From Texas to Bulgaria

Well,

The trip home was kind of smooth. Actually, because we had to take our luggage with us on the bus transport from Gatwick to Heathrow, we were late and almost not allowed on board our flight to Chicago. But, because of the"fluid scare-code red", they got on their walkie talkies and said "push em through". We were ushered to the front of the security line. It's funny when you cut in line "legally" how it feels. But anyway, I got frisked for the first time (she was gentle), but the second time we were to be frisked, they waved me through... not enough time. I had two inkpens, (not o.k., "they have fluids sir!") and a scarey pair of scissors that came with my sewing kit that they missed. But I have to say, it was really nice travelling so light.

Got to Chicago without a hitch, but then found our flight to Chi-town was cancelled. Another 5 hours tagged on to the trip. Jim decided to get on the train and go to Logan's Sq. for a bite and a beer. Nice train. The food was enormously expensive compared to where we had been for the last month, but good. I had a beautiful garbanzo and sweet potato mixture with a healthy amount of cinnamon and some juicy couscous on a bed of mini (not micro) greens and a Stella ($12). We got back to the airport on time and headed out like babies to our home, Houston.

Car ride home fine. Stopped at La Caraffe (a tradition that when you come home from a trip, you stop there first... before home) and had a few.

I have to say, that I have enjoyed this "travel blog" so much that I think that I would like to continue it even though I'm not "out of town" for now. Travelling has taught me (over the years) that you are travelling all the time, it just depends on your perspective.

Until then...

I am going to combine a few days here and call this my last entry of the trip.

Took a bus to the monestary. The ride there was breathtaking. It is hard for me to look at such mountains so close and not get a little confused. I am not used to such sights. The monestary was gorgeous and I found myself wanting to be a monk just to live in such a beautiful place, but knew that was totally out of my realm... at the very least,my not being male

We could not squeeze onto the first bus leaving the monestary and many of the travellers were doomed to standing and balancing for the trip (1 and 1/2 hours). We waited for the next and last one wondering if we would have to sleep in a cell for the night. Met some American girls who were living and working in Bulgaria for the Peace Corps and started cueing for the next bus 45 minutes before departure. We secured our seats, but still had somebody's hind quarters in our face for the trip. Also, I would really like to know what it is about a culture that makes cueing a rare thing. It really is hard to take some middle-aged person sneaking (they think we don't notice?) ahead without waiting their turn. It reminds me of grade school. If any one could elucidate for me, I would love to hear it.

Got back to our hotel (the madame was glad to see us) and decided to stay there for the duration of the trip. Slept and dreamed I got piercings in my mouth, but it didn't hurt (maybe a little trepidation concerning my impending dental appt... I really am a baby about dentists).

Next day, Sofia Land amusement park:

Had a blast, scarey roller coaster and Pipi Longstockings Land. Bought photos of us on the coaster and will show them when I return. Took a taxi home at 1/3 the price to get there (go figure) ate some pizza (chicken and mushroom) and went to bed.

Next day (today):

Morning cappucino and peach juice. A little shopping and then to the dentist. The cleaning was Deep, but am so happy with the results. Consulted with the dentist on a plan of action for my next trip (maybe six months or so) to see her. I am sold. Took Martha for a manicure and pedicure, went to play some pinball and now I am here in present tense.

We leave for the airport at 3:15 in the morning and are wondering if we will be delayed or miss one of our flights due to the recent events having to do with liquids. I hope they have enough water on the planes. Will only carry a purse on the plane. Must remember to remove my perfume and toothpaste (what is the world coming to?). Am not fearful, but ready to get the end of our journey over with. We are going through London and have to transfer from Gatwick to Heathrow (or vice versa) in order to continue on to Chicago and then to Houston. If we have any major delays I will try to find an internet cafe and share the fun with you.

Until then... and not looking forward to the Texas heat...

Took a bus To Blagoevgrad at lunch time and arrived at our destination a few hours later. We found a fun compex which included pinball (yeah), billiards and bowling. We decided that the trip to the monestary would be better in the morning than trying to rush it. Wandered around town (very nice) and ate at a restaurant near the river. I had a nice tarator soup (strained yogurt, dill and garlic) and some kind of chicken dish called... I forget (coconut milk, mushrooms, peppers, onion and chicken in kind of a stew form served on a plate) yummy but couldn't finish. Fed the rest to a cat with strange eyes. Then talked to an older gentleman who was turkish, but lived in Canada about how now is the time to invest here. He said he was 80 years old. He was quite frisky.

Later found an old communist hotel where it seemed like out of the 400 rooms (give or take) that we were the only ones there.

Went to the fun complex and had... fun. Returned to the hotel and slept like a log.

Spent another nice day at the beach just lolling around basically. Caught a bus (this time) to Burgas for our overnight train. Arived in Sofia at the crack of dawn and hunted for a cheaper hotel. We found one for about $20 u.s. a night and had to wait until check-in (deja vu) before we could rest. Walked around, internet, breakfast. Jim and I commented on how "at home" we fealt here. Finally time came to check-in and we noticed that there was a "special fee" for one hour's rest and two hour's rest... Hmmm. Later on clued in to the fact that it was what one here would call an "in and out" hotel. We would test it out until morning to see if the discount was worth it.

The beds in the hotel were interesting, but not impossible to sleep on. When large trucks passed by, the building would vibrate, but the hotel was quiet and we were not disturbed by any weird noises from the monkey-business that we presumed was going on there. On the contrary the "madame" took quite a shine to us and was (it seemed) protective.

Jim went to finish his dental and, I have to say, the work was top quality and at about 10 percent of what it would cost in America. This is my first official reference to, perhaps, organising a "dental holiday". The idea being, for the price that you would have to pay say, for instance, two root canals, or maybe a deep cleaning on all for quadrants would more than cover the costs for a holiday (including airfare) and skiing or beach fun.... think about it. I decided to have a deep cleaning after our trip to Blagoevgrad and the Rila Monestary.

Until then...

Arrived at Kraimorie in the afternoon. Could see the sea from our hotel. Nice family running it. Baba Elena (grandmother) was busy knitting a sweater in preperation for the winter. I helped her iron out the sleeves before she attached them to the main body of the garment. Then we hit the beach. Kraimorie is a wonderful non-resort getaway for the Bulgarians, so the prices were unbelievably cheap.

After the beach (the water was quite comfortable) we cruised around main st., which is about 100 meters long. Jim ordered some shrimp and when they arrived we could not believe the size of them... no folks not big, but microscopic. The jumbos of the group were about the size of a healthy pea. The trouble it took to remove head and outer shell seemed so absurd that I thought they should just be eaten whole without all the fuss, but Jim refused to eat the heads. Pretty funny.

Slept really well after reading the whole book, A Year of Thinking Magically, which I quite enjoyed. Woke up the next morning and accidently orderd tripe soup for breakfast, along with my espresso and peach juice it was quite a challange not to have thoughts to gag me. I managed to put enough spicey peppers in vinegar so that I could consume about one third of the bowl.

Spent the day on the beach eating rasberries then went on a paddle boat ride later in the day. In the evening we took a bus to Burgas and had a nice meal. My menu: cheese, toasted bread, garlic yogurt puree, caviar, smoked salmon, (and for some down-home comfort) mashed potato and corn mixed together and a mineral water (I had an uneasy stomache since the tripe for breakfast and didn't want alchohol, go figure).

Had a freaky ride home in a taxi that went the opposite direction for about 15 km. before I realized that the moon was on the wrong side and spoke up. Seems to have been a miscommunication having to do with the stressing of sylables, which is very important here. Lesson learned.

Made it home. Went to bed.

Until later...