Oxford – green energy and youthful peace
February 1, 2012
Have you ever watched a movie about Oxford? I have. Long ago. I don’t remember the name of the movie, nor the actors, but I do remember the atmosphere. That movie took me to a place that is peaceful and quilet, cosy and funny, youthful and cheerful – all at once. I can also remember that the students were learning in the University park , on the grass, and I have been wanting to get there ever since.
Well… I have! I have enjoyed the vivid spirit of a very old town, the old centre full of history and the green parks of Oxford , enjoying the peace given by the songs of the birds and laughter of the graduating students.
Apparently, there is not much to see in Oxford – just some old walls and a city centre that takes 1 hour to circle around. The surprise is that behind every door, there’s a page of history, and you’ll find a nice or an exciting story behind every stone.
If you ever get to UK , I strongly recommend to you this place. You can visit the college where Harry Potter was filmed. Then, the Oxford Castle will unchain its mystery to you. After these pages of history, you can take a long walk in the University park and enjoy your favourite book under the tree of your choice. You can enjoy the authenticity of the traditional Guiness in an old pub (my choice is Kings’ Arms, but there are lots and lots of cosy nice pubs that give you the impression that you were born there and every single person from that pub is your friend). You can enjoy the walk on the narrow streets and find the peace of the Theatres (Sheldonian Theatre, New Theatre, Oxford Playhouse), Libraries (Bodleian Library, Central Library), Colleges (University College pretends to be the oldest – the history teacher I accidentaly met there said that there are three colleges that have the same age: University college, Magdalen and another one I haven’t discovered yet), Towers, Bridges…
The centre of the city is where the old and the new perfectly combine and you can find fancy restaurants, nice shops and cosy, modern cafes, between old buildings, colleges, churches and walls.
There are busses to and from the centre of London every 10 minutes, so getting there is easy and relatively cheap if you buy a return ticket.
Accomodation in Oxford is deffinitely cheaper than in London and for an affordable amount, you can enjoy both Oxford’s green and wild energy and London’s great busy atmosphere. My choice for accomodation was Balkan Lodge, a nice and cosy place, rich breakfast and nice staff.
When you feel that modern and old, cosy and wild, young and vivid are the combinations you need in order to rest your soul after a stressful period, Oxford might be exactly what you need.
From an inner perspective, Rome
January 31, 2012
I first visited Rome in a difficult moment of my existence, when I was searching for Faith and Hope. I had been told that Faith breathes calmly on the streets of Rome and Vatican City. And so it is.
The first surprise that Rome brought to me was that it is not an old, traditional city, as I had imagined, but a vivid, colourful place, full of energy and life as well.
Rome can be anything – ruins, Colosseum, Traian’s column, huge green oasis, and, above all, Fountains (in the famous Plazzas) and Cathedrals, but also student life, modern and nice restaurants and trattorias, coffe-shops (the atmosphere is really great, and you should know that the price differs wheather you have the coffee standing at the bar, sitting inside or sitting outside. You actually pay for the seat.) and gelaterias.
My personal recommendations for your trip to Rome depend on the length of your stay. Of course, there are many things to see and visit.
I always stay at B&B Maggiore. It’s the best price/quality ballance for accomodation in Rome. Besides that, it is just a few steps away from Termini, but still avoiding the characteristic noise of the railway station area.
I’d start my trip with… a Cappucino! Then Vatican. Vatican ’s Museum is unique in the world with its Sixtine Chapel, but it will take you one day to visit it so if your trip is planned for a week-end or so, you might want to visit some other places instead. Another surprise was the sight from the top of St. Peter’s Cathedral. I had seen pictures before. I had climbed high buildings. However, nothing compares to the feeling that I had when up there. I do not recommend this “exercise” if your heart is not stron enough, though. It seems the stairs never end!
Rome has four Major Basilicas: St. Peter’s (the one I have just mentioned above), St. Paul ’s, St. Giovanni’s and Santa Maria Maggiore. Each of them is different and you will discover new great things in each. They are in different parts of the city, but you should integrate them in your tour.
From Vatican , Piazza del Popolo is not very far away. Vila Borghese is also there and you will enjoy the walk through that great green oasis. From there you can go down the famous Spanish Steps to reach Piazza di Spagna.
By now, you should be hungry, I guess. You could enjoy the athmosphere of an Italian Restaurant with their delicious specialties or you could grab a slice of Italian Pizza. Wherever you can see the sign “Pizza al taglio” you can find delicious pizza specialties at relatively decent prices. As a desert, have an icecream or a Tiramisu. You won’t regret it!
Pantheon is still a mistery, as the hole in the ceiling is real. It really rains inside! Besides that, the building itself is really impressive.
Colosseum also amased me. I did not even want to go in at first, thinking that all I could see were stones. That is absolutely untrue! All you see inside is a piece of history, bits of what there was back then. This should be the next stop in Rome. You should know as well that with the same ticket you can also see the Fori Romani. In the same area you will find Traian’s Column and Piazza Vittorio Emanuelle.
Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori, Largo Argentino – these are all attractions that worth being mentioned.
And, if your stay is longer, you should also take a walk through the Roses and Oranges Garden. The smell and the view are unique, but it is preety far from the other touristic attractions.
It would take me a whole magazine to even mention all of Rome ’s beauties. This is just a… Slice of Rome .
Oh, and by the way, don’t leave Rome before throwing a coin in the famous Fontana di Trevi. The legend says that you have to stay with your back to the fountain and throw the coin in the fountain over your shoulder and this will guarantee your return to Rome. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but I visited Rome 6 times last year and I’m still throwing coins in the fountain…
Moldova lor, Moldova noastra…
January 30, 2012
Imi doresc sa scriu despre aceasta experienta inainte ca detalii esentiale sa mi se stearga irecuperabil din minte. Nu neaparat pentru a cataloga experienta ca fiind “buna” sau “rea”. Ci pentru ca, peste timp, imi doresc sa nu distorsionez amintirile.
In primul rand, mi s-a parut extrem de ciudat sa folosesc pasaportul pentru a trece granita spre o tara in care se vorbeste aceeasi limba cu a mea. Pentru Europa am nevoie de buletin. Pentru Moldova, de pasaport…
Si am intrat in Moldova… Intr-o prima faza, nu am vazut si nu am simtit nicio diferenta – ceata la fel de alba, laptoasa, drumurile la fel de proaste si pline de gropi, fara marcaje si fara borne kilometrice, fara lumina de vreun fel. Dupa un timp, drumul a devenit tot mai rau, mai stricat. Nici macar nu asta m-a deranjat… cat lipsa liniei albe. Practic ma simteam fara de repere, de parca ma indreptam spre nicaieri. In plus, nefiind nimeni pe drum, nici macar nu puteam intreba pe cineva daca mergem bine ori ne-am ratacit.
Si am ajuns la destinatie…
Dupa un somn bun, am inceput sa fac cunostinta cu oamenii, cu obiceiurile locului. Si am inteles ca oriunde mergi in vizita, stai la masa. Si mananci mult, ca altfel gazda se simte jignita. La fel, se simte jignita si daca nu gusti vinul. Au o adevarata traditie a vinului, fac vinurile din strugurii lor, crescuti si ingrijiti cu truda in via lor, drept pentru care se simt foarte jigniti daca aduci argumente de genul “sunt cu masina”.
Ii inteleg. Pentru ca Politia sta la panda. Si te amendeaza indiferent daca ai baut sau nu… Asa ca daca tot trebuie sa dai bani, de ce sa nu gusti vinul? Macar cu ceva sa ramai…
Cea mai mare bogatie a tarisoarei asteia sunt oamenii. Oameni buni, cu suflet mare, petrecareti si deschisi, prietenosi si curiosi. Cu toate astea, am vazut prea des tineri obositi, parca, lipsiti de vlaga, cumva. Fara bucurie in ochi. Marcati prea mult de nevoia de a face bani, de a supravietui.
Multi oameni sunt plecati in afara, trimit in tara lucruri sau bani. De aici un alt paradox – preturi mult prea mari pentru puterea de cumparare a omului de rand. De curiozitate, am ajuns prin talcioc, si la Chisinau si la Balti. Preturi mari… Mai mari ca la noi la multe din produse. Asta in conditiile in care salariile sunt mai mici.
Multi oameni sunt simpli, traiesc la tara, in mare parte din comercializarea de lapte, carne, oua. Oameni frumosi, cu suflet curat, primitori si buni. Ii aseman mult cu strabunicii mei si ca stil de viata si ca fel de a privi viata.
Nu stiu daca pot generaliza la nivelul intregii Moldove concluziile mele. Dar in cele cateva manastiri in care am pasit mi s-a parut ca merg intr-o alta lume – curat, frumos, ingrijit. Adevarate oaze de liniste si pace si credinta. Am participat si la o slujba speciala la Manastirea Saharna si am inteles si de unde vine aceasta “bogatie” a lacasurilor de cult – oamenii sunt dispusi sa plateasca sume foarte mari de bani in numele credintei. Mi-a placut slujba. Nu mi-a placut insa mercantilismul atat de evident de care calugarii dadeau dovada. Parca cerseau, pur si simplu, bani. Bani pentru pomenit, bani pentru miruit, alti bani pentru ca saruti icoana, altii pentru ca saruti moastele, alti bani pentru ca vor construi o noua biserica, alti bani pentru aghiasma si lumanare si cruce si pentru binecuvantare si pentru ca vrei sa-ti pomeneasca si familia si pentru cine mai stie cate…? Pe scurt, unii cer si altii dau in numele credintei, cu un fanatism pe care nu l-am vazut de multe ori in viata…
Chisinaul este un orasel frumos. Nu foarte mic, nu foarte mare. Am ajuns seara, cand deja se intuneca, dar am avut timp suficient pentru cateva fotografii, pentru vizitat catedrala si arcul de triumf (care mi s-a parut desprins din jocurile de copii, atat de mic este). Am mai vazut piata si parcul Stefan cel Mare si cam atat. Am cautat un loc in care sa mancam bine fara a plati o avere pe mancare. Nu prea am gasit. Se mananca prost si scump si cred sincer ca merita sa deschizi un restaurant bun in Chisinau. E nevoie de mancare buna ca de aer…
Am cautat multe zile o cafea buna in vreo cafenea undeva. Nu prea am dat peste asa ceva… Intr-un singur loc am gasit Lavazza, la pret dublu fata de alte localuri si, intr-adevar, de calitate. Deci cred ca si o cafenea ar putea fi profitabila…
Cetatea Soroca era inchisa desi am ajuns in intervalul orelor de vizitare. Mi-a parut rau, fiindca locul parea, intr-adevar, deosebit. Am urcat la Lumanare (un monument cu o cruce luminata in varf) si am vazut Nistrul de sus, ne-a batut vantul si am coborat. Se vedea frumos de sus, dar era prea frig si vantul prea aprig pentru a ne putea bucura in voie.
Aerul e nitel mai curat ca la noi, cel putin in localitatea unde am stat eu. Ceea ce m-a indemnat la somn muuult, mult.
Pe scurt, am mancat mult, am dormit mult, am baut mult vin bun, m-am rugat mult si… cum de era sa uit? Am mancat multe bomboane Bucuria. Sunt, intr-adevar, deosebite. As fi luat un sac de bomboane cu mine… daaar nu stiu cum puteam sa le trec peste granita. Caci daca la dus a fost ok, ca, deh, ieseam din Europa si mergeam spre Moldova, la intoarcere ne-au cercetat fiecare bagaj, inclusiv lada cu mere. Si am stat peste 3 ore la coada pentru a trece granita.
Daca as recomanda vizitarea Moldovei? Depinde. Daca aveti pe cineva acolo si vreti sa-i faceti o vizita, da! Clar! Veti fi, probabil, tratat regeste. Sigur nu veti muri nici de foame, nici de sete, nici de plictiseala. Ca daca un moldovean va primeste in vizita, va da si camasa de pe el! Daca aveti drum incolo (mergeti spre alta tara si treceti prin Moldova) da, recomand sa va opriti si sa aruncati o privire asupra catorva manastiri si sa dati o tura de Chisinau. Numai sa va inarmati cu rabdare, pentru ca nu va va fi usor sa gasiti drumul…
Daca, insa, nu stiti pe nimeni acolo si nici nu aveti drum, nu cred ca merita sa strangeti bani pentru o excursie in Moldova. Nu cred ca ar trebui sa fie prima pe lista de prioritati pentru un concediu de vis. Pentru cei care stiu ce vorbesc, eu una am asemanat-o enorm cu Bulgaria de acum vreo 6-7 ani, inainte de a incepe sa repare drumurile si sa investeasca in marcaje.
Si-am incalecat pe-o sa,
Si-am vorbit de Moldova
Dor de Roma
February 7, 2011
Roma e… o bucata din mine – acea parte din sufletul meu care are nevoie uneori de confirmarea existentei Cuiva mai presus de noi, mai presus de Tot si aflat in Toate.
Roma e putin din tot ce sunt, si mai ales din tot ce as vrea sa fiu.
Roma este viata, stabilitate, istorie, romantism, nebunie, culoare, structura, inedit, simboluri, arta, prezent, viitor, credinta, speranta, iubire, frumos, lumina, dorinta, pasiune, pofta de viata, gust, mireasma… Si cate si mai cate…
Am mai zis asta… O zic de fiecare data cand imi amintesc.
….
Imi amintesc zilele senine si ploile calde si nebune.
Imi amintesc de intense trairi si sticliri de suflet.
Imi amintesc de Pieta si de istoria Vaticanului, de Roma vazuta de sus si de gaura din poarta Cavalerilor Templieri, de gradinile de portocali si trandafiri, de catacombe si piete pline de flori, de petreceri si cantari in strada.
Imi amintesc de parcuri, scari, vederi, columne, ziduri, coloane si multe Biserici, la fel, parca, si totusi atat de diferite…
Imi amintesc de Bocca della Verita – mereu surprinsa de atata sinceritate.
Imi amintesc Pantheonul, Colosseumul, Villa Borghese si Fantana magica a revenirii pe plaiul Italian prin aruncarea peste umar a unui ochi de drac – atat de fotogenica Fonatana di Trevi.
Imi amintesc de iarba aceea incredibil de verde si de papadiile incredibil de pufoase. Si de cuvintele acelea din sufletul meu afisate la colt de strada sau pe panouri mari si verzi sau pe ziduri.
Imi amintesc de luminile orasului etern, zambind tacut de la adapostul noptii.
Roma… Soare cumsecade. Apusuri cuminti. Nori alintati. Strazi prafuite. Pamant reavan. Case zambitoare. Oglindiri. Zbuciumari. Odihniri. Regasiri. Cutremurari.
Roma… Si mai apoi alte ploi. Si zbor. Desprindere. Avantare. Intelegere. Amanare.
Si o noua regasire.
Cate amintiri…
Mi-e pofta de Cappucino cu guler de spuma de lapte. Si de pizza adevarata. Si de o vizita lunga si gustoasa in Reino del Tiramisu. Si de inghetata la Old Bridge. Si de Prosciuto crudo con melone.
Mi-e pofta de povesti lungi cu oameni dragi, atat de departe si, totusi, atat de aproape…
Mi-e pofta de Roma, de tot ce este ea!