Holidays

After 3 months of hard work in France I went home for XMas holidays. Now I am enjoying my family, my dog, my brand new nephew and my cousins until the 4 of January. Cris also came couple of days ago to take advantage of the white Romanian Christmas. She learned our card games and she had a very interesting experience in the cine when a fat stupid lady didn't want to move from our sits so we had to call the bodyguards. We also went to the Mountains but there was more snow in Bucharest then there.

Course time

Hi to everybody from Bern. These days I was taking a crash course in interferometry and other SAR processing aspect at the headquarter of Gamma. Very dense course, learned a lot and few time to visit Bern itself. Except the first day when I have arrived all the other visit where during the evening...so to say Bern by night. Yesterday we have visited Thun ( a small village/city) in the vicinity. Except of size the village was very similar with the capital city itself. Anyway I had nice time here (like all the other times I came) and now I am preparing for the long ride back to Touluse. Unfortunately I didn't bring a camera so no photo will be provided:(.

the half

Hi,

I am Mihai´s half. I went to Toulouse to visit Mihai last week and I discovered he is becoming a professional dancer!!! Did you know he is attending dancing lessons?? Now he dances chachachá, vals, Rock and roll, salsa and even the very typical spanish pasodoble!!!

And I am not saying thins because I her novia but he is really a great dancer, at least compared to the others that were a disaster!!!!

It was a nice week, we danced, we cooked and we had fun... what else could I ask for???
That´s why I will go back in few weeks!! Mihai tell your amantes to go away because your novia is coming back!!!!

Last two weeks

As almost nothing was happening no need to write here anything :)
After starting the work in Toulouse i was following the same routine every day.... work - home - work. However in the last two weeks I went to Madrid twice to Maich~s 1st meeting (two weeks ago) and to meet a friend (this week).
The first meeting was nice but of course with all the usual chaos of every Maich endeavor: people arriving late, people not arriving at all, unknown people and surprises of last moment.
The second time was most quiet as I was alone with my friend so we visited The Prado and the Royal Palace and of course the city center.

So know I will go back to my routine ......

Three weeks later

o for those of you who were worried ...I am still alive. I got out from the hospital to days after the surgery and the following week went to Toulouse were I had to fill some forms and wait couple of weeks to get an email account, a cafeteria card and the Internet access (this I still don't`t have it yet, instead I am using the account of my office mate). The bad news is that skype is not working in the network of CNES because they are blocking a lot of stuff. A little remainder of Maich times .... however now is worse.

About the city ..... it has a nice old part (center) with typical houses and narrow streets. All in all it appears to be a nice place although it doesn't have the sea close. There are a lot of students and people having fun until late. However, I have to go out to see more of the night life.

One night I went to Montpelier and I really liked it. It has the Mediterranean life style with lots of people on the street until late and the advantage of the sea close and the better weather. Al so I went to Carcassone to visit the old medieval town. It looks similar with the medieval town of Sighisoara (Romania) that I think is better since it still forms part of the real city. In Carcassone, the old part is inside the fortress and is too arranged for the tourists to spend their money.

What else .... I have started finally to work with some radar images.... and i am not sure i like it. ...

So this should be all for now. Anyway I will be writing more often now since I am on line.

Spanish hospitals II

...not so easy .... Wednesday I went back to the hospital because my ache was still there, even stronger. After more blood analysis and radiography the doctors have decided (even if it was not sure the cause) to put me in surgery waiting list with a diagnostic of appendicitis. So now instead of enjoying Toulouse I am still in ZGZ in a hospital bed with 3 holes in the stomach and tubes in my arms.

p.s. at least I am not alone.... Cris arrived yesterday although she cant help me too much

Spanish hospitals

Bad Tuesday .... yesterday I had the great idea of eating hot chocolate after diner and a beer. The combination proved to be deadly since at 5.30 I woke up with an acute stomach ache .... so I went to the hospital .... blood tests, radiography .... and at the end .... apparently the bomb combination was to blame ... so after 4 hours in the hospital I am back home having still some pain. Hopefully tomorrow I will be 100% functionally.

P.S. why the nurses are so pretty always ... no matter what country ?

ZGZ ...last days

So, my first contact with Toulouse was very short......about 2 days. Now let's go point by point:

1. The flat looks nice and my hew flat mates also. One bad point is the building that was constructed in the º70 for the poor people. So it doesn't look pretty outside but it is close to my work and the neighbourhood is quiet and nice.
2.The city looks very very old.... I still don't know if I like it or not, but the first impression was not bad. So I will see later.
3. Yesterday I have gone to Carcassonne with Cristina (other one) ...famous medieval town.... it was nice although I expected a bigger medieval part.
4. Today I have filled in a lot of forms so hopefully next week when I will be back there I will have a badge to open the gate, access to internet, a desk with a PC (or not as I have mine), Web access, a permit to eat at the cafeteria, an email from CNRS .... and I am not sure what else I have asked for in those forms.

So these concludes my first contact report with Toulouse....

Packing

I have to move, again, ... and I am scared of the French people.... and mi novia doesn't come with me .....and I have to pack .....and my friends will remain here...... and the darts championship will play without me .... and no more embutidos.... and I have to pack .....and I have to learn French ....and to make new friends (uff) ..... and

shit I really have to pack and instead I am loosing my time with this shit that nobody reads.

ZGZ`s surroundings

Sunday we went to visit a place called Monasterio de piedra. A nice place, especially the park around. The monastery started around 1200 and lasted until 1835 when was expropriated and sold by the king to get funds. The monastery was build on place of an Arabic fortress. It was the first place in Europe where chocolate was prepared and used by the monks when they were sick. There is a guided tour inside the old partially ruined monastery that give informations about the life of the monks and about the vines of the region.
However much more impressive is the park full of waterfalls that surrounds the place. It is unbelievable how much water is concentrated in a rather small place taking into account that the surroundings are very dry.

Back to ZGZ

After almost two weeks of holidays I am back in Zaragoza preparing myself for the French period. Soon I will say goodbye to Iberian peninsula and go to Toulouse in my quest for knowledge. In the mean time I have to organize some trips around Zaragoza to my study areas, to finish with the paperwork for France and most important ...to find a flat in Toulouse. It seems that is pretty difficult so if anybody has a connection there I will appreciate his help.

Still holidays ......

I am going to the nord to visit Cantabria, one of the greeenst parts of this burned peninsula, at least they say so. Finally I will have the opportunity to see some decent forests. More photos from Rome and Cantabria later next week.

6.08.07
As I am too lazy to write another post I will continue here. I liked Cantabria very much as it resembles a lot with my country. The hills are as green as England and the sea is sufficiently worm to swim, at least in summer. There are a lot of things to do around, like hiking (Los Picos de Europa), visiting old villages (Santillana del Mar, Ruiloba, etc), caves (El Soplao) or ancient monasteries and churches (Santa Maria de Lebena, Santo Toribio de Liebana, etc). The beaches are not so crowded and in some there are good conditions to practice windsurf. Due to its colder climate Cantabria is a good destination for the hot summer months especially when trying to escape from the rest of Iberian peninsula.

And now some pictures:

The eternal city

Since there is not much to do here and the department is almost empty I will take some free days and go to visit a friend of mine from Rome. After 10 years I will finally see again the eternal city and its ancient treasures. Stay tuned for the photos at my return.
A preview of the first two days...and now back to the tourist schedule.

Campamento Jara

Last week end I went to a camp site in Guadalajara where Cris is monitor. Imagine 80 kids together in relatively small area to which you have to give 4 meals a day. At the end was not so bad as I didn't have anybody under my direct supervision. The most I liked the mounting of the tyrolean traverse although I almost broke my legs testing it.
Another good point was the opportunity to meet almost all Crisº friends at once so I got rid of this task from my list.

P.S. If you want to see what is this Jara about go here http://gmjara.spaces.live.com/default.aspx?owner=1

Valencia

I was there last month but as I did not have the photos until now I preferred to wait. The old city is rather small as area but it is nice. Surprising was the old river bed that now is transformed into a green area. However what I`ve liked most was the new Ciudad de las artes y ciencias.
Also I have seen the new port which hosts the Copa America. Pity that those days it was the brake before the final of Louis Vouitton Cup. However I have seen the boats training and tried the windcart.

Back home

In Bucharest.....meeting some friends and the family (at the big wedding of my cousin). Of course my dog was very happy to see me again so she is following me everywhere (except when she has food in her pot). As the last days was very hot I am getting a little bit bored staying in the house almost all the day long.

English holidays

Last week we had a 'training course' in Leicester. Anyway I didn't learn too much but in change we met nice people and made some contacts. At the end we went to London (my first) where I got sunburned (talking about the famous English bad weather).Anyway ...I liked London although I am not sure if I would still like it in the rainy 'season'.;

Shit...holidays are gone

Back to work....again. Anyway very nice holidays with everything included: sun, rain, swimming, adventures and even new girlfriends for the lucky ones.

Holidays are comming

Tomorrow field trip and then holiday....uraaaa. I will tell u later where...it has to be a surprise.

Me toca Madrid

This week end we will meet in Madrid and explore a little the surroundings in Miraflor. Maybe I will add some pictures after......
and Irene !! if I meet you I will kick your ass ...you know why.

Visit to Sevilla

Mihai is coming to Sevilla this weekend... hurra!!! We will go for tapas, hindi food, and maybe we will go for a excursion somewhere in the mountanis... but that is still to be decided.

RS course

Nothing new since last posts ... or almost nothing....We spent some time togheter last week-end in Zaragoza and the next one I will go to Sevilla....maybe it will be hot enough to use the swimming pool :)
What else....we got the RS course in UK in April andIrene also ...so... another familly meeting.
And I should get my new Raptor on Tuesday...I hope this time are sending a functional one.

It`s raining !!!!!!!!

Finally ... is raining in Zaragoza and I am able to see the drops with naked eye....uuuuuaaaa

Cris today

Today Cris is going to have her thyroid surgery....po po po
So ..... I wish her good luck .....

Madrid

Hello everybody!!
i will be in Madrid the following 3 weeks, so i f you want to pay me a visit and have a coffee... I will be waiting for your call!!!

Mallorca trip

Last week we went for a field reconnaissance to Mallorca. The island is very nice and we heard that there are a lot of nice beaches far from the most turistic places. I even had a short bath ...the water was a little bit cold. Anyway maybe we will have the opportunity to stay more next time . The pictures are from Santanyi and from Mondrago beach (I hope the spelling is correct).

Salut

Asta e primul post ... asa ca.... bine am venit la propriul meu blog. Deci dragi prieteni va invit sa ma /ne tineti la curent cu viata voastra prin intermediul acestui relativ nou mijloc de exprimare.