It's been a couple of years since I've enjoyed the smell of proper winter, the sound of snow crunching under my feet and the refreshing cold quietness up in the mountains.
In the last 2 years and a half, my badass hubby and I, have travelled a lot exploring various cultures and culinary delights around more than 1 continent. We've toured Australia and Asia, we've often escaped London heading the South of France sandy beaches, explored the Balearic Islands, falling in love with Ibiza and Formentera and of course, hiked the British coastline with every occasion.
We've enjoyed clubbing experiences at the Black Sea, fishing in the sunset in the undiscovered treasures of the Danube Delta, hiking the Southern Carpathians to discover the hidden secrets of the 2.216 meters altitude Romanian Sphinx, Gaudi's Barcelona, Amsterdam, Bruje -all marked on our radar but as much as exciting they have all been, I've really missed my Transylvanian snowy Paradise.
Hard to escape the city each time flying home and always but always, no matter how hard we do try, there is somebody disappointed that we haven't spent enough time together. We've managed though, to hide up in the mountains for few days and enjoyed a well deserved snow retreat so that my inner child can happily surface.
Up in the mountains I'm always... almost makeup free, stress free and definitely care free. No more counting the calories, no more checking my social-media and emails, no small talk and no people-pleasing. Focused 100% on my serenity and well-being I've managed to relax, meditate, hike and enjoy the benefits of nature together with my loved ones.
First day we've arrived, it snowed for almost 10 hours, exactly as I've dreamed about it. We've booked a horse-drawn sleigh ride and toured the wild and snowy landscapes of the Apuseni Mountains for couple of hours. Fabulous experience! Needless to say that laughter and Jagermeister were included.
If you're ever heading Arieseni touristic area and you're after 5* services, choose Villa Iara, surrounded by the Apuseni Mountains, isolated from all the noise and commercial attractions. It's a 3* Villa but the services provided are by far qualifying for 5*. Egyptian cotton bed sheets, fluffy white towels, friendly staff and amazing and I stress this...Amazing cuisine. Traditional Romanian dishes cooked with passion and commitment to preserve the specific culture and geographic food history. The baked Meringue Pancakes Pie, filled with whatever your heart desires, was an absolute delight!
We've discovered a man-made Igloo and felt like children again, especially when some local dogs joined us for some snow entertainment.
The same dogs were kind enough to guide us safely towards the fabulous waterfalls that we've snow-hiked, making sure we won't meet any wild animals. A geological and landscape reservation, the 15 meters beautiful waterfall is one of the hidden gems of the area. If you're into exploring the nature whilst keeping fit, just go for it and follow the small difficulty marked trail , making sure you're wearing the suitable hiking apparel.
This winter escape helped me completely relax and recharge for when back to the wild urban jungle and definitely boosted up my happiness levels. If you're true to yourself in finding the right balance between leisure time and being a responsible grown-up, it's been proven that more shorter escapes can benefit our general well-being better than the longer and sometimes boring holidays. It's really a matter of personality adjusted to your individual needs. Just find your leisure niche and go for whatever makes you happier. The better you know yourself, the easier will be to learn what truly makes you vibe.
Sparkle up and always be yourself !
With all my love,
Corina Alexandra
~ Wanderlust in Style~
Photo-credit: Corina Alexandra Lazar & Ciprian A. Lazar
All rights reserved @wanderlustinstyle.com
Location: Arieseni, Apuseni Mountains, Romania
