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Bulgaria is the 50th country I have visited. I am not taking any of this for granted, I understand how fortunate I am.
While in Bulgaria, I got to meet the patent drafting team that Sunjay started in Bulgaria. They are really a great bunch of people, so hats off to Sunjay and all the work everyone has done. We went over some practical patent priority law problems that are quickly becoming more relevant as the AIA is implemented and then we went out for dinner and a walk about the city. I was sad to say goodbye to the team. They were really fun people, and so funny.
Presently, I am on the train traveling from Sofia, Bulgaria, to the beach in Bulgaria at Varna. Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria, and Varna is on the Black Sea. I like to "beach it" a little now and then, plus I hear its fun to watch the sun rise over the Black Sea. It is an 8 hour train ride.
How did I decide to go to Bulgaria?
I keep a list of countries I want to visit in the next 3 years. When I read about
an interesting country, I put it on the list, tentatively. Plus, I discuss the world with fellow travelers. I ask them what are their top favorite countries? If they have similar taste, I ask them about the countries on my list. Once I hear enough good stuff about a country on my list, I go.
When I was in Finland at James and Karita's wedding last year, I snuck over to Estonia for a few days. I met this American in Tallinn who loved East Berlin, Prague, Budapest, and Buenos Aires. I knew I could safely listen to his advice since I also love those places.
When you are born and raised in the USA and if you think like me, the chaos around much of the world is refreshing. You see a little of what I am talking about in the USA, such as on the lower east side (LES) in Manhattan. You can pay $200 for a vegan meal in LES and then step out of the restaurant and see graffitti all over these gorgeous dilapidated buildings, that are only partially restored. You can see a $8 million dollar homes, within 2 blocks of the government
projects. There is an incredible mix of chaos and control in the LES. It is dynamic, alive, and refreshing. You can walk out your door and be within a few blocks of every type of food and entertainment.
The only segregation is on the pricing of the menus. If you don't want to spend $20 for a Martini, you don't go in a place like that; but don't worry, if you want a $3 beer, you will find it 3 doors down. What a bout a $4 burger or an $80 steak. Just walk a few steps.
Whereas in most of the USA, residents use zoning to keep the "undesirables" away from them. The neighborhoods are neatly formed into homogeneous value ranges with strip malls and chain restaurants. You need to drive in your car to buy a cup of coffee, or go to a mall to people watch. Not my thing, thank you. I rather hoof it.
I rather be right in the mix with bums and millionaires experiencing the diversity of life first hand. Books, rap music, and TV shows are not enough for me. I want to walk out my door and see, feel,
taste, and touch the diversity of this world.
Back to the American in Tallinn. I read my list out to him and he was a big fan of all of the former soviet eastern-block countries. Plus, he loved Saint Petersburg but was cold on Moscow. We had very similar taste, so I listened carefully. He said to start at the bottom and move north as the spring turns to summer. So here I am.
Here is my "visit soon" list:
1. Bulgaria
2. Romania
3. Serbia
4. Poland
5. Ukraine
6. Latvia
7. Lithuania
(then when it starts getting cold above the equator, head south to😊
8. Venezuela
9. Columbia
10. Ecuador
I also keep a list of places I intend on living for 3 to 6 months in the next 3-5 years. These are places that visiting was not enough, I must live there. For example, I always loved Manhattan but had never spent more than a week there, so I spent 6 months there this past summer. The summer before I spent 3 months in San Francisco, and before that 3 months in Playa
Del Carmen, Mexico.
Here is the "livable list"
1. Buenos Aires (January-March)
2. Nice, France (summer)
3. Amsterdam (summer)
4. East Berlin (summer)
5. Rome (summer)
6. Banff, Canada (during ski season)
So far the American in Tallinn has been worth his weight in gold. Sofia is a gold mine for experiencing life. Everything is here--the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful. Along with the central area of Sofia where all the parks and most beautiful government buildings and landmarks are located, make sure to walk a 5 block radius around the Art Hotel. Other than the Bulgarian language and fewer live music choices, it feels a like the LES; but less crowded and much less expensive. The train just pulled into Varna. Have fun.
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Paul Mathew
non-member comment
Vicarious Traveller
Enjoyed this post as well as the pics, Dan. Thanks to you I am a vicarious traveler . . . !