Songs that Remind me of the Marines, my Silent Heroes

Music evokes vibrant images and these three tunes are only a few of the songs that remind me of the fighting Marines, the main characters from my book Silent Heroes.
I mostly do my writing in a quiet space, listening to the words playing in my mind, but every so often I turn to music for inspiration, for its regular or progressive rhythm if I must describe a battle scene, or for the emotions it stirs when I am faced with a life-and-death situation.

02/01/202030/04/2025

A Journey through the Medieval City of Sighisoara, Romania #Im4Ro

Winter Journey to Medieval Sighisoara, Romania

If you journey through Transylvania, ‘the land across the forest’, (searching for Vlad Tepes, Vlad the Impaler or Dracula) and head towards Brasov along the banks of the Big Tarnava River, you will surely spot from quite afar the pointy towers of medieval Sighisoara City, with its centuries old fortress and churches. We traveled there by train one winter.

I give you the Transylvanian ‘Pearl‘ and the ‘Nürnberg‘, Sighisoara!

23/12/201910/12/2021

The Oldest Christmas Carol, Jesus Refulsit Omnium

Oldest Christmas Carol. Wise Men and Infant Jesus in Manger

The oldest Christmas Carol historians have knowledge of is a 4th century motet or Epiphany: ‘Jesus Refulsit Omnium’ – Jesus, Light of All the Nations – exactly translating Jesus, the brilliance of all. It depicts the sudden realization that enlightened the Magi, the Wise Men, when they finally arrived to the stable where infant Jesus had been born and it was created by St. Hilary of Poitiers between 310 – 367 (most probably without any instrumental backing).

19/12/201917/10/2021

Convents: the Religious Life of Medieval Women 2/3

Glastonbury Abbey - convent curriculum Medieval women

I hope you enjoyed the first part of my research to learn why convents were so thought after, why the religious life (and not only) of Medieval women was so tightly connected with them.

17/12/201929/04/2022

Exploring Romania’s Top Movie Locations: Peles Castle #Im4Ro

I invite you to join me in exploring Romania’s top movie locations – Peles Castle today! I’ll show you the locations as depicted in the motion pictures as well as the genuine places.

Did you know that most Hallmark Christmas movies are filmed in Canada? Well, some of the most charming ones, especially royalty-themed ones, have been filmed in Romania, in Bucharest and especially in Sinaia, at the royal Peles Castle.