A Trail

We went on a trail in the forest where many small waterfalls can be found. I was with my husband and in-laws. I wish to enjoy this time before the greening season turns to yellow and dry as cold season is here. 

On our first trail, we found this  sweet cat along the riverside...seems like the cat is used to people, never elusive. 

And I just want to savor this view...

 along our long walk, found these cylclamens and there were lots of them along the banks..Oh, I just love flowers.

We were already tired and could not finish visiting what's in our map because it's a big forest park so ended here...while kids enjoy this swing, we got curious too and so this is not only for young ones but even for adults. I, my husband, and brother-in-law tried the swing and we had fun. You know that child in all of us is awaken. :)

These last two photos are the ways along our trail. The greening around will simply make you fall in love with mother nature time and again.

And as the season change, we just have to be thankful for each moment. Everyday is a blessing.

Have a blessed week ahead fellow bloggers! :)

Lago di Iseo

Lago di Iseo (Lake Iseo) is located in the northern part of Italy. One of the best features that I keep falling in love with in this country: their lakes. 

Well, what else should I say, the photos I got here said it all. :)

This first one is my favorite shot..ah! that "heart" I discovered. 

Love..what people need, what we all live for.

I hope you'll keep enjoying the view here.
Sharing this, I feel like we walk together.
Have a wonderful week ahead! :)

Morning walk...

 "The earth laughs in flowers"- R.W. Emerson

Had my short morning walk today while hubby is at work. This one is the small park nearby where flowers just lavishly bloom. I couldn't help but admire them while taking a short stop and a good sit.

 I actually have no idea what's the name of this kind of flower. I am not good with flower names..heheh!So often, I ask my husband when we're together during the walk. Perhaps some of my visitors here know its name..I would be glad to know.  :-)

Today, I'm in one with nature...and I just feel like enjoying such gift and beauty.

Modernity

I don't recall anymore when was the last time I wrote. But that small talk I had with my student yesterday is still clouding on me. Along our conversation, I asked : "What was your best childhood memory?" A common question that we all have heard  time and again. He said, "The best memory I had was being simply happy even if I don't have everything." And I said, "That's right, I agree with you!" And then he added, " Now that I am a man, there are times when I am not happy". I remember he told me that he just bought a new house. 

Modernization is good. In this present time, we can say that people's lives have really improved. Buying branded things, eating in expensive restaurants, going places, travelling, all these are no longer about status quo and it doesn't matter what you do for a living. We simply want to taste and enjoy things as they are and we don't have to wait for the morrows to feel them, to experience them. In this present time, we have learned to work even harder to achieve our goals. And it's ok. 

But you see, while there are positive things brought about by modernity, I'm also afraid how far it may lead us, and how far it may affect our young ones. I want to touch the idea of satisfaction, of contentment, of simplicity, and of not weighing happiness through material desires. Yes, we sieze the day, but just how much of us really siezed the day just right, without losing our self for the world to see. Sounds, idealistic? No, I'm just talking about never feeling down when you can never be another else but your self. Envy, ego, pride...these must never be reasons for you to reach a certain dream. 

You can work hard, enjoy the fruit of your labor, and be totally happy without a show, and just be the person that you are. :-)

Have a blessed weekend! Alla prossima!:)

Spring!

We went to one of the biggest parks in another city, about an hour drive and here's what we got!

Everything is still all about tulips since the roses are not yet in bloom. Tulips here come in variety. I'm sorry to spoil you here with flowers but they are such a joy to look at. :)

 These yellow ones are Narcissus..the only bulb flower I took that differs while the others are all tulips.

Last spring, I was able to grow tulips from my own pot but sadly this year, I wasn't able to keep them and grow. They just sprout with leaves but didn't flower at all. I don't know what happened but maybe I wasn't able to tend them well. I guess it's really true that you should have a "green thumb" (I feel i don't have..:) and that makes you very good in growing plants or flowers.

Well anyway, I hope you'll enjoy the view here. :)
Have a blessed Easter and a wonderful spring period everyone!

Perfect Love

Promise of Spring

Spring is here! When I think of spring, I think of hope. I was busy lately with study that I haven't been into walk like this. So I made my walk-in-the-park this time and noticed that a new season is coming. I am always in awe. Nature is such heaven's  masterpiece. These are just some photos I took from my phone camera. 

I used to think that trees bear leaves first before flowering, or perhaps my observation is just way too limited. It's amazing that these beautiful shoots will turn to leaves in summer.

Thanks for the beautiful weather these days that I made my good walk while enjoying the afternoon sunkissed. Have a wonderful springtime ahead to us all!I am so sure that you all will have more beautiful flowers to post in the next days or months to come. Enjoy each season!

Alla prossima!:)

Flashback to Sicily

When my husband told me that we'll be spending a week of our summer vacation in Sicily, my entire thought went to Shakespeare and his works. I was so excited to figure out where  he used to stay, the memories he had with the place and the people who inspired him in his writings. And even while Vince and I were already heading to  Sicilian Island, I could not contain the feeling of being at least in a place where Shakespeare had been. I thought of all his stories set in Sicily, those stories that I once only read and studied with our college professor in literature. Ahhh!It's real this time, I thought.

But then the moment we arrived at the port, this picture caught my attention. All my fantasies about Shakespeare faded away.I felt like while thinking about his past life in Sicily, my sanity was shaken and  woke me up from the reality of the present time. 

Even up to this very moment, migrants from Syria continue to risk the raging sea of Mediterranean and hopefully able to reach the shore of Sicily, with that very little hope they must have hold in their hearts, if not to save their very self, but to save their children.

Had Shakespeare been in this modern time, I wonder if he'd write their story. Those names written on the walls and the significance of the lifesaving object surrounding those names. 

It still seems surreal when I get to take photos of places in this foreign land, but what feels more surreal to me now is the thought of how my used-to-be small world turned this big. While I remain but a tiny fraction of this universe, I still feel the need to take part and somehow make a small difference, if I cannot make it big. I wanted to write their story. I wanted to tell the world what these migrants had to go through for a dire need to survive. We may never understand their story, or we may never feel them at all, but what if..just what if, I am one of them. 

Have a blessed March! Until next thought...God bless our universe!

Exploring back to the ages...

Italy is rich in historical places. If you are the type who enjoy the classic, this is the place for you.

These are located in the provinces of Rome: Tarquina and Tuscania. Rome is one of the largest cities in Italy and has many provinces, mostly preserved ancient cities. It is very common here where you see old castles, already manned by the city government as tourist spots. Even the colors of stonewalls and churches remain classic.

I have no exact idea about this castle below as we haven't found the way to get there. It seems uninhabited already, part of Rennaisance.

This one is a sundial that tells the exact solar time. It is situated in the big park of Tuscania.

I hope you enjoy my photos here. I am thinking of changing this site into a travel blog. I am still thinking of a new name for this site and thought to change that "caffe break" :).  Any suggestions? :)

Have a blessed February! Wow, how time flies!

Alla prossima...until next time!:)

A blessed New Year

I was out in blogosphere for a while but now I'm back!:)

We had a long holiday break in my husband's hometown.

The pictures below  are some I took. Actually, I have lots of photos taken

during the holiday but I don't want to consume this whole page here

with much pictures, just the most relevant for the Holiday season. (heheh)

This church is just a walking distance from their house. It was snowing

there for two days, during our two-week stay , so the pavements were all crystal white.

Found this little bethlehem inside the little chapel near this same church. It may seem simple but the details are meaningful to me.

 This last one was taken during the New Year's Eve outside while there were fireworks in the air. I like how the moving fireworks here created this colors.

I hope everybody  has a beautiful start of the year! God bless us all!