"This was no accident, it was a therapeutic chain of events"

Very tired. But it's that nice tired, the good kind that leaves your bones feeling soft with amusement and excitement. I find it amusing how last I didn't have things with which to fill out empty hours and this week I am running around like crazy and living off coffee and a few hours of sleep.

New faces. New places and activities. New delight that makes your toes curl. New smiles shared over cans of beer and cards. New sleepless nights and new laughs that still echo in your ears even after the lights are off.

Yeah, I could get used to this :)

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Monday:


Whatever people tell you, I was not falling off!!








Only a few things are better than a day in the park with bike rides and (pink!) cotton candy and improvised picnics at sunset.

And that is a day like that that continues with a night spent playing card games, pretending to be murderers and laughing until your cheeks hurt.





What site am I on here? Twitter, what else? :))



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Song of the Day: Noisettes - Never Forget You

"Do something pretty while you can"

If you would have told me this was the beginning of one of the best nights this summer, I would not have believed you...

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3am, Universitate, lots of people with lots of bikes. Usually I'm not the first to jump on something like this, especially when it comes to bikes seeing as bikes and I have not been friends since I was 14, but on Friday I took Dana and we headed out to the night time bike walk (aka Ciclopromenada Nocturna).

We rented our bikes around 8pm, biked to her place (more or less to actually see if we can actually bike them and not kill anyone) and enjoyed some mindless reality tv and good food. At 2am we took our bikes and our energy drinks and headed towards the meeting place at Universitate.

To say it was fun would be too little! Over 20 people biking around Bucharest, having people on the street stare at us like we were aliens, it was great. Everyone was very nice (even to the two newbie girls with rented bikes, one of which had a tendency to bike in zig-zag... but not me, really! ahem) and even helped me out when my bike decided to become friends with a bench :)) But a few bruises were worth it especially after I got to bike in the middle of one of the major streets with no cars around!

The trip ended around 6am at the only open coffee house we could find, where we indulged in tea and lemonade and photos.

Did I mention the fact that it was the best night ever? Because it was! A shout out to Andrei and Adrian (and JustForFun who I finally met face to face and who needs to make it up to us next time!!) for making the night even more enjoyable :)

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(click for bigger photos)








A blonde and a red head walk into a bike rental place... :)) Dana and I, being complete narcissists in one of the short brakes.








In the morning, the ones that survived enjoyed some time to lazy around.

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More detailes and more links here: Strangers on the Net.

And suddenly I understand Miel et Cannelle's love for biking. And I want a bike. Can't wait for Christmas now :)

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At around 7am, Dana and I decided we fancied some warm latte's from Starbucks. Unfortunately the place opened at 9 because it was a Saturday. So then we decided to leave our bikes at the rental place ad then go home. But that was closed too until 11.

We were saved when the guy there decided to come in early, thank good! We both went our own separate ways and finally went to sleep after a warm bubble bath. My sleep lasted 2 hours but who cares because it was worth it :)



We couldn't not take photos when the sun was just rising because that's when the light is the best!



And because I know some of my friends actually burst into fits of complete uncontrolable laughter when I told them I was gonna go bike (mind you, not because of the biking, but more because I was the one biking), here's some proof that not only did I actually have a bike but I also let go of my high heels and opted for sneakers instead. Ha, take that!

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Song of the Day: Belle and Sebastian - We Rule the School

"We move along with some new passion knowing everything is fine"

Came back from Turkey and was expecting peace and quiet. Instead it all felt like someone forgot to lift their finger off the fast forward button. Ah, I love the sound of people I don't fancy running around my house every morning. Except I would not miss you at all if you left!!


Trying to get in the vacation mindset now. Deep breath in...

... and let the lazying around begin!

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Turkey:

(click most photos for bigger)





I loved the pool at the hotel!!


Now how did you expect me not to gain 2kgs when that was the dessert table at every meal? Yummy, syropy, creamy, 1000-calorie goodies!


Turkish night! Dancing and wine and more dancing!





Such beautiful costumes.


The belly dancer managed to convince/force some men to dance with her. Hilarity ensued :))








The bazaars. An eclectic mix of kitsch and colors and sounds, you honestly felt like all your senses went into complete overdose!


Me at the best pub in Kusadasi, an Irish pub with great music, adorable waiters and good food!


Live music at the pub! The guy even sang Kings of Leon songs!
(and yeah, it figures I found the only Irish pub there and stick with it like peanut butter to bread :))


Turkish icecream and the funny people making it. People there are always ready for a photo.


Kusadasi, a surprisingly modern city!


The first photo is for any Romanians reading this. The sign says, in really bad grammar: "You are my Romanian brothers. For you, everything almost free." I love the subtle almost squished into there!
And Turkey is the best place to find fake bags, they had every it bag you can imagine.


Lucky Turkish eyes!








And the best shop ever. You know those people that, after you've finished talking with them, leave you with a warm happy feeling in the pit of your stomach? He was exactly that! A man that should be in the pages of a novel.


Of course I couldn't leave without a photo with them. He also said I had the aura of a she-devil ;))


Last change spent on food in the airport.


Wherever I go, it's good to know some things never change!

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Song of the Day: Panic(!) at the Disco - New Perspective
Still bummed that Panic is no more, but this song makes me feel slightly better.