Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko Bulgaria

... kann ich natuerlich ich auch kaum, die Bulgaren haben kyrillisch erfunden). Habe aber den Bus nach Rila in die Berge gefunden und war dort dann am Spaetnachmittag (erneut 60km fuer 2,50 Euro). Habe mich im Kloster einquartiert (10 Euro fuer die Nacht, Duschen gibt es keine), wenn die Tagestouristen weg sind ist es ganz nett. Touristen gibt es naemlich sehr viele ...

A lot of Americans celebrated and had fun on this day but not me. I went to the central bus station on time to catch an early bus but somehow the cashier sold me a wrong ticket so I missed the bus, and then she refused to give me the refund. The first really unpleasant experience for this trip. And the day didn't get much better after this. I ended up catching a later bus to Bansko, but because of that I ...

... back and continued on to Rila Monastery. We arrived early afternoon and found that a room was available so decided to stay overnight at the Monastery. The Monastery is in a forested valley and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was first built in 927 and has 300 monk's cells in buildings surrounding the Nativity Church. It continues to be a working ...

... out towards departure time to make sure we had gotten on it! The scenery was pretty average - could have been anywhere really with fairly flat regions all obviously under cultivation with something or other throughout the year. The little villages were a bit run down but better than I expected in some ways - all characterized with every house having several grape vines and often long ropes of what looked like drying ...

... but they were not at all welcoming, and did not smile once. However, once we had finally worked out the procedure of filling in the little cards, then collecting boots, wandering over to the ski part, having skis fitted (with random binding settings), leaving them there, paying, going back, convincing the guy there that you have paid, and finally getting out of the building with the right equipment took nearly an hour in ...

... managed to free, and is now home to, 25 bears. Even though the training of bears has been prohibited in Bulgaria since 1998, as of May 2007, there were still 3 registered dancing bears held in captivity. Fortunately, in June of 2007, these last 3 bears were transferred to the park and there are now (officially) no dancing bears in Bulgaria. The park tries to provide the bears with a natural ...

... since supper was a long way away! Found a cafeteria style place and had some pork and sauerkraut stew, thumbs up! Wandered around Sophia a bit more and then went back to catch the bus. On our way to Bansko, we stopped at the Rila Monastery, the largest Eastern Orthodox Monastery in Bulgaria. It was an amazing place. Got the weirdest feeling when I was there, not good or bad, just weird. I bought a wooden painted Icon, love it but I will need to cut back on ...

... some lesson planning or studying, play on the internet, maybe watch a movie i've downloaded offline. Once or twice a week I go to the cafe in the center of town (which Maria, my Bulgarian tutor owns) with my friends Gosho, Rosi and Assen. I make sure to go to bed by 12 - once in bed I read Harry Potter. I'm currently working on the first book in Bulgarian. It's not easy but I'm learning tons of new words. And what can I say, I love Harry Potter.

... even tho desi kept telling them to shush. The cemetery was pretty packed, which was surprising, as I don't know how many other people were celebrating important anniversaries. We put together small plastic plates of food for other families (one each) and received plates in return. There was an orthodox priest going around to each family and chanting, with a little incense thing, and pouring out wine in the shape of a cross when done. Only our family ...

... in Bulgaria) in front of an altar set up outside. After the chanting we got to break our eggs which we brought with us. You take your egg and hit it against another person's, and if your egg doesn't break you win. Then we got back in the car and drove down to the one and only bar in the town, basically a concrete one room building dressed up with curtains and flowers. On Easter morning we didnt go to church. Instead we went for a short hike above ...