beingroma

Deschide-ti urechile si mai inchide gura!

Astazi a fost o zi productiva. Am raspuns involuntar la o intrebare, care desi pare destul de banala, este probabil una dintre bazele pe care ar trebui sa le avem in orice relatie personala sau profesionala.

Cand si de cine ascult?

Pai, e simplu. Cine ma asculta? Cel pe care il ascult si eu! De cate ori nu m-am confruntat cu lipsa de comunicare? De unde vine? Si cum pot sa gasesc canalul cel mai potrivit pentru a construi o punte?

In opinia mea, problema isi are radacinile in copilarie. In familia mea a existat tendinta de a “porunci” sub pretextul ca “eu stiu mai bine”. In formula, “eu sunt parintele/adultul si tu faci cum iti spun eu” s-a distrus puntea. Mergeam la scoala, profesorul stia cel mai bine. Si apoi , am inceput sa dezvolt relatii de toate felurile, in care chiar daca vreau sa recunosc sau nu, am aplicat acelasi “pattern”. Si mai tarziu, m-am trezit ca nu reusesc sa mai comunic cu cei de langa mine. Voiam sa fiu ascultata si inteleasa si singura metoda pe care o stiam era “datu’ cu pumnul in masa”. Din pacate, uneori deschidem gura si inchidem urechile.

Asta am facut mult timp, lucru care nu mi-a adus decat singuratatea. Nu mai aveam nevoie de nimeni pentru nimic. Independenta din toate punctele de vedere, prezenta celor din jur a devenit optionala. Asta pana cand, prezenta lor nu a mai fost nici macar o optiune.

In prima faza am incercat sa-mi reprim lipsa, sa o compensez cu viata profesionala si confortul material, insa iluzia satisfactiei personale s-a evaporat destul de repede. Cu buzunarul plin si cu sufletul gol. Si din pacate, aceasta “afectiune” se prolifereaza destul de repede in ziua de azi.

Alergam dupa cariere, bani, faima, recunoastere profesionala sau respect. Cautam incontinuu sa ne simtim superiori. Dorim sa conducem si sa luam frâiele in mainile noastre. Dar la un moment dat, o sa obosim. Eu una, am obosit. Stiu ca nu pot sa raman vizitiu toata viata mea. Vreau sa mai dorm si-n caruta!

Fie ca e vorba de partener, familie, prieteni sau colegi de serviciu, am invatat ca mai intai trebuie sa asculti daca vrei sa fii ascultat. Deschide-ti urechile si mai inchide gura!

In viitoarea postare voi intra mai adanc in subiectul echilibrului in cuplu si va voi dezvalui cateva lucruri pe care le-am invatat mai mult sau mai putin in circumstantele ideale.

Tu cat poposesti?

Nu astept mult pana sa iau atitudine. Fiecare circumstanta noua din viata mea a necesitat noi masuri de punere in miscare. Niciodata nu am stat pe loc. Ma adaptez oricarei situatii. Dar asta nu inseamna ca ma schimb. Asta nu inseamna ca sunt alta de fiecare data. Am doar mai multe unelte de supravietuire pe care le scot in functie de misiune. Nu am nevoie de tot odata. Daca sunt in desert, doar n-o sa-mi scot undita. Dar daca ne-am vazut doar in desert, nu poti sa-mi spui ca nu stiu sa pescuiesc!

Viata e un drum (mult prea cliseic, stiu, dar chiar e) numai ca nu poti sa spui ca ai dat inapoi niciodata. Viata nu are marsarier. Poate ramai oleaca pe loc, dar niciodata inapoi! Asta ar insemna sa avem masina timpului si sa derulam nitel. Pana una alta, masina timpului nu exista, asa ca expresia “dai inapoi”, dupa legile fizicii si ale logicii, este imposibila. Si o mai aud si pe aia cu “orice ar fi, MERG INAINTE”…pai..da, stiu, ori mergi…inainte, ca am stabilit deja ca inapoi nu se poate, ori stai nitel pe loc pana te impinge viata! Si atunci, daca nu esti tu la carma, cine stie pe unde te umbla si pe unde te aduna…

Da, poate dai de drumuri mai cu gropi, daca stai in Romania, cu siguranta dai in gropi la orice cotitura, dar nici cu drumurile astea din occident nu mi-e rusine. Fac slalom si p’aci.

Dar merg, avansez orice ar fi. Nu e ca si cand ai avea de ales. Viata chiar te impinge de la spate chiar si atunci cand ramai fara combustibil.

Te impinge cu chiu si vai pana la prima pompa de benzina. Si daca esti falit, iti face plinul pe datorie si tot mai departe te duci.

Viata nu te asteapta. Ai doua variante. Te lasi impins si purtat de turma sau iti iei avant si iti cuceresti drumul! Stiti benzile alea din aeroporturi sau metrouri, unde e corespondenta lunga? Daca ai apucat sa te urci, ori stai ca bou’, si pierzi timpul, ori bagi oleaca de sprint ca iepurele si ajungi mai repede. Mai devreme sau mai tarziu, tot acolo ajungi. Numai ca… daca ajungi printre ultimi, risti sa nu mai gasesti loc in fata… si ce pacat e sa treaca viata in parada si tu nici sa n-o vezi!

De fiecare data mai imi schimb blana cand mai fac cate-un popas de alimentare..dar vorba ‘ceea …lupu-si schimba paru’, da’ naravu’, ba!

Tu cat poposesti?

❤

8 Martie

#8martie #ziua #internationala #a #femeii

In ajun de 8 martie si iarasi cu telefonul spart, nu pot sa nu observ cat de superficiala devin cateodata. Si desi ma lupt enorm sa imi pastrez autenticitatea si principiile sanatoase cu care am fost crescuta si educata…i’m only human. Normal ca uneori cad prada ispitelor de zi cu zi.
Cad prada consumerismului, ma incatusez uneori cu frustrari, ma compar involuntar cu unele standarde (imaginare) pe care media le impune.
Mi-aduc aminte de anul 2005. Nu aveam nici 18 ani impliniti si am convins-o pe mama sa ma lase sa ma mut la Bucuresti, singura… eram in clasa a 11-a. Eram pe cale sa semnez un contract cu o casa de productie. Foarte entuziasmati de vocea mea, de creatiile mele.
Am facut pasul imediat. Avand o “istorie curata” in fata mamei si fiind mai mult decat independenta de la o varsta la care altele se jucau inca cu papusile, intr-o luna am fost mutata cu catel si purcel la Bucuresti. Gazda in buricul targului langa Cercul Militar, admisa la liceul Spiru Haret (mega in voga la vremea aia), ce sa mai …”libertate, frate…poate facultate”.
Si hop, vine ziua semnarii contractului cu “the big boss”, care nu ma intalnise inca personal…si cu…un struto-camila de antrenor/nutritionist. Si ce sa vezi… big boss se sfatuieste cu struto-camila ala de parca era mai ceva ca nesuferitul ala de la Britain’s got talent.
Si dupa cum se vorbira si sfatuira… au ajuns ei la concluzia ca trebuie, citez “sa foram (as in drill) in suncile astea inainte sa incepem sa cantam!” Hai sa moara ma-ta, zau???
Asta in ideea in care cantaream cu vreo 10 kg mai PUTIN ca acuma, dar in 2005 daca nu erai piele si os, eventual bulimica, anorexica, erai grasa!
La 17 ani cand ti se spune asta… dezvolti multe complexe si frustrari. In cazul meu, s-au dezvoltat inconstient, caci in plan constient sunt mult prea nesimtita 🙂))
Acuma nu stiu daca a fost coincidenta sau nu, dar studiourile lor au luat foc dupa vreo cateva saptamani si nu aveau nici asigurare. Jur ca n-am niciun amestec:))))) voodoo n-am facut!
Am ramas cu muzica la nivel amator. Au urmat ani plini de alte si alte aventuri, de urcusuri si coborasuri atat spiritual cat si pe cantar 🙂) am avut oscilatii si de peste 20 kg (si nu in timpul sarcinii:))
In toti anii care au urmat m-am luptat zi de zi cu mine. De la ambitie la resemmare, de la acceptare la provocare, am trecut prin toate, incercand sa gasesc un echilibru intre toti factorii care imi definesc viata.
Fiecare an a adus cu el cate-o caramida in plus la bagajul meu emotional.
Dar am avut noroc de o educatie foarte sanatoasa in copilarie. Am avut ca model o femeie puternica. Care o bate la cur oricand pe Xena- la propriu. O femeie nebuna de legat care a intors lumea pe dos de fiecare data cand a crezut ca trebuie s-o scuture nitel. Mamaie. THE Mamaie! Si pe ea durut-o fix in flocu’ drept cat a cantarit. Ce-i adevarat, a dat-o-n diabet dupa 50 ani… dar il tine sub control, e ok. A slabit, stie sa manance echilibrat, are schema facuta de mine pe frigider, isi ajusteaza singura dozele de insulina… real bad @ass 🙂
Si m-a crescut cu ideea asta ca, noi, femeile, facem lumea sa se invarteasca. Ea m-a “empowered” o viata 🙂 tot ce isi pune femeia aia in cap, reuseste, nenica! Secretul ei? Munca multa si rabdare! Agoniseala! De toate felurile posibile! Cateodata ea o duce la extreme. Noroc ca l-am pe tataie contrabalans, de la care am invatat sa ma bucur de micile placeri ale vietii! De o friptura suculenta, de un vin bun, de o siesta bine meritata.
Toate lucrurile astea au inceput sa iasa la iveala undeva dupa varsta de 25 de ani…nah…am avut si eu odrasla la randul meu, plus ca…am ajuns intr-o alta lume, o alta mentalitate. Aici in Franta nu prea a contat cum arat ci ceea ce stiu sa fac. La Paris mi-am regasit vocea, la propriu si la figurat, si dupa multa munca si agoniseala, si rabdare, am ajuns in 2015, 10 ani mai tarziu si 10 kg in plus, sa fac din muzica o meserie full time!
Cum? Pai, am incetat sa ma uit in oglinda si sa-mi vad “defectele”. Ma reeduc sa-mi admir atuurile. Si fiecare slabiciune sa mi-o transform intr-un as din maneca. Am mai spus-o…daca viata iti da doar lamai, nu fa doar limonada, mai baga si un limoncello, o tarta cu lamaie, un sapun, o apa de colonie, tot ce poti!
Da, ma mai loveste cate-un greu al vietii val gen…telefon furat, telefon spart, si iar telefon spart. Si ma apuca si pe mine ofticile pt lucrurile materiale sau lucrurile de suprafata.
Dar apoi ma trezesc repede…si imi dau seama ca asta inseamna doar ca te ia oleaca valul, in niciun caz nu te loveste in fata!
Eventual, plutesti nitel in deriva, dar cu siguranta nu te ineci!
Care e luxul zilelor noastre? Ei, asta e alta poveste intr-o alta zi😘
Femeie, ramai pe baricade!

Have you ever been in love?

They say sometimes you gotta let go the past In order to live your present… but how can you, when everything you miss the most is that same past?

Not rarely I have seen people anchored in the past. Anchored in past realities that no longer stand for today. Relationships are by far the best working sheet to observe this phenomenon. How can a relationship pass the time test? How can two people update themselves in the same time in order to keep the fire going? Or when do you decide that your life lanes are no longer on the same path?

Today, divorces rates are higher than anytime in history. Society is developing so fast in so many ways, that sometimes we lose sight of primordial needs. What is with people today that they quit so easily upon a marriage? Instead of taking advantage of today’s resources, it seems to me that those exact resources are provoking the exact opposite of what they should be doing. Health, education, culture, access to information, freedom of speech, women’s emancipation, those should be beneficial factors to a better life, instead it seems to ruin what they should built stronger. Time runs faster and we don’t have the patience to repair what’s broken, and many times we choose to replace something that has only a scratch. Why?

Returning to relationships, I see my grandparents’ generation in a totally different view with my generation today. They sworn until death takes them apart and they stuck with that promise. For good and for worse. And that’s not necessarily always about remaining in love like in the first day. It’s more to that. It’s about a solid partnership that stand in storm together, it’s about completing each other in times of need, it’s about building a strong family that overpasses any obstacle. They choose to repair when something gets broken. Because not everything new is necessarily better or improved. It’s just new! And history teach us that trends come and go, but classics remain immortals. Just take a look at an antique furniture. It will always have a greater value than any modern piece. That antique furniture may be full of scratches, but every single scratch tells a story. It comes with an accumulated energy that no new thing may acquire. And sometimes even those scratches can be reconditioned. So, why can’t we apply the same principles to relationships? Why are we so fascinated by new stuff? Why can’t we value what we already have? Why can’t we update ourselves by removing the signs of time? What’s the Botox for our relationships’ wrinkles? Do we let go of the past? Do we search for the present? Or is it just an excuse to keep fighting?

In order to live the present we have to accept the past, not letting go of it!

Well, first of all, I think the pollution for relationships today it’s society high speed evolution today. We forgot how to be patient. We want it all, we want it now. If it doesn’t get better by next week, we consider it done. Just like any diet. Why do we quit? Because we wanna see the result immediately. In one week we want to lose fat accumulated in one year. That’s not possible, but our brains today are used to be one click away from everything. With one click, you get face to face from China to America, with one click you do your shopping, with one click your dinner, with one click you do almost everything today; fortunately, love remains more than just a click away.

But to be in love, is to understand first what love is. Love is not an illusion, love is not what makes Hollywood movies be drama blockbusters. Love is not just falling for someone. Love is not that screaming orgasm in that sexual act. Love is not only the feeling of butterflies in your stomach, love is not lust or desire. Love is more than a late motive.

Love is more than yourself, love is what makes humanity exist. Love is in everything you wish to see blooming. Love is wanting to share your life in every possible way with someone who will always be there no matter how many scratches you’ll have. Love will change in desire to protect. Love will wipe your tears away when you are down and it’ll pick you up and learn you how to walk again. Love will empower you to stand on the edge of the greatest heights without being afraid. Love will warm your heart you when you are cold as ice. Love will still see the beauty in you even when your demons will come out. Love will vanish those demons and bring light back in your life. Love will be patient, just like the Bible says, to rebuilt over and over again what has been destroyed. Love is what makes the sun rise even after the longest night.

So let me ask you, have you ever been in love?

I’m ALIVE!

Yes, I am alive!

Indeed, I am alive, maybe for the first time in life I really feel alive! It’s been a looong time since I’ve felt the need to write down my thoughts, but as I had stated in the first place, writing was my auto- therapy. Let’s say I haven’t felt the need for therapy for the past few months… like…since …last September, I think…

Maybe you wonder why! I’ll tell but not right away because so many thing have happened in my life that I don’t even know how to start. Remember my summertime? Well, I think you do, since it’s been my best viewed post 🙂 That gave me a lot of confidence, my great summertime and all the changes that came after that.

Ok, I’m not gonna push your patience: I became a singer! A payed one! A real one! Like in….people pay me to sing for them!! With real money, not monopoly money nor invisible money! People actually pay ME to sing for them! Hope the IRS doesn’t read this :)))))) ( dear IRS, I dream a lot, don’t take me serious) :))))

It all started with a desire! MY DESIRE! the desire to do what I want, to be in front of a public, expressing myself through music! So, after a marathon of WEEDS and Modern Family I started to take things very seriously! I began forming a REPERTOIRE, mostly of Romanian Folklore and Traditional music, two genres I had never thought to perform! But this was my rope, remember the rope from my previous posts? If not, get your ass reading! So I knew I could have a chance with traditional music because our Romanian Community here in France is enlarging every day, and of course we get married here, we baptize our children here, we celebrate our anniversaries here, and it’s our custom to have live singers for our celebrations and I may say that there is quite a demand. Practically I knocked at some doors… literally… where I knew they collaborate with singers.. After some unopened doors from the French side, I began knocking at Romanian doors… and guess what… it opened… and this is how everything began… with one open door at a Romanian restaurant… and my intuition told me to knock at the best door, so I went straight to THE top Romanian restaurant in Paris… and apparently I was exactly what they needed 🙂 MAKTUB! Right person in the right place at the right moment! When it’s written to happen, it will happen!

You will never guess what happened. The more I began discovering my traditional Romanian music, the more I fell in love with this genre of music, a music that I had never had the patience to understand, the capacity of penetrating beneath its simple yet powerful lyrics. I knew I have reached that age of understanding life in a different manner. Our folklore speaks about that simple and happy life! It speaks of love, of nature, of faith… of a life surrounded by family, sharing all that God has given you.

One thing led to another and private parties turned into public shows, public shows into live concerts, from restaurants to theaters and even big open air scenes like Festival of Europe where I had the honor to represent Romania last Sunday (may 22nd). Let me put it this way… I haven’t had an weekend off since the beginning of the year – my official launch was for the NYE party 🙂

I really can’t describe you my big start. It’s only the beginning and I realize I’ve climbed my rope so high that I can see a lot from above. There is a hell of a way until I will reach the top, but I will get some day! The most important thing is that I grabbed my rope…and, boy…I’m holding to it like my life would depend on it!

Yes, it’s hard, and yes, you gotta do great sacrifices…and YES, they will try to pull you down…every single day! And you might get “bullied” and you might get hit, but like my old friend Rocky Balboa said… “it doesn’t matter how hard you hit, but how hard you can get hit and still go on…” Here’s to you, Balboa!

But you learn to deal with everything, as long as you keep your faith and self confidence. Nourish yourself with the positive sides and don’t even pay attention to negativity! Close your eyes in front of the evil and it will disappear. Open your heart for all the Good to come to you and your hungry soul will receive the light. Then follow that light and share it with the rest of the world!

Create your own circle of happiness! And happiness will always come back!

TO BE CONTINUED

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Who wants Champagne?

One of my guilty pleasures in life is… obviously… champagne. Why? More than the good taste, it gives me the feeling of royalty. You know how we always open a bottle of champagne only for really big events? Why? Well, because it’s expensive… and… it’s expensive. So, we keep it for the important moments that we want to celebrate with.. sparkling!

And when I’m into something, I like to dig in a little to find out more about the subject matter, in this case, champagne. So I planned a little day trip in Champagne-Ardenne, the region of France where champagne is produced. So, Route du Champagne, here we come!

In a little town, called Epernay, which is about 150 km est from Paris, you will discover the home city of the devil’s wine. In the 16th century in was called like that because that bottles wouldn’t stop exploding. And, no…it was not invented by Dom Perignon, as he was born much later (a century later). He had only a very good nose and a talent in mixing grapes, which contributed in having the champagne we have today. As mush as I would like to think this is the birth place of champagne, it isn’t. This magical liquor was born down in the south thanks to the Benedictine Monks in the French region Languedoc-Roussillon and it’s called Blanquette de Limoux. That’s just a tiny piece of history before heading up to Avenue De Champagne.

Of cours, the first stop is at Moet&Chandon, one of the biggest producers of champagne, including the one and only, the Dom Perignon vintage champagne label. Lucky Claude Moet, who established his winery in the middle of the 18th century, had a lot of demand for it’s sparkling wine in the noble circles, aristocracy and of course, at the royal court. This is how champagne became similar to royalty. In our days, Moet&Chandon can brag about the fact that they are the suppliers of Queen Elizabeth II. Yeah, the business is going well. Nothing much, just being part of the largest luxury company in the world (LVMH), with only 1.6 billion euro revenue (numbers for 2011). And they sure know how to throw luxury in your face.

Prices start from around 35 euros for a normal Moet&Chandon and they can go up to …. more than 7000 euros for a vintage Dom Perignon.

But if you’re interested on a budget high quality champagne, I found an offer you can’t refuse 🙂 Riding on that Route de Champagne, we found an independent champagne house, called Jean Pierre Lalouelle. I had the chance to speak with the owners and they tried to explain me this champagne thing over an ice cold coupe.They have a wonderful fairy house all covered in ivy and they are more than glad to invite you to a tasting in their improvised bar. I really regret not taking more pictures, but i took advantage that my husband was driving so i didn’t want to be rude and refuse all those sorts of champagne… so I was too into the moment and I kind of forgot to take more pictures. But that’s ok, I wouldn’t want to ruin your surprise if you pay them a visit. You must call first as they are working on the vineyard or in the production area almost all the time! We were really lucky to find someone home (as they said). Prices for Lalouelle champagne go from 16 to 30 euros per bottle and you have a discount if you get a 6 pack 🙂

One of the most interesting things I have learned on this field trip is that the way bubbles go up can tell you if a champagne is high or low quality. The trick is to watch the bubbles if they go straight up… that means you’re having a good champagne. Spiraling bubbles are a bad sign so keep away from those. How to choose your champagne? Always look for the blanc de blancs, which is made by 100% Chardonnay. It costs a little bit more, but it’s worth. Trust me, after you have a glass of Ruinart Blanc de Blancs, it’s hard to forget that force in your mouth, making your whole body and spirit feel like they are invaded by the stars in the sky! (be ready to pay around 60 euros for a bottle).

After all that tasting, you must be hungry, so I have a little place to recommend you just a few steps away from Avenue de Champagne: Le Bar Parisian. I ate the best Croque Monsieur of my life. We payed around 70 euros for four persons including drinks and tip and… champagne for me. This post is not about food so i’m not going to mix thing up. We’re keeping it sparkle so no photo food. (Ok, I admit it, I was too hungry and I forgot to take the pictures… yes, too much champagne, so always drink wise 🙂 ). If you want something quick for the road, you can hit Paul bread and pastry shop, or any other open pastry shop and you can have a decent meal under 10 euros. But I do insist going to Paul’s because right next to it you have a wonderful champagne shop which offers almost every kind of champagne you can think of.

Weather we’re talking about a wedding, an anniversary, or sometimes just the presence of the loved ones, champagne makes everything festive and turns any event into a special one! That’s the role of champagne! Make everyone’s heart sparkle and dance with the stars in the sky! Santé!

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How to get to Epernay? By car and by car only because the magic is to follow the Route du Champagne

Don’t take the highway, you will miss all the beauty in French landscapes.

Moet&Chandon – 20, avenue de Champagne, 51333, Epernay

Jean Pierre Lalouelle – 50 Route de Vinay, 51530 Saint-Martin-d’Ablois, 03 26 59 92 20

Le Bar Parisien – 9 Rue Porte Lucas, 51200 Épernay ( always check schedules first because the second time we went there was a Monday, and they’re closed, that’s why we had to eat at Paul’s) .

Paul – 1 Rue Gambetta, 51200 Épernay

Example of using right a Moet&Chandon 🙂

Menton, le pays du citron!

You know how we always say if life gives you lemons you should do lemonade. Well, let me tell you that I’ve discovered a place this summer where people were given the land of lemons and they didn’t stop just by making lemonade.

Menton, the last coastal town of the French Riviera, at the boarder with Italy, is renowned by its lemons.

Menton it’s full of color, mixed cultures and lemon products.

The old town of Menton, as you can see in the photo above, has a colorful Mediterranean architecture, beautiful landscapes, tiny uphill streets which you can hike (yes, you can really consider it hiking), and one of the most beautiful clear blue water. Maybe the one thing that lacks perfection is the beach, as they have no sand, only rocky beach, which sometimes makes it difficult to take a walk or a run. But it would’ve been heaven on earth 🙂

As I said, Italy is just around the corner, which makes Menton the perfect mixture between the two cultures from people’s attitude to food and local products. No matter what time it is, you should start you holiday with a cocktail on one of the terraces along The Promenade du Soleil . Even though it’s a bit over the average prices, you should try The Buddha Beach Bar, with a magnificent view over the beach and the surroundings. They have the most comfortable sofas and the presentations is not bad. It makes you feel… exotic:) You can also try a snack, Jambon Melon , which is prosciutto and melon, suitable for cocktails and one serving size is more than enough for two.

Average prices: 14 euro cocktail ( it worth) Bonus: lower prices for the food

If you’re not that much into alcohol, you definitely need to try the Alcohol Free Mojito in one of the best local products store, Au Pays du Citron. It’s located in the old town center, where all the restaurants and shops are. You can’t miss it, trust me. Outside they sell lemonade, granitas and alcohol free Mojito ( 2,50 euro… and it’s a big one). But it’s inside where the fun, where lovely young ladies offer you shots of limoncello – THE lemon liqueur- and invite you to taste their food products- from sweets to pesto sauces, I assure you you haven’t tasted things like this before. You can’t miss their lemon tart! It’s really a must! No, I mean it!! As I write I feel my mouth watering! The next step is having a mini spa in the next room, where you can have a hand scrub with their natural lemon based product. Their skin care products are home made (just like everything else) just in the lab behind the register. The smells, the textures, it’s really a blast! The prices are not that cheap but it’s worth having one ore two thins, as you don’t know when you come back.

Another must of local product is soap. Beside the lemon scent soap, of course, there is no scent in this world that you can’t find it in a soap here, from fruits and flowers to donkey milk soap. I, personally found it grouse, but that’s just me.

Well, it’s about time to eat, don’t you say? The first night I landed in very Italian restaurant, Al Dente. If you’re looking to have an Italian experience, this is the place. It’s run by an Italian family and they really know how to do it. First of all, you feel like you entered a theater, they recite and they sing and they create a wonderful atmosphere. The food is wonderful, I had the best pepperoni pizza and a great seafood cocktail, and everything at very low prices. The serving sizes are large so you can share almost everything. We paid around 45 euros for two persons with drinks (a delicious Côte de Provence Rosé, which comes in small bottles also) and dessert (a wonderful tiramisu that we shared. For a late dinner it was more than we needed. Oh, and don’t forget, water is free anywhere you eat.

Since we left Paris, my best friend ( hey Dee, what’s up, I know you’re reading this), was craving for a good burger, she loves burger and she is always anxious to discover whole new interpretation of a burger. So as we were watching people’s plates on a side way alley in the same area, we discovered another family run restaurant : A boire, A manger. I really can’t describe the feast we had there. She had the Camembert Burger with home made fries and salad. Let’s just said that her boyfriend could be jealous with the sensations she had devouring that melted Camembert burger. I had the most delicious pork meat I have ever eaten, marinated in herbs and olive oil, accompanied by french fries and salad, it was really a feast. I also asked for some barbecue grilled bread, because I was drooling at someone who softened his bread in the meat sauce. I was happy to see they didn’t count it on the bill:)

I can’t finish talking about it without mentioning the Café Gourmand dessert: three whole pots of orgasmic desserts: chocolate and caramel mousse,meringue lemon pie in a pot, and red berries panna cotta plus a piece of some sort of tart and coffee. You just get an extra coffee and the rest you can share. Average cost: 20 euros per person

And the show goes on… with Les Artistes! Just across the street of the Casino, along the Promenade du Soleil, you have nice place with nice prices:) I recommend you the shrimp and avocado cocktail (big size, low price), the Octopus salad, and frankly, their pizzas are not bad at all. The view is magnificent, as you are practically 20 meters from the sea:) Average price (with drinks): 20 euros per person.

If you are into a late snack, nothing fancy, just to grab a bite while having a glass of wine I can suggest going to Mylady. (just at the base of the small uphill alley who leads to Al Dente)Their bruschettas are delicious, big, and cheap- like about 8,5 euros each. You can a have or not a Greek salad aside. We couldn’t help not try it with the salad:)

Menton is the perfect to relax! there are people off all ages, all nationalities, and everywhere you turn you have something to see or do; you can go for a hike and visit the old town cemetery, you can pay a visit to Jean Cocteau’s Museum (which is worth visiting only for his drawing exhibition downstairs, expressing his sexuality), you can read book at the open library on the beach (near Jean Cocteau’s Museum), you can take your chance at the Casino, and you can also explore the surroundings! And speaking of the surroundings, I can’t finish this review without mentioning one the sauvage beaches we discovered.

On the coastal road (which is like ambrosia to your eyes… it’s Côte d’Azur, after all), between Menton and Monaco, you have the Plage de la Buse. You can get there with the no.18 bus or any bus that goes to Monaco or Nice. You can hop at the Casino, on the promenade du Soleil. The ticket costs only 1.5 euros and you hop off at the 2ème Escalier station. On the other side of the road there are stairs which lead to the beach. You’ll have like a 10 minute walk. You will discover a wonderful rocky beach with view over Monaco. There are not many people as the beach is kinda hidden, so it’s only for the connaisseurs . The descent itself it’s an experience. If got thirsty on the road you got to have a Limoncello on the rock at the only terrace that is there: Le Cabanon. If you’re courageous enough, you can swim to the jumping rock and take a look over Monaco. If you get there, you’ll know what I mean by jumping rock. One last thing, be careful to your planning, as the last bus back to Menton passes by at 19:45 and the stairs back to the main road are now going up, so it’ll take more time:)

I was just thinking about how much we ate and we haven’t gained not even one pound! I think this is Mediterranean breeze effect! You forget about stress, you forget about the routine, you forget about paying bills, you just lose yourself in this magical world, because Menton is really magical.

Yes, of course I got a little something for back home 🙂

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Practical Information about Menton

Nearest Airport or TGV train station: Nice

You can take the bus directly from the airport and it will drop directly to Menton (20 euros ,1h15, takes the highway)

Or you can take a bus to the center of Nice (6 euros), have a walk, see a bit of Nice, go to the harbour (Le Port) and take the normal no. 100 bus ( 1.5 euros, 1h45, and you get to see all the coast between Nice and Menton).

If you arrive by train to Nice, you will have a TER at each 30 minutes that goes to Menton and it costs approx. 6 euros.

Accommodation: We stayed at the 3*** Narev’s Hotel with about 100 euros per night (for two). But I’m sure you can find a good deal on http://www.booking.com. Be sure to check in somewhere close to the beach, Promenade du Soleil or Old Town, because this is where all the action and magic takes place.

And don’t forget, Sharing is Caring:)

My summertime!

Summer it’s almost over and I can’t help think this was maybe one of the best summer ever…

I started with a quick trip in Romania, celebrating my grandparents’ 60th wedding anniversary, I was left out at my job, I did birthday parties, I had my cousin in Paris for a week, vacation with my family in places I have never dreamed to see(spending all of our economies), and finishing with three wonderful weeks besides “my person” . Sounds wonderful, no?:)

Even though at the beginning, being left without a job(due to financial issues), seemed like the worst thing ever, actually is not that bad after all… I had the whole summer at my desire, I was able to travel with my family without being concerned about my days off, I spent a lot of time with my kid (something I did not do enough while I was working), and also doing my artistry thing like singing and learning new stuff, practicing my voice… those things I never had time to do or I was just too tired to make them happen! I know, you’ll ask me for the financial side… well, the bright side is that all my extra hours and my 15 hour long days made my unemployment aid to grow substantially. Of course, our budget will have some cuts, like no more 100 euro(at least) dinners, but instead we will rediscover the thrill of eating a 5 euro falafel in the heart of the Marais, on the sidewalk:)) Life is about the simple thing shared with the ones you love! Thank God my husband loves falafel!

And what is even greater, is that everything was so inspiring. Having someone there for you, pushing you to dream and believe in yourself is a blessing. My person ,my best girl,and our 20 year old friendship which gets stronger everyday even though we are almost 2500 km away, gave me that push I was so much in need. Spending three weeks with her, gave me the strength to go on and never stop believing in my dreams!

Being in a period of my life not that good, escaping from my comfort zone by losing my job, having a whole new rhythm in my life, I was not that confident in my powers and I was blind to see the whole new opportunities opening in front of me! Sometimes you just need someone who understands you as a person, as a friend, as an artist soul, to be there for you, to support you, to tell you the things you need to hear, to give you a kick in the @ss, to remind you of what you’re capable of!

These are the persons you have to surround yourself! I have a great family, but unfortunately I didn’t grew up with brothers or sisters, so I had the immense luck to have her by my side. If we were sisters and we wouldn’t be as close as we are as friends. And now, as she baptized my daughter five years ago, we are also family!!

My point? Always try to get around you only those persons who truly believe in you, who support you, who are there for you when you need them! I live in Paris for more than three years and I wasn’t able to make one friend… and that’s one of the bad parts of being abroad… sometimes you really feel lonely… sometimes there is no one there, no shoulder to cry on, no one to “slap” you when go crazy:))

there were times when people told me I should stop singing because it’s to hard to penetrate in this world! the competition is to high and it can cost me a lot of time and suffering! Well, I think that nothing good comes out without a lot of time invested and maybe, yes, a lot suffering and disappointments, but if you really want it, you will overpass everything and somehow you find the strength to believe in you and in your dream! At least, I will not find myself in ten years regretting I didn’t even try it!

This is it! This is my time! This is my life!

To old friends and new beginnings…

Decisions, decisions and again decisions… Life is made of a long, very long chain of decisions.

There are times in your life when you find yourself at a crossroads. Love vs. Money, Family vs. Career, Dreams vs. Responsability. These are the most common situations we often find ourselves.

So, what do you do when you have to choose? Where will you find the answer and how can you be sure of your choice?

Of course, the first feeling you get is fear. You’re scared about how your decision will affect you and your family. You start analyzing every element in the situation, you weigh every thought, you put it on paper, you make scenarios in your head, you have nightmares, and the most important thing..you think about others. How this will affect my wife, my husband, my parents, my children? And that’s the crucial point when you let your feelings be driven by selflessness when actually this is one moment when you DO have to be selfish. You become a pain in the @ss for those around you and your life becomes a mess. And all that because you are always affraid of the wrong choice, affraid of failure, affraid to start all over again…

But what if I tell you that searching for the answer is not the way to make that decision? In journalism, they sau that in order to get the information, you have to put the right question.

What makes YOU happy?

That is the first question you have to ask yourself without having in consideration other aspects.

What would you choose if you weren’t affraid?

Love vs. Money… yes… you’re affraid marrying the poor one instead of the rich one… but you will have nothing epic in your life because someone has already made that journey…without you. You will be just a sillhouette in the frame just to fill a gap and look nice.

Family vs. Career…(and by that I mean you already have a family of your own, children to take care of) I only have one question and let me quote it because it doesn’t belong to me: Does your family need your presents or your presence? Sleep over it!

And finally… THE choice: Dreams vs. Responsability

Dreaming too big or aiming too high seems too much? Well, the higher the destination, the longer the journey. And yes, it’s all about the journey.

Think about Ullyses epic story. He had one thought and one thought only. To get back to his beloved Penelope. But it wasn’t his return that made his story an epical one, but his journey itself. The struggle and the adventures he had… that was epic, not his return to Ithaca to his Penelope.

Well, if ou already asked yourself the questions above, you should already have found your answer by now.

Personally, it took me an hour long talk with an old dear friend which I met yesterday after not seeing eachother for ten years or so. I have been struggling with a choice for quite a while… And just by catching up, he asked me those two questions above… and I realized that I had the answer in me all this time…it was just the question that wasn’t right.

And no, I don’t believe in coincidence. Actually I am more sure than ever that everything happens for a reason. Seeing my old friend reminded me of the past, reminded me who I am (because more than often you lose sight of who you really are). Leaving my country and changing all my environements and having no friends at all it’s not that easy… you enter a vicious cercle and stepping aside when there is no one to pull you back… it’s one hell of a fight. Let’s just say yesterday I had a Fairy helping me out:)

That being said… I should start packing… my epic journey is about to start! :)))

P.S. Thank you, Fairy, for the one way ticket:)

NO to medication, YES to mediTation!

Unfortunately, we live in a society under pressure. We are supposed to do by the book or else we’re expelled. We have to follow the line because everyone does it. We gotta stay in the row or else we’re punished.
Since our first contact with society, as little children in kindergarten, we are taught to listen and learn and always follow the crowd cause otherwise we gonna get lost… we are stuffed with this bad mentality.
We have to get married or else grandma’ will have a heart attack if she finds out you live in sin, you can’t get a divorce because the neighbors and relatives will talk.
And not to mention, the job.. got forbidden to love what you do…the most important is to show off your expensive car, your fancy clothes and your exotic vacations (of course, on Facebook). The job must brings money. Period!
And slowly… routine settles down… you do something against your will every day and that kills you slowly like an renascent poison.
And the more time passes, the more you lose your guts to change something. And the more conscientious you become of your cowardliness, the more depressive you become.
In fact, depression is the weak man disease. Yes, I am sorry to say it… depressed means weak.
Lucky those who have the courage to grab the bull by the b@lls and start taking the good decisions…
But the black is not that black (as my grandma’ says), the fact that we are here, trying to find answers is already the first step of a long journey.
And yes, I believe we alone are the only ones who have the right key to open the doors of our future. No medication will do what we are capable of doing. It’s that ounce of courage we need… and then we’ll be free!!

Well, I am part of those “weak” people…I too consider myself this way…and the paradox is that I am well aware that I am strong enough to help myself but somehow there is something holding me back…like the missing piece of a puzzle… and I believe that is courage..I am also on a quest of finding it… and I’m in big trouble… we’re used to driving guided by the GPS… but guess what..I have no GPS for this destination.. and… I feel like I am lost in the middle of the dessert with absolutely no guidance except the stars in the sky…and the question arises: am I capable to let myself follow only by this primordial GPS??
I have exchanged opinions on this subject and I’ve received a curious reaction: that I’am aggressive! I am sorry if it seems aggressive… maybe in my writing storm I tended to be more aggressive because it’s like I’m arguing with myself… sometimes I do believe we need to be a bit shaken of…to be pulled together. And once again, it’s me that must do that with..me!

And NO, I do not believe in medication for depression even though they try to shove it on your throat. Say YES to meditation, go on the biggest journey of your live and start looking inside you. There you will find all the answers you need. And you will be surprised how much is hiding in there. I bet my life you’ll discover things you had no idea they existed. Know thyself. Plus that, it’s not me who’s come with this ridiculous idea, but my old pal, Socrates, was very fond of this concept. How to know thyself?? By meditating… and by meditating I refer to the Osho method, that moment when you clear your mind. Do not confuse meditating with reflecting. Just be with yourself, let your mind rest, have a pause from everything and raise above everything that surrounds you so that the view won’t be from a single perspective, but through a panoramic one.

So, what are you waiting for?