La Dolce Vita - Our Wedding

more to come soon...

Circus Balkanski

The world-famous Balkanski Circus has set up its tent right in our own backyard. For the next two weeks, young Bulgarian children and over-the-hill expats will have the wonderful opportunity to witness some of the world's most amazing circus acts, or some of its saddest. I've seen the camels and penguins and neither creature looked all too happy with their position right off a major Sofia thouroughfare, complete with terrible traffice and non-stop exhaust. Rumor has it that there will also be seals and lions, although the pool was empty as were the cages. Well, young and old will be on hand to witness whatever it is that Circus Balkanski will deliver, and you can be sure that I will be on hand as well and will let you know all of the details.

The Greek Imagination

Thassos, Greece

I think sometimes we forget that Greece is part of the Balkans, with the border only a few hours from Sofia, and it shares many of the same problems that we experience here day in and day out. However, Greece provides one with so many different opportunities, things that are impossible or don't exist here, including the chance to visit some amazing islands. So, last week we hopped in our new, used Volkswagon Passat and drove down to Thassos, Greece. After six hours, which included a 70 minute detour after a wrong right turn, a border crossing, a ferry ride, and a drive up and down a mountian, we arrived to our villa. For six days we enjoyed the sun, beach, mountains, fried calamari, ouzo, ice cold Mythos, spicy greek cheese, scooters, frisbee, and good people.

This is one of two villas we rented in Thassos, Greece for our second spring break vacation.

A different angle of the villa's pool and yard. There were no other occupants on the property so our debauchery could go well into the night.

Thasos was as verdant and green as an island can be. With beautiful mountains and beaches within minutes of each other, this island has so much to offer.

The olive trees surrounding our villa were beautiful.

As the sun fell behind the mountains, the light would come pouring through the limbs and branches of these olive trees and provided a wonderful sunset each night.

Each day in Thasos had some dramatic cloud cover, but the sun would sneak through each day for a few hours of beach time.

This bay at Skala Potamia, the beach where we stayed, was quite cold, but refreshing after a game of frisbee on the beach.

I just liked the reflection here on our first day in Thasos.

This terraced olive grove was our backdrop to a hidden cove of torquoise water.

After we spotted this, about one hour after we started walking, our pace quickened a bit as we descended down to the beach.

The fishing boats on the south side of the island had just come in as we rolled in our scooters.

Beautiful coves such as this one can be found after every bend in the road on this amazing island.