Dreaming of the Black Sea

As the days get longer and the weather warmer, I have been thinking about Bulgaria and Daniella, as her birthday was a few days ago. I remember walking through the streets and playing the deciphering game of what street are we on,with Dani's help reading Cyrillic. When I got to the Sofia, my first encounter was with the airport security person chain smoking in his office, as my bags were lost for the 42 thousand time.

Good rule of thumb to follow. Do NOT take connecting flights. Dani was terribly distraught coming from a diplomatic perspective, however I was unstirred as the world traveler that I am, having my bags lost in many different countries by now. When I first arrived there I felt a bit uncertain but as the weeks went along I began to feel quite comfortable in the city. Another good rule of thumb to follow with taxis: Do NOT get in a taxi (when you have the choice obviously) when the man driving has bigger muscles then your legs perhaps. Just in case you start to argue about prices if the meter is rigged to overcharge you. Anyway, I suppose it sounds like I don't like Bulgaria which is so far from the truth. I long to go back and pick fresh plums and carry about 2 kilos of them freshly fallen through the tramways etc.

The Black Sea is also a delight, as long as there are few Ukrainian tourist shouting about. The sea weed floating about in the waves and the sweet crispness of the water. However, the most delightful part are the gypsies carrying the coolers around offering ice cream, bread or corn while they check out the topless girls and comment on their bodies with the life guard. Fun for all really. :)
As I was leaving Bulgaria, I came to conclusion that it is the country of lovers as the moon and Venus are always together high up in the sky.

Anyway, I will recount more later. As for the picture below, it is Rila Monastery in the mountains and it is truly spectacular. The steep mountains in the back is where my crazy skiing phenomenon friend, Nasko, makes his own ski resort.




Rila Monastery