Chios island

Sometimes it's not the place you're traveling to, but the way you choose to get there that's a whole big adventure. So let's say you could choose flying by some plane that fails to take off twice, or you take an 8 hours ferry trip on a stormy night through the Cyclades (sitting on the deck, otherwise you miss all the fun :-)), or just maybe a car drive at 4am in the morning. And when putting them all together you could get here, somewhere near the Asia Minor coast, but still on Greek grounds with mountains and sea combined.

So what should this Chios island be all about? Living in a small summer house, floating in the blue sea, looking after fish and sea urchins, fishing sometimes, reading some good book on the pebbled beach, driving a scooter over the mastic tree hills, wandering around mountains and discovering small forgotten villages and history all over the place. And most of all, peace of mind.

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Chios is famous for its mastic trees, that produce some resin used in foods and cosmetics. They grow only on this island, and require special care from local farmers.



Mavra Volia, volcanic pebbled beach.


Pyrgi village, famous for its painted houses with specific patterns.




And yes, i did swim here. :-)

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Things worth rushing home for - Part 2

Ah, those lovely sunny 19 degrees days in November(!) make me soo happy. And i know someone who enjoys them even more than i do. :-)

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Things worth rushing home for...

...are these beauties, growing now on my balcony, catching the last rays of sun in the autumnal evenings. Who knows me might add I'm not a plant grower, because all my experiences so far have been more or less disastrous, but somehow these flowers managed to resist some very harsh conditions. :-) And sadly now, sun sets much too early in Bucharest's 25 degrees autumn, for me to enjoy them at the fullest.

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The piano

What is there in life more to wish for? Some lovely moments when the surprise is being revealed, it hardly fits into a car, 80kg of it are carried on a spiral stairway, and then it's there, it's yours, in your room, in your face, like in your dreams, but this time you touch it and it's perfect. It's been 3 years precisely, but now it's real. Thank you D, for this incredible present on the rainiest day of May!

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Clauroma goes to Roma

Guess the things you expect less from, surprise you the most. That is the general rule i've learned over the years, but still catches me unguarderd every single time.
The case might not have been the same with Rome, as it is known it has its dolce vita style, beautiful mediterranean architecture, some good old history to go with and let's not forget the most important part, il grande gelato. :-) And still, after being aware of this, i was a bit skeptical until i was in the middle of it all. But then, there i was standing...with a big smile on my surprised face, if only it would have been for the first time.



And by the way, what's the point of throwing money in that Trevi fountain if you know you'll be back again? :-)

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