A Good Day Off

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So my day off. Once a week. Let's explore.
So I jumped into my good friend Nadezdahs beat up old Volkswagen and off we went. Razlog first. We parked the car, not without Nadezdah ramming the car into a flower pot and laughing it off. She is such a happy go lucky girl and so so sweet. We wondered the streets which I love to do more than anything when I get to a new place. Stumbled upon a large street market which was so fun. They were selling everything from rubber soled shoes to hand made brush brooms and turksih delight. Next thing we knew we were in an old old Orthodox church. SO beautiful, it truly was. The lady inside was astounded that I was from Ujena Afrika (south africa) She was so lovely and her and Nadezdah were having a full blown conversation at the top of their lungs. It was quite strange really cause I am so used to being deadly quite in churches but it was refreshing in that sense as well. She kept telling Nadezdah how handsome I am and that she should get me to take her back to the states with me. A lot of girls out here dream of dating a foreigner and him taking her out of Bulgaria to a another life. A bit sad really.
From there we raced off to Banya where we had quite the experience. We drove up to the entrance of the hot springs complex and asked a couple of older ladies where the natural hot springs were. Little did we know we had asked the most cracked out crazy lady in bulgaria this question. She offered to show us. Great, very nice. So we followed and she gave us a run down of everything Banya has or had to offer. She showed us the old Turkish bath, roman bath and where the hot springs were. Then she offered to take us to some sacred site or whatever and we said, yeah sure why not. So that was our next 3 hours, maybe even four. This lady took us all over the show pointing out this herb that helps your brain, and this one that if you put in your socks keeps your feet in good condition. And she was saying how the hot springs are where good people died and are now in the after life. and she kept on going on about miracles and of course good old God. Not a word of english so Nadezdah was translating the whole time for me between her fits of laughter. The lady, Magarita wanted to meet us the following monday, to take us to another town. So nice, quite extraordinary really.
We then drove to the next town Dobrinishste, had a look around and a cappachino on the square.
A good day off indeed.

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Photos

Typical Old Bulgarian Ladies
I love benches. Don't you??

I like this photo.
Taken at the top of the hill overlooking Razlog.

Razlog Square
Filled with little cafes and old people. Very quaint.

Nadezdah getting arty
She still has some work to do!

The dog in the back yard
I loved this house, chickens and goats with the obligatory dog barking.

Outside the Hot baths
Nadezdah and I in Banya.

Cool Tractor
Straight out of one of Stalins 5 year plans.

Fruit
Great dates and oranges.

Old Turkish Bath
From the 500 year period that the Ottomans occupied Bulgaria. The Bulgarians still claim that Bulgaria has never lost a war. The politicians have given things away. interesting.

Hot stuff
This water is around 60 degrees C.

Crazy lady
So sweet, so funny so so crazy

Roman Baths
Ladies washing their clothes in the hot water

Comments

[Dean]

Look's like quite the foreign experience over there in Bulgaria. Wish I were there.

[Sam]

I LOVE that photograph you took on top of the hill. You are getting artsy Smooch! You're watching independent films and excelling in photography! Stop stealing my life!