Home for Christmas, back for New Years…
Well, I just wanted to thank everyone for a wonderful Christmas. It really was amazing to be home, even for just a short bit. To be honest, I was nervous that this trip would only make me want to stay home. But, it didn’t. I guess it is reassuring to know that my family and friends are still out there; and when I am with them everything seems to just click back into place. Indisputable proof of this fact is my left shoulder. It is now a nasty mix of black and blue; and will soon enough turn into a dirty yellow. You know it has been a good reunion with brothers and buddies when you can not raise your own hand over your head.
So, after the good life in Chicago, I jumped on a plane to London (about 8 hours) and then grabbed a flight to Sofia (3 hours). Once in Sofia, I grabbed my bags and beat the mob of people to the line of cabs. I overpaid the cabbie to speed me to the train station. Bar none the scariest cab ride ever. Once at the station I bought a ticket, locked up my extra luggage and sprinted to the tracks. In my haste, I misread the ticket and ran to the wrong track. Once I figured everything out and was on the right track, I was chasing down the moving train. Here is where I did the unthinkable. I stopped chasing it. (I think I am getting old.) We had another volunteer lose a leg trying to catch a moving train and I thought that that would be a bad way to start off the New Year. Not the bravest decision, but how often do you find your self debating the possibility of losing a leg? So, like the sad half of a Hallmark movie couple I stood in the snow and watched my train pull away.
Luckily, I was able to argue and get my money back for the ticket. I then sprinted to the bus station. I had been told that all the busses stopped working after noon on New Years Eve. But, it was the bus or nothing to do for midnight. My luck was with me and I was able to grab a ride to Rousse. This was the rally point for a bunch of other volunteers. After my bus ride (5 hours), I pulled in to the bus station and saw my friends crossing the street. I am not sure how it happened like that, but it did. I went from Chicago to Rousse, Bulgaria and was within 20 minutes of everyone else. Crazy.
After a quick dinner, we headed to the main square for midnight. In a word: amazing. There was a light snow and a live band. ‘2004’ outlined in lights and anywhere from 500 to 700 people throwing fireworks around. The traditional countdown (in Bulgarian) and then the big show: everyone joined hands and started dancing the horo (that same line type dance that I did at the wedding). The traditional music sounded very Soviet and I was wide eyed and jaw dropped the whole time. Definitely a ‘who do I think I am’ moment. I know I would have preferred to be in Chicago with my friends, but this was an unforgettable night.
The next few nights, we spent hopping from town to town. Borovo, Veliko Turnovo, and Sofia. Luckily for me, my jet lag was perfectly in sync with staying up to all hours of the morning. But now, things are not so well timed. So, I will have to fight off some nasty sleep patterns this week; but, what else is a kid supposed to do. It was worth every second.
To everyone who I was able to see and talk to this trip, thanks. It really meant a lot to relax among friends and family. To everyone who I only was able to see only briefly, again thank you. No matter how little time was spent it all added up. And, if I did not get a chance to see you, I am really sorry. With two new kids in the family, it was hard to peal myself away from the house.
Have a safe and happy New Year!!
~Mark
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So, after the good life in Chicago, I jumped on a plane to London (about 8 hours) and then grabbed a flight to Sofia (3 hours). Once in Sofia, I grabbed my bags and beat the mob of people to the line of cabs. I overpaid the cabbie to speed me to the train station. Bar none the scariest cab ride ever. Once at the station I bought a ticket, locked up my extra luggage and sprinted to the tracks. In my haste, I misread the ticket and ran to the wrong track. Once I figured everything out and was on the right track, I was chasing down the moving train. Here is where I did the unthinkable. I stopped chasing it. (I think I am getting old.) We had another volunteer lose a leg trying to catch a moving train and I thought that that would be a bad way to start off the New Year. Not the bravest decision, but how often do you find your self debating the possibility of losing a leg? So, like the sad half of a Hallmark movie couple I stood in the snow and watched my train pull away.
Luckily, I was able to argue and get my money back for the ticket. I then sprinted to the bus station. I had been told that all the busses stopped working after noon on New Years Eve. But, it was the bus or nothing to do for midnight. My luck was with me and I was able to grab a ride to Rousse. This was the rally point for a bunch of other volunteers. After my bus ride (5 hours), I pulled in to the bus station and saw my friends crossing the street. I am not sure how it happened like that, but it did. I went from Chicago to Rousse, Bulgaria and was within 20 minutes of everyone else. Crazy.
After a quick dinner, we headed to the main square for midnight. In a word: amazing. There was a light snow and a live band. ‘2004’ outlined in lights and anywhere from 500 to 700 people throwing fireworks around. The traditional countdown (in Bulgarian) and then the big show: everyone joined hands and started dancing the horo (that same line type dance that I did at the wedding). The traditional music sounded very Soviet and I was wide eyed and jaw dropped the whole time. Definitely a ‘who do I think I am’ moment. I know I would have preferred to be in Chicago with my friends, but this was an unforgettable night.
The next few nights, we spent hopping from town to town. Borovo, Veliko Turnovo, and Sofia. Luckily for me, my jet lag was perfectly in sync with staying up to all hours of the morning. But now, things are not so well timed. So, I will have to fight off some nasty sleep patterns this week; but, what else is a kid supposed to do. It was worth every second.
To everyone who I was able to see and talk to this trip, thanks. It really meant a lot to relax among friends and family. To everyone who I only was able to see only briefly, again thank you. No matter how little time was spent it all added up. And, if I did not get a chance to see you, I am really sorry. With two new kids in the family, it was hard to peal myself away from the house.
Have a safe and happy New Year!!
~Mark
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