Beach Walking

 Yup,

I've been to the beach, Balmedie is the one, near Aberdeen.

Although I did draw a little it was more of a word day.

 

Scrambling over the dunes,

and  a slow step, steep slide

down to the beach.

I walked along following the shell and stone line.

Waves to the right

Calming me

Farther along the shells are broken,

and I hear the crunch of my steps

intermittantly through the sound of the waves.

The tide is going out.

I find a small bag, empty 

and I begin to fill it with rubbish

It makes me feel good.

It fills quickly.

I move to a bigger bag 

and on it goes.

I stop to watch the wee scurry aboot birds (Sanderlings)

eating and cleaning themselves.

Lunch

A dog to pet

A person to greet

Walking back with the sun on my face

This feels good

It brings tears of release

Only a few (maybe more next time)

I walk towards the sun

and shut my eyes

Warm reds and orange - I feel protected by them.

I keep going with the sun as my direction

and the shell line crunch to guide my way.

Fife Coastal Trail

Anstruther to Crail.
My second walk, another short walk as I always seem to have somewhere else to be, something I want to change.

The day wasn't so sunny but it was a much needed break away from the rest of my life. The forms, colour and movement inherent in the coastline and the rocks was utterly beautiful. Yes, I am realising that I'm becoming a bit of a nerd to do with rocks and stone.

Images say it all, so...

Boundary

out to sea

And now a few of my favourite images... rocks!

Difficult to believe that this is naturally made, but I love it.

These colours are completely free from manipulation.

In Greenock

looks like eyes shut

Before the sculpture workshop started, I took to the streets and sunshine for a wee walk. Leaving on previous weeks my eye kept being attracted to a stretch of road where there had been many buildings that had housed industry, now with their windows and doors bricked up. A door but not a door.
Camera in hand, I fought with the glare of the sun to get some decent images.
Here are a few more.

love the yellow sign

big and small

red railing

skeleton factory

to be developed

near the railway

love this corner

coat hooks

There were a few more but these are the best. Difficult to take some of the shots as the best place to stand was in the middle of the road. The car drivers must have thought I was weird.

Fife Coastal Trail

I have begun walking the Fife Coastal Trail but in stages.

It's beautifully broken down into manageable chunks by Walkhighlands.
Due to not having a great deal of time, I chose an easy, short walk first....
St Monans to Anstruther.

A few images from the day. It was very sunny but the wind cooled it down a little as well as the fact is was in March.

The contours and shapes of the rocks really drew my eye so most of the images I have are of rocks.

twentytwo

The days are flying by, it's Sunday already and it's now less than a week to go.
Last night we had thunder, lightening and plenty heavy rain. This morning I wasn't sure about going to the market but the rain had stopped and it seemed to be clearing. So much easier than the last time I went, I knew when to get off and where a lot of stalls were.
Unfortunately the stall I wanted wasn't there.

I walked back again, stopping off at the fruit and veg market for a few things. Decided to buy some fresh walnuts this time, very tasty.

Back to the flat and chill. No plans for the rest of the day, just have to make sure we have our times and where to go for the bus tomorrow because it's off to Monica's grandmother's farm in the country.

Day 15

Sunday, and today I could not be bothered getting out of bed. Definitely a lounging day.
Had a tea and a little breakfast and read a lot, fabulous.

Eventually, I decided to wander into town, not sure what to see but just to wander. Quite busy.
I went through Piata Mare,

Piata Mare

Piata Mica

down Str. Bruckenthal, past Piata Mica and on into Piata Huet.






Saw some gorgeous old houses.

and passed by the journeyman's house,

outside of which is this amazing sculpture/totem.

erected 2004

Not sure how much of it was there at the beginning and how much added later.

I found the bridge of lies and have now been over it but not under it. 

Ha, got to leave something for another day.

Stopped for a lovely pizza in the square and back to the flat and my book.

2nd Friday or day 13

Mountain day… today we got packed lunches together and off down to the pink house we went. It had rained last night so it was a little cooler. All into the red mini bus and off up to  Balea Lac - Transfagarasan. Balea Lac is a glacier lake at 2,034m in the Fagaras Mountains in central Romania, in Sibiu County.The journey was fine up until we got to the mist, and boy I really mean mist. All the way up the incredibly windy road as it climbed higher and higher there was white instead of a view. It did become quite scary sometimes because it was like looking out onto nothing but also knowing there was a really BIG drop.

photo from internet because too misty

We stopped at a place where you can see a waterfall (if there's no mist), lots of tourist shacks and very busy. This was also the place to get the cable car up to Balea Lac.

Here it is almost arriving.
So… a few of us decided to walk up to the next lake, which we were told was an easy walk. (hmmm?)
Very glad I did though, the views were the best I've seen in a long time.

Looking down onto our drop off point

further up

This pathway, well, there was a kind of path but I'm glad our driver, Mario, lent me a stick to go with. It came invaluable for balance and a wee helping hand here and there.

Kyna at the top

There were higher spots but it was the top of the path and it led to the other lake. 

Of course we had to check it out.

To the other lake

Kyna and Megan braved the cold and plunged in.





Quite the most incredible views, I would love to come back but better prepared with tent, proper walking gear and explore the mountains much more. we did see people camping at the 2nd lake which Is called Capra Lac.

On the way up and back down we stopped for photo opportunities, otherwise known as a rest. It was an odd feeling being able to see so clearly (apart from the mist of course), the far mountains appeared distant and near at the same time. A strange perspective of being big and incredibly small too.

far mountains

the shepherd

As we walked up the hill the sheep were coming down from one mountain and we met them as they moved across the path. Some very cute sheep, none of the large, overbred breeds we see.

The shepherd had a few dogs and himself to control the sheep. Very clever.

And… down.
A wee feed, trip to the facilities for a comfort break and back off home.
Before that we had to have a photo.

Day 4

Today was a holiday due to it being a Saint's day, because of this a day trip was organised.
Walked to Ioana's house and there to rail station. Very glad we had someone who could speak Romanian because it was all a little confusing and I certainly would not have known which train to take.

 There was no platform as such so we had to wait until the train had gone to cross over.

So, off to Sibiul which was a half hour away and as the journey progressed we got more into the hills and country. From there a longish walk (there is a lot of walking in Romania), the weather was pleasant and had become slightly cooler near the hills but there was a dark cloud in the direction we were headed. Lots of land for sale.
The village came into view and we were welcomed by a famous fella.

Arrived at the museum of glass icon painting. Quite an amazing place, it houses the largest collection of icon paintings.

This is us all after we'd been inside the museum, and after the dark skies, thunder and rain. Off on a wander and it was so lovely to be out in the country. Most of the roads in the village are just stone inset in the ground, not shaped or in any pattern, but lumpy and bumpy. Definitely have to have good springs on your car. At one point an artic truck passed us with not a massive amount of room on either side and the road was getting narrower.

Stork's nest on top of telegraph pole, The underneath of the nest looks man-made so I'm assuming it was made for this purpose as it is in other countries. 

A walk around with a little rain which in actual fact was very pleasant, lots of photos and then a visit to Cafe Elena for a beer and some food.