Central Hotel Sofia

... so much so that they interupted sorting out the fact that they had double booked us to re-arrange some massive graffiti sprayed boards that had fallen over in their 'chill-out' room having been left there after their recent competition. <br><br>We were, in the end, put up in a lovely private appartment with a great woman who was big on hospitality but not so big on hot water - showers would have to ...

... another hostel in Sophia. So there you go, fyi, if you're ever in Sophia, be ready to lend an ear to learn about Bulgarian mountains, minerals, roses, wars, history, empire, language...and this was all covered in an unbroken span of 15 or 20 minutes, while we remained blankly silent, not knowing what to do! Sofia was pretty cool...it felt like a historical city from a parrallel universe. Sebastian really loved the creaky old-school trams (punch your own ticket!). Big communist buildings ...

... saime ja ka laua sebisime, asus peaväljaku kõrval. Pidu täies hoos, lõime tantsu ja vabastasime Kuubat :) Peagi sai seal meil kõrini ja aeg oli liikuda järgmisesse diskoteeki. Esimene katse luhtus, kuna sissepääsuks taheti 300EEKi. Pidasime seda kalliks ja likusime järgmisse.Tuli välja, et seal oli mingi kinnine pidu, aga Kõku nihverdas meid kuidagi sisse. Seal oli püsti väga hea snacki laud. Ka endale sebisime mingi ...

... lined up. Bill got stamped in and then the guy started going nuts to someone on the phone. I just stood there and smiled stupidly the whole time. Eventually he came around opened my passport and stamped it. Back on the train and then to sleep. After what seemed like an eternity (I slept) there was another rap on the door. This time they got on the train. There were torches in faces and some yawning and trying to look some like your photo and then off to ...

... lot of effort... I didn't really have time to see a lot of the city and it's surroundings (I really would like to visit mountain Vitosha!!!). I seem to be caught up in city live: working daily in an office, having meetings and getting stuck in traffic... I miss nature here: fresh air, sea, mountains... In the meantime I also got some housemates! By coincedence they are all ...

... lull came, I tucked the bag under my chin, hugged it to my chest, and ran down the mountain, slipping and sliding over broken stones, jumping over mud ravines and wash-outs, hurdling fallen trees, hoping that I wouldn't fall, hoping more that I could reach the bottom before the bag and my camera case soaked through. I made what had been a two hour ascent a thirty minute run. At the bottom I came to a stop beside a man dressed in a ...

So after 3 weeks and 3900+ km's, Tania and I have left Turkey to begin our European adventure. Must say that I liked Bulgaria as soon as I stepped on the train back in Istanbul (which for you geniuses, is NOT in Bulgaria). When I said hello in Turkish to the woman looking after our wagon - all I got was a blank stare. After this I proceeded in English to try and ask her for help in locating our cabin. I got - "umm, no speak English." I then asked the ...

... of people at the hostels so it's not so bad. I don't mind a couple days here and there being by myself. The times it's probably worst is just after hanging out with some cool people then being stuck by myself. For example, after leaving the gang in Olympos, Turkey. Every day was great fun then I went to just me being bored. But the good thing is I know I'll always be meeting more people somewhere along the way. That's one of the cool parts about traveling - the ...

... at least we could spend more time wandering round the Monastery. It was a over a two hour drive so imagine how long it would have taken on the buses!! Again, like the other monasteries we've visited so far, it's in a beautiful location in the mountains. Peaks surrounding it. The sun was shining but it must look even more lovely in winter. It's the largest monastery in Bulgaria and apparently is THE major attraction for Bulgarian ...

... With wide cobblestone streets, trees scattered amongst the many monuments, its a really nice walk around. Over to the Aleksander Nevski Church, built to commemorate the 200,000 Russian soldiers who died for Bulgaria's independence. With these amazing frescoes inside the chapel, the silence is suddenly interrupted by this amazing men's choir as a simply church service commences, just gave a really surreal feel to the place. Dinner at night ...