As I emerged daily from the Rotasar Hotel, to go for a coffee or to take photos, it still felt kind of strange to think I was now living here. I had become an immigrant !
The Rotasar is a modest hotel with friendly staff, situated just off the Tsarigradsko Chaussee Boulevard which sweeps down to the centre of Sofia.
On the Tuesday I set off with my camera to walk to Borrisova Gradina Park and Garden, also known as the Central Park, which was a delightful experience. Central Park stretches along the boulevard all the way into Sofia near the Eagle's Bridge.
The weather was brighter and sunnier, I soon became aware that I would need my summer clothes which were packed away in the garage in Rudartsi. This later necessitated buying a pair of light jeans. But there was still rain in the air as I walked into the welcome green away from the traffic. I spent some time is this lovely park, gradually making my way along the tree lined paths, passing what seemed like hundreds of interesting statues and sculptures, to the Ariana Lake at the far end near the National Stadium Vassil Levski. Of course this sojourn included a welcome Shumensko Beer in a leafy setting just outside the Bulgarian Army Stadium, the home of CSKA Sofia FC.
Here are some photos:-
On the 31st May from near the hotel I experienced my first ride in the shuttle buses that ply their trade throughout the city. It could have been a better experience. I am not very tall but I spent the whole of the ride doubled up and bent at an uncomfortable angle in a minibus which was getting hotter inside by the second. Margarita was smiling as my English stiff upper lip (which I don't really possess, at least I don't think so) was curling under my sweat ridden brow. These minibuses cram as many people in them as possible. It really was a relief to get off. But at 1 Lev for the trip maybe I should not have expected luxury. We were on our way to Pernik to sign for the house.
On the following Monday we arranged to meet Jordan at the house in Rudartsi. The weather was still wet which is somewhat unusual for the end of May. The owners had very kindly allowed us to store all the furniture etc. in the garage and even in part of the house. They were due to move out the following week. We had to arrange the final payment for the house and legal documentation, which would take place in Pernik at the Notary and Piraeus Bank later that week.
Mihail, Georgi, Mariujan and Genny gradually congregated at various places in Sofia, and after a beer off we went in Mihail's car to Rudarci.
Jordan arrived a short time later. I did admire his driving. He reversed the enormous juggernaut the whole length of our road with great precision and we began to unload. The photo below, taken from the hill behind the house shows part of Jordan's blue truck.
I only had one disappointment with Jordan in that he was tempted by the cider I had bought in England. He had finished five of the bottles on the way.
It took about two hours to unload and stack everything and Jordan went on his way. Then we sat down to coffee and chocolate with the owners outside on the terrace and I threw in a bottle of cider to give them a taste. I was surprised to learn that despite the masses of apples grown in Bulgaria each year they don't make cider. They import a small sweet variety but that is all.
We left the house in the late afternoon and went for the first time to the Mladost Restaurant in the centre of the village. There I had my first taste of Shkembe which is tripe. It reminded me of Lancashire where I used to eat tripe many years ago but cooked in a completely different way. There is also Shkembe soup which is accompanied by chili pepper seeds and garlic vinegar.
So after all the months of moving my things from home in Ewell to the storage and then the long trip to Bulgaria, the next stage had been completed. It was now back to stay in Sofia at the hotel for the next two days and then another week or so at Mihail's apartment before we finally moved in on 10th. June.
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| Shkembe Soup |
