Summer in Linz

Just before the summer tour I worked during this summer had started, I made a quick visit to our lovely friend Andreea, who not only shared her nice flat with us, she also took us around 2 nearby lakes where we enjoyed the first day of sun and a good swim and a very talented wake boarder. The hammocks (seen above) were part of an installation at OK, Linz. It was a great way of spending a night out, enjoying a cold beer in a chilly atmosphere. After a fast and hesitating car ride we arrived all wet at the airport wearing the bathing suits underneath the clothes and smiling while we were entering London.
Because I loved it that much there, I revisited my friend, after the tour had finished with lots of new stories to tell her and just as many to listen to. Realized at the moment that Austria is more beautiful than I had imagined it and that I would love to come back and live here...not only for the landscape but for my dear friends around.

Destination: Vienna - London via north centre Austria

Back on the wire

After quite a long break in the virtual world I come back. I will gradually take all my journeys and post them. In the meanwhile I have traveled Europe with charming American students, my sister got married and I spent some valuable time back home, but also moved to Vienna in search for a decent and relaxed life.
Pictures above were taken while on the spring holiday home during May. A good friend showed us a very interesting place, very close to Timisoara, and very unusual for our region. It is a million years old volcano (Şanoviţa and a local article relating the subject) called by the locals the Red Rock and forgotten there both by time and the local authorities. It is said to have erupted 3 times leaving a mark on the flat terrain in the western part of Romania. You should check it out if nearby although probably nobody except our friend will be able to tell you where it is.

Destination: almost unknown

Prague in May

I visited Prague for the first time in May and I was hosted by my dear friend Pavla on the Chaplinovo street, which is Charlie Chaplin in Czech, and by Viktor who taught me lots of Czech traditions and their lovely turtle who didn't find me that lovely as I was invading her private space. Anyway, I spent some four full touristic days there and if it weren't for the rainy weather I would have enjoyed the city even more. That is just one more reason to go there again.
Prague felt like the greenest city I have seen yet, and the Art Nouveau spread around just made my days sunnier. The photo with Hotel Pariz was taken as a reminder for a movie I also recommend I served the King of England and was designed by Alfons Mucha, the great Czech painter/designer, who immediately takes me to Beth's tattoo (complicated ways my mind has). I followed a Lonely Planet guide all the time, and I lost myself in the quiet almost deserted Jewish Cemetery, visited the Museum of Communism (very good posters and materials, but rather crowded), had a hike on the hill, ate at the same cheap Chinese store, drank very cheap and delicious beer, ate again some tasty pickled cheese (if I am not mistaken, as it is a type of food to go with beer and I ate it at my second or third one) and I enjoyed some quality time with my hosts. Had a great time and can't wait to go back.
Also as I am writing I remembered the quote I read in the Museum of Communism, quote by J.V. Stalin: "One death is a tragedy, a million deaths is statistic".

Destination: first time in Prague

PS: I will be traveling around Europe for the next months, so I will be back sometime in August with hopefully lots of exciting experiences and stories to tell. ENJOY your summer, as it might be the hottest you've yet seen and felt.

Bucuresti city capital

We always love going back to Bucuresti especially when we go there as tourists. The days we spent in April were hot and long. We planned our holiday in order to attend Rokolektiv Festival, which I honostly enjoyed a lot (Move D would have to be my favourite performance of the weekend, not counting Dan Deacon who is from another world). Except partying and walking around we saw all the great friends we have there, including Igor who is number 1 in our Top Ten, and nobody can really compete with him.
Bucuresti is much better than you'd expect. I saw some huge parks/forests, out of which Titan was the best. Of course wouldn't leave out a free bike ride in Herestrau. Lipscani looks better than ever, and sometimes if it wasn't for the dogs, the street cables and my mother tongue language to remind me I would think Bucuresti is little Paris indeed.
A big hug and thanks to our host who practically left the entire flat for ourselves. Can't wait to go back there and discover something new that will make me love Bucuresti even more.
Also check Basti's latest group exhibition

Destination: city of wonderful people and parties, dogs and street cables

Venice

The training we did for our summer job, took us to different places in Austria but also gave us the chance to have a really nice walk in Venice and eat some delicious Pizza Margherita next to the University. Not only did we meet very nice people we also got into the mood of travelling around.
Venice always has this special thing about it, and I can't really feel de bad smell everyone talks about. I rather see a town with no cars or public transport, with Venetians walking very fast on the tiny alleys and overcrowded streets with souveniers nobody should buy. Still, I would always go there walk around, knowing that there is no chance in getting lost as all streets take to Plaza San Marco. Also enjoyed a good expresso with newly met people: Lukas, Jazzy and Claudia.
The polaroid we took looks better in real life and we look like 30's really enthusiastic turists visisting Venice for the fist time.
Destination: Venice, Italy

Cementeri Montjiuc

We spent one of the last days in beautiful and sunny Barcelona with our friends in Cementeri Montjiuc. Besides meeting two dutch on a quest of tombspotting, we didn't meet any other living counscious souls. I also understand now why catalan people say you have a better view when dead and burried in this place since you all see is the calming sea.

Destination: After Life

Flavour Raval

Raval, the twin Neighbourhood of historic Barcelona has always been seen as the favela of the city (Barrio Gotico). Today, Raval hosts the MACBA, the CCCB a branch of the Univesidad de Barcelona, and right next to the place where we took both of these pictures (carrer de Sant Pau), the Catalunya Film Archieve is being built at this very moment. Even with all this attempts to change the flavour of this historic neighbourhood, Raval remaines the same old, the home of many prostitutes, stolen bikeshops, abdulaches, bazares, fruterias and narrow streets always crowded with people from all around the world and filled with spicy smells. It is the place where we spent our wonderful time in Barcelona and the place we will truly miss once we leave the city.
Destination: Temptation