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[Sofia, Bulgaria, Sept 22, 2017] We returned from Greece on Thursday, Sept 21. Our host Keti made us Greek coffee before we left. This was very similar to Turkish coffee, which is not surprising – both Bulgaria and Greece spent hundreds of years under Ottoman rule. Friday, Sept 22 was another official holiday in Bulgaria – the Day of Independence. I was not exactly sure how this day was different from our… Read More
[Sofia, Bulgaria, Sept 17, 2017] Today is another big holiday in Bulgaria. We celebrate St. Sophia, Vyara, Nadezhda and Ljubov. The last three names mean Faith, Hope and Love in Bulgarian, and Sophia means The Holy Wisdom of the Lord (from Greek, Agia Sophia). Everyone who carries one of these four names celebrates what we call a name day. Since I carry the name Nadezhda, today was my name day. The city… Read More
[Sofia, Bulgaria, Sept 15, 2017] School begins here in September 15th. It’s the same day for all schools in the whole country, and it’s a big celebration. First, your parents send you off by spilling a bucket of water outside the door for good luck. I know it sounds strange, but there is a saying that goes with it. The literal translation is something like “may everything go like on water”, which,… Read More
[Sofia, Bulgaria, Sept 14, 2017] Here I am, headed home again. This time I am spending a couple of weeks in Sofia with a small 3-day side trip to Northern Greece. I am excited to be home for the first day of school (Sept 15) so I can see my niece and nephew off. I’ll also get to celebrate my name day (Sept 17) and my dad’s birthday (Sept 18). It should… Read More
[Sveti Vlas, Bulgaria] Aside from the day trips to Nessebar and Burgas, I spent the rest of the week beaching with my parents in Sveti Vlas. I’d get up around 6:30 or 7 to for a run or do exercise a bit, then around 8:30 we’d get breakfast. Jana, wife of the couple how owns the hotel, makes dad these awesome open-faced sandwiches with ham, kashkaval (a type of Bulgarian yellow cheese) and… Read More
