Trip to Devon

Just two days after we got back home, we packed and we were off to Salcombe with Will's family. It was a great idea to get all together to celebrate Will's dad's 70th Birthday. It was a beautiful holiday and we had a very nice and relaxing time.

Beautiful view from the cottage in Salcome
Kayaking in the first day of our trip

Maria and daddy watching mummy kayaking

In the last day, a nice surprise came from Will when he wanted to do a double kayak with me

The synchronization seems to workThat's fun
Back on the shore

Devon area is very nice and we were quite lucky with nice weather, so we did some geocaching in the area, generally following the coastal footpath and went for an evening estuary cruise.

On our search for travel bugs and geocoinsDaddy taxi is fun
On the estuary evening cruise
Lovely time on the boat
Family picture (Valerie, Ed, Mary and Peter, us, Katie and Ron); Maria took the picture (just kidding, she was sleeping)
On the way back home, we stopped to visit the Model Village
Wondering through the Model Village in Torqay area
Maria was ready to go home...

Back home and last days of our trip to Romania

I know, I know, it's been a few weeks since we got back home from Romania and nothing on the blog, but we have been incredibly busy. It was so good to see Will again after 3 weeks in Romania without him. It was nice to visit family and friends back home, but it feels better to be back where our home is now.

Last few days in Romania were nice and my best friend prepared a nice surprise for me, showing up in Brasov from Los Angeles unexpectedly. Here are some pictures of the day we met.

Meeting Oli in Brasov

Last day at home I also had the pleasure to meet Crissy and Zico who came over from Colorado.

Maria playing with ZicoWondering in Brasov on a rainy day

With Crissy and Maria in the Central Park in Brasov

At the Black Sea

At the beginning of June we spent a few days at the Black Sea, in Eforie Nord, with our friends Dan, Lili, Luca and Eva and also my aunt Mio who joined us for a day there.

Mio, Maria and Will in our first day at the sea

So nice to be back at the Black Sea after more than 10 years

Maria and daddy hiding from the sun

"Love being on my feet in the sand"

Daddy time

on an empty beach in Eforie Nord

"I had enough sun; now it's time for a nap"

what a cutie!

Maria and mummy out for dinner

I love to be on the beach

"look at my foot!"

it's so hot, I really need a pony-tail

moon over the Black Sea

how lovely was to spend time with our friends, Dan, Lili, Luca and Eva

Luca taking out Maria for dinner. What a gentleman!

Just before dinner at a nice restaurant with a great view

with Luca and Maria at the restaurant

Smile for daddy!

Maria sitting up and thinking...

Maria's Christening

On a cold and rainy day, Maria was baptized in Sf. Gheorghe Orthodox Church in Brasov. Here are some pictures from the event.

Maria waiting patiently in front of the church

Maria and her Godparents at the start of the ceremony

The Godmother getting Maria ready for...

sinking into the blessed water

and out

and in and out again, until Maria thought it was enough and started crying

and after the "bath"

ready for the party

Maria with the vicar

Now I am an Orthodox girl

Group picture

Brasov

We have been in Brasov for a week. The plane journey from London to Bucharest was good and quite easy for Maria, but the temperature at landing was 35 degrees C and Maria had a hard time adapting to the very hot weather. We finally made it home to Brasov in the evening and were very welcomed. All my family was very happy to meet Maria.

We visited Brasov and took some pictures of my beautiful home city.

In the back is "Tampa" hillPicture taken from the White Tower with the Black Church in the backVisiting my old primary schoolPicture of my primary schoolMaria and Will patiently waiting in their desk for the Romanian lesson to startLa CetateNext to the Brasov Citadel

The narrowest street in Brasov, Sforii Street

Taking a break

At the Black Tower
Old Brasov in the backgroundWith my friends, Lili, Maurizio and their little girl, Desiree

Maria with my dad