Meeting with his Excellency the Ambassador of Romania in France

Last friday, I was invited in Toulouse to spend the evening with the excellence Ambassador of Romania, Mr. Toader Baconski and some romanians from Toulouse diaspora.

Inside of Belcastel

The Belcastel castle is a medieval castle, built in 9th century, and it grew at the hands of the Belcastel family. Later, for many decades, it was the seat of the famed Saunhac family.The Château de Belcastel was officially declared a historic monument by the French Ministry of Culture in 1928. The famous French architect Fernand Pouillon (1912-1986) discovered the castle in ruins in 1974. Pouillon decided to reconstruct the fortress, which had been abandoned since at least the 17th century. Pouillon himself undertook the restoration by hand, along with the help of a dozen Algerian stone masons, and 10 stained-glass experts. The work lasted only 8 years and called for great courage from him and his colleagues, due to the enormity of the undertaking, the château's dangerous location, and the fact that no machines were used in the daring reconstruction.

Royan

I returned in Royan this summer.

Île d'Oléron

The Ile d'Oleron is France's largest island after Corsica.Here you can eat good seafood. I tasted the "Huitre crue" from this region. Delicious! Is an island of the Atlantic coast of France.

Bez Bedene

A gorgeous village of 8 houses in north of Aveyron district. An ancient priory (hermitage established in the mid-11th century by the future Saint Gausbert) perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Selve river.The word "bedene" or "viadene" means the 10th roman route. There is a roman bridge part of this roman route.

Mougins

Mougins is a commune in Alpes Maritimes in south-east of France. Is about 50km far from Nice. Is a 15 minutes drive from Cannes.
Last week-end, I was invited to the wedding of a friend of mine. He choosed Mougins for the event.

Patriarch Nicodim (1864-1948)

These days I ranged my parents library and I found a beautiful picture of the cousin of my grandmother, the Patriarch Nicodim.
The Romanian Orthodox Church is organized as the Romanian Patriarchate. And the Patriarch Nicodim was the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church (Patriarch of All Romania) between 1939 and 1948.

The Bosphorus

Hagia Sophia

It is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and it has "changed the history of architecture" with its massive dome.

Dolmabahçe Palace

Dolmabahçe was built between 1843 and 1856 by Armenian architect Garabet Balyan and commissioned by Sultan Abdülmecid I, the 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. The palace design and décor reflects the increasing influence of European cultural standards on Ottoman culture. Neo-Classic, Baroque, Rococo and Ottoman styles all blend together into glittering opulence and grandeur.

Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 58 covered streets and over 1,200 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. Opened in 1461, it is well known for its jewelry, pottery, spice, and carpet shops.

Topkapi Sarayi

The Topkapi Palace was the official and primary residence in the city of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years of their 600-year reign, from 1465 to 1853.Initial construction began in 1459, ordered by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Byzantine Constantinople. The palace is a complex made up of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings.The Gate of Felicity is the entrance into the Inner Court. The Sultan used this gate and the Divan Meydam square only for special ceremonies. The Sultan sat before the gate on his Bayram throne on religious, festive days and accession, when the subjects and officials perform their homage standing. The Neo-classical Enderûn Library (Enderûn Kütüphanesi), also known as "Library of Sultan Ahmed III" (III. Ahmed Kütüphanesi), is situated directly behind the Audience Chamber (Arz Odası) in the centre of the Third Court.Details inside the palace.The Imperial Council (Dîvân-ı Hümâyûn) building is the chamber in which the ministers of state, council ministers (Dîvân Heyeti), the Imperial Council, consisting of the Grand Vizier (Paşa Kapısı), viziers, and other leading officials of the Ottoman state, held meetings. It is also called Kubbealtı, which means "under the dome", in reference to the dome in the council main hall. It is situated in the northwestern corner of the courtyard next to the Gate of Felicity.

Galata Tower

Galata Tower, one of the oldest towers of the world was built of wood by Byzantine emperor Anastasius Oilozus in 528 as lighthouse, in 1348 it was reconstructed by the Genoese as Christea Turris (Christ Tower) using stack stone.The tower was repaired by the turkish architect Murad Bin Hayreddin in 1510. During the reign of Murat IV (1612-1640).The tower's altitude is 61 meters. You can go up and you can enjoy see all the architectural beauties of Istanbul.

Ferme Auberge de Mejanasserre

I recommend you when you visit Entraygues-sur-Truyere to ask for Ferme Auberge de Mejanasserre.
A small place of Paradise. Where everybody can sleep or relax and eat good food.

This is Romania!

Nice promo spot! Romania is not only the land of Dracula. The Carpathian mountains, the Delta of Danube, the Black sea, the North of Moldavia, Transylvania, south-west of Valachia are beautiful spots to visit them. Romania's geographical diversity has led to an accompanying diversity of flora and fauna.

Le Chateau de Fayet

Build during the Renaissance for the Castelnau family, then added on to by Jean V d'Arpajoun, the chateau, on the slight rise, was conceived for entertainingindeed. Henri IV once stayed here.

Abbaye de Sylvanes

Sylvanès is an architectural gem, one of the best known of its style in France and by all Romanesque art specialists abroad.