And we're off again!

I'm trying to decide whether I like having my life neatly packed in one (huge) suitcase. I wouldn't necessarily classify myself as a materialistic person but damn is it hard to leave stuff behind. What if I'll suddenly decide to make that brigt pink jumper work while away? And what if I finally decide to start that novel that's been gathering dust on my nightstand?

Discovering Vama Veche - or how to challenge your perception of yourself

I'm not the most 'sauvage' of people, nor am I the lowest maintenance. If you haven't guessed already, I feel myself in white dresses, art galleries and country homes and wouldn't say no to an avocado and chia seed smoothie, organic bananas off course!

This might explain my reticence towards going to Vama Veche for my best friend's birthday. I mean, not going wasn't an option but feeling alienated was definitely in the cards. For my non Romanian readers, Vama Veche is a bohemian resort, where people camp, bring one t-shirt and maybe no shoes, drink their brains off and pass out next to camping fires on the beach.

Ightham Mote

Grunge for the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Filler

I am shamefully avoiding doing the Tuscany travel post... I feel completely uninspired, journalistically speaking, and at loss with time so off course motivation will not come.

So, instead, I've decided to start a little fashion diary of the outfits I wore during my trip to Italy. Bear in mind that 16 degrees, no matter where you are, is still cold and I had dearly wished I had brought a thicker coat. Put on a brave face though, I was in Bologna after all!

Florence wishlist

Zara dress (HERE); Clarks sandals (HERE); Georgiana Paraschiv Laptop skin (HERE); The New York Times 36 Hours (HERE) and Michelangelo's David (HERE)

The excitement for my upcoming week in Tuscany/Florence in less than a month has started to take its' toll. I decided to productively channel the said enthusiasm in online shopping to find suitable chic, arty outfits that don't look like I've tried too hard. Nude statue of David is optional but you know what they say 'When in Florence...'



P.S: sorry for the crappy photoshop, my skillz are a little rusty

L'île flottante

Sudden realisation that I hadn't posted on my weekend in Paris from December! I don't quite know how to forgive myself so I don't expect you to but maybe, just maybe, the photos will make up for it. In all honesty, is a reason really necessary when talking about Paris?

Our room on the 4th floor of Hotel du Levant in the Quartier Latin - the full French expecience of narrow streets

Our beloved means of transport

Monument de la Bastille, where the fortress used to be

Narnia-like entrance to Place des Vosges

The exclusive shopping streets of Les Marais

You probably can't guess but my attire for the weekend was a Mango sweatshirt that said 'PARIS' in black sequins. How to show you're a tourist and you love Paris with one simple statement. 

The megalith that is Louvre

An amazing sunset over the railway next to the Tour Eiffel

Pont Alexandre II, the most romantic bridge ever

View from our boat cruise

Snapshots from the musical 1975 - an Eurovision show meets French Revolution

Oscar Wilde's grave in Pere Lachaise cemetery

...and lipstick marks on it

Inside of Musee de l'Armee

Christmas fair on the Elysee 

Me and my wedding dress

The Hermes window, absolute love!

Within the La Madeleine, the catholic temple church which is an absolute dream 

Place de la Vendome at nighttime in Christmas

Breeze through the reed

In a last ditch attempt to relive my winter holiday I've resurfaced the photos taken during NYE celebrations. As I might have mentioned ('may have' being key, I can't remember), a group of friends and I rented the Casa Salzburg villa in the Transylvanian town of Sibiu. Despite the pretty long 5 hour train journey there and incredibly heavy luggage that was so crippling that I had to get a taxi for what would have been 700 meters from the station to the villa, it was really nice!

I tend to go to new places with an empty slate but I hadn't been sightseeing in Romania for a shamefully long period of time so I really didn't know what to expect. The city however didn't disappoint. Infinitely cleaner than Bucharest's busy streets, the main two squares were charming, dotted with traditional houses dating as far back as the 14th century, pedestrian wide streets and a perfectly seasonal Christmas fair.

Of the attractions I recommend are the Great and Small Square, clearly the converging points of the city where everything is within walking distance. Then, I would suggest the Brukental museum, the Great Cathedral, the Liars' Bridge (the symbol of the town) and the fortifications around the old city centre. 

We also had a nice day out and some much needed fresh air in the Astra Museum, an open air park displaying the best collection of traditional Romanian houses, windmills and micro-villages. Even with the biting frost, it was definitely worth the trek- which applies to the entire trip! A bit of a lazy ending, but you get where this is going :)

Council Tower, a fortification building since the 13th century, which off course you can climb :)

The Small Square and the spire of the Cathedral

Aerial view of the Liars' Bridge - has an interesting history, look it up if you're curious and have 2 minutes to spare

Sibiu fortifications from the 15th century, I think ?!?

Frozen lake from the Sibiu Zoo

My friend accurately demonstrating Darwin's evolution theory ^.^

Astra Museum

Trusty Uniqlo beanie + Zara coat, my mum's ancient vintage wool sweater (a life saver), Zara bag and Promod jeans