First day of spring

Signs of spring? Let's see:

snowdrops

evening light

flowers

morning light

green plants

light and more light

It's still cold but the sun is trying its best. I'm glad to see more light, more clear sky and flowers. Welcome spring!
Sorry for the pictures. I've took them with my phone. Too lazy to drag the camera with me.

In love with summer

Even though the extreme heat makes everything and everyone move at a slower pace, summer is still the best season of the year in my opinion.
What makes it be on top? Lets see:
- the fact you can wear fewer clothes than in winter and it feels so much better when in tram or bus; there's so much space between people commuting in the morning with a lighter outfit on. I strongly believe that you can squeeze at least one more person in the place occupied in winter by the voluminous, heavy winter clothes. I personally feel at ease wearing a nice dress and sandals. You can quickly take off or put on summer shoes. So comfortable.
-  longer days. Until the middle of June, days are longer than nights and you can enjoy light and sun warmth in the evenings. What about sunsets? Aren't they spectacular in summer?!
- enjoying every drop of rain and every sign of wind. When is hot, wind and rain are a blessing and you wait them impatiently. It feels so good to feel the summer rain on the sunburned skin. It feels so refreshing when the wind blows gently your hair.
- the smell of summer on the skin and clothes. It may seem a little weird this comment, but have you ever noticed how the smell of the skin changes in summer? When at seaside, lying on sand, the skin smells like sun, sunscreen, hot sand, evaporated sea water. A mixture of fragrances that I love. And then are the clothes that you hang outside to dry. OK, we all use softeners but when hanging clothes outside and you let them dry in the sun and wind their fragrance change a bit. Is like they get impregnated with the summer sun.
- eating outside. No matter what you're serving: drinking a coffee early in the morning, having an ice tea with lots of ice in it, taking Sunday lunch with family, serving a delicious cake with friends until late at night, summer makes it special and inviting for staying more outside. I just love those long evenings in the garden with family and friends, chatting and having fun around the table with some candles lit up.
- midday motivated laziness. In summer you can brag about being lazy at midday. Is motivated.
- the semi vacant city. School ends and almost everyone has a holiday. The city becomes less crowded and that feels good.
- thinking of holidays. Is time for the longer days out of work, time to relax after a long time. You just count down the days left until your holiday and it keeps you in a good mood when you're on the verge of being down.
- the summer food. Is time for a variety of food like fruits and vegetables so longed for in the cold winter days. I just love watermelons and ice cream.
- flowers. Each day you can see and smell new flowers. Is like having seasons in a single one. The decor changes its colors and, as a flower lover, I find it amazing each time I observe it.

Those are just a few things that crossed my mind about what summer means to me and why I love it so much.
What about you? What do you think about summer?

When the sun sets

Early evening in Bucharest. It's cold in the city as it's been for a week now. The cold it's getting to the bones and the sky is steel grey. I feel tired, sleepy and easily irritated. I blame the weather! And then I look outside. The sun sets with each minute, the light is dimmer now. The city transforms into a giant night being. Do you know that feeling when you see the city at night from above? You see only tiny lights everywhere in the dark and you wonder which way is your home. You think then that it seems so far, you think that each light means a different life, a different story. That somewhere over there, in the night of the big city, someone is eating his warm dinner in its warm apartment (while you're still waiting for your tram, or not yet off from work), someone else is enjoying its time with his family and kids, or that somewhere else, maybe in front of you, at another window, someone is also watching the city in its night coat. Is the same as seeing the city's dim lights from outside the city while traveling. Is that familiar feeling of being close to home, that safety and joy you feel while only seeing the old city from far, knowing it's pulsing with life, still there for you to get to it.

All that has been inspired by a photo from http://shibuya246.com.