A Romantic Getaway in the Far-Off Land of Transylvania
There is something so romantic about fall spent in nature, the leaves changing color, the rain and cold air, the harvest—moments that one can peacefully and quietly enjoy. A memory of such beautiful and romantic encounter is our last year's getaway to Transylvania. There are so many reasons why one should visit Romania, but mostly it is because of its tradition, breathtaking landscape, and places like Cincșor, an authentic Saxon village in the heart of Transylvania.
The village gives you a warm welcoming through the Cincșor Guesthouses that are awaiting to accommodate you. We spent our weekend in a Cincșor guesthouse that was formerly a Saxon school, built in 1910 in the Art Nouveau style and restored in 2014. Walking into this beautiful architecture with walls full of books, fireplaces and traditional, yet elegant Romanian decor, was absolutely enchanting. There are not many guesthouses to have so much character, great design, rich history and beauty!
We felt like going back in time stepping into the house. Dining was exquisite, and the modern, yet rustic and traditional design of the entire house was, once again, unforgettable in our memories. Relaxing in the library or in our bedroom quietly listening to the rain, or waking up in the morning with the Fortified Church's bell ringing, was indeed so lovely and romantic.
A dramatic rocky ruin and the surviving structure of the Lutheran Evangelical church you must visit is the Cârţa Monastery, set in a beautiful lush garden, not very far from Cincșor. The peacefulness of the place draws you to explore every corner of the ruin built in Gothic style; everything around is so calm and beautiful. This getaway has been truly an amazing experience, something like a celebration of love and enchantment by the nature. Check out the film of this beautiful getaway as I documented it throughout our weekend.
Chocolate-Pumpkin Layer Cake
Hello October! I finally get to come back here and share my thoughts, photographs and recipes with you. I had a wonderful summer with lots of challenging projects, so I have so many stories to share with you. First of, let's talk about this season. Fall is so enchanting with its crisp air, changing colors, nostalgia for the past, and flavorful produce! For me, pumpkin and walnuts equate to the indescribable beauty of fall, when the best produce is carefully harvest to comfort the cold winter that's coming ahead.
I feel particularly inspired by fall because I feel that it gives you the time to take stock of your surroundings much more than any other season. This particular beauty that I believe fall holds as its essence can be tasted and observed in this decadent chocolate-pumpkin cake recipe and in these photographs that brim with that elegance that fall brings along with it.
This is the right cake you need this fall, because it has the perfect ratio of spices: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice. The cake is soft and the pumpkin flavor marries so well with the spices. The chocolate is just the right amount so that is doesn't overwhelm the flavors. It's really so extraordinary that with ingredients so simple such amazing flavors can be achieved. And if there is something timeless and romantic about fall, this cake must be!
Ingredients:
(makes 8-10 servings, 8" cake pan)
20 tablespoons (250 g) soft unsalted butter, more for greasing
2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour, more for dusting
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 ½ cup (400 g) plain pumpkin purée (I used fresh pumpkin which I baked)
a handful chopped walnuts
2 ½ cups (200 g) confectioners' sugar
10 ounces (200 g) semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled to room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). In a large bowl, whisk flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, baking soda, baking powder and salt together.
2. Using an electric mixer, cream 8 tablespoons (100 g) butter and the granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time. Stir in pumpkin purée. Mixture may look slightly curdled. Stir in flour mixture about half a cup at a time until smooth. Fold walnuts.
3. Pour batter into pan and bake in middle of oven until springy to the touch, about 40-55 minutes. Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes, run a knife around edges, invert onto rack and peel off paper. Let cake cool completely.
4. In a large bowl, blend remaining 12 tablespoons (150 g) butter and confectioners' sugar together. Blend in chocolate and vanilla extract and beat until smooth.
5. Obtain two cake layers by cutting the cake in half, lengthwise. Top bottom layer with cream. Place second layer on top, and use remaining cream to dress all sides of cake.
Nature of Time in Creating Memories for Colectiv
“Every moment alters what came before. We reach across layers of time for the memories of our memories.”—James Gleick
In contemplating the nature of time, there is always a single significant event that confronts our humanity with its short existence—life. By formalizing this great anxiety of limited time we have in life, in a creative act, I'm aiming to annotate what I think about time, and to reveal a fantastical memory of mooring deaths that were not yet meant to come.
Based on the controversial Colectiv nightclub fire, where 64 people were killed by fire in the club building where they were cheering for a rock band last year in Bucharest, these animate photographs freeze time and set at rest the artifice and limitation of reality. The series aims to capture the healing power of memories.
Departing from the writings published in the 22nd issue of DoR which reflected also the history of Colectiv event as we were left standing lonesome but many, the photographs poetically tell the story of those who chose to remember. The photographs become living memories for accepting an ironic death which ultimately shall heal the pain, and become the calming binding to bridge the soul and mind with reality's paradox.
In these photographs, the moving character of the real and imaginative elements highlights the depth of time, of existence. The photographs' motion defy the traditional principals of the still image, and try to honor and keep alive the memory of those who died. These photographs were created in memory of Cristian Mitroi and all the victims of Colectiv tragedy.
