The power of culture! A letter from Romania

SO impressed was she with her visit to the recent TAL Festival and Thame itself, that Felicia Mirza from Thame’s twin town of Sinaia, Romania, was compelled to ask Thame.Net to publish her thoughts; of course, we were delighted to oblige:

“What really counts in our world is making a beneficial change, a positive difference in people’s lives. With this in mind, I can say that Thame Arts and Literature Festival was an extraodinarily well organized event to which we, the guests from Sinaia ASPE Association were invited and given the unique chance to meet exceptional people, to take part in the various activities organized and visit the surrounding area of Thame, a place full of beauty and history. I had the feeling that the wonderful places shines every day to welcome visitors and tell everyone –who would like to listen to- their stories.

“The festival celebrated the power of words, the power of poetry, the power of historical buildings with their legends as well as their true life stories. TAL was also a celebration of literature and reading, and an opportunity to build a bridge of culture between Thame and Sinaia through Dan Manea’s presentation of Sinaia Land of the elites and his mini photo exhibition – a mirror of Sinaia landscape and historical buildings – or through the journey of ‘A quiet passion’ full of wisdom and sensibility with Emily Dickinson, one of the greatest American poets.

“I loved every minute of our visit. I loved all the stories about historical Thame as well as our trips to Waddesdon Manor, the countryside villages and Oxford ’the city of dreaming spires’.

“TAL was about celebrating friendship and communication through art so, let me take out of the 86,400 seconds we have in a day, just a few seconds to say a big THANK YOU for everything you have done for us; for your time and the kindness shown to us during our visit.”

Felicia Mirza
Member of ASPE Association-translator and guide interpreter