Journey To The Land Of Childhood

A new Wednesday that has come and is already ready to go compels me to recount my most recent walk, which happened only two days ago.

I finally had a rare walk, which can happen only once or twice a year. I had to travel 450 km—the distance between my home in Bucharest and my younger brother's home in northern Romania, my grandparents' former home, where I grew up.

#
The trip was scheduled beforehand, and what usually happens in such cases happened. It rained all three days we were there. This bothered me the most because I take a couple of walks on the hill next to the house every time I travel to the place where I grew up.

I have great nostalgia for those places and happy childhood moments.

I had to get through the rainy weather and climb the hill that takes me to where I used to play when I was a kid, and for a panoramic view of the village.

#

#
The decades since I left this place have made many changes. Before heading up the hill, I passed two houses that were now abandoned, as all who lived there had died.

#

#
Fortunately, the rain was light, and I didn't get wet on the upper part of my body, just my legs. Beyond any hardship, though, the walk was well worth the effort.

#
As I ascend the hill, the landscape can be seen as far as the horizon. My eyes are looking for the most appropriate places, which I have known since childhood and are almost unchanged. I refer to the relief because the houses are changed; nearly all of them have been transformed in the same way my grandparents' house was changed.

#
My eyes also seek out the more distant sights, far beyond the edges of the village.
#

#
These were forbidden places in my childhood. I never went there, except for the lake, which was once just a river called Somuz.

#
I was so glad to see the beginning of spring again. The northern part of the country has a gap of about two weeks compared to the south, in the sense that spring is later there because it is colder. In the north, it is always colder. The trees are just starting to bloom...

#

#
I saw the first spring flowers lifting their heads through the dry grass.

#
This rare and protected flower is a mountain peony. It's the only one I saw on this walk, and I think it's endangered because the agricultural use of the areas where it grows is restricting its range.

#
Other little flowers make the start of spring so wonderful!

#

#
Being just the beginning of spring, I saw several signs of last winter all around me...

#

#
We arrived near the end of the walk, at the most challenging point. Climbing the hill seemed almost impossible because the ground and vegetation were wet and slippery. What's more, I am not 10 years old anymore, I am now 70!

#
Still, I managed, not without difficulty, to get to the top of the hill. It was pretty dangerous; for me, a fall is problematic because of the problems I have with my spine.

#

#

#

#
But it was worth the effort and exposure to danger. The view is superb, especially for me, who often dream of being in this place. This walk, which does not end here except for this post, has refreshed my visual memory, and I have a reserve for future dreams.

I always start with photos when I want to write a blog. Photos remind me of places, events, and feelings that turn into words.

A wise saying goes that an image is worth a thousand words.