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At our table sit probably the five healthiest persons in the whole art camp – Lozje, Gaya, Clemens, Patrick and me. At least we should be, given that we eat – with breakfast, lunch and dinner – raw garlic and hot peppers. Professor Clemens (South Korea) started the trend, and pretty soon, we could not get enough. The others think we’re crazy.

Clemens and our ration of garlic

Clemens and our ration of garlic

We had eaten most of Clemens’ garlic, so Lozje and I went to the market at the end of the street from the hotel Victoria. Not knowing the word for garlic in Romanian, Lozje pointed and said, “Anti-Dracula.” I am sure my loud laughter was heard clear across the market, but the vendor knew what we needed, and we went away with three large bulbs. Anti-Dracula indeed. We may have need of that protection if the Transylvanian myths hold true. Next week we go to Sighișoara, an inhabited fortified town in Transylvania, home of Vlad III the Impaler, prince of Wallachia, known to all as vampire Count Dracula. Will let you know how that goes, but considering that I come from a region rife with blood sucking soucouyants, loupgaroux and mosquitoes, I have little to fear.

Delphine Manet, FRANCE

Delphine Manet, FRANCE

While we wait for our excursions next week, we work. Here are photos of two of my colleagues at work.

Gerd Messmann, GERMANY

Gerd Messmann, GERMANY

I too worked all day, producing unlikely combinations of Jab Jabs with Romania sunflowers, where the darkness of the Jab ensured the flowers could no linger follow the sun. It is a concept in progress.

Grenada Jabs on Transylvanian marble

Grenada Jabs on Transylvanian marble

Some of the Jabs are on blue backgrounds. On FB I understood that there was some bacchanal with the Jabs misbehaving – don’t they always? – and that next year, blue may be the new black. Oh wow. Blue Jabs – mal yeux tout bagaye. In my opinion, there is not much chance of that happening, if one remembers the 1975-76 Jab riots, where Jabs from Tivoli to Grand Anse and areas in between descended on the town, pouring down Market Hill like oil from a busted can – the largest Jab turnout in history (to date).

I’m in a Jab mood. Jabs emerging from Transylvanian marble as well. Back to work.