I once made eye contact with the most, delectable and charming slice of raspberry pie. It was once of those head over heel moments. I wanted to hold it close and whisper how beautiful it looked. There was no doubt in my mind that in the future, when I sink my teeth into its luscious fruit, cream and crust that an imaginary host of angels would be belting 'Hallelujah' in multiple harmonys to commemorate our union.
The point I'm trying to make is - Sometimes we consciously fall in love. It's a heart thing. But other times we fall in love with the most unexpected plates of food, people and places.
And that's how I felt when I took one last look through the window of my plane. Sad that I was leaving some things I'd loved, behind.
Romania was not on my bucket list of places to visit but I'm so glad that we met.
I make no apologies for being a lover of good food. And you understand it because you too, chickadee, would take the first plane, train and automobile for a tiny morsel that will make your toes tickle. And tickle they did, indeed, as I relished seasonal offerings of the ripest farm-grown cherries. The tiny pits, red-stained fingers and teeth are momentarily forgotten when you're enjoying so much of a good thing.
Before we delve further I must tell you about Batman and Butterfly. Some friendships are birthed in the shortest gestation period and you recognize that its going to be a great one when your heart-person tugs with your head-person and your feet bolt down to the floor refusing to go longer than three feet away from them. They tell you about Foxy and their love of the theater. You love watching them smile and make jokes about them being cat-lovers. They drive all the way to your hotel to bring you the choicest raspberries from their mother's garden. You tell them how you'll never forget them. They share their favorite music compositions and take endearing pictures like this 'his-and-hers' one.
My favorite one, you ask? When we all promise to see each other again.
There are infinitely better reasons to explore this jewel in Eastern Europe, however, the following is my flash-ten persuasion for why you should pack your bags quickly:
- To say that you ate bear
- To see one of the most ornate modern-day palaces (Peles castle)
- To drool at the sight and taste of fresh goat's cheese
- To claim you'd been to Dracula's castle (where you will quickly realize it was a figment of someone's imagination)
- To taste chunky doughnuts being served with jam and cream for dessert
- To re-learn the meaning of the word 'hospitality'
- To see real-life shepherds with their flock
- To understand what contentment looks like
- To enjoy plum brandy
- To watch people celebrate their food...Okay one more
- To appreciate something unexpected (like capturing this life moment, unbeknownst to the wedding party, ofcourse).
And that last one is my favorite reason.
