My vacation didn't go so well...

It is very true that whenever you are very eager to do something, usually things screw up.The same happened with my vacation...more or less.
I went to the seaside, yet I didn't go to the beach, as the sea was dirty (too much building of hotels near Varna, resulted in a sewage system breakdown). Anyway, I was not much in the mood for beach-ing as Mury had serious health problems and I was quite concerned. I hope things get better with her.
Despite that, I think I managed to have some good rest and time for myself :) Which is always quite valuable.
I went back to Veliko Turnovo and the stay there was quite nice and calm - I visited a friend in the nearby Arbanassi (the luxurious villa-quarter of the town) and spent several nice hours chatting. I met some friends and drank coffee on hot sand. I also managed to spend a surprising amount of time watching TV :)
Yet, the last days we went to Gabrovo, Sokolovo monastery and the etnographic museum "Etara". And this week I am going to continue with the village tourism and stay 4 days in some nice villages in Rodopi mountain:)Hope the weather stays okay, rain please GO AWAY!

Lazy labour day at home

This weekend it was labour day.
In fact - 1st of may was Tuesday, but we had 4 days off (Saturday to Tuesday). I spent the Saturday writing...It took me 9 hours to write a Profile of a person - I never imagined it could be so time-consuming. Now I understand why writers are so self-contained.
Then, Sunday I went back home, as Mury came to visit me.
It was rather strange, as just a few minutes after getting on home ground, I met Alx4o, then Kremba, Lili and Velislava. Obviously - Turnovo is a small town and everybody comes back for the weekend. In the next days I met Nasko and part of AIESEC VTU, one girl I had met on the BWB Enterpreneurship classes, one collegue of my mother and Ogi (Megan's friend). Maybe I am missing someone...
Well, indeed it was crowded in Turnovo - it seems that my hometown is becoming a popular tourism destination. Which on one side is good. But from another point of view...not so much so...
The first day (Monday) we went to drink coffee in my favourite Turkish coffee shop - there coffee is prepared on hot sand. It is really nice, and the host is a very welcoming lady. After the great coffee, we went to the popular "40 marthyrs church". It has been renovated recently and the bones of the Bulgarian tzar Kaloyan have been re-buried there. I was quite surprised that the entrance to the place costs 5 levs (I think the last time I went to the museum it cost only 1 or 2 levs). Anyway - I wouldn't be so frustrated if the money we paid was worth it. But indeed, besides having the Omurtag column and some icons...it was a strange thing that the builders decided to leave the electricity sockets visible...As a whole - it was made too modern. And...as anywhere in Bulgaria...not much information boards.
Then, after the Church, we passed through the Vladishki bridge - a wooden bridge I was once very scared to approach.I thought that it might break and I might fall in Yantra. Well...I almost overcame this...not fully it seems.
We reached the other bank of the river, near St Dimitar Church. It was really nice and calm, but also a bit sad...as there were a lot of houses fallinga apart. I dunno why I really feel sad when I see a beautiful old house falling apart:(
After our walk we tried to find a place at the "Shtastlivetza" restaurant, one of the most famous Turnovo restaurants with wonderful huge salads and a beautiful view towards Asenevci monument and the old part of the town. But...of course...no places left.
We went to another place, but what made us a great impression was that instead of enjoying their meal together people were making scandals, pushing the waitresses to work faster (as if if you cook at home, it will take you no time). It was rather unpleasant.
Then, pretty tired, we went to the Asenevci monument, where the previous night there was a concert organised by one of the Bulgarian political parties. It was rather disgusting, cause obviously nobody cared to clean after...
On coming back home, we watched "The march of the emperors".Mury obviously didn't like it...Well..some movies are not made for everyone :)
The next day we went to the Central mall (I am almosta specialist on malls, I just had to show our mall to Mury ). Rather boring...I really do not like the mix of shops there...
Then, we finally found places in "Shtastliveca" and happily had lunch...then we made a little walk down Gurko, making lots of funny pictures (Which can be seen on Flickr)
It was a rather nice weekend...Thank you my dearest Mury for the nice time spent together:)

Easter

Now, it is high time I said Happy Easter, I guess :)
Apart from all the Eastern -Western traditions that are mixing right now in Bulgaria, I really like Easter.
Maybe I am not so convinced in the existence of the Easter bunny (and I really do not know what is the role of the Easter bunny, frankly)and I didn't take part in the colouring of the Easter eggs this year but...
I LOVE EASTER
Because it is a spring holiday.
It is a feast of resurrection and renewed hope.
It is a time of the year when beauty blossoms all around.
You should not feel sad at this date.
Everything is colourful, everybody -smiling :)
And I am back in my hometown, taking all the incredible atmosphere it has to give me.
From the Christian point of view, Christ's resurrection is even more miraculous than his birth.
It is also a time of spending precious minutes with the family and closest friends. And for self-reflection.
Have I been good enough? Am I doing my best? Is this what I want to do? Am I not envious sometimes? Questions questions questions crossing my mind all the time...
Sometimes I wonder what questions other people ask themselves...Are they the same as mine?Or completely different?

A nice nostalgic walk down my hometown's narrow cobbled streets

Yesterday I allowed myself a nice walk around the old part of Veliko Turnovo.
It was simply marvelous.
I won't tell you any more, just see the pictures:)