Traveling across Europe is really interesting to Glenn and me, and we are becoming pros at packing for these trips. I can pack for 2 weeks on the road in just one carry-on bag plus my computer bag! (The orange bag is our food bag, and thanks to our days in Africa, we are always prepared for an emergency or famine in the country!) I have to admit, by time we get home-I am ready to burn the clothes I've worn over and over during the trip. Oh, we manage to do laundry on our trips, but I just get TIRED of wearing the same pants and shirts over and over!
There were 2 stops on the Serbian side and four on the Bulgarian side, and it took us about15 minutes total time to cross the border. When we handed our passports to the officer at the first check point on the Bulgarian side, he typed our information in his computer, and then handed us a zip drive and told us to take it to the next booth!! We carried the zip drive to and from each of the four booths!!! We've never experienced that before...
Welcome to Bulgaria!
...and this was our first squatty potty too!
The weather in Bulgaria was overcast and temperatures were in the 20's with about 6-8 inches of snow! It was COLD but not windy. Fortunately, we packed for sightseeing in freezing weather.
Macie, one of our Journeymen that came to Budapest for Christmas, took us out on the coldest day to see the city. We left our apartment about 11:30 am and returned that evening about 9 pm, having walked all but about 30 minutes that day. I burned enough calories to be able to eat a donut.
Sofia, the Greek goddess of wisdom
The capitol of Bulgaria is Sofia, named after the Greek goddess of wisdom. We visited with 5 of our families during our stay in Bulgaria.
City Park
The snow was white in the parks
but brown on the sidewalks and streets
McDonald's ad in Cyrillic and Asian script
Changing of the guards in front of the President's office
A Russian Orthodox church
Glenn gets a call while resting, I mean working...
While we were in town, Glenn met up with one of our co-workers at Dunkin' Donuts for a cup of coffee, a donut and a short visit while Macie and I walked through one of the markets. This is where I got that donut.
Happy Birthday, Josiah!
While on these trips, we usually take the families out to eat at their favorite restaurants or they invite us to their houses for a meal, both of which add to my weight problem! I usually gain about 3 pounds per 2 week trip and then spend the next couple of weeks trying to lose it! We were invited this particular night to enjoy taco salad and birthday cake with Josiah's family. We had a great time with them!
On the road again...
We left Sofia, Bulgaria on Thursday by bus and headed to Skopje, Macedonia. The countryside of both countries is quite hilly, and the farther south we went, the less snow on the ground. So far, all of our buses have been on time and our travels "uneventful". PTL!
Less snow in Macedonia
According to our friends here, the children learn English starting in elementary school, so about half of the population understand or speak English to some degree.
Skopje, in Cyrillic alphabet
Skopje (pronounced scope-e-ya), the capitol of Macedonia, is a small city compared to the other capitols that we've visited, and is the birthplace of Mother Teresa! Tomorrow, we are supposed to go see the plaque that is located where her house used to be located. We are likely too far north for Paul-the persecutor turned missionary-to have walked these hills.
David uses the first and ONLY ATM machine in Skopje!
Kaylee reads us a story she wrote and illustrated
We ate a delicious "typically Macedonian" meal at this restaurant
A Roma (Gypsy) neighborhood
Center of the city
Something is lost in the translation!
I have a collection of poor English translations on signs or ads I've seen in Europe, and this sign at the fortress is being added to it!
Glenn and I have one more day here in Skopje before we head "up country" to visit with a couple of other families. We will be heading back to Budapest on Tuesday. This horse is beginning to see the barn.
3 comments:
Wow, Mom. I am blown away by this post. I can't even imagine a capital city with only one ATM! Dakar had lots! We're learning so much about the world around us from your blog - and it gives me a much better understanding of how others live and adjust to life overseas.
Great post. Thanks!
Hm, one ATM? There are dozens of ATM's all around Skopje. There are half a dozen in my (small) town. If you didn't see them, it doesn't mean they don't exist.
I'm sorry if this comment seems harsh, but we are a bit sensitive because Macedonia is an unknown place for most of the world and it's important the little information out there is correct.
Allow me to clarify. It is the only Drive-up ATM, according to our information. Yes there are plenty of ATMs; I got my choice of 4 that were side by side in one mall in town.
Glenn
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