365 days project 2. Day 67. The perfect day

      *no editing was necessary on these pictures

   How would a perfect day would look like in your eyes? Mine would definitely start with a purple sunrise, continue with the wonderfully painted blue sky and finish with the most amazing golden sunset ever. I am all about the sky, the clouds and as many colors as the sky can paint.

   In between those moments of the day I'd love to travel with my husband either by car or by train: somewhere with a lot of trees, mountains and many, many flowers... have a picnic outdoors, read a bit, look at the clouds and find nice shapes in them, then dance a bit and just enjoy life, breathe easy.
   Then we'd go to Venice and wander around the city some more. I've seen so little until now and that town just has a very special vibe about it. We'd have dinner by the canal and we'd watch that golden sunset from somewhere up above the city, then we'd walk around the little streets some more until we get lost. At that point we'd take a cab and get home to the perfect, comfy bed with stars above and crickets soundtrack as we fall asleep. Yep, it would be a dream :) What about you?

365 days project 2: Day 21. Before and after

   Before I was expecting to celebrate my surprise bachelorette in Sibiu or Brasov... or even Turda for some odd reason. After I found out I'm actually going to Venice, the whole internet saw my super happy reaction.

   Before I was eagerly awaiting for the honeymoon in Italy in 4 months time, now, after I went to Italy waaay sooner than expected and tasted the Italian vibe, I am looking forward to the summer getaway with a huge grin on my face because I know exactly what I'm going to find. I don't care if Bologna, Florence, Pisa, Milan or Genoa are going to be full of tourists, the architecture and the wonders of Italy will definitely take my attention away from the crowd. Yes, I know for sure Italy is not going to be Prague. 

   Before I thought Venice might be too overrated, now I know it's exactly what the pictures show on the internet and so much more. Definitely not overrated, worth seeing by ANYONE.

   Before I thought Cluj was the best home for me and I would always miss it when I was away for more than a week, now, after having seen Venice I realized this is my second home, the place I'd always return to with love and anticipation, knowing I don't need thrills or special activities to feel at home there and that just wandering around its little streets would be enough. 

   Before I thought I hated the sea, now I know the sea can be breathtaking if it's close to a very beautiful city. The buildings in Venice have raw history in them, they have witnessed so many stories, so many people passed them by, they have a unique beauty that makes you want to keep wandering on the canals and watch them... before and after the sun sets.

    Before I was smart, after seeing Venice I became wise. Just a little bit.

    Before it didn't sink in that I am actually going to Venice, now, after coming back I can't wait to go back. I miss its streets, its canals, its gondolas, its random kind grandpas, the addictive food in Antica Trattoria Poste Vecie and even the cheap wine we drank together, the book shops, the people, the feeling of bliss.

365 days project 2: Day 20. Falling in love... with Venice!

   When you fall in love, it doesn't happen because you planned it. It comes all of a sudden, taking you by surprise and embracing you with an unstoppable force. And then you're left mesmerized thinking that all that time before you had no idea you needed air to breathe and this person is now the air you can't live without.

   When you fall in love with a city it's a bit different. You felt comfortably at home somewhere until you discover this whole new city that sweeps you off your feet. You soon realize this is your paradise home, the place you'd always want to be around. No money, no special people, just you and this city. That's what Venice is to me. 

   After having been to the Black Sea for a couple of times I was sure the seaside sceneries bored me. But when I saw the sea around Venice and all the canals, I was proven wrong. I fell in love truly, madly, deeply with its absolutely beautiful, old buildings, many lanterns, bridges, tiny streets and gondolas... the whole romantic vibe and then... the sea scent, the waves shining in the sun and crashing on the shore, the sound of boats passing by and hungry seagulls, so many colours and so much life! Even Italian seems in the right place in Venice. And I love their funny accent when they speak English. You can never get bored in a place with such a wide array of delicious food: pasta, pizza, all sorts of cheese and yummy spices, fresh seafood and all the food the whole world loves.

   I used to worship Cluj and think it was the best place for me to be in, but without knowing, Venice became the place that makes me feel completely at home because it has everything I love in a city. Even more than Cluj.  

   I cried happy tears in Venice. I was on a boat wandering on the sea and watching the surroundings, breathless, in awe, in a state of utter bliss and I had to let it out somehow. I never understood why all my life I wanted to see Venice so much but in that very moment I knew. This city was calling me and it took years and years of waiting, but it was all worth it because in the end I found exactly what I was looking for in such an unexpected place. 

   Venice is and will always be my second home, the paradise where I'll find myself when I am lost, relax when I am stressed, create when inspiration seems so far away, my true love, my Norway.

365 days project 2: Day 19. Blind(folded)

   Yesterday I saw a blind woman walk before me on the sidewalk and as I was walking behind her I was trying to picture myself in a world without sight. It was very frightening. Impossible. Unimaginable. A visual artist without sight is like a composer without hearing. Beethoven might have done it, but I couldn't. 

   And this brings us to... this present day when I was "kidnapped" at 5 AM by my maid of honour and one of the bridesmaids to go... somewhere. I told you previously that I was eagerly awaiting this day. And guess what. After going to the "getaway car" I was blindfolded and had earplugs in my ears and music was blasting through them. I couldn't see or hear anything. That was all fine and dandy until I had to get off the car and walk blindfolded like that towards what I thought would be the train station. In that very moment when my friends took my hands and were guiding me that image of the blind woman that I saw the previous day came back very clearly to me and with it all my thoughts I had then. I knew I was guided by my friends but I couldn't help not feel a bit of fear of the unknown. I didn't know where I was, if I had to climb some steps, if I could bump into something or someone and that whole feeling was a bit nerve wracking. I was happy it only lasted for a few minutes because in all that time that seemed like an eternity I became so thankful that I can actually use my eyes and create art. I don't mean to say that blind people can't be artists, I know they can, I just think I couldn't be a photographer anymore. Not the way I am now. 

   The good thing about this whole situation is that at the end of the walk there wasn't a train station waiting for me but the airport. Yes. The airport. And then the blindfold came off and I was handed in my passport and a flight ticket to... Venice, Italy, the city I ALWAYS wanted to see! I couldn't believe my eyes. This was the "somewhere" everybody around me was keeping as a secret. My dear God, what a huge and beautiful surprise! The trip that would soon become the best trip I have ever had in my life!