Rubbish in Bulgaria is all around us and this is a strong and quite off putting first impression many visitors get. This has been put down to a hangover form the communist era where you could be arrested and impounded from dropping litter in the street - what a good idea!
Since the demise of communism part of the freedom included the right to litter the streets without any recrimination and because they now have this right they exercise it to the full. This is more of a retaliation to the previous incarcerated system that went before and a habit now that has been embedded in countless Bulgarians who could be described as litterbugs.
The trouble is that the habits of the parents get passed over to the next generation and right now what I see is a confusion in littering habits. Schools teach ideals of caring for the community you live in but a different signal is coming from the home from their parents. It remains that the reason for towns and cities being 'clean' is mainly due to the street cleaners.
If you rise early before the streets have been given a going over you will see litter scattered everywhere but from dogs, cats and whatever else is around that have been into the big bins and leaving a mayhem of litter on the road and pavements. Included in the scavenging the previous evening are the Roma who sieve through the wastage for cardboard, plastic and metal for patching up their homes, selling on or fuel material for cooking and/or heating.
Even watching Roma children regularly searching through bins in town fast food joints, picking out left over food and walking off whilst eating what they found is common here. Quite a shock at first sight but all part of the how this Bulgaria runs on a day to day basis. This is quite a contrast or even a condradiction to the Roma who litter more than Bulgarian. You can almost certainly recognize most Roma homes by the litter that surround it, this is just how they are over here in Bulgaria with garden as rubbish dumps.
Things will change gradually with the introduction of on the spot fines that will come about in uniform with the EU, in fact back to communist policy.
It must be said that for may visitors to Bulgaria the litter spread around the country is quite an off putting factor and even now an annoying 'tut tut' is made when seeing Bulgarian folk thrown litter down without a thought. Perhaps one area of Bulgaria that doesn't appeal.
How can a population brought up on conservation and green living do these things? As mentioned earlier it may be that it is an abuse of the freedom they have been giving to do it...
Showing posts with label Roma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roma. Show all posts
Bulgarian Bikes and Roma Riders
Bulgarians and bikes, push bikes that is! What a variety there is but 99% are the cheapest bikes on the market from a point that Bulgarians just can't afford designer machines. For that reason top range bike are not available in the country as there is no demand.
To the Bulgarian if a bike works and does the job and is cheap or even costs nothing that the option to take. There are those who do have cycling as a hobby, a serious hobby in some cases, I know one particular man who is a fanatic cyclist with the top bikes and gear I see him out on the Yambol highways, this is an exception to the rule. Most cyclist here ride bone shakers and the variety of homemade bikes is fantastic it is almost like watching clown riding circus bikes. The most entertaining variety of bikes are the Roma riders!
The picture is now painted of cyclists in Bulgaria and it was one evening when I was walking home when a searing clutter of metal sound was heard, the sound that makes you want to cringe. Turning back I saw a Roma on a bike with the compulsory plastic box strapped with old string on the carrier full of cardboard moving very slowly along the harsh cobbled road. The cause of the clattering was the fact that the front wheel of the bike had no tyre, he was riding on a bare metal rim. I just stopped in my tracks and stared as this Roma rider slowly clattered past me. At the same time he was staring back at me as if to say what's the problem? Mind you there was still continuous smile behind that questioning look going on into the distance.
There are more shows that go on in the Bulgarian Biking World that have to be seen to be believed, balancing acts, one bike ridden by the whole family, trailers, dog powered bikes, even a one wheeled bike with a skate board wheels fixed on the front forks. Many bikes aren't actually ridden, they are just used as baggage carriers and by golly can they carry a lot. Added to all this most bikes (apart from the new ones) don't have brakes, they rely on the Fred Flintstone method - smoking feet!
Every day a circus act is seen from Bulgarian bikes and Roma bikers - Today was a bit different and with special act on display but I still I didn't have to pay an entrance fee to see it.
To the Bulgarian if a bike works and does the job and is cheap or even costs nothing that the option to take. There are those who do have cycling as a hobby, a serious hobby in some cases, I know one particular man who is a fanatic cyclist with the top bikes and gear I see him out on the Yambol highways, this is an exception to the rule. Most cyclist here ride bone shakers and the variety of homemade bikes is fantastic it is almost like watching clown riding circus bikes. The most entertaining variety of bikes are the Roma riders!
The picture is now painted of cyclists in Bulgaria and it was one evening when I was walking home when a searing clutter of metal sound was heard, the sound that makes you want to cringe. Turning back I saw a Roma on a bike with the compulsory plastic box strapped with old string on the carrier full of cardboard moving very slowly along the harsh cobbled road. The cause of the clattering was the fact that the front wheel of the bike had no tyre, he was riding on a bare metal rim. I just stopped in my tracks and stared as this Roma rider slowly clattered past me. At the same time he was staring back at me as if to say what's the problem? Mind you there was still continuous smile behind that questioning look going on into the distance.
There are more shows that go on in the Bulgarian Biking World that have to be seen to be believed, balancing acts, one bike ridden by the whole family, trailers, dog powered bikes, even a one wheeled bike with a skate board wheels fixed on the front forks. Many bikes aren't actually ridden, they are just used as baggage carriers and by golly can they carry a lot. Added to all this most bikes (apart from the new ones) don't have brakes, they rely on the Fred Flintstone method - smoking feet!
Every day a circus act is seen from Bulgarian bikes and Roma bikers - Today was a bit different and with special act on display but I still I didn't have to pay an entrance fee to see it.
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