More ghosts

I have no idea how this happened. It's funny, is it not?

Oradea

Activities

There are a lot of activities in our school, I cannot keep up with the rhythm.
A few weeks ago- a web photo contest, last week- a Math contest, then Springday, performances, last week Earth Day- planting trees, this week- a book exhibition (today was the day for English books), soon- a ballet gala and some multimedia presentations about the Mayas. Never a dull day.
I was not there for the tree planting- we just made posters today, I did not want to let it go uncelebrated. It would have beeen nice, had I not to be a policeman after that, because I found out my kids had been bad again. As I said- never a dull day!

Ghosts

Oradea is not a very well-kept or a very special town, except for its thermal waters and some buildings in the Secession style, that I liked.
There is a fortress built in he 11th century, with an important historical background, but now there are works, so there is not much to see (there are some nice photos from better days here). But it is still in use because it shelters the Visual Arts section of the University.
It was all a surprise for me, as I entered the gate and I was greeted by a white resigned ghost. The yard was populated by students' sculptures. Nobody else, on a hot Saturday afternoon, but desolated shadows and the smell of warm grass. They looked particularly appropriate and although they are just sketches and this kind of art is not my cup of tea, I liked them. They fit and each of them spoke to me loudly and clearly.
I particularly liked the mother and the child- the way they click into each other and the way they seem to tend to separate. And the paradise gate with the two angels. And the feet.
I took my time to hear them and speak to them. On my way out I met two more shadows- a young couple dressed in black that had come there for a photo session. The girl in long dress smiled and waved her fan to me.
I can't name my feelings exactly, but it was nice.

not very big either...

A walk in the fields is always a show of small things surviving weather, progress and anuy other human activity. Humble and delicate beings inhabit our environment withoud desperation, without awareness of what surrounds them.
Colours, movements to be there just for nothing. No goal, just being there and existing.

The humble things in the grass- a tribute

All packed and ready to go

Old park, new colours

Stone

There are 300 fortified churches in Transylvania, some still active. Around 10 are included in the UNESCO heritage.
We like them and try to see as many of the 300 as we can, weather they are considered important or not, and each time we go there look for a few more.
We like old citadels and fortifications too, even if they are not as big and famous as your walls.
Hope you like these.
PS The round stone marked with a red cross is one of the stones men were supposed to carry uphill to the church to prove they were fit to marry. And it was quite a long way up!

Couples

As I was in no mood to teach, I gave my 8th graders a test (I am a bit ashamed of myself for that), so I could spend two hours watching a couple of very noisy jaybirds courting each other in the trees by the school. Loud lovers! They will have the same wedding anniversary as we do. :)

Sighisoara

This slideshow customized with Smilebox

I chose photos that will not show it, but it was disappointing seeing it again. All the places I love are still there: the clock tower, the town's symbol, the covered stairs gallery, built in the 16th century to allow students to climb to the uphill school, the churches, the walls. But it all looked neglected, except for the souvenir stands.
A lot of things in Sighisoara are about Dracula, and for real historical reasons, but the name mentioned is rarely the one of the historical character. You can eat "Dracula's Stake" in the house where Vlad the Impaler's father lived and I was tempted to buy a T-shirt reading "Romania- the country of Dracula" for you to wear during your future Comenius visit. It would have been perfect.
Sorry, I am just teasing you. But I was really disappointed. I might not go there for a while.

Asking for protection

It seems we have been in different ages these days.
Here are crosses that people erected as a request for protection and placed in important places: in crossroads, on the fields, near the fountains. They are all from the museum, except for the last one: it was really in the field. And, as a contrast, see the fresh manure spread around, to prepare the field for the new crops? Before expecting for divine help, one has to help himself! :)
As a proverb says: "God will help but he will not fill up your bag".

A day in the Museum....Reina Sofía

Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid hosts contemporary art from Spain and abroad. From the historical point of view, the museum is a kind of book, especially for the art during the Civil War and the repulsion felt by painters and photographers. Guernica painting is there. The old building: The Sabatini building was a hospital and it keeps the structure. The new building with great surfaces in glass, grey and red steel is a good example of contemporary architecture.
And Madrid was blooming everywhere yesterday.

Windows... and a few doors

Personalize a free digital slideshow

Maths I See 2

My photo was not taken from the best angle, the coincidences could be much better, such as the position of the centers of the equilateral triangles. Anyway, it's interesting. The black lines are the angles' bisectors. The black dots are the centers of the sides- both red and green.
How can a humble tulip know all that Geometry?

Today was too short

Have a walk in the sunny park, smell the flowers, hear the birds an the voices, watch the people, look for patterns an peculiar views...and the day will seem too short.
I hope you enjoy this and that your day was nice too.

Behind the glass

No Toledo for us today, family reasons. And it's been an uncommon spring day. Pouring cats and dogs, cold and grey. I suppose weather is not to be blamed of chaos on roads, traffic accidents, depressions and so on. Bujt it is really difficult to cope with so many changes in the same week. Evolution must go on so that we can survive these shifts.
I hope you are not feeling worried for your son's journey.