Can't Touch This

You know it's going to be a good ride when the bus is playing MC Hammer...  But before we cut to the more recent events, let's review Sofia!

Overall, Sofia is okay - and great if you can turn a blind eye to poverty and corruption.  The people are wonderful, but the government could definitely use some work.

And to leave Sofia off with a heartfelt hug, here's a reiteration of what I left for Cvetan.

I brought along postcards to leave for my hosts.  For Cvetan, I started writing in a "Freiburg University" postcard, but because he and I had talked about love, I decided to scrap the idea, and revert to a "Beliebt in Freiburg" postcard.  In it, I wrote in my Bulgarian

"Love is a complex theme.  We don't understand, but if we did, then it wouldn't be love."

I came to the couch and sat next to him, I said "Cvetan, I have something for you."

He looked at the postcard, read it outloud, smiled and said to me, "Aaron, my friend", put the top of his forehead against mine, and held silence.

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Here's a picture of my boots after six days in Sofia.

Yummy.

To Plovdiv / Ivan Vasovo!

I spent a great deal of the bus ride to Plovdiv reading about historical societies, a huge book featuring societies over the world; Chapter 1 being over Mesopotamia.  Upon arrival I asked myself, "Aaron, do you have any idea where you're going?"  Clearly answering no, I went to find out how to get to Ivan Vasovo, but first my stomach called my attention, "Feed me, jerk!"  Bulgaria likes pizza, and so do I.  I went up to one of the many pizza stands and...waited, until I realized that the lady looking at me and saying "zdrasti" was actually the cashier - I was supposed to pay first, receive a ticket, then get the pizza - duh!  Corn pizza.  Alright!  I ate it way too fast before I could take any pictures - by the way.  To the central bus station, a shoe polisher became rather excited at my presence.  I took this as an opportunity to get new shoe laces, so I inquired wether or not he had such...  His wrinkled face lighted up and to his excitement, signaled for me to wait.  He went to a booth and asked for some shoelaces - HEY I could have done that!  He came back, and I told him I just wanted the shoe laces, but he insisted on shining my boots.  I wanted to keep them dirty as a reminder of Sofia.  I turned down his price of four Levas.  He let out a disappointed sigh and expression.  I walked away - I just wanted me some shoe laces.  

I entered the station, and headed towards the ticket booth - or what seemed to be the ticket booth, afterall everyone was going there and paying money.  The famous line of "Gavoriate li Angliiscki" came up, and the cashier responded with a "Ne."  I was rather happy to use my Bulgarian without crutches.  

"Zakude patuvate?"

(Yes! I understood that!) "Za Ivan Vas-"

"Vasovo?"

"Da"

"3.30 Leva"

I waited for about a half hour, then towards Сектор 8.  I asked the girl sitting next to me whether she knew where Ivan Vasovo was, and she had no clue, so she called her sister, who spoke English with me - I was rather shocked at the amount of help she - both offered.  After an hour of me dosing on and off and reading about the Sumerians, a lady called me and signaled that we were here in Ivan Vasovo. . .

The first thing that came to my head was "oh man, this is gonna be something."  After many failed attempts of communication between my two accomplices, we split ways.  Absolutely uncomfortable and somewhat curious.  I had never been to such a small village before.  People just walking around, stares from every... well other person - of the four in the townsquare.  

I'm cold.  But looking forward to exploring! :)