Rodina Sofia

... work we didn't get it set up to work abroad...oops. go outside to find the father...he's not there. ask where to get change and get pointed to a small exchange office. decided that we'd just get a drink at the cafe and get changethat way, picked up a can of coke and went to pay for it....5 LEV. gave a 10 and got a 5LEV note back. but we need change please....go to the bank we don't give change ...

... on his computer. So I asked him if he needed anything out of there because we're going to bed. He said no, that the rooms was ours. Lucky. But the weird thing was that I'm pretty sure he didn't go anywhere, I think he sat in the stairwell all night! After all, we were in his bedroom. It was awkward when I went to the bathroom at 4am and he was sitting at his little desk staring off into space. Talk about feeling like your in someone's way. <br> We woke up early to get a train to ...

... I was rather less optimistic upon finding my co-travellers of the drugged up axe murder variety. Second class (forever remembered as dodgy axe-murderer class) was a shameful collection of dirty ragged seats and broken arm rest, so you can imagine my indignation when I was awoken at 3am only to be told that the seat, which was actually doing my boots a disservice, was not to be tempered with. It is a shame that a ...

... potholes. My family history is here, and I love listening to my grandparents' stories about times past (in fact, this time I am going to record a few so I can transcribe them at some point in the future). People speak my mother tongue and I can understand every nuance of the colorful language. Listening to folklore music always makes me teary-eyed, and the sight of Rila's majestic slopes moves me like no other mountain can. At the same time I see so much corruption and ...

... in the sun. The no-car island is picturesque and we enjoy the views from the ferry rides in and out of the city. After saying our so longs to Debra and Kim, Phin and I head to the train station and hop on an overnight to Sofia to start a 3-day train adventure through what would turn out to be some very interesting landscapes...

... Nice. We wandered around for a while, had a giant fight for good measure to get it out of the way for Bulgaria, and found the car rental place in some back alley of Sofia, complete with giant guard dog. We left Sofia immediately if not sooner and headed for Rila Monastery. (C) On this town, I do not disagree one bit ...

... at the border of Serbia given our farewell stamp and the train made its way to into Macedonia (Skopje) the passport control man stamped our book then looked at our passports and said where is your visa you need a visa to enter Macedonia you have to get off the train now and get on the train over there and go back to Belgrade to get a transit get off now ( this was Saturday and we would not be able to get visa till Monday) the guy ...

... have enough time to do that. The trip usually takes a whole day and leaves in the mid-morning. Again, maybe next time... Fortunately, it is not difficult to finish all the sights in town in a few hours. Sofia is a quite walkable city and many sights are no more than 10 minutes' walk from each others. I walked south along Boulevard Vitosha, to see the National Palace of Culture. It was built to celebrate Bulgaria's 1300 ...

... got my ticket for Thessaloniki early. The office looked exactly the same as the horrid place in Lviv, but could not have been more different. I had my ticket in less than two minutes and made my way back to the hostel ready for breakfast and the day. The hostel runs day trips out to a famous monestary south of Sofia called 'Rila Monestary,' and I was all up for a trip at that point. They crammed a few of us in two cars, and we took off ...

... so often associated with it...and...to tell the truth, Albania is about economic opportunity first and foremost! Albanians consider themselves somewhat nationalistic...but...are really more focused on adapting to embrace opportunity while preserving cherished traditions... Truly, a man's word is of utmost importance here...the ties to tribalism and community assistance to those in need is real! Come visit while the visiting is good!