Collecting Moments

Just the beauty of time growing through...

Hiked 23 km today to see the Ballycowan castle (XVI c.). A middle-aged man opened the gate for us. He's been living all his life in a 500-year-old cottage on the farm next to the ruins. No wife, no children. All alone he's become as integral part of history as the castle in his backyard.

Заброшенный дом Вера в нём — Крест на стене. Покинутый дом Прошлое в нём — Портрет на столе. Оставленный дом Память в нём — Игрушки в шкафу. Забытый дом Боль в нём — Стекло на полу. Пустой дом Ветер в нём.

Trying to fill the void, the emptiness inside old formless space touched by time. Divided into rooms full of air, breath, life. Feeling young and pretty Like a little girl, amazed by the shadow on the wall, caught in the light. Undressed, free, warm in the freezing wind. A woman without age.

It might not look that impressive but it's the eighth wonder of the world - the Irish bog :)

It was just an ordinary day in the city. I walked a lot. Along the river, in the lanes, up to the cathedral, down to the market. I’m not a city girl anymore. I hardly visit any museums, galleries, castles or palaces. I’d probably go to an exhibition only if Egon Schiele will be in town. Abandoned derelict places still fascinate me though. That’s why the highlight of my wandering was the Cow Tower. Not much of a ruin (not much of a building either) but still a structure touched by time. But I didn’t realize that I missed urban energy. I was listening to a street musician at the square when that homeless man came up and sat next to me. He was stinky and very dirty. He rolled a cigarette, slowly smoked it, smiled, stood up and walked up to a clean, tidy, well-dressed guy with a big dog. The man started talking to the dog. He talked, the owner ignored him but the dog was listening. And suddenly it jumped on him and licked him. He embraced the dog, caressed it and kept on talking to it like...

Walked 20 km along the Norfolk sandy coast. **************************************** В ракушке слышишь мыслей шум?!

I'm looking at the roads and somehow I miss cows, pigs, horses just wandering around, sleeping in tunnels, walking along with cars and trucks. Rural England is very different from rural Georgia but another type of equality exists here, no worries :)

При допросе иностранный гражданин имеет право на переводчика... Мне понятен язык — не грузинский — родной. "Господин Прокурор, отпустите домой." - Вам ущерб возместили? Претензий нет? "Я опаздываю на поезд." - .... дадут 10 лет. - Нет. - Ара? - Да, подпишу. На любом языке. - Это вы мне? Почему не пришла переводчица? - У сержанта спросите, он с ней говорил. - У нас штат сократили. - Да-да, я забыл. - Подпиши в трех местах. Времени нет. - Документ на грузинском. Ругань в ответ...

- Are you married? - Yes, in Israel. - Children? - No. That was the third question the Head of the Criminal Police asked me. I'm in Georgia, at least, I gave a safe answer (but not the right one, I suppose). Before I got a privilege to see him, all his low rank employees had been trying to get rid of me for two hours. "No, we didn't get the money", "No, the family is not rich, they didn't collect the money", "The detective is out of the office today" - this was the variety of answers I got standing outside the fence in 40 degrees heat. My only reply was "I will wait here". After the Head I got a private meeting with the Prosecutor. And... three days after that I GOT BACK THE MONEY THAT WAS STOLEN FROM MY HOSTEL ROOM BY THE SON OF THE OWNER!

Hiked from Mestia to Koruldi Lakes up in the mountains. Dintace - 20 km. Hiking time - 10 hours. Total elevation gain - 1400 m.

Hiked from Mestia to Chaladi Glacier.

The origins of Svaneti tower houses go back to prehistory. Its features reflect the traditional economic mode and social organization of Svan communities. These towers usually have three to five floors, and the thickness of the walls decreases, giving the towers a slender, tapering profile. The houses themselves are usually two-storeyed; the ground floor is a single hall with an open hearth and accommodation for both people and domestic animals, the latter being separated by a wooden partition, which is often lavishly decorated. A corridor annex helped the thermal insulation of the building. The upper floor was used by the human occupants during summer, and also served as a store for fodder and tools. A door at this level provided access to the tower, which was also connected with the corridor that protected the entrance. The houses were used both as dwellings and as defence posts against the invaders who plagued the region. ( UNESCO ) "Кровная месть в Верхней Сванетии, или «лицвр...

У грузин вино как сок — море вдов. 'Сихварули', 'цхали', 'мзэ' — много слов. В каждом доме свой портрет — у свечи. На дорогах красный свет — лихачи. На границах ждут войны — снова лёд. Эта грусть и этот стыд — кровь и пот. ** 'Сихварули', 'цхали', 'мзэ' — любовь, вода, солнце по-грузински