Sdravete to you all. It has been a busy week here in Bulgaria as Kate and I settle into our new country/city/apartment/language/culture/etc. The flights all were punctual and as comfy as one can be in today's economy seats, all thirteen of our bags arrived, and the cat made it down in one piece, albeit on meds.
After just one week of the Bulgarian experience I am beginning to think that perhaps Bulgaria is one of the more underrated countries in Europe. From Sofia's city center to the mountains and villages of southern Bulgaria, I have been blown away; this is something that I did not expect.
Now I have only been to the city center once, but it is a bustling bit of metropolis that happens to include a couple of architectural gems. The city does not overwhelm you and is quite easy to navigate on foot. Cafes abound and, in the summer, are the best spots for being outdoors. Hip restaurants are everywhere (we are told) and we have dined in one of these hip spots - a loungy-ish locale with a garden area that was a great place to hang for the afternoon. Outdoor markets sell just about everything, including stretches of fresh fruit stands selling boysenberries, strawberries, blackberrys and nectarines (there was much more, but these are my favorites). Posters are up promoting a few of the upcoming concerts incuding Snoop Doggy Dogg (for sure), The Gypsy Kings (possibly), Estrella Morente (would like to), DJ Tiesto (over it), and so much more.
Beyond the city is where the magic of Bulgaria really begins to weave itself into one's heart. Just ten minutes from Sofia and our apartment is Mount Vitosha. Although we have just driven around it, it is easy to see that this mountain, the tallest in Bulgaria, will offer days of adventure in the form of hiking, skiing, and breathtaking views. Going south, towards Greece, the scenery that unfolds is beautiful and delightful cultural experiences await: encounters with the witches found in tiny Bulgarian villages mixing their large cauldrons of boiling trouble; lots and lots of goats; cows coming in from the pastures with utters about to burst with gallons and gallons of milk; bright and colorful gardens everywhere; purple and green grapes in each yard; toothless women with enormous moles carrying large sticks who like to yell at you in Bulgarian and will come very close to smacking you upside the head with said stick because you don't speak the langauge; old men whistling at your fiance and then laughing when you turn around; meters and meters of tobacco leaves hanging to dry; fat, hairy Bulgarian men in speedos; and so much more.
I am already in love with this country and hopefully over the next two years that love will grow deeper and deeper.
I will post some pics here next.
Ciaochau,
Branch
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