Once you have been w while in Bulgaria you will be picking up Bulgarian habits, already some have been taken on board even without thinking about it. A few for starters...
- Wearing different clothes for different situations is a must!! One for the village one town and work and another for going out in the evening, all essentially Bulgaria and in the winter a different set of clothing for bed!
- Leaving food on your plate when you've had enough rather than having to finish it up like a good boy!
- Walking fast just never happens now - its taken a while to get to this stage though.
- Looking at my watch, well I don't wear one now what's the point on knowing what time it is in Bulgaria?
- Ending a conversation - very difficult!
- Getting a job finished, there's always tomorrow, next week, next month, next year or in some cases waiting for your reincarnation!
- Getting your Bulgarian friends to spend some time away from their GSMs, (mobile phones) impossible.
- Washing up or cleaning the home - THIS DEFINITELY IS NOT ALLOWED!
- Adjusting and enjoying a rakia and salad every single evening, all year round - Actually I don't know how I managed to do cope without this before living here.
- Not looking before crossing a road, (jaywalking) Tufty and Green Cross Code Man have never set foot in Bulgaria!
Not necessarily the top ten but many more where they come from...........
Cobblestoned Yambol
In Yambol over the past few months there has been much work and repair of the roads leading in and out of the town. In the main the side road have been worked upon. The main reason for this is the growth of the tree roots that spread themselves like giant underground moles creating rises and falls not only on the pavements but on the traffic bearing roads.
The Bulgarian way of doing this is by hand, there is no massive tarmac bearing machines with the job being finished in a couple of hours - the hands on job takes weeks but there is another reason.
Every road is being reconstructed with cobblestones. I really thought that the days of these types of road was coming to and end but it is thriving in Yambol. On a bed of compacted sand each individual traditional cobblestone is placed and sealed in place giving the arching patterns so characteristic of this form of road.
Whilst the repair and re-laying is going on there is absolute mayhem with the closed road but the beeping of horns, the shouting of drivers trying to negotiate their way up a two way street with a one way facility is very funny from a pedestrians point of view.
But then the pedestrians don't really have any consideration in any case as the pavement is totally block with stones and sand and walks up these road are either diverted into the middle of the road or high jumping over the bright yellow token tape. Pram and pushchairs have to contend with an assault course more suited to army training exercises. Do the they complain? No not an ounce as they make their way un-flustered through the obstacle set in front of them.
I suppose it has always been this way and Yambol is well versed in dealing with this. It is just another minor point in the overall development of Yambol that remains a lovely cobble based town in many places. Well worth the inconvenience.
The Bulgarian way of doing this is by hand, there is no massive tarmac bearing machines with the job being finished in a couple of hours - the hands on job takes weeks but there is another reason.
Every road is being reconstructed with cobblestones. I really thought that the days of these types of road was coming to and end but it is thriving in Yambol. On a bed of compacted sand each individual traditional cobblestone is placed and sealed in place giving the arching patterns so characteristic of this form of road.
Whilst the repair and re-laying is going on there is absolute mayhem with the closed road but the beeping of horns, the shouting of drivers trying to negotiate their way up a two way street with a one way facility is very funny from a pedestrians point of view.
But then the pedestrians don't really have any consideration in any case as the pavement is totally block with stones and sand and walks up these road are either diverted into the middle of the road or high jumping over the bright yellow token tape. Pram and pushchairs have to contend with an assault course more suited to army training exercises. Do the they complain? No not an ounce as they make their way un-flustered through the obstacle set in front of them.
I suppose it has always been this way and Yambol is well versed in dealing with this. It is just another minor point in the overall development of Yambol that remains a lovely cobble based town in many places. Well worth the inconvenience.
New Bulgarian Cowboys
It was Byal Kladenets (White Well) right next to the massive reservoir that runs through to the power station giving the whole region electricity that I found myself heading towards early last Saturday morning.
My brother had a scooter and from Skalitsa to Byal Kladenets which was about 12 km there was a mainly ploughed up dirt track lining the sunflower and sweetcorn fields filled full of failed crops this year. This actually cuts another 10 km of the journey is running on a main tarmac road.
Why were we going there?
Well we had to pick up two horses and transport them back to Skalitsa as I was to look after them for a few weeks before hopefully they are sold or looked after for the 4 months my brother is away.
As we made out way two up on a small scooter there was an apprehension about the journey there and even more about the journey back. My brother has a fear of horses and I only really have experience with a donkey and cart not these massive muscled animals.
We had heavy rain a few days before and as we left the road onto the track the slipping and sliding started, in many parts we had to get off and walk our way through parts. This was a real problem for us as only after a short while we wished we'd done it another day when the track had dried out but we were now committed and had to carry on.
A sigh of relief was breathed as we finally got to the village and paused a while before going to get the two horse that were grazing on the side of the hill. Genna and Sparky (the horses) were being looked after by a Bulgarian neighbour who was called to help being them in to be kitted out on the cart that was waiting.
This was the next problem, Genna somehow jolted away from the Bulgarian that was helping and ran free and away from where we wanted her. The next two hours were spend trying to catch here as she played games. Chasing her was obviously not going to work as the minds where working overtime as our bodies rested.
A lasso was the only answer as one was made up from the tethering rope. The plan was to get Sparky out on the fields again as Genna usually grazes next to him. Then if we get within a couple of metres of here we lasso her and job done.
So, we did exactly that, with the Bulgarian neighbours thinking that we were crazy as he just sat on his own cart and watched from a distance, we worked to plan. Every aspect of the plan worked as Sparky was made the bait. It was only a matter of a few moments and a well judged throw of the lasso as Genna approach and the job was as good as done. the Bulgarian neighbour watched with disbelief as the new cowboy maestros strode proudly past him with the two horses.
We kitted the horses up, Genna to pull the cart and Sparky to follow tied up behind then we were off on the track that had almost completely dried up with the now hot sun blazing.
It was a very tired horse that ended up in Skalitsa with another journey back that was far from relaxing on the dulating terrain but we were all tired but home and dry.
My brother had a scooter and from Skalitsa to Byal Kladenets which was about 12 km there was a mainly ploughed up dirt track lining the sunflower and sweetcorn fields filled full of failed crops this year. This actually cuts another 10 km of the journey is running on a main tarmac road.
Why were we going there?
Well we had to pick up two horses and transport them back to Skalitsa as I was to look after them for a few weeks before hopefully they are sold or looked after for the 4 months my brother is away.
As we made out way two up on a small scooter there was an apprehension about the journey there and even more about the journey back. My brother has a fear of horses and I only really have experience with a donkey and cart not these massive muscled animals.
We had heavy rain a few days before and as we left the road onto the track the slipping and sliding started, in many parts we had to get off and walk our way through parts. This was a real problem for us as only after a short while we wished we'd done it another day when the track had dried out but we were now committed and had to carry on.
A sigh of relief was breathed as we finally got to the village and paused a while before going to get the two horse that were grazing on the side of the hill. Genna and Sparky (the horses) were being looked after by a Bulgarian neighbour who was called to help being them in to be kitted out on the cart that was waiting.
This was the next problem, Genna somehow jolted away from the Bulgarian that was helping and ran free and away from where we wanted her. The next two hours were spend trying to catch here as she played games. Chasing her was obviously not going to work as the minds where working overtime as our bodies rested.
A lasso was the only answer as one was made up from the tethering rope. The plan was to get Sparky out on the fields again as Genna usually grazes next to him. Then if we get within a couple of metres of here we lasso her and job done.
So, we did exactly that, with the Bulgarian neighbours thinking that we were crazy as he just sat on his own cart and watched from a distance, we worked to plan. Every aspect of the plan worked as Sparky was made the bait. It was only a matter of a few moments and a well judged throw of the lasso as Genna approach and the job was as good as done. the Bulgarian neighbour watched with disbelief as the new cowboy maestros strode proudly past him with the two horses.
We kitted the horses up, Genna to pull the cart and Sparky to follow tied up behind then we were off on the track that had almost completely dried up with the now hot sun blazing.
It was a very tired horse that ended up in Skalitsa with another journey back that was far from relaxing on the dulating terrain but we were all tired but home and dry.
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