The Stara Planina...

One thing that I love about Bulgaria is the vast nature areas it has to offer. And living in Stara Zagora I always feel really lucky because not only do I have a huge park to explore but I am so close to the mountains.

Well, Bulgaria actually has several mountain ranges all over the country, so I am not the only lucky one. Here is a quick guide to Bulgaria's many mountain ranges. The Sredna Gora are considered the central highlands located where else but in central Bulgaria. The Rhodope Mountains are located in the southern most area of Bulgaria. The Rila Mountains are located in the northwestern part with the highest peak. The Pirin mountains are situated in the southwest boasting the second highest peak. And finally, we cant forget the Stara Planina, also known as the Old Mountains situated in the north. That was all too basic, but if you get out your BG map, you might have a better idea of what I am talking about.

Anyway, in one of my previous posts I mentioned my need for some fresh air. Well, it didn't stop with the Freedom Monument. Our goal was to reach the Uzana Hidja (chalet) tucked away in the Stara Planina Mountains.


The hike itself was absolutely gorgeous. We were in the thick of Bulgaria's ever so famous nature and were loving it. The trail was very well marked with red and yellow markers along the way. Never once did we feel like we lost the trail. Although there were markers for other trails, but we weren't exactly sure where those led to.
As we reached one of the summits we took a short break for water, snacks and pictures. Look how much fun we are having. Kathy digging for snacks and me just being silly. Because it was rather windy at the top, we didn't stay put for too long. Plus we wanted to take advantage of the daylight hours, as we got a late start.

Look at me....I am such a cute hiker with my hat on and my walking stick in hand.

After several hikes ups, and several hikes downs, a bit of snow and a bit of mud, and about 12 km later, the sky was getting darker and our legs were getting more and more tired. But we did it. We managed to reach Hidja Uzana. And what a place it was. Typically a hidja or a mountain chalet can house around 80 people with only the essentials, a warm place to sleep for the night. Without any real snow, we were expecting the hidja to be pretty quiet. But man were we wrong. The minute we walked in we knew it was going to be a long night. But how long, we would have never anticipated what we got. More on that...later.

As this post is becoming quite long, let me just say the hike was just what I needed. A perfect end to a blah kind of week.

Can I take your picture...??

Why is it that people love taking pictures of or with the weird foreigner? This has happened to me a few times now. Once in San Francisco, I was asked to be in the picture with this family's little daughter (I wasn't the foreigner but the family was). Strange as I had never met them before. And now again in Bulgaria.

When I reached the top of the Freedom Monument I was casually walking around taking pictures...even self photos as you can see. Then, this random Bulgarian guy asked me something about taking a picture. I just assumed he wanted me to take a picture of him and his friend. But mistakenly, he wanted his friend to take a picture of me and him together. This was my confused expression when asked to be in this random picture where I kindly agreed. What else was I to do?

Uh, sure?

Anyways, I again thought this was rather strange as I had never met him before. I just don't get it. Why does he want a picture of me and him? We don't even know each other. What is he going to tell his friends when they ask who the girl is in the picture? I think the conversation would go something like this...

Friends: Are these your pics from the weekend? Who is this girl with you??
Him: Oh her? She was just this random American girl hiking around.
Friends: Oh, okay. (Like this is completely normal.)

How weird!!!
Anyways, here is the picture taken with the random Bulgarian dude. (Emily thought it would be funny if I had a copy of it too!)

Freedom!!!

Lately I have been in kind of a slump and needed to get out and do something new. I felt the need for a breath of fresh air and that is exactly what I got. A few friends and I decided to go out into "the nature". Starting from Stara Zagora we decided to take a bus to the nearby town of Kazanluk. We putzed around for awhile and then from there we took another bus to Shipka Pass. To get us going Emily, Kathy, Melody and I hiked up the 1000 steps to the Freedom Monument.


What is the Freedom Monument exactly? Well, this is supposedly the ridge where the Turkish soldiers tried to cross the pass during the 1877-1878 war between the Turks and the Russians, with Bulgarian volunteers taking part. But the Turks were defeated. Today the monument is a national monument that symbolizes liberation and freedom of Bulgaria.


In theory there is an amazing view, but due to thick fog there was no long range visibility. I did this same hike last year with my family and could see for miles. And if you know what direction to look in you can see Veliko Turnovo to the north, and Kazanluk and the Valley of the Roses to the south.


After the hike up, we of course hiked back down where we enjoyed a regional favorite, "Bivolsko mylako", also known as Buffalo yogurt. The Shipka area is famous for the wonderfully thick and tasty yogurt produced locally from the milk of water buffalo. It is most commonly found in the mountain areas around Shipka village and the town of Gabrovo. Mmmm, mmm good.

From the Freedom Monument we were headed into the mountains....

An Eco-Conscious Bulgaria??

Not so long ago I was taking a weekend stroll around town and spotted something rather odd. It wasn't odd because I had never seen such a thing, because I had. But it was odd because I had never seen such a thing in Bulgaria. I thought to myself, could it be true? Could Bulgaria finally be adopting such habits that many countries have been practicing for years on end? Could they finally be eliminating some of their waste and turning it into something else?

What I saw were large recycling containers!! Yellow, Green and Blue!!!


Apparently there is a new trend in Bulgaria to promote an Eco-friendly Bulgaria. A recycling program has now begun!

An obvious and important aspect of ecotourism is the preservation of the environment and natural resources. Bulgaria’s emerging ecotourism industry therefore needs to be coupled with increasing environmental preservation efforts.

Bulgaria, and Sofia in particular, is not known for its efficient waste management. Recent fighting over the location of a new waste treatment center has left Sofia without effective means of dealing with its waste.

In an attempt to decrease the consumption of limited natural resources, several environmental groups have emerged to promote Bulgarian recycling. Both private citizens and large companies are targeted by recycling campaigns, in hopes of encouraging a “recycling culture” in Bulgaria.

Recycling programmes in Sofia have not existed long enough to collect any accurate data on the number of citizens taking the initiative to recycle. EcoPack plans to promote its recycling programs with public awareness campaigns in the coming year.

This is all done in hopes of encouraging a “recycling culture” in Bulgaria. Lets just hope it works and Bulgarians start thinking GREEN.

International Womens Day!!!

March 8th. This is the day women all over the world unite together in their fight for independence, peace, economic, political and social equality...and it is also celebrated right here in Bulgaria. Although really, I don't know how much equality women here actually receive. From my point of view women are still a step below men in almost all aspects of life. Cooking and cleaning is still considered woman's work, and many women are not given all the same opportunities as men and are paid much less in the work force.


But here in Bulgaria, like all the other holidays (lots since last Thursday), Woman's day is celebrated in a colorful way. With lots and LOTS of flowers. Since early this morning as I casually walked around town I saw almost every woman at one point carrying a red carnation, a yellow daisy, or some other bouquet of flowers.

I like the idea of a day to celebrate women (not just moms, but all women). And since I am a woman, I of course will gladly take my flowers and carry a proud smile. But at the same time it is hard when you know there are women in the world who are denied education and choices, who are denied life's simple liberties and freedoms so many of us take for granted, who live in abject poverty. For me right now there is nothing I can do but stand with my fellow women..and stand tall. It makes me realize how lucky I am to live in a world (the U.S. of A.) where I have so many endless opportunities and freedom. Today, I am proud to be a woman!

Wow, that was a lot more she-power than I expected. Happy Woman's Day!!!

(Note: *And if you didnt know, apparently it IS celebrated in the states but they turned it into Women's Month. Women's day here is just like our Mother's Day.)

Ode to Sugar Cereals....and My Mom!

Sugar cereal how I love to eat you in the morning.

I love to consume you in the afternoon.
Oh how I love sugar cereals in the evening.
Nothing pleases me more than sugar cereals..

Well, that was a pretty weak attempt at my ode. But seriously. I really love sugar cereals. Not all, but a select two to be exact. Lucky Charms and Fruity Pebbles. And what my mom has to do with any of this? Well, recently she sent me a package filled with both! I am now able to eat both Lucky Charms and Fruity Pebbles at any time of day. I usually have cornflakes with a banana because anything else is just too expensive on my Peace Corps budget. But now, I am living in the lap of luxury with my sugar cereals.


Okay, seriously, what is wrong with me. I know they aren't the most nutritious breakfast you can have, but man do I love the them. And it really only seems to be a more recent fixation. Maybe it is the constant lack of variety that Bulgarian grocer shops and cuisines have to offer. Maybe it is the ability to feel like a kid by saving all the marshmallows for my last spoonful. Whatever the case may be, I am more than grateful to my mom who has such a big heart and surprised me with 2 boxes of yummy and delicious cereals. Thanks mom! (And thanks to a few others who have sent a few boxes my way in the past.)

Mmm...all this talk of cereal. I think I will go have a bowl now.

Odd Coincidence...

I don't usually post more than one blog entry a day but today I have to make an exception.

As I walked into the teacher's room at school today the large wooden table was covered with all kinds of foods and drinks. I thought to myself, whose birthday is it today? As is customary in the Bulgarian tradition, the birthday boy or girl is more or less obligated to treat their friends and colleagues to a small feast of drinks, snacks, and sweets. This is mere commonplace in my school where there are over 100 teachers. So it feels like every week someone is having a birthday. Also those being treated must then wish the person long life, good health and lots of riches (or a version of that anyway.)

I like this concept very much. It relieves the pressure and anxiety that are birthdays in the states. Instead of wondering if your best friend is going to throw you a party or even remember that it is your birthday, here in Bulgaria you just come right out and say it. "Yes, its my birthday. And now enjoy a tasty bonbon."

So, whose birthday was it today?? Well, it was one of my best colleague friends Mima, the same colleague I traveled to Holland with. And what did Mima serve at her small birthday feast in the school?? None other than PEANUTS!!! (And other treats of course.) I just found this rather ironic and I guess coincidental when just this morning I posted about the dangerous peanuts in Bulgaria. Instead of going for the salty peanuts, I went with the homemade sweet. I think that was the safer bet. But I couldn't help but cringe as people took handfuls of the possibly toxic peanuts. I just didn't have the heart to say anything. No need to spoil a good day. What can you do?

Here's to you Mima. Happy Birthday!!!

(Note: Picture is of the birthday girl herself, Mima!)

Dangerous Peanuts...

We all heard about the Peter Pan Peanut Butter that was found to be contaminated. But who knew eating a harmless salty snack could actually kill you?

According to recent news the peanuts in Bulgaria are dangerous and we have been advised not to eat them. About 70 tons of peanuts that have been imported in Bulgaria from Gambia in January 2007 are said to be toxic. These contain alpha-toxins that are 60 times more than the normal limits, a quantity which is considered to be cancerogenic. The whole quantity imported is a subject of official government investigation and testing in the state laboratories. However, 40 tons of the above mentioned peanuts are missing as of a week ago and have not been found so far.


The official investigation was said to be completed by March 5th (yesterday). But there seems to be no end in sight as new sources are coming forward and saying that this was not the first time that poisonous peanuts were shipped into Bulgaria. Supposedly they have been imported and sold in Bulgaria for seven years already.

The low price - between $50 to $100 per ton - is the reason for Bulgarian traders to assist the illegal import of poisonous peanuts. The average price tag of fresh peanuts ranges from $200 to $300 per ton.

If all this is true, I just cant believe this has been going on for so long and just now coming out. I don't know about you, but I am definitely going to avoid eating peanuts in this country.

Stara Zagora Kukeri...

Oh yes, another spring tradition. Last year I wrote "a little bit of Halloween, a little bit of the Castro, and a little bit of Star Wars." And this year it hasn't really changed. This is the scene for most Kukeri festivals in the small villages and even some big cities of Bulgaria.


Over the weekend, I attended our very own Kukeri here in Stara Zagora. I woke early and headed down to the center of town following the sound of the loud clanging bells and was greeted by character faces that you only imagine in folk tales.


It is that time of year with the winter fading away and spring making its bounds. The Kukeri is an important masked ritual of dance in the last days of the winter, just before nature comes back to life. The participants are dressed in sheepskin garments and wearing scary masks and copper bells on their belts. Transdressers, scary doctors, men on "horses" and Chewbacha look alikes are also present. These men dance and sing songs and chants, with the intention to scare away the evil spirits or ghosts which people believed came back to the living ones in winter.

The ritual is a mixture between Christian and pagan traditions and symbols. Men wear decorated wooden masks of animals (sometimes double-faced) and bells on their belts. Girls even join in the fun in the national costume of Bulgaria and start up the horo (the national dance). According to the tradition, this festival, like many other traditions in Bulgaria, will provide a good harvest, health and happiness in the village during the whole year.


Kukeri is a an amusing ritual with men in tights or big fur masks dancing wildly in the center of town. It is a rather authentic and unique Bulgarian tradition. One of the many traditions I will miss when back in the states.

Spring is here!!!

Well technically, the first day of spring is not until the 21st of March. But with all the sunshine, good weather and blossoming trees it mine as well be spring already.

I know I recently posted a blog about the cold weather and how winter has finally arrived. But to be honest, I think that the poor weather only lasted a period of 3 days. Nothing to complain about. And really, I don't even know if winter ever truly arrived. It's been the warmest winter ever recorded in the country with temperatures reaching the 60s in the normally freezing winter months. That is just unheard of here in Bulgaria for this time of year.

And you know what? I like it! I like waking up to a sunny day and going to bed with warm winds. I like not having to put on 6 layers before I go out (I can stick to my usual 3). I like the feeling of the warm sun on my face. To make it plain and simple, I like the early arrival of Spring.


And before I forget, while we are on the topic of spring, March 1st was Baba Marta Day, also known as Grandmother March. This is my favorite Bulgarian holiday which marks the end of winter and the start of spring. The tradition is associated with optimism and good health, good luck, fertility and well-being.

And in celebration of Baba Marta, Bulgarians give and receive a martinitsa, a red and white bracelet or tassel, to wear on their wrist or on the lapel of their coat. According to tradition, when you see the first stork or swallow of the year or a blossoming tree, you are supposed to tie your martinitsa to the branch of a tree or bury it under a rock and you will have good health for the rest of the year.

I personally love this holiday for many reasons. One being that it is the start of spring. Two, it brings people together and unites them. Everyone joins in the celebrations. Old men and little girls, Bulgarians and Roma, and even the good old foreigners all wear martinitsas. I love looking around a noticing that everyone has that red and white bracelet or tassel on.

Happy Grandma March!

(*Note: The picture shows a a usual array of different martinitsas given during the holiday.)

March 3rd: Liberation Day

Today is a big day in Bulgaria. It is one of many national holidays, but maybe one of the most important. Today marks the the 129th anniversary since Bulgaria's liberation from five centuries of Ottoman dominance.

Traditional ceremonies are held in all Bulgarian cities to boast victorious battles for Russian and Bulgarian soldiers in the 1877-1878 liberation war. On March 3, 1878, the Peace Treaty of San Stefano (a tiny town near Istanbul) between Russia and the Ottoman Empire was signed which brought Bulgaria back to the political map.

The first time March 3 was marked occurred in 1880, in honor of Enthronement of Russian Emperor Alexander the Second. Since 1888 March 3 has become Bulgaria's Day of Liberation and it was not pronounced a National Holiday one hundred years later until 1978.

(*Note: Photo one is of the Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov attending a ceremony in celebration of the holiday.)
___

On a side note, I was in Sofia today walking around with a friend and we happened upon one of the many celebrations going on in the country. With dozens of police lined up on the streets and earing loud music from afar, we decided to see what the fuss was when we realized it was a rock concert. The concert happened to be on the steps of the Alexander Nevski Church (built as an expression of gratitude for the 200,000 Russian heroes who sacrificed their life in the Russo-Turkish Liberation War).

What I find most strange is that the concert was literally on the steps of the church and led by Ataka, also known as the Bulgarian Nationalist Political Party. Not only should I mention that this was a concert, but it was more of a political rally by this extreme rightest group who many consider to be a racist, xenophobic, neo-nazi party. This was a place I didn't want to be at the time, and shouldn't. As we were walking away from the area, a large parade (I am talking hundreds) of Ataka supporters were making their way to the music.

Is it just me or does it seem odd to have such a gathering on the steps of a church, no matter what church?

Well, as they say in Bulgarian, Chestita Praznitsi (Happy Holidays).

(*Note: Picture two is of the Bulgaria's Nationalists: Slogan being "Down with Govt in Cahoots with Turks, Mafia!")

I heart Holland...

And they heart their bikes....

Things Learned from Mission Holland:

1.) The Dutch have different eating habits. They eat chocolate sprinkles on their buttered toast in the morning. The chocolate sprinkles are called "HAGLESLAG." Not only is it a bit enjoyable to eat, but it is quite fun to say. "Hey honey, can you pass the Hagleslag?" Also, they like their French fries with mayonnaise instead of ketchup. There is no way I am adopting the mayo on fries. That is a heart attack waiting to happen. But I could definitely get accustomed to the sprinkles. Sounds strange, but you have to try it at least once. So next time you are buttering your toast in the morning, look in the cupboard for some chocolate sprinkles. You may just find you like it too.

2.) It is a biking culture in Holland. Aside from their bad diets, the Dutch are actually quite active people. They bike everywhere. And I mean everywhere. Kids bike into school from the villages anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes every morning. I don’t know why I only said kids, because it is everyone. Kids not only bike everywhere, but EVERYONE bikes everywhere. Teachers, doctors, shop owners, dads, moms. They really all bike. I think it is so they can say “way back when I was growing up I used to bike to school in the snow, uphill.” (I know your parents tried to pull that one on you.) And you thought there was bad traffic in the morning getting over the bay bridge. Imagine bike traffic in the small city. Quite a site at 8 in the morning.

3.) Holland is known for Van Gogh, wind mills, tulips and wooden shoes. Unfortunately due to the timing of our trip tulips were not in season. We did however happen by the flower market in Amsterdam where they sell hundreds of types of flowers, and of course, the tulip bulbs safe for crossing borders.

4.) And finally, the most important thing I learned is....drum roll please. The name of the country is the Netherlands, though it is commonly referred to as Holland. (As Max pointed out to me, Holland is a province, of which Amsterdam is the capital, though because of its historic importance and dominance of the rest of the country, Holland has become an unofficial name.) Good to know, huh?

Now, I am sure I learned a lot more than that, but those are the interesting ones. And I have to keep it interesting. Enjoy.

More on Holland...

I AMsterdam...

In my previous blog I mentioned Amsterdam. Yes, Amsterdam. The students and teachers went on a day excursion to the big city. It is a bustling city with trams whizzing past, bikers ringing their bells telling you to get out of the lane, and boats merrily going down the rivers. We even had our very own tour guide, the leader of the exchange. He used to live in Amsterdam for 6 years as a student and was able to point out and take us to all the small nooks and crannies of the city telling us things we probably wouldn’t have read in a book.

Amsterdam really is quite a beautiful city with great architecture, cool museums, and beautiful canals that remind you of Venice (minus the foul smell).

But Amsterdam also has a side to it that just doesn’t appeal to me. The side that every pot smoking, hippie backpacker goes to find paradise. Where “coffee shops” line the streets and the air is filled with that sweet aroma. The same place where sleezy old men and immature college students alike go for sex or at least to look. For me, the "Red Light District" was the most shocking part of Amsterdam. It is shocking and down right appalling to see these women, probably most there through the illegal sex trades, selling themselves. Yes, Amsterdam. It turns Amsterdam's beauty into a trashy hot spot. I never really had any desire to go to Amsterdam before for these very reasons.

Interestingly enough, if you ask a Dutchman what he thinks of those aspects of Amsterdam, he will tell you it is part of who they are. It is part of their culture. And therfore it is something everyone should see. They allow the use of marijuana and the solicitation of sex and prostitution out in the open, therefore maybe making it easier to control. Whatever the case, if I were in charge of my own country, say, Jessistan, I would abolish these practices. And that is what I have to say about that.

Post 100!!!!

I have to take a short break from my adventures in the Netherlands and give a big shout out to my blog. Thats right, my blog!! We have just hit the 100th posting mark.

Wow, I cant even believe it. It has been a difficult relationship, my blog and I. We have been through a lot. There have been lots of highs and lows. Its been a bumpy ride. But I wouldn't give it up for anything. There have been times where I let my blog down and failed to write weeks and months on end. But now, I think we have have gotten through the rough patches. I am regularly updating, making not only my blog happy, but my few readers happy too. So, here's to you BLOG. I heart you! Congrats to you and me and making it to our 100th posting anniversary.

(*Note: Because I not only love self photos, but I also love the 80s. I had to post a little side pony tail action. Now all I need are some leg warmers.)

Mission Holland....

The Mission: Toting around 9 students with the help of a Bulgarian colleague, Mima and another PCV, Max as chaperons. Nine students, three adults, and Holland at our disposal. It was great!

The Place: Roermond, Holland. A smallish town in the southern region close to the German and Belgium borders. A quaint town with smooth, pristine roads, marked bike paths, and perfect little houses and shops. A great place for a quick getaway.

The Purpose: A cross cultural exchange between our Bulgarian students and the Dutch students. The Bulgarian students stayed with host families and formed quick friendships with their student counterparts. A bond that left the kids saying goodbye with lots of hugs and tears. (The Dutch kids will be coming to Bulgaria for the second part of the exchange in May. It should be a great reunion.)


Okay, enough of that. You get the gist. Overall the trip was a success. It was the first of its kind for our school and hopefully wont be the last. We had no idea what to expect but as in true Bulgarian fashion, we went with it.

The program consisted of the BG kids attending classes about art, history, drugs, astronomy, culture, geography, and a bit of the language. They were even able to go to a vocational branch of the school and do real hands on cooking. They learned how to prepare a traditional Dutch meal. Which actually wasn't that dissimilar from Bulgarian food, although they may tell you otherwise. (But hey, they got the mayonnaise salad, the meat ball and the potatoes. How much more Bulgarian can you get?) The program also included a day trip to Amsterdam. A trip which deserves its own blog.

All in all the kids had a blast as did the teachers. We were on the go go go from the start and it was sometimes hard to keep up with the busy schedule. Being exhausted by the end of the day it was a nice treat to be taken out by the Dutch colleagues for delicious feasts, good company and enjoyable conversations. Roermond, and Holland in general, are definitely worth a trip back.

Winter is back.....

...and this is how I feel about that.


The sky is no longer blue, and it started to rain again. There have even been small snow flurries in the air. It is time for me to say goodbye to the ballet slippers and hellooooo boots. Now when I go out I have to bundle up in even more layers than I already wear, put on the scarf, hat and gloves. This is my least favorite season (especially with so little snow this season keeping the dingy look of Bulgaria). But at least I have a big furry hood to keep me warm. That is the important thing.

And really, how often do you see me frown. I mean, I am not even good at it. This is a sad excuse for a frown. Maybe more of a dear in headlights expression.

Why I love SCRABBLE...

This word game was invented during the great depression and originally named Lexico, then "Criss-Cross Words." Eventually it was renamed SCRABBLE, meaning "to grope frantically," and was trademarked in 1948. And that is the same game people play today.

It is this same game that I have come to love here in Bulgaria. I had actually never played Scrabble until I got here. After moving into my apartment, I went through and cleaned all the closets, cabinets and drawers. That is when I happened across a travel size game of Scrabble. I don't play the game too often, but when I do, I throughly enjoy myself. And when I do play, I always find myself playing with people who possess a larger, almost obscure vocabulary. I may not always win, but I always come out of the game with a bit more knowledge of words I may never use except in my next game of Scrabble.


And one of my favorite things about the game is this. When you play for fun, and you play with someone nice, sometimes they are willing to help you out a little. Sometimes they are willing to tell you if a word is a word without you putting it down yet. This happened to me in my recent game of Scrabble. I wasn't sure about a word. As it turned out, my word really was a word. And I managed to get 74 points for it. 74 points for a word I didn't even know the meaning of. 74 points for the word QUINCE!

Quince meaning:

1. A western Asian shrub or tree having white flowers and hard apple-like fruit.
2. The aromatic, many-seeded fruit of this plant, edible only when cooked.
   

And that is why I love Scrabble. You always come out of the game a little smarter. And you can kick a little ass with words like QUINCE.

(*Note: The game board above is the Russian version of Scrabble. The letters pictured closely represent the Bulgarian alphabet with a few differences. The picture was found online.)

Ever want to lick a dictionary??

Or anything else lying around? Well, my furry monster of a cat has acquired a new hobby. He loves to lick things. Anything. The other night I was playing scrabble with my friend Max and being that is was a rather competitive game of scrabble, we had the dictionary out. Costa comes over to lay next to us. And the next thing we know is that he is licking the dictionary...all over! What was happening seemed quite unusual to Max, but to me, it was nothing out of the ordinary. Lately I have noticed Costa's new hobby and just thought it was normal. But Max, on the other hand had to disagree.


So, I decided to do a little research into the incident. I googled "cats licks things" and I came across some rather unusual links. All about cats licking things. Here are some quotes from the links about people's cats licking unusual things.

"My cat licks plastic"

"She licks articifical flowers and the leaves in two arrangements. She licks the lid on the wicker hamper, she licks the living room furniture, occasionally the carpet. And who knows what else when I don't see her."

"My female cat, Bob, cannot keep her tongue in her head. I found her and her daughter in an Arboretum parking lot five years ago. She licks my hair, tries to lick my ears, licks my hands, the carpet, her daughter, the newspaper, etc. I don't know what to tell you, except...I'm used to it. I think some cats are just a little strange..."

"Some of mine are perpetual lickers; others you wouldn't know they had a tongue except at mealtime. LOL. Plastic bags seem to be a real big turn on. Since plastic is petroleum based, maybe that is the reason? My vet isn't concerned and I don't mind running around with soaking wet hair on the side of my head where they are sleeping so guess all is well."

"Our 18 year old girl, Tiffany, has been a licker all her life. She licks the window screens, the fireplace stone, and me any time she can. It has not hurt her, even the vet says she is an amazing cat at her age."

"My kitty licks terra cotta flowerpots, a piece of decorative coral, a few select toys and sometimes me."

"I once had a neutered Siamese mix who had a fetish for rubber gloves."

"Some cats are lickers. Lily LOVES to lick anything plastic or paper. She would rather lick paper than eat some hamburger."

"My cat likes to lick the walls and eat the toilet paper off the role."

What a strange culture. The cat culture. Cat lovers. People are crazy when it comes to their cats. And I am just as crazy. But man, I really hope I don't turn into a cat lady that walks around her house in a ratty old bath robe and slippers trying to feed 7 different stray cats.

Baba Booties..

Baba booties, also known as knitted booties, are hand woven by Bulgarian grannies. It's these same booties that I have come to love. Some might even say obsessed if they ever saw my growing collection. Just look here at my pile of different booties. But don't fret, they are not all for me. They actually make quite good gifts for people. Not only are they stylish, but they are truly Bulgarian. I will be sure to bring a sack of them back with me upon my return.


In Bulgaria, everyone takes off their shoes upon entering the home. There is always a line of shoes at the front door as it is considered rude to wear your shoes in the house. But it is also considered crazy not to wear slippers (slippers like you would think of in the states). So along with that line of shoes at the front door, you will also find a line of slippers. There are always several pairs for unexpected guests (which is also very common.) Anyways, most people also wear these little foot booties and have ample supply in their homes for these said guests.

But since I dont have a Baba (grandmother) here in Bulgaria to knit me my own, I have to go to the local market and buy them. At the market, when the weather is good, the babas take their place on the sidewalk with their cardboard box for a stand, and set up their assortment of knitted goods. I am only ever interested in the booties though.
Here is my favorite lady. She is the one I regularly find in the market and whom I regularly buy my baba booties from. She knows me and says hi to me on the street. Most of the time I have no idea what she is saying to me, but I just do the old "nod your head and smile" thing. And it usually works. She has the best selection and has always been so nice to me. She even gave me a pair of baba booties for Christmas! How cool is that?!

(*Note: Those pictured are actually not the real baba bootie. Those are really just socks. I will try to get a good picture of the real deal. But aren't the little baby ones cute?)

More hiking...

This time it was to the baths. Oh, that's right, the Stara Zagora Mineral Baths.

My colleague and I have been talking for months about taking this 4 hour hike out to the baths. But something always comes up. But with the good weather, we finally decided on a time and date and we were off. Last Saturday, four of us woke early, packed our knapsacks full of fruit, sandwiches and water, and ventured off into the nature*.


The hike itself was not a treacherous one. It had a few steep hills, muddy paths, and windy passes, but it was amazing. It was a perfect day for a hike. We followed the paths worn by the horse carts, happened across a group of old hunters, ventured though a couple of quiet villages, rested in the shade, and simply enjoyed the company and the stories told.

The whole idea behind the hike was to go to the baths afterwards. After a long walk under the sun, it would be nice to dip in and relax those muscles in the warm pools of mineral water. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, the baths were closed indefinitely. We will just have to do the hike again when the baths reopen. Either way, the hike was incredible and I cant wait to do it again.
*the nature: most Bulgarians use the phrase "the nature" when referring to the wild, the outdoors, the wilderness, etc. I had never heard the phrase "the nature" used so often, or ever for that matter, until I got to Bulgaria. They love to talk about the nature. And I have come to love using the phrase as well. I don't think I can go back to saying the wilderness. "The nature" is just so Bulgarian, and I like it!