A Stroll Through Herastrau Park

March 6, 2021March 6, 2021 ~ Vincent Mars ~ 3 Comments

If I’d have to choose a favorite place on earth, it would be Herastrau Park.

It’s the place which, of all the places I kept going to over the years, feels as an extension of who I am the most.

Maybe because I had so many experiences there.

It’s the place I went to when skipping school.

Where I had my first date back in my teenage years.

And where I kissed a girl for the first time.

It’s the place where I met friends.

Or went strolling with my cousin.

It’s also the place I took my sorrow and sadness.

Where I went alone many times to meditate and be close to nature without distractions or interruptions.

I’ve been to more beautiful or interesting places over the years.

But to this park I kept returning, almost as if it called to me.

It was far enough from home for me to want to go to it.

But close enough for me to want to keep returning there.

Herastrau is the sort of park where everyone and their dog is welcome.

It’s a good place for romance, meditation, sport, and everything in between.

With the pandemic, I haven’t been going to Herastrau in quite some time.

So I went through some of the photos I took in it over the years.

Let’s take a stroll together through it…

A Postcard from Peles

December 29, 2017December 29, 2017 ~ Vincent Mars ~ 5 Comments

It’s that time of the year when I visit castles. At Peles, they have everything – a retractable glass roof, a playhouse, a Moorish saloon, a Turkish parlor, a 19th-century heating system that’s so good they never had to clean it, and the first modern toilets in the world.

Together with Bran, Peles is one of the best places to visit in Romania. But be ready for a queue at the entrance. Many people are coming here, especially after the death of King Michael.

Within walking distance, you’ll find Pelisor, a more intimate summer castle. Don’t skip it. Inside you’ll find a queen’s own art creations, combining Celtic and oriental motifs. And her heart in a box.

Romania isn’t only beautiful – it can also be refined, even luxurious. But you have to look in the right places, and not be easily put off by appearances.

The wooded slopes guarding the castle make for a spectacular setting. I felt a little sorry for leaving this statue there alone, though. Wish I could have taken her by the hand and brought her home to meet my mother.