TravelswithCharie

A beach in Mamaia  It was Friday in mid-September. School had just started in Romania and the kids were deep into their books. The summer crowds had gone home. The umbrellas at beaches along the coast of the Black Sea were mostly folded up and the scene in front of me was one of abandonment. A welcome site, I might add. As I walked (with my Sketchers on) and sunk deeply into the warm sand, the sound of waves kissing the shore gave me the calm I needed after a week long road-trip in Northern Romania, Ukraine and Moldova. I was connected once again to my roots. I grew up by the sea on the other side of the world and I always return to the sea to rejuvenate my spirit and get a fresh start. This poem (I wrote it  a while ago) mirrors how I felt when strolling on the beach. I grew up by the sea It’s always with me No matter where I go I hear its warm hello. It’s been too long Since I heard her song  Seeing her today Never far will I stray. There are many beaches in Mamaia, a suburb of Const

  Fall is here and along with it the return of the iconic pumpkin. It’s almost time to visit the pumpkin patch to pick up a pumpkin or two to carve. In the meantime, here are some colorful images of big and little pumpkins amidst giant floral encrusted mushrooms, fairies, mushroom capped habitats, an oversized sewing machine and a variety of seasonal flowers and plants. Bellagio Conservatory consistently offers a delightful floral display every season. If you happen to be in Vegas, go see this enchanting display which ends on November 4, 2023. Happy autumn! Where to go: Bellagio Hotel and Casino 3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Nevada ***** Images by TravelswithCharie

Green spaces Two things become apparent when you arrive in Riga. First, there are a lot of green spaces and parks in the city and more lovely woods as you travel around Latvia.  The Brotherhood of the Blackheads Guild House The second thing you’ll notice is the variety of architectural styles from medieval to Art Nouveau to Soviet era architecture and modern aesthetic. The Blacksheads Guild House (above) has been restored after it was destroyed by German bombing in 1941 and the Russians took down in 1948 whatever was left of the ruined buildings. Three Brothers The houses of the Three Brothers represent three different eras and styles of architecture. And for clarification purposes, none of the owners were brothers. The White House is the oldest masonry building in Riga (dating around the end of the 15th c and the beginning of the 16th c).  The middle house has 1646 marked on its façade which is when its current look originates. The green house from the 17th century is the youngest of