Rodina Sofia

... very day (the Italian prime minister came for a political visit and we saw him while he watched a military parade). The country is cheap though and we only spent 7 euros for 2 people for an entire day.

Special thanks to Bernhard for letting us use his shower before we got on the evening bus to Istanbul. We are not necessarily looking forward to the 2nd night on the bus in a row, but we are hardcore backpackers and that's the way a world trip should start!! ;)

... here in terms of intensity and destructiveness (though I've heard of severe cases), but structurally blogging is actually worse. Because at least hard drugs entails 2 distinct states; as Irvine Welsh put it, you're either high, or you're looking for the next score. Once you've written your first posting, there is only one state: you are working on your next post. No rush, eyes rolled back, slinking back into your chair as the junk courses ...

... and try to enjoy the rest of my time in Bulgaria. There are lots of other places in the country to visit, of course, but winter's hardly the optimum time to do it. Trying to wing it in a country without the local tongue is a test of will, also, as much as ability. It gets old. So does the surliness of the counter help. Would it hurt to smile a little or say 'thank you' once in a while? It's just as easy and twice the fun. Maybe it's ...

... We found one and then searched the area for an indoor cafe where we could sit and warm up for a bit. Unforunately, they were all full and we had to settle for a pastry at one of the window cafes. Thankfully, since the lev is so cheap, breakfast only ended up costly me what converts to 30 cents. It was a huge fresh-baked croissant with some type of filling in it (Jared thinks it was fig) and actually pretty good. Jared and I shared that and then made our way to the top of ...

Leave Belgra 22:210 by train Arrive Sofia about 7 AM more than hour late. Delightful conversatin with three Paris sFrench students and English chem doctoral candidate. Fitful sleep. Put pack in left luggage and never really left large train station. 17:00 train to Thessalonica with reservation.l Share 6 seats ...

... replaced by grand municipal buildings and churches and parks. Along the way I went inside a small but interesting looking Russian church, where I found some sort of service taking place, most likely a wedding. I stayed for a while watching the strange rituals unfold and feeling somewhat sorry for the happy couple having to do things under the glaring eye of nosey tourists such as me. At one point they both had to don ornate but ultimately cheap looking crowns, and it ...

Hey Guys, For the end of my short little trip around Europe I thought I better fit in some snowboarding. So we decided to head to Bulgaria where we got an apartment and took to the slopes for a week. I must say for my first time at this game I think I am now addicted and cant wait to go again. Although I have never been that sore in my life, muscles were sore that I did not even know existed! But I had a ball we had a wicked group with ...

... of the Presidential Building (Nicknamed the "Ministry of Silly Walks") before ducking back to our hotel to wait out the rain. Tomorrow we are heading east to Plovdiv for a few days, which our guidebook and friends all recommend as one of Bulgaria most appealing cities. Hopefully the weather will cooperate a bit more but regardless I'm sure we'll have some great experiences to report within a few days. Oh, by the way, МAКДОHAЛ& #1044 ...

... hostel, and we spent the ride to the train station discussing how hard it was to be away from a significant other while traveling. "It's hell" he said, and I was qutie inclined to agree with him. We split a compartment and after a hour of conversation we finally slept. He left the train early at 4 AM, at the border crossing where he had left his rental car. After exchanging cards and shaking hands, I was off to the rest of Greece and Salonkia.

... ago. Due to this, Bulgaria has not been able to "advance" as quickly as other European countries which is what makes my experiences here so wonderful. Because Bulgaria is up for admittance into the EU in the next round (2007), various changes are demanded - yet again. I fear that these scenes of shepherds and rustic, pot-holed roads will soon become obsolete. So when I said that I enjoyed "playing the game" with immigration - I meant it. These are all ...