Say What...?

Almost everything in Bulgaria is written in Cryllic so walking around and trying to read the street signs, menu, etc. can be a bit tough. Even the McDonalds sign is in Cryllic which puts a smile to my face. "I'm loving it!" Not too many Bulgarians speak English so asking for direction is a return to the hand signs & head shaking and map pointing. Which means yesterday afternoon took about two hours to find this hostel in Plovdiv walking around the streets and getting the wrong directions or maybe I should say, the right directions to the wrong places.

Plovdiv is a city in southern Bulgaria known for it's old town and Roman ruins. There are plenty of old cobbled stone streets and wooden buildings to explore, plus a Roman Theatre smack right in the center of town. The old part sits on top of hill and overlooks the pedestrain walkway and the town is pleasant to walk around especially now with the sun.

I think traveling is odd at times and you can get extreme highs and lows. Each city or town, you can take in a new identity each time and nobody knows you... social and talkative one time or introspective and wanting to be alone the next. It really depends on you and the situation. Plus, there is a very good chance you will never see any of these people ever again. You have these short, concentrated and transitory relationships with fellow backpackers and then go on your own separate ways. And what easier way to start conversations with travelers than by asking where the're from or where their coming from or going to? Easy as pie, and usually throw in some funny stories about past travels from say, India or China.

Traveling solo has it's pros and cons. On the one hand, it's extremely flexible, you tend to be more social 'cause talking with yourself only gets you so far and you become more approachable by others, plus, no one complains if you miss a train, get off at the wrong stop or simply get lost (which you unevitably will do). On the other hand, someone to watch your bag when you need to go to the washroom, sharing in all the right and wrong decisions and talking and laughing with someone about these experiences and sights (re-living these moments) would be nice. Often, telling other people about it and showing them pictures doesn't bring out the smell, sound and feel of that moment except if you were there. I guess you can't have both worlds. "Dovizhdane." I'm off wandering again.......