain, Turkey. They just could not believe it was for real.
This is much more valuable than all the innovative ICT use, mobile technologies, virtual environments and who knows what. At least, I think so. Much more than a European Prize, even.

AiW's suitcase

2011-02-19T08:56:00.002Z

Packing is an important fact when travelling. If we went through the history of travellers we would learn a lot about the differences in character, attitude, objectives and, of course, wealth.
But nobody can say travellers can set off like it, without a suitcase.
This is my contribution's suitcase for Budapest. A totally handmade pack. Whatever is inside is yours, but you can share it if you feel like it. I hope you enjoy that moment because you deserve it. Have a good trip.

urban Intervention

2011-02-15T21:26:00.003Z

This is what they call a Urban Intervention, a kind of street art that is more meaningful than other writings on walls. There are many in big town, but this is the first one I've seen in Ávila. We found it out going to the station to take Adela to her train. I particularly like it. Are there similar artistic representations in Bucharest? I'm sure there are.
Rainy, snowy day. wonderful to stay at home and work.

...wherever you are

2011-02-11T20:13:00.003Z

Click here!

Chasing geometry

2011-02-08T21:37:00.002Z

This new geometricla way of looking at buildings produces different perspectives and views.

You will probably remember these places, there's no point in telling you about them, even the last one, which is harder to recognize. Where do you situate it?

Sun and snow in Herastrau

2011-02-05T17:29:00.009Z

Cookies

2011-02-04T13:36:00.003Z

Even if I do manage my mind, my body feels when I'm angry and reacts. So, today I decided to fight anger by baking. I opened my grandma's notebook at the very first page: the simplest dry raisins cookies, risk-free- you cannot fail in such a simple recipe. Here they are, after a short wile, in my sunny (oh, yes! we have sun today) kitchen. I cannot send the nice smell or the real taste, but it was a nice break, and my grandma was with me. When they got ready, I even had a taster, because Sorin is at home these days.
You can also see my recently started collection of tin coloured boxes from Europe- silly, I know. If it's not too much to ask, maybe some day you can send me a box from the Spain- just the box. :)
You are right, simple things are soothing, sometimes. Have a cookie with me!

The traveler's rest

2011-02-02T14:38:00.004Z

This is my favourite chair and my favourite place on the balcony, with my newest flower (that survives, so far), the place for spending the few sunny hours these days. I could not use the balcony for a few weeks after my cat died, but I went back to using it a few days ago.
And who do you see up on the top of the chair, ready to share my leisure moments? It's Samurai, the traveler, who has just arrived to my house.
As you see, Frodo already said hello. Don't worry, she is only allowed on the balcony when we are there, because of the flowers, so Samurai is safe.
He rests for now, but his adventurous travels are not over. He does not know it yet, but he will come with me to Budapest, to see the town for you and write about everything- your own field reporter.
Thank you again.

Multi-faceted words

2011-02-01T09:23:00.002Z

I don't now if I can make you see numbers in a new way, but I do pay more attention to words and the way we use them.
It strikes me that words have more than the dictionary meanings, more subtle nuances that one has to have an intimate connection with the language to really understand. Still, sometimes we can get a glimpse of that if we pay attention.
Here are 4 examples that have the same meaning and in 3 of the cases even the same form, but different nuances.

First (I have already mentioned that another time) "illusion". In Romanian as well as in English, it means something unrealistic, that can never become reality, a mirage. In Spanish, I think, it does not have this nuance, right?
Second: "didactic". We wrote a conference article in our Comenius project last week and it was the English partner who "polished" it, of course. He told us he took out the word "didactic" and replaced it wit "pedagogical" because in English it has a strong pejorative connotation. It can have that in Romanian too, but very seldom and a bit forced.
Third: "compromise". This word has a strong negative meaning in Romanian and maybe in English too, as well as I can tell, but in Spanish it has a totally different meaning- commitment, right? Please correct me if I am wrong!
Last, a word you use often: "stubborn". In fact, it triggered all this silly post. For us here, being stubborn is certainly not a quality, and it's a feature we always nag our children to drop. Tell me about how it's seen in your place, if you want- I'm curious.

One can find out a lot from just a word, and this is amazing for me.
Sorry if this is childish, I'm lazy today and just letting my mind wonder.

Furry smiles

2011-01-28T18:26:00.002Z

This is what I find irresistibly funny in her. Sorry if it's getting boring!
(The videos have no sound.)

on his way to Bucharest

2011-01-28T16:45:00.003Z

Of course, nothing to compare with your Frodo. But Samurai is on his way to Bucharest. I hope he can find your house. It is not very demanding. he just stays where you want: on your jacket, on your coat, on your curtains. No problem with him. For a Japanese Samurai cat, born in Ávila and taken to Bucharest, it might be a bit difficult to adapt. Hope you can take care of him too. Have a smile!

day off

2011-01-28T16:24:00.004Z

We woke up early this morning to see the view of our streets covered with snow and it kept snowing for an hour more or so.

Fountains, pools were frozen at midday. But at that time, the sun was already high and the morning became one of this typical cold sunny days in Ávila.

Wonderful to have a walk inside and outside the Walls. And this is what I did. Walking and letting my thought travel through time and wish.

May my wishes come true for you too.

winter walk

2011-01-14T07:34:00.003Z

A game of light and shadows allows the sight to imagine the geometry in constructions and the power of a bright sun leaves part of the old church in a dream.

Our eyes not always see the same. I may have gone past this gate on The Walls thousands of times and it was only yesterday when I read both the boards. Ironic for a vegetarian that one of the walks I enjoy the most is also called Rastro de la Carne. Meat. And of course the name is logical. The valley beyond produces the best meat in the province and of course, this gate would have been the entrance, in ancient times, for meat.
However if our intention is to percceive beauty, even our common eyes can discover the last colours of a glorious winter evening.

a creature

2011-01-10T09:26:00.003Z

A crazy creature in my place: I have never seen such energy. Every microscopic thread is a toy, every closet left open is a new land, every shelf is a stair. She runs and plays for hours, then she drops down like dead, but only for a short while. She jumps like a flying squirrel, stands up like a ground squirrel, tried to persuade us for half a night she should sleep in our bed, while we tried to persuade her she should sleep in her basket. We thought she got it and went to sleep, just to wake up minutes later because she was snoring by my pillow. She tries very hard to suckle on my palm, runs on the keyboard, hunts the computer mouse and the cursor, then looks behind the monitor to see where it went. She adores Age of Empires, she knows goodies come from the fridge and is a potty expert. When she is apprehensive, she steps on the same spot over and over....OK, this is getting far too long for such a tiny topic!

Polvere di tempo

2011-01-05T15:07:00.010Z

The Fortress' Gate

2010-12-26T19:26:00.005Z

These were taken for you, even if it's not exactly a knocker, and there is a wish attached to them: may all the locks unlock and all the gates of fortresses open for you and yours.

From my window

2010-12-26T07:35:00.005Z

On the second day of Christmas...The last one is a day older- all the snow has melted, but more might come. I'd like that!

Christmas morning

2010-12-25T22:57:00.003Z

Getting to bed the last one allows you the possibility of gathering the last lights, the last sounds, the last smells from the family meeting.

and getting up the first one in Christmas Day allows you to see all the presents waiting for their owners and anticipating the smiles, the surprise, the laughter.

Christmas morning

2010-12-25T06:44:00.007Z

Yesterday's sunset and today's morning views. Have a sunny day! Hugs.