When in grief... words may say nothing!

When in giref (Photo by John Kelly/ Thinkstock)

Sometimes words may say nothing...

When in grief, losing a very dear person, words may say nothing...

This lens is more than a sympathy note, it is a poem dedicated to all the people that we are down at one moment in life while being in grief for the ones that we loved so much, were very important to us, but passed the way too soon...

Sometimes words are not enough to comfort our grieving adults soul when we have to face, handle and adjust to an irreversible loss...

Sometimes words may say nothing, sometimes friendship cannot help as much as it's supposed to do or we are willing for,

Sometimes our thoughts may reach in a delicate moment, sometimes we hope that they may count...

As simple humans... we may not function or feel by the book, so, are moments in life when...
We are up or we are down,
We need help or we are brave,
We are strong or we are weak,
We don't care or we get involved,
We treasure or we blame,
We vanish or we cherish...

Sometimes we feel that we do belong to this strange world and we're accepted, sometimes we cannot find our peace or place within the self,

Sometimes we live at fullest, hope and dream, sometimes we're hurt and hit the bottom,

Sometimes we desperately need to share and love, sometimes we cannot bear ourselves,

Sometimes we get frustrated and confused with each new element encountered, sometimes we learn to be happy with every single thing around,

Sometimes we think that we've experienced so many things already and we would be able to handle anything, while sometimes we cannot see the light and get the drive for one more single step ahead...

But always, always, when we take few moments to look deep inside our soul, listen to our heart, trust our inner self and strength, our mind we'll find a way to help us made it to the surface!

7 quotes about grief:
1. "Sorrow makes us all children again - destroys all differences of intellect. The wisest know nothing." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
2. "The pain passes, but the beauty remains." - Pierre Auguste Renoir
3. "Excess of grief for the dead is madness; for it is an injury to the living, and the dead know it not." - Xenophon
4. "You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your arms too full to embrace the present." - Jan Glidewell
5. "We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey." - Kenji Miyazawa
6. "Happiness is beneficial for the body, but it is grief that develops the powers of the mind." - Marcel Proust
7. "Don't be ashamed to weep; it's right to grieve. Tears are only water, and flowers, trees, and fruit cannot grow without water. But there must be sunlight also. A wounded heart will heal in time, and when it does, the memory and love of our lost ones is sealed inside to comfort us." - Brian Jacques, Taggerung

7 stages of grief - Read about the seven stages of grief (shock, denial, bargaining, guilt, anger, depression, hope) and learn to cope with the death of a loved one dealing with the grieving process.

Words can deeply touch and penetrate the deepest part of our hearts and souls, when spoken with honesty and passion directly from the heart.

When words are used to comfort someone who's grieving, it helps them feel that they are not alone, are loved and have a shoulder to comfort on, so, words can bring a drop of tranquility, hope and enlightenment.

But sometimes, words, may not be enough to help empower the mind of a grieving person, and I deem that for a grieving person to heal and recover, she/ he or she needs a lot of of space and healing time alone in order to be able to fully accept the loss and go through the whole process of healing and recovery, to be able to pray and meditate, to think and reflect on life as a whole will definitely help.

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Peperonata - simple quick easy Italian vegetarian recipe

Peperonata Italian recipe (Photo source: Lazioland)

At my second trip to Italy, happened to reach Bergamo, took a pleasant walk around the old paved paths of the picturesque city, full of colorful blossom flowers and green trees, and after a couple of hours got a bit hungry, and wanted to forget for a while about the famous appetizing Italian pizza and pasta, and give a try with something new yet different...

Was desperately craving for a simple, quick and easy vegetarian recipe, savory and delicious... and discovered this simple, quick and easy recipe for peperonata Italian vegetarian recipe that I'd like to share it with you, too, to feel the suave flavor of fresh veggies.

So, if you feel also in a mood to try a quick delicious Mediterranean recipe, then peperonata (or peperonatta), the Italian vegetarian recipe is the best choice, flavored, tasty and mouth-watering, just perfect for a 15 minutes dinner recipe!
And peperonata's main ingredient - as it's name says itself - is the colorful juicy fresh bell pepper - red, yellow, green pepper color!

Peperonatta recipe is so versatile - bell peppers can be cooked in many ways - fried in basic way with garlic and onions; or adding more ingredients, according to taste (potatoes, tomatoes, etc), then served as it is, on a lightly grilled slice of bread or as side dish pork, beef, chicken or fish.

Also, peperonatta can be prepared frying the ingredients for a long time or a short time till it gets like a stew or just a little time, enough to keep vegetables crunchy and tasty.
With this delicacy on the table your meal gets taste, color and savory, and you'll find yourself asking for more and more peperonatta!

Simple, quick and easy recipe for peperonatta Italian vegetarian recipe – one of the most delicious bell pepper food recipe for vegetarians – if served as it is; and for non-vegetarians 

– if served as side dish along with pork, beef, chicken or fish, fried or boiled potatoes, olives, topped with mozzarella.

Peperonata is an appetizing Italian food made from fresh bell peppers served mostly in summer, but also perfect to be prepared in any other moment of the year.

This simple, quick and easy Italian vegetarian recipe is healthy, savory and with a pleasant colorful aspect.

Peperonata can be cooked using a single color bell peppers, if you prefer, but for a more colorful and appetizing effect I rather put all 3 colors – red, yellow and green bell peppers – found on the market.

• Serves: 4
• Preparation time: 10 min.
• Total time: 45 min.

Ingredients:
- 2 red bell peppers
- 2 yellow bell peppers
- 2 green bell peppers
- 2 large onions cut Juliene
- 5 garlic cloves cut in thin pieces
- 200 g tomatoes or 150 ml tomatoes juice
- 5 - 6 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- oregano basil and parsley - if desired

Instructions:
Peperonata is a traditional Italian recipe and one of the most easiest recipes to make, it requires just few steps, and in a blink of the eye it's ready to serve!

- Wash the bell peppers, cut them in 2 parts on the length taking out their seeds. Then cut each half pepper in long slices, at about 1 cm width
- Clean and cut the onion and garlic
- Put the olive oil into a frypan, ad the onions and garlic, stir and fry them for 3-5 minutes then ad the bell peppers
- Put the cover/ lid over the frying pan and cook the bell peppers on slow fire/ low temperature for 10 minutes - if you want to obtain a crunchy taste and a 15 minutes dinner, or let them for about 30 minutes - if you wish to get a stew
- Do not pour water - bell peppers are juicy enough - just be careful to stir frequently till they get soft and tender.
- Once the bell peppers got soft, add the tomatoes (without skin and cut in small pieces) or the tomatoes juice and stir for 1-2 minutes
- Right before it's ready, ad salt and pepper to taste, and cover it with the lid. Let it for 5 more minutes then turn off the fire and put it aside the oven adding 2-3 garlic cloves keep for the end, add oregano, basil and/ or parsley - as you like

Depending on my culinary taste for the day, I like to serve peperonata as it is and with fresh corn polenta, toasted polenta or fresh crispy slices of bread.

Note:
- some like peperonatta served with lemon juice or vinegar, and olives,
- and non-vegetarians are serving it with potatoes aside, bacon slices and mozzarella on top
- use colorful, delicious and healthy bell peppers
- always use fresh ingredients and healthy bell peppers, tomatoes and onions - sweet and ripe - to get a savory food. And preferably not canned ones!

Enjoy this Mediterranean recipe, a traditional Italian peperonata!
Good appetite!

Important!
Few personal notes for cooking the best Italian peperonata
- If you're cooking peperonata in springtime, it will be even more delicious to add few green onions - the food will get a more colorful aspect and a rich flavored taste.
- If you're adding a drop of chilli pepper, the food will get a bit spicy and taste even better.
- I also like it with a very fine pinch of cinnamon pour at the end - hmmm, this gives such an amazing flavor!

Bell peppers (Photo source: Howtosaythis)

Bell peppers (peperoni):
This wonderful veggie comes in a wide range of colors: red, orange, yellow, green, and even purple, brown or black.
They are crunchy, juicy, beautiful and flavored, but not hot.
We can find bell peppers on the market all year round, but their season is in summer and beginning of autumn.
Bell peppers is beneficial for our health cause they contain: vitamin A, B2, B3, B6, C, E and K, folate, magnesium and phosphorus, potassium, and it is said that they prevent arthritis and asthma as well as gastric, esophageal and prostate cancer.
They are favored in diets as they are rich in vitamins but very low in calories (20 calories/ 3.5 ounces bell pepper).

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Greek pie recipe - spanakopita with spinach and feta cheese

spanakotiropita-greek-pie

Rambling on Greek paths, I simply fall in love with spanakotiropita, the traditional Greek pie recipe with spinach and feta cheese!

Have you tried this easy and absolutely delicious fie before?

Spanakotiropita (known also as Spanakopita) is an authentic Greek pie, very rich, stuffed with spinach, onions, cheeses (usually feta cheese) and herbs that are all enfolded by crispy, flaky phyllo dough.

This easy to make Greek spanakopita, made following my Greek pie recipe, is a perfect snack for breakfast as well as any time during the day, for take away or serve it on a plate - is just great as it is or served as aperitif, topped with yogurt, and along with salad, grilled meat or other delicious food.

Spanakopita can be served all year round - at Christmas, Thanksgiving Day, Easter, special events, celebrations, parties or any other time you feel like for an appetizing slice of pie.
And for all pastry lovers, spanakotiropita - the greenish pie, goes perfectly for any occasion and even at St. Patrick's Day! :)

Give a try with this perfect recipe for a delicious traditional Greek spinach and feta cheese pie and... you may become addicted to it and many other yummy international cooking recipes from Mediterranean cuisine!

Or if you are a spinach and Middle Eastern cuisine lover, as well, then definitely you'll enjoy my other recipe - Best chickpeas crepe recipe - with spinach!

Hmm, when it comes to gastronomy... I just can't wait to get a bite from one of myfavorite things to eat ! : )

Few tips about spanakopita's ingredients - Greek pie recipe
Ingredients are the key for making this traditional Greek spinach and feta pie recipe sooo delicious.

You need to use fresh phyllo and do not let it dry out. If you stick to those two "rules", you should have no problem at all.

You may use frozen spinach (which could make some purists cringe), and always use the best feta cheese, very good olive oil and freshest herbs.

Spanakotiropita is an authentic and very rich Greek pie, stuffed with spinach, onions, cheeses and herbs that are all enfolded by crispy, flaky phyllo dough.
Flaky phyllo sheets are layered with a savory spinach and feta cheese filling.
Spanakopita can be made as a "pie", pita or individual phyllo triangles.
Spanakotiropita makes a fabulous weekend meal served as aperitif or main course.
You can serve it as it is or with yogurt aside and more herbs as you like.

Preparation time: 30 min.
Total time: 1 h 30 min.
Serves: 15 - 20

Ingredients:
- 1 lb. phyllo pastry sheets/ 8 sheets phyllo dough
- 2 pounds spinach - rinsed and chopped
- 2 large onions - chopped
- 1 bunch green onions - chopped
- 2 cloves garlic - minced
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
- 4 eggs - lightly beaten
- 1/2 lb. ricotta or cottage cheese
- 1 lb. crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper

spanakopita greek spinach feta pie

Instructions:
1. Prepare the Pie/ Pita
2. Wash and drain the chopped spinach very well. If using frozen spinach, thaw completely and squeeze out excess water. Spinach should be dry.
3. Squeeze handfuls of spinach until all water is removed and put spinach in a mixing bowl. Add crumbled feta cheese. In a small pan, melt butter. Chop green onions and add to the butter, cooking a few minutes until fragrant. Add butter, onions, fresh dill and parsley, and salt and pepper to the bowl. Stir together 

everything with a fork. Add lightly beaten eggs and combine into mixture.

4. Brush a 9 x 13 pan with olive oil. Lay down a full sheet of phyllo. The edges should come up and over the sides. Brush with olive oil. Lay down another entire sheet and brush with olive oil. Now cut the sheets in half with kitchen sheers so they fit just the bottom of the pan. Continue to layer sheets of phyllo brushed with olive oil until you have 6 sheets.

5. Put spinach and cheese mixture in the pan and spread evenly. Layer with 4 more half sheets that completely cover the spinach. Brush each layer with olive oil. Use full sheets again for the top 2 layers and allow the edges to come up over the top of the pan. Carefully roll the edges that overlap the pan inwards to create a rolled edge of phyllo around the perimeter of the pie. Brush entire top and edges with olive oil. With a sharp knife, make slits in the top of the pie to avoid bubbles when cooking.

6. Preheat oven to 350'F/ 175'C. Lightly oil a 9x13 inch square baking pan.

7. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes or until phyllo pastry is golden brown. Remove and cool for 10 minutes before cutting and serving. Cut into squares and serve while hot.

You can serve it as it is or with yogurt aside and more herbs as you like.

Enjoy! Kali oreksi!

The health benefits of eating spinach

The vibrant greenish spinach is one of the most beneficial edible plants for our consumption.

Spinach leaves and the whole plant - either eaten fresh or cooked (steamed, boiled, fried, either as garnish or main meal) - have a high nutritional value and is very rich in:

- vitamins (A, beta-carotene, B2, B6, C, E, K), calcium, copper, folic acid, potassium - all with great result in case of high blood pressure, osteoporosis and atherosclerosis,
- antioxidants - lutein and zeaxanthin - which are protecting the eyes from age-related macular degeneration and cataracts,
- flavonoids - with anti-cancer properties (especially recommended in case of prostate),
- protein and omega-3 fatty acids,
- iron, magnesium and manganese, niacin, phosphorus, selenium and zinc.
All in all, eating spinach our entire system will benefit and our general heath will be improved - spinach heaving important effects for our skin, calcification and bones, immunity, brain and nervous function and... is perfect for diet!

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The magic of Santorini Island, Greece

Greece - Santorini Island (own photo)

Magical Santorini Island (Greece)
Do you like holidays? Do you like planning your trip? Do you enjoy the time spent searching for perfect destination, accommodation and itinerary for your new challenging trip, either domestic or abroad?
Are you dreaming to offer to yourself a new experience?

I think planning your holiday or vacation and traveling are one of the best things in life for all of us, a liberating escape from daily routine, eventually, to a place that we dreamed to visit one day.

And choosing a Greek island, and especially Santorini, as your travel destination, it will make your perfect vacation.

Trips became for me a long time expected escape to a different world where I can be/ act as I really am, no professional standard requirements, no other un-wished interferences etc... and where I can see wonderful things, step on same paths of our ancestors, touch impressive architectural sites, breath in the same spot where centuries or just years ago famous artists were inspired to create, view other people' life thru their eyes in their own place, mingle with them, taste their food, listen to their music and... simply feel like any other citizen of this world...

Choosing magical Santorini island (Greece) as your holiday destination, it will be the perfect option - here you'll find a bit from everything and a lot more unrevealed surprises that will stay in your memories for years.

Now, if you'd like to dream a bit and relax your mind, let's take a virtual tour to Greece (please feel free to read my other lens Thoughts about Greece) and the famous Greek Island - magical Santorini!

"Cafe del Mar" and Santorini Volcano
It happen to have the chance to see some wonderful places in various countries, each one having a special impact on me, with its particular imprint, but I preserved a special feeling for Santorini – my favorite Greek Island – not for the fame but for its unique gathering of little bit from everything… breathtaking!

I remember that when I reached there, seeing so many rocks, drought, dust and donkeys I start wondering if this is that famous and worldwide known island… Then, being there for about 2 weeks, I visited almost any village around during the day and night, went to surrounding beaches (with sand like black pepper – as shape and color – formed from volcanic magma), took the trip to Volcano and, by chance, had the rare opportunity to be there during Volcano festival.

I had a very interesting feeling when, after a long walk around Oia village (Santorini Island) and surrounding ancient Minoan site on a bright sunny day with temperature above 40′C along rocky narrow alleys, I need to relax a bit and enter into the first shadowed bar on the way…

It was the perfect day light to view across the magnificent Santorini Volcano, listening for first time “Café del Mar” (such a delicate background) coming from a hi-tech acoustic system in a very friendly location. It was like that music has been created to represent the island in different fractions of time, sounds and colors.
I cannot describe full sensation in words, was above imagination! Unique!

Santorini - Andreas Alefragis workshop (own photo)

Magical Santorini Island and Greek cycladic art souvenirs
Also, I’ll never forget a young at that time and sort of savage Greek artist, Andreas Alefragis, that owns Goulas Studio, with strong personality and excellent creative imagination having his own workshop with objects from glass and bronze, and several absolutely remarkable pieces.

I was fascinated especially by one of his bronze art crafts representing something between a whale and boat or maybe both in the same time, and I couldn’t find out if he created that object by happening just playing and giving shape to certain quantity of melted metal or he created previously a draft to follow up. In my mind, at that time, I’ve made a sudden connection between that spectacular island, the music listened earlier, the image of volcano, the sea, that whale, and the Atlants…

All those pieces connected as a part of a small Universe, an utopical one, peaceful, friendly…
I’m not sure if it was any cannabis in Santorini burned in the nearby area at that time but, no doubt, it was first time in my life when I had the strange sensation that an object may be alive and has the power to hypnotize… under certain circumstances.

From so many wonderful objects seen in various museums or art galleries along my trips, none of those could replace in my mind that image.

So, when came the time to leave the island… I was unable to move and take my mind away from there for long time after.

Even now, when I need to unwind myself I’m recalling that 3D (or more?) image!

Andreas Alefragis Goulas Studio - greecetraveler.com

Lava and Santorini Volcano
Lava – rock that in its molten form (as magma) issues from a volcano. Lava is what magma is called when it reaches the surface.

A couple of years later a famous Greek singer – Alkistis Protopsalti – came out with the song “I lava” (Lava) and its scenic video with Santorini Volcano (knowing the places, that video fascinated me so much and will remain always on the list of “favorite songs”).
To conclude, trips abroad are worth especially if you’ll decide to visit those places that are in your mind.

Just don’t expect much, you may be surprised, humans showing you less but nature showing you even more secret facets of (that) reality that you’re prepared to, so you have to let lose your all senses and enjoy everything!

Alkistis Protopsalti - "I lava"

About Santorini Island
The present-day crescent shape of the island is a consequence of the activity of the volcano in prehistoric times feeding the myth of the lost Atlantis. Santorini is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion dated back 3,600 years and which created the current geological caldera; a giant central lagoon, more or less rectangular, and measuring about 12 by 7 km (7.5 by 4.3 mi), surrounded by 300 m (980 ft) high steep cliffs on three sides.

The mild activity of the volcano after this major eruption has built up two small islands within the caldera, Palea and Nea Kameni visited by hundreds of people everyday during the tourist season.

The impressive caldera dominates the west part of the island while the marvelous dry climate and the almost continuous sunshine create year-around conditions which are perfect for observation, photographs and videos under an extraordinary variety of natural lights and colors that give the visitor the exceptional advantage of reaching the interior of the volcano by boat.

Source: Santorini.net

About the Minoan eruption
The Minoan eruption happened around 1645 BC in the Late Bronze Age. It was one of the largest plinian eruptions in younger time. It erupted ca. 30-40 km3 rhyodacitic magma and is ranked VEI=6 (Volcanic Explosivity Index after Simkin and others, 1981). The eruption was followed by collapse of the magma chamber that enlarged an existing caldera.

The height of the plinian eruption column is estimated 36-39 km (Pyle, 1990). It dispersed tephra throughout the Eastern Mediterranean and might have led to global climatic impacts. Its deposits on Santorini consist of up to 50 m thick layers of white pumice and ash.
The eruption destroyed an inhabited and culturally high-developed island which perhaps might be the origin of the Atlantis legend as many scientists believe. Since 1969 excavations near Akrotiri have brought to light an important marine Cycladic town famous for its well-preserved and magnificent wall-paintings.

The Minoan eruption has been studied in detail and described by many authors. Among the most important works are Fouqué (1879), Reck (1936), Bond and Sparks (1976), Pichler and Kussmaul (1980), Pichler and Friedrich (1980), Heiken and McCoy (1984) and Druitt and others (1989).
Source and more info: Decadevolcano

Britannica about Minoan civilization
Minoan civilization, faience: snake goddess faience [Credit: Nimatallah/ Art Resource, New York] Bronze Age civilization of Crete that flourished from about 3000 bc to about 1100 bc. Its name derives from Minos, either a dynastic title or the name of a particular ruler of Crete who has a place in Greek legend.

A brief treatment of Minoan civilization follows. For full treatment, see Aegean civilizations.
Crete became the foremost site of Bronze Age culture in the Aegean Sea, and in fact it was the first centre of high civilization in that area, beginning at the end of the 3rd millennium bc. Reaching its peak about 1600 bc and the later 15th century, Minoan civilization was remarkable for its great cities and palaces, its extended trade throughout the Levant and beyond, and its use of writing. Its sophisticated art included elaborate seals, pottery 

(especially the famous Kamáres ware with its light-on-dark style of decoration), and, above all, delicate, vibrant frescoes found on palace walls. These frescoes display both secular and religious scenes, such as magical gardens, monkeys, and wild goats or fancifully dressed goddesses that testify to the Minoans’ predominantly matriarchal religion. Among the most familiar motifs of Minoan art are the snake, symbol of the goddess, and the bull; the ritual of bull-leaping, found, for example, on cult vases, seems to have had a religious or magical basis.

By about 1580 bc Minoan civilization began to spread across the Aegean to neighbouring islands and to the mainland of Greece. Minoan cultural influence was reflected in the Mycenean culture of the mainland, which began to spread throughout the Aegean about 1500 bc.

By the middle of the 15th century the palace culture on Crete was destroyed by conquerors from the mainland. They established a new order on Crete, with centres at Knossos and Phaistos. Following the conquest, the island experienced a wonderful fusion of Cretan and mainland skills. The Late Minoan period (c. 1400-c. 1100 bc), however, was a time of marked decline in both economic power and aesthetic achievement.
Source: Britannic/Minoan-civilization

Feeling mesmerized by the magic of Santorini, Greece?

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Muddy Volcanoes Berca Buzau Romania

Muddy volcanoes Berca (own photo)

Exploring the amazing Romanian Muddy Volcanoes from Berca, Buzau (Vulcanii noroiosi de la Berca, Buzau, Romania)

If you love nature, geology, spectacular landscapes and challenging the unknown in real (not seeing them from the airplane, watching documentaries on TV from your comfortable coach or browsing your friends' photos posted on Facebook :) ), you may enjoy such experience - mud volcano - in Romania and explore it while getting off the beaten tracks, going out and around at your own peace.

So, one of the most spectacular and unique natural sites in Romania (and Europe) are the Mud Volcanoes - Vulcanii Noroiosi - from Berca, Buzau area - a "piece of world" with an unusual shape, similar to lunar landscapes, that none traveler should miss.

The natural beauty of Romanian Berca Muddy Volcanoes - the Little Mud Volcanoes and The Big Mud Volcanoes - will simply fascinate you.

"Volcanoes are one way Earth gives birth to itself." - Robert Gross

Muddy Volcanoes Buzau (own photo)

Have you ever seen a Muddy Volcano?
Few words about the Mud Volcanoes from Berca

Romanian Muddy Volcanoes from Berca and Paclele Mari, Buzau

The Muddy Volcanoes from Berca and Paclele Mari are a spectacular place and unique natural wonder, with sort of lunar landscape aspect, located in the Buzau mountains, and with less powerful geological reaction (eventually, as one may expect).

These spectacular moonscape mud volcanoes from Berca, Buzau county, have the same structure as the real volcanoes, occurring in similar processes, are generated by the eruption of mud, water and natural gases, are not very high (~ 6m), but with important value, being both, a geological and a botanical natural reservation.

The entire site here is impressive for the viewer, offering a large palette of “Earth colors”: black, brown, gray and greenish… sienna and chocolate borders on top of craters, white crusts of crystallized salt and stripes of yellow sulphur mud.

Muddy Volcano Berca Buzau Romania
The geological phenomenon that created Berca Mud Volcanoes Buzau Romania
Mud volcanoes are created by eruptions of gases and liquids from inside the Earth, processed at a lower temperature that in usual active volcanoes, sending out the surface mix deposits of water (eventually salty or acidic), mud and gases (mostly methane, carbon dioxide and nitrogen),

“Mud volcanoes are often associated with petroleum deposits and tectonic subduction zones and orogenic belts; hydrocarbon gases are often erupted.” — cited from Wikipedia/ Mud volcano

Muddy Volcanoes Buzau (Photo source: Travel Planner)

In Romania, The Muddy Volcanoes from Berca, is an unique reservation.

Similar geological phenomena can be found in few others European countries:
- Italy (Northern Apennines and Sicily),
- Ukraine (Kerch Peninsula),
As well as in:
- Russia (Taman Peninsula),
- Azerbaijan.
Just backpack and enjoy your trip to feel and sense a mud volcano!

Fauna and flora around Mud Volcanoes in Romania
Around Mud Volcanoes usually is hot (especially during summer, when temperature is about 40′C), a permanent bubbling mud that makes the soil very arid and salty.
In this desert-like landscape, the vegetation is poor and seldom, so only very few flowers or plants could be seen over this place, the “survivors” being Nitraria schoberi and Obione verrucifera.

The absence of vegetation around the cones creates a different aspect around muddy volcanoes, offering to the viewer a lunar alandscape.
This phenomenon can be noticed in two separate places nearby Berca – the Little Mud Volcano and The Big Mud Volcano.

"Volcanoes are part of the universal order" - John Kennedy

Volcanoes form no exception to the principles of universal order. They may appear to be physical flaws, and to assume the character of accidents. The devastation which they have produced lead men to regard them very naturally as evils. But two things are certain. They arrive from the operation of natural causes which, however secret, hidden, and difficult of discovery, science may approach with a firm conviction that they are within its domain. And they subserve important and beneficent ends, some of which are already well understood.
John Kennedy, Volcanoes: Their History, Phenomena, and Causes (London: Religious Tract Society, 1852), pp. 7-8.

Source: The Daily Volcano Quote: volcanoes are part of the universal order

IMPORTANT!
While visiting the Muddy Volcanoes you'll need:
- cameras,
- a bottle of water (in case you get thirsty while tramping around),
- and considering that these are really muddy : )... better take proper shoes (sturdy shoes or tightly fastened sport sandals - in summer) that allows you to walk without suffering, then scrub-down.

Aerial view - Mud Volcanoes - Paclele Mari, Buzau, Romania

Vulcanii noroiosi din Paclele Mari, Buzau, Romania - perspectiva aeriana
Muddy Volcanoes - Vulcanii noroiosi de la Berca Buzau

The cosmetic use of Volcano Mud
The volcanic black mud is used successfully in cosmetic treatments and products. The most known being:
- green volcanic mud, red volcanic mud,
- hair scalp volcanic mud hair mask,
- molding mud (with various fragrances),
- mud mask face mask,
- natural volcanic mud soap,
- plant fiber volcanic mud sponges,
- rich detox body mask,
- volcanic black mud crystal purifying facial mask whitening mud (firming and nourishing),
- volcanic magma mud mask,
- volcano mud detoxifying mask,
- volcanic mud oil-controlling facial mud,
- volcanic mud body beauty skin care cream,
- volcanic pore clay mask,
- volcanic spa mud mask.

When buying cosmetic products make sure they contain as much possible natural elements, are non-allergenic, fresh and enough time till they’ll expire, have references from various customers.

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Dive for a beer in London pubs

Sherlock Holmes London pub (own photo)

If you’re taking a day tour in the cosmopolitan British capital, after wandering for hours amongst charming, old cobbled streets in picturesque center, feel the need to unwind a bit after visiting last museum from your list, or need a fun night time, don’t miss to dive for a beer in London pubs and refresh yourself with a genuinely local brew!

You can nibble on savories of local food, snacks and cakes, and enjoy a drink in various pubs in London that suit your mood and choice from cozy to chic, quaint or traditional spots, eventually admiring the view and Victorian architecture from a riverside pub.

Find the right drinking spot to enjoy an early morning pint of beer along a rich and flavored English breakfast or tasty scotch eggs, dare to sun yourself on a rooftop bar, start your evening in an 18th century pub located in the old part of the city, 

or go find a late-night drink to an elegant pub or a traditional one, off the beaten track or in one part of city that doesn't sleep and have a novel “tourist experience”.

Here are some fabulous London pubs with friendly staff where you could stop in, sit and have a pint meet nice people and have fun:

- accessible and decent pubs and bars were drinks are not too pricey ("The Market Gate")
- cocktail pubs and bars – here can muster various tastes and beverages ("Purl")
- DJ pubs – where you can relax listening to preferred music selection chosen by a talented DJ, and get out to dance off gathered calories ("Trapeze")
- elegant pubs – where you should dress up in your classy fashions for stylish drinks ("Coburg Bar")
- gastro pubs for tasting exceptional British cooking recipes, take a bite from local food… or even nosh yourself (“Fox and Anchor” or “The Eagle”)
- gay pubs and bars – hang out with people with similar preferences (“Freedom”, “Ku”)
- sports pubs and bars – where you can share a drink with your friends passionate about same sport or watch your favorite team ("Rileys Sports Bar Haymarket", "Freemasons Arms")
- old-fashioned pubs where to sip a craft beer or cider straight from the source low-beamed bar and the 18th century interiors, where you also may have the chance to hear an old legend, listen to a local song and taste some hefty fry-ups ("The Anchor", "Sherlock Holmes", “The Red Lion” known as the oldest pubs in London).

The Anchor pub London (Photo source: Flickr/ Ewan Munro)

About the most famous, old and attractive British pubs, a special friend of mine from London, said that "One of these is the The Anchor in Bankside, London. As well as reportedly being built on the site of a plague pit, several theatres were situated there during Shakespeare's time. There was also a bear baiting pit in the pub. Our most famous diarist in history is Samuel Pepys, and he watched the Great Fire of London from the Anchor. It escaped then but has been burnt down on other occasions, the last time being 1676."

London pubs are perfect to dive for a beer either alone or with a group of friends if you're looking to explore a new place or just visiting the city!

So, time for a beer? Cheers!

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Coursera free online learning

Addicted to Coursera – free online learning!

Education anywhere, everywhere for anyone!

Coursera online learning (Photo: Ipswich U)

Hmm, most probably I’m a mid-age nerd that still loves to read, learn and expand my inner horizons.

Last year, for example, while talking with a very good pal of mine about my constant desire to improve my knowledge, he told me about COURSERA saying that this is the perfect source for online coursers suitable for various domains of activity, and as it’s FREE!

So, I start browsing the net searching for this tempting platform and found it immediately.
And I couldn’t believe that was so well done and presented, an attractive layout and very friendly features. It is so easy to browse around for finding your favorite course, read it intro, when it starts and how long it takes till final exam.

COURSERA (www.coursera.org/) is based on the support of many famous Universities in the United States (State University of New York, University of Colorado Systems, Berklee College Music, University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Copenhagen, American Museum of Natural History, Duke University, etc) and abroad partners (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, University of Melbourne, National Taiwan University, etc), and their excellent team of professors.

I was amazed to see here a plethora of courses covering so many fields of activity (business, medicine, art, design, architecture, photography, travel, mathematics, genetics, engineering, law, accounting, etc), and the learning support in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabian and Chinese.

The learning system is very well built, any individual can learn either on his/ her own or joining groups, learning at your own peace or being an active participant in dedicated forums, and at the end you may get a diploma for attending the class!

Joining this wonderful platform, you may learn aiming to gather a new certificate to your personal collection or to learn for your own benefit, as a sort of inner enlightenment. : )

COURSERA has a variety of exciting online courses that takes from 3 weeks up to 4 months, and can offer one the chance to browse around, get involved and learn new things for business/ professional development, personal development, pursue a hobby or simple pleasure… like I do! : )

Here below are few courses that are available now:
- Child Nutrition and Cooking,
- Health for All Through Primary Health Care
- Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy,
- Introduction to Guitar,
- Instructional Methods in Health Professions Education,
- Learn to Program: The Fundamentals,
- Reason and Persuasion: Thinking Through Three Dialogues By Plato,
- Social Media Marketing for Beginners,
- The Ancient Greeks,
- The Modern and the Postmodern,
- Think Again: How to Reason and Argue,
- Volcanic Eruptions: a material science, etc.

So, I have already completed 3 courses with Coursera, attending one right now, and subscribed for 2 more, where I’m on waiting list!

Very glad to find about this excellent online learning platform and source of knowledge - open to all and free - that I’m excited to share it with everyone, and especially YOU! : )

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