We had to postpone the trip to Kamchatka to next year. We did not have the time to plan and do the trip properly this year, going to Kamchatka does require some serious planning ( Read more... )

Our neighbours' kids came over and brought us some ice cream. It is Belarusian.


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you still can't help it, it is automatic.

In Brasov, Transylvania, Romania


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In Baile Tusnad, Transylvania, Romania


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The Roma boys in Transylvania are easily recognisable by their hats, they always have them on. And you cannot miss a Gypsy girl, their dresses and headscarves are very colourful, often to the point of trippy.

In Sibiu, Romania


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Storks are everywhere in Romania. There were dozens of nests in every village we passed through.


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This guy just bought this toy for his kid at a second-hand shop.

In Transnistria, Moldova


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A couple of weeks ago I had a meeting across the border in the Romanian part of Moldova, in the city of Piatra Neamt. We hope to start a project there this winter. The city is surrounded by the mountains and would also be a nice place to spend some time in winter with all the skiing at our doorstep ( Read more... )

Everyone is talking about the election here but for a change it is not the U.S. election (yes, they do talk about it a lot even in Moldova) but the mayoral election in the town of Dragusani across the border from here in Romania. There all three candidates happened to have the same name: Vasile Cepoi. And they are not related to each other. Each of ( Read more... )

So after a couple of very rainy days it is warm and sunny here today (26C/78F) and we are going wild strawberry and blackberry picking on our way to the lake. I do feel like a nice run through the forest and a nice long swim afterwards ( Read more... )