Hard to believe it's really only 2 weeks today since our return to Santiago, completing our camino across Spain, 900km. During those 6 weeks, it was routine to get up before daylight, repack backpacks, and start walking, usually before 7.30am. In just 2 weeks, that has become a distant memory, and we have become lazy,especially here in our comfy loft apartment in Sofia, rarely getting going before 11.30am. Things will change next week, when we begin a Balkans Tour with Tucan. So we are making the most of it.
First day here we did a Free Sofia Tour- an excellent introduction to this city and its fascinating history. Deni, our guide has a passion for history, and it shows. Best tour ever!
Since that tour, we have revisited several of the sites we were introduced to. Today we went to the Archaeological Museum. So many relics found in this city, and across Bulgaria, dating back more than 1600 years BC. Incredible.
So many different churches here in Sofia, and some dating back to 4 century BC.
And went back to see the changing of the guard...
But we do have a language problem! Even the alphabet is different, so we have no idea how to pronounce anything. Absolutely NOTHING is familiar. Though we might take an easy option day 1 for breakfast, and go to Maccas. None of the usual Maccas breakfast items, and all we could do was point to a picture on the wall. Soooo uncool.
Some of the menus since then, have had English translations as well. You realise how important the visual clues are. Looking at shop signs is absolutely no help at all. All good experience.
On our second night here, we planned to go on a Pub Crawl. Found our way to the meeting point, and had noticed streets full of people. Found out it was a political protest, about the appointment earlier that day, of a particular MP as head of security. Ten thousand people were out in the streets, marching, chanting outside government buildings. Mmmmmmm. Tricky. Lex and I opted to keep away from that scene, and decided to make it another night.
New Sofia Pub Crawl, Take 2. Next night. Same place, same time, and same scenario. Protests again. This time we all agreed to continue with the pub crawl. Interestingly, protests here have been quite large, very noisy, but also very peaceful. Amazing night! We discovered places only a local would know about. Unique places. We made our way home around 2.30am- latest we've been out for ages! But, description of this event will have to wait until later, because family and friends will be joining us here later this week, and we'll do it all again. Don't want to spoil the surprise for them
Tonight we had dinner at an Italian restaurant across the road, but before going out we could hear sounds of the protest starting up again. Streets were full of people - families with small children, all ages, just walking down the street towards government buildings. Police were about, but only on the sidelines. Later this evening we could hear protest chants getting closer. The march had continued, and grown for several hours, and was coming down a nearby street. They were noisy, whistles, drums, chanting, but peaceful. Police were out in force around a particular building, but as soon as the crowd passed, they followed them down the street to their bus and left. All so peaceful. Amazing when you realise that drinking in public places is accepted here, and many protestors had beer in their hands. Apparently protestors return to the streets to clean up the next morning, according to web reports.
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