Boliari Veliko Turnovo

... chip leaders with 4 players left . .
I took my mate down and was in "heads up" poker with a Bugarian fella.
My cards weren't the best . . but I finished a strong second place . . I felt like Arnold Schwarznegger in "Twins" when he read the manual for how to drive a car and then did it!
Needless to say we celebrated after the big win . .
The language barrier is rough . . but after its said and done what reigns when you travel alone is the fast friendships you ...

c 'est par ces quelques phrases que je commencerai cette entrée:

1 paire de ray ban: 130 euros avec american express
1 paquet de camel: 1,80 euros avec american express
Des courses chez picadilies: 70 euros avec american express
1 biére de 2 litres: 1 euro avec american express
Tomber amoureux d'un pays a cause de sa générosité et de sa joie de vivre
sa n'a pas de prix
american express tjr plus pour vous (ils ...

... the history of Bulgaria through song and light. There is a lot of red (blood).

Another amazing thing our hostel did for us was arrange for us and two new friends from Oregon to go to swim for the day. They invited their friend to take us in his "fixed" van. When we got in the door almost wouldn't close...but we arrived safe and had a great day with the local Bulgarians out for a fun swim. We climbed up the small waterfall and plunged back into the deep pool. Yay!

Today was even lazier than yesterday.
Got up, read travel guides, did blog, checked route out of city, ate lunch, started uploading photo's. The power has just cut out so I went into town and bought a (rare) 1lt bottle of water and a road atlas. then came back and uploaded photo's some more.
Then had a sleep and chatted to a canadian guy with the same tent as mine. His is 20 years old too and he's used the spares service.

... turns out to be a fire wizard. With some subtle breaking of some "spare" wood we eventually have a barbecue of sausages, kebabs, roasted onions, mushrooms and chocolate bananna's. Some beer from the cornershop, some new guests to chat with and the evening passes nicely. Viola is feeling a bit unwell so retires early. The son et lumiere also comes on in the distance so we have bit of ohh and arr too.

... was just a tap at hip-height on the wall, but nobody cared because we got to sleep in a BED!!!! We were in dorms and I was sharing with a bunch of the girls.



Bulgaria is mostly Greek and Eastern orthodox, so we got to celebrate our second Easter Sunday. At 11pm the bells rang out into the night to call the monks to mass, and some of the group rang in Easter with a candle-light ceremony in the chapel, but I was tucked away in bed by this point!

... bad deeds. We enjoyed the scenes from Baldwin Tower too. The Royal palace was where the flag was which also gave a great view of the city. We then took a wander to St. Dimitar Church which was built with Byzantine style a LONG time ago but guess what...it was closed so we could not go in. Then, we went to go try to pay to get in Holy Martyrs Church, another historical church...the lady kept saying no and we were confused. THEN, we ...

... all I want and claim ignorance if the ticket lady comes by (she never does). At the hostel, I hit up people for 70 bani and call my host in Bulgaria, asking him to pick me up from the train at 1:45 am. He wonderfully agrees to meet me. Two successes! Back at the train station, the computer is still down. Good thing I have time. The train doesn't leave until 7:40 and it's only 4:30. I read my book for an hour. The computer's still down. Fortunately, the ...

... It was such fun. Their English was actually quite good. They were really sweet kids; the same age as my own students! They reminded me of my old students from Paris...I wished I could stay and teach them English! Then there were the townies...There are 2 things that exist everywhere in the world, townie kids and pigeons. The townies called me over when all the other kids had gone, saying, "Konichiwa." They told me to sit with them, then offered me some of their ...

By the time we got to Turnovo it was already late afternoon and pouring. We spent allot of time looking for the hotel Zako (Emmy's husband) told us to go to, which was supposed to have a great view of the entire city. Eventually we found it and went to register, but the clerk at the desk insisted we pay the "tourist" price, so we went to look for another hotel. Eventually we stayed at a cheap hostel which was promoted by signs all over the city. In the evening we went out around the city ...