For half of the return flight, I explained to an American woman, who was around the same age as me, about the “plastic shopping bag syndrome,” a common phenomenon among Romanians. This involves carrying lots of bags with more bags stuffed inside. The more sophisticated Romanians, however, have graduated to the “plastic food containers” syndrome.…… Continue reading LPSB – Little Plastic Shopping Bags
Category: Travel
Papa la Șoni – Partea 1
Auzisem de restaurantul Papa la Șoni din poveștile despre Vama Veche. Era o instituție. Concerte, mâncare bună. N-am apucat. Când, în sfârșit am ajuns și eu în Vamă, se închisese. Acum, în Borsec Stațiune, ce să vezi, Papa la Șoni! Am decis, în sinea mea, că nu trebuie ratat, dacă nici acum, atunci când. Faptul…… Continue reading Papa la Șoni – Partea 1
Dana Point (2020)
My Baloo was absolutely stoked with the grassy yard, thick and green, with shade and folks to bark at and let them know that Baloo Of Arizona had arrived … surrounded by a high fence where we’d hang out in the evening and let the dogs play until they fully exhausted themselves …
The Twenty-Ninth Anniversary
As the Americans would put it, it was all about beach hopping! This meant cruising from one beach to another, from city to city, non-stop, for three whole days, just the way My Lady loves it. We set off at the crack of dawn and rolled in at night, making every minute count.
The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Hulubești
My Family’s Resting Place I left the post about Hulubești for last because it was the hardest one for me to write. The most important reason I came to Romania was to bring the temporary cross number one to Hulubești, which was on Cosmin’s grave here in Arizona. I was a man on a mission.…… Continue reading The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Hulubești
The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Bucharest
I was coming from Cișmigiu Gardens and taking the bus to Obor. …I was very tired. I spent my high school years exploring the Gardens’ alleys and riding the boats. Now, I was aimlessly roaming the same alleys, trying to find some of the old times’ charm. I had left through the back of the park, through Sărindar Street, passing by Capșa Restaurant, The Army Performing Arts Center, and the University of Bucharest. … at Michael’s Tail, I managed to get on the bus.
Sheep’s Ass Cheese
We were getting ready to leave for our Danube Delta adventure and I volunteered to do some shopping at the Obor Market. I was feeling super guilty that two whole days had passed (since I landed in Romania) and I still hadn’t checked out the Market. “Yo, Fane,” says Mișu, “buy vegetables and some sheep’s…… Continue reading Sheep’s Ass Cheese
Marea Excursie Terapeutică din 2023 – Hulubești
Mormântul Familiei de la Hulubești Am lăsat postul cu Hulubești-ul la urmă pentru că mi-a fost cel mai greu să-l scriu. …. Motivul cel mai important pentru care am venit in România a fost să duc la Hulubești crucea temporară numărul unu, care a fost la Cosmin pe mormânt. Am fost în misiune. În primele…… Continue reading Marea Excursie Terapeutică din 2023 – Hulubești
Marea Excursie Terapeutică din 2023 – București
Suc de mere proaspăt! L-am întrebat pe vânzător: “Care are mai puțin zahăr și este o alegere bună pentru diabetici?” S-a uitat la mine ca și cum nu ar fi înțeles întrebarea, a avut un scurt moment de derută, apoi a arătat spre o sticlă și a spus: “Asta!” Nu a putut să explice de ce, dar aceasta a fost alegerea lui. A doua zi, am trecut pe acolo și lângă suc era o etichetă nouă: “Suc de mere pentru diabetici! Foarte puțin zahăr!”
Marea Excursie Terapeutică din 2023 – Germania
Aachen Călătoria în Germania a fost cu familia și despre familie. Nu îi văzusem pe cei dragi de o veșnicie, așa că era cazul să o fac și să mă duc până în Aachen! Este foarte interesant cum, chiar dacă nu ne vedem ani de zile, continuăm conversația ca și cum ne-am fi despărțit ieri.…… Continue reading Marea Excursie Terapeutică din 2023 – Germania
Marea Excursie Terapeutică din 2023 – Brașov
Drumul spre Brașov Am ajuns acolo cu trenul, în 2 ore și 30 de minute, într-o vineri. Rapid și în siguranță. Am încercat să evităm traficul de pe Valea Prahovei, știam noi din povești că vinerea pe Valea Prahovei se circulă bară la bară și prin stațiuni este chiar ca o parcare, nu se mișcă…… Continue reading Marea Excursie Terapeutică din 2023 – Brașov
Marea Excursie Terapeutică din 2023 – Delta Dunării
Doi într-o barcă în timp de război În 2017, după ce a plecat Tata dintre noi, Mișu aproape m-a luat pe sus și m-a dus în Deltă, dar în 2023 a fost complet diferit. A fost ca o colaborare, am planificat totul împreună, din timp, am cumpărat lucruri împreună și am pregătit barca împreună (de…… Continue reading Marea Excursie Terapeutică din 2023 – Delta Dunării
The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Brașov
Why the trip to Brașov? I had some personal stuff to do: you don’t do tourism for half a day. Florentina, my friend, who happens to be a girl, took time off from work to come with me, to be sure that I don’t do too many stupid things, as I was on my second…… Continue reading The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Brașov
The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Germany
Aachen The trip to Germany was all about family. I hadn’t seen my loved ones in ages, so it was about time! It’s crazy how, even if we don’t see each other for years, it’s like we just picked up where we left off, like we said goodbye yesterday. No judgement, just good vibes. With…… Continue reading The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Germany
The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Danube Delta
Two Men in a Boat During the War Back in 2017, I was basically dragged to Misu’s place, but in 2023, it was totally different. It was like a partnership. We planned everything together in advance, we bought things together, and we prepared the boat together (actually, Misu did the prep while I mostly admired his expertise).…… Continue reading The Great Therapeutic Trip of ’23 – Danube Delta
Brânza cur de oaie
Ne pregăteam noi sa plecam în Deltă și mă voluntariez să fac cumpărături în Obor, mă simțeam foarte vinovat că trecuseră două zile și nu semnasem condica. “Băi Fane”, zice Mișu, “ia și niște brânză cur de oaie.” “Ce sa iau, mă?” “De-aia puturoasă.” La Obor, Ibănești peste Ibănești (a trecut furia cu marginimea Sibiului,…… Continue reading Brânza cur de oaie
Fourth of July Trip – West Point
I explained to my little guy how the fish don’t bite right away, you have to be patient and try several times. After a few minutes, I heard him next to me saying, “Hey, fishy-fishy; hey, fishy-fishy-fishy!”
Two Men In A Boat (The Sponge and The Mechanic)
August 2017 – September 2023 Preliminaries Short time after I finished with my Father’s memorial services, and I was settling into my new life as an orphan, Mr. Mișu (a Danube Delta aficionado) called me and threw me a curve, inviting me in a Once In A Lifetime Trip, and offered to pick me up…… Continue reading Two Men In A Boat (The Sponge and The Mechanic)
The naked truth about long-forgotten times
Note: Versiunea in Romaneste este aiciDisclaimer: kind of NSFW IntroductionThe Nude BeachesVama VecheThe New Vama VecheThe Last Day of FreedomAcross the Pond – Atlantic City Introduction I hadn’t even finished my masterpiece on clotheslines, ropes, and strings when I realized that I had forgotten many places I had been to when I was a young…… Continue reading The naked truth about long-forgotten times
Three Generations Go To Spain – in 2009
Stefan’s Dilemma Where should we go on vacation this year? In Romania, obviously, to see Mon Pere, but for how long can you stay in Romania without getting bored out of your mind? How much can you and your friends drink without damaging one’s liver? (Well, we still research this one). After traveling ten thousand…… Continue reading Three Generations Go To Spain – in 2009
Nea Fane - Un Biet Român Pripășit în America / A Hapless Romanian Stuck in The US 