Peaceful Mornings

As I am all in a dreamy vacation mood these last couple of days, I've been reminscing about past trips to beach side destinations... One of the things I really like and always thankful for is waking up early and soaking up the sun by the pool while most of a resort guests are still fast asleep. Such mornings are peaceful, and it totally feels like the world revolves around you...

Turkey, Summer 2004

Six years later I'm glad I'm still thankful for this amazing experience - my trip to Turkey in the summer of 2004. Just like with the Miami trip I mentioned earlier, this journey provided enough of unforgettable memories and little life lessons and connected me with so many amazing people, some of whom I still happily have in my life.

Sunbathing

I'm thankful for the times when I get to really take my time with enjoying the sun, kind of really miss sunbathing and all that comes with it, ahhh.

The World Is Endless: Egypt

It just happened so that somehow Egypt's been playing a big part in my life. Back in school I loved studying about its ancient culture, enjoyed watching all the documentaries on it I could only come across and loved seeing real ancient Egyptian pieces in museums. When I traveled there for the first time in the spring of 2003 I had no idea I'd visit 3 times more in the next 5 years, but looks like it was just bound to happen - there's gotta be some wicked connection between me and Egy.

This Egyptian mood of mine was inspired by putting together the above Polyvore set for Wendy Brandes' contest, and honestly, I could write so much more on my epic love affair with Egypt, but this would have to be enough for this blog.

All I have left to say is the world is endless, the possibilities are endless and Egypt is endless to me too... Because I believe in coming back to places that your heart loves. So, today I am thankful for Egypt.

What is the place your heart fancies?

Sea World

I'm not that much of a water person unless we're talking hot tubs and fancy drinking water (I am very into trying new bottled varieties and yes, I do feel how the taste is different), so I can really appreciate the beauty of the sea world once it's so close to the top that one doesn't need to dive anywhere - the picture above was taken standing on a solid surface and looking down on the water before my feet.

Swimming Pools

I want to say thanks for swimming pools, because it's actually a very clever idea if you really think of it - some people don't have easy access to seas, ponds or rivers, after all.

Male Advice

Always trying to be wise, to make the most of any situation and to learn as much as possible from people who come into my life and influence me (something I’ve been doing since I remember myself), I’ve always taken advice given to me by men very seriously. Firstly, because men, and especially young men, don’t give advice often, making it all the more valuable, and secondly, because most of the time when men do give you a piece of advice they do so from the heart and without any bad intentions, unlike so many jealous girlfriends do.

I was 16 and he was 23, it was a summer time and we both were beach vacation goers. He was all about good looks and he certainly wasn’t stupid or rude, but he didn’t seem adventurous enough for me to really want to pursue him. So I kept letting him get very close and then pushed him away, again and again. I thought he’d hate me by the end of those two weeks, but instead I heard him say – “You’ve got an awesome personality. Please, don’t ever change”.

Simple as that. Or at least that’s how I still remember it to this day - there’s a chance he phrased it differently. And maybe his name wasn’t really Ismail as I remember it, but what matters is, I took it seriously, knowing what he meant by this impromptu piece of advice. It’s stuck in my head ever since and I am thankful.

Dog Walks

Seeing a dog happily and proudly walking the streets by its owner's side is kind of rewarding. I've always appreciated the experience, especially on nice sunny days like that one in Barcelona.

P.S. The dog pictured is not mine - I just happen to do the most amuzing untouristy things when I travel.

Musee du Louvre

Today I want to give thanks to Charles, to my lovely friend and a perfect French gentleman. There are many things I could thank him for, but let's focus on our trip to the Musee du Louvre during my short but productive 4 day Paris trip at the dawn of 2008. We got to the Louvre late and it was getting close to the closing time, but since I had only so much time we decided to still go for it - running through the spacious halls and up and down the stairs was still a lot of fun. Charles happened to know the Louvre really well since he used to go a lot with his father when he was a kid, I'm sure I would totally get lost there if I was alone, and mind you, I speak no French!.. So, thank you, Charles, for taking me there and for being a perfect tour guide!

Still on Paris

I feel like praising the Eiffel Tower! I've seen various famous landmarks and although each one had impressed me greatly, I'm thankful I was totally blown away by the effect of Tour Eiffel on me. I remember I thought it would be fairly big... until I saw it and realized it was HUGE!.. I still can't get over the memory, ha! Next time I'm in Paris I want to go up the very top of it again, but I want to do so at night.

Christmas Lights of Paris

Last year I was welcoming winter in Paris, and although my flight back home was scheduled for the 1st of December, the city was already all beautifully decorated and I had a perfect chance to see it in all its Christmas glory. I'm really thankful for the experience since I'm really not sure when I'd have the opportinuty to see Paris during the Christmas time again - I'm kind of really tempted to go back when it's all warm and sunny there.

P.S. Please excuse the blurriness of the last shot - the photo was taken from a car, it was snowing heavily, we were on Champs-Elysees on our way from one night spot to another and everyone was screaming and whatnot and we were just having a happy time!

Are You Ready to Jump?

While I'm at the subject of boat trips, I want to say thank you for the kind of photography such trips allow! As if taking pictures of breathtakingly beautiful waters all around you (like I took on my trip to Tiran Island in Egypt) is not enough, one can take absolutely amazing shots of fellow boat trip companions. I, myself, am not into jumping off boats (or most other water activities or sports for that matter), but I love taking photos of those who are into it, and it looks like I'm not too bad at it, eh?..

Boats & Boat Trips

Now I need to mention that neither me nor my family own a boat or that I even have those boat trips often, but I love them. There's something about a harbor with lots of different boats and yachts moored to it that I find very alluring.

I'm thankful for harbor lights at night, for modern boats incredible designs, for amazing things such boat trips allow us to see...

Morning. Conversation. Barcelona

Sometimes one little conversation can change so much: you suddenly have an all new approach to old things. You might not even notice or understand its impact at first, but sooner or later, reflecting back on the chat or even a single phrase, you realize how meaningful it actually was and how much sense it made. I'm thankful for this conversation I had with a friend on a sunny morning in Barcelona in August - somehow I got reminded I was capable of so many things, and ever since then I never once hesitated to give something I thought I wasn't qualified for enough a try.

"One must learn by doing the thing: for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try" - Sophocles

Miami, Summer 2007

I'll never get tired of being thankful for my Miami trip in the summer of 2007 - I can easily divide my whole life into before and after this amazing experience. Today, however, I'd like to honor the people I met there and the memories we share. Thanks to:

Alessandra S.
Alessandro S.
Andy B.
Andrey K.
Anna D.
Anna K.
Antoine L.
Anu M.
Barbara P.
Benjamin E.
Benoit L.
Charles D.
Dave A.
Fred H.
Irene B.
Laetitia D.
Laurent L.
Leon E.
Leslie B.
Louise-Marie M.-H.
Malwina Z.
Margit K.
Mario T.
Masha S.
Nello S.
Nicolas G.
Nicole F.
Nina P.
Nino V.
Paula S.
Sabrina F.
Sarah F.
Savo J.
Tatiana M.
Teddy B.
Tereza K.
Ursi L.
Vilma K.
Vincent C.
Yulia K.

P.S. Big thanks to my parents who paid for the trip - it's especially memorable because it was the last time I traveled on their expense.

/photo courtesy of a friend of mine

Palm Trees

I just like palm trees. They remind me of the sun, the sea, the sand, the good times, warmth, vacations, far lands... I take a lot of palm tree pictures and looking at them always make me feel good. Thanks, mother nature, for the palm trees!

/photo courtesy of a friend of mine, editing - yours truly

Still on Egypt

Thinking of it now, I realize I'm really thankful to Jenia, who I met during my Egyptian vacation in the spring of 2008, for making me go on that Tiran Island boat trip. I remember I really didn't feel like going, mostly because I so wasn't looking forward to spending the whole day with him... But he needed company for the trip and wanted to go so badly, and was so good to me all the time that I just decided to return the favor and be nice back, and well, guess what, I never regreted going! The place was truly amazing! I don't think I've seen water of such astonishing colors and all in one place before! I still remember those sights in all their glory and highly recommend it to everyone.

Bad Coffee & Morning Tea

I want to say thank you for the very bad coffee at the Ritz-Carlton in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt. No really. It was so bad it gave a good start for a great new habit of mine: I could barely make myself drink it during my vacation there in the spring of 2008, so after a few days of the morning struggles I just found myself sipping on their super fine black teas instead (their green teas are super awesome too, btw) and I sticked to the habit ever since! I still get enough caffeine from coffee during the day, but the morning black tea habit definately helps maintain those amounts at healthy level, plus I actually started drinking black tea again (it used to be all about green kind). Not sure I'd have been able to give up my usual morning coffee that easily if it wasn't for this experience!