(3278,1,'2010-09-04 17:34:57','2010-09-04 16:34:57','Heya, this is the beginning of year three. Holy smokes!\n\nI\'ve lived in Bulgaria for two years and now I am embarking on year three. That\'s pretty cool.\n\nTwo years ago, I never imagined that I\'d still be here. But guess what?\n\nI am. I am still here.\n\nBulgaria is beginning to seem second nature. It\'s strange and great all at once.\n\nThings that used to seem like big achievements in my first few months here have become second nature--buying fruits and veggies, crossing busy streets, not tripping cracks on the sidewalks, ordering food in restaurants, topping off my pre-paid cell phone and even taking public transportation.\n\nToday these things are pretty straightforward. I can do most of them without even thinking about it well except for the not tripping on cracks in the sidewalk thing. This continues to trip me up. (<em>Ha, ha</em>.)  <!--more-->As uneven as the sidewalks are everywhere in Sofia, I still don\'t have this one under control.  I am not sure why I can\'t get my act together when it comes to sidewalks but if that\'s the only thing I am still struggling with two years latter, I don\'t think it so bad.\n\nI try to remind myself, Carolyn, pick your feet up when you walk. I remember to do this for a few blocks but then without fail I begin thinking about other things, checking out architecture, people watching, reading signs and what not and then all of a sudden I am stumbling on a crack trying to keep upright.\n\nI guess that\'s what I spend a lot of time in Bulgaria doing--trying to keep upright.  And while, it\'s not the easiest job on a whole I think I\'ve been managing quite nicely. I\'ve got a great group of friends, a job that I like a lot, an apartment that is light and airy with a nice sized kitchen and I am finally actually learning Bulgarian.\n\nIs my Bulgarian great? Heck no!\n\nBut I am using it.\n\nThat\'s probably the biggest change over the last two years. I think that in part this is because Bulgarian comes to mind a little faster than ever before. My vocabulary is a little bigger, words come to the tip of my tongue more easily and I\'m able to put more complex sentences together.\n\nI\'ve also learned to just smile and try to string sentences together. I still hate hearing myself make mistakes but somewhere in the last six months I\'ve gotten over trying to be right.  The result of all of this? Well, I speak a lot more Bulgarian than I used to and lots of random Bulgarians that I interact with tell me how great my Bulgarian is. I don\'t know about this but it\'s really nice to hear.\n\nNow here I am with three year three in front of me and so far so good.  I am looking forward to traveling more throughout Bulgaria, teaching 10th and 11th grade for a second year, continuing with Balkan dance, making more new friends and learning more Bulgarian!\n\nSo, here\'s to year three!!','Year Three','','publish','open','open','','year-three','','','2010-09-04 17:34:57','2010-09-04 16:34:57','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3278',0,'post','',3),(3285,1,'2010-09-05 08:15:14','2010-09-05 07:15:14','My apartment is under attack. I\'ve got ants. I hate that I have to write this.\n\nThe ants showed up in June. I scrubbed my apartment from top to bottom. Still they came. Even though I had no idea what they were finding to eat.\n\nI searched online for an at home remedy for ants. I whipped up a batch of bleach and sugar. Ants are supposed to like the sugar eat it and then die. It worked. I had lots of dead ants. Great.\n\nThen I went on my trip through the Balkans.  Came home. There were a few ants roaming my apartment.\n\nThis time I watched them. I needed to know where they were coming from. Turns out it\'s a gap between my wall and my second floor balcony.  Apparently the ants are really digging this gap. I am not. Not at all.<!--more-->\n\nI decide to get serious. I don\'t want ants in my apartment. Even though I don\'t like chemicals in my apartment, I buy ant powder and apply it generously to the ant entry point. Interestingly this is about the time I find out my next-door neighbor G. is also fighting ants. Hum, it\'s not just me.\n\nI am happy to learn this.\n\nOnly I don\'t have a chance to monitor my ant battle because I\'ve got to fly back to the States for a month. Upon on my return I put my bags down, have a glass of water and turn on my computer and look for ants.  There aren\'t any at their traditional entry point. But I spot one or two listlessly wandering around my apartment. <em>Ah</em>.\n\nThese ants are going to drive me crazy!\n\nEnter my newest obsession: killing ants.\n\nAgain I follow their loopy routes around my apartment. I know that they aren\'t finding much if any food in my apartment so I just need to figure out where they are going and where they\'ve been.  This way I can cut off their entry and exit routes. I mean business.\n\nAnt powder in hand, I apply it carefully but liberally.  I do not want ants in my house. I clean, sweep and mop my apartment once again. My house is not their house. I want them out.\n\nI am determined.\n\nOnly last night right before bed, I spot half a dozen more ants in my apartment. Ack. I ruthlessly smash them without even considering where they\'ve come from or where they\'re going. I will win.\n\nIn bed, my last thought before sliding into sleep was this: <em>at least I am not fighting large mutant ants</em>. That would be worse. Much worse.\n\nI guess that\'s a little victory.','Ants, Attack!','','publish','open','open','','ants-attack','','','2010-09-05 08:15:14','2010-09-05 07:15:14','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3285',0,'post','',6),(3290,1,'2010-09-06 09:17:04','2010-09-06 08:17:04','','Snapshot of The Mall','Snapshot of The Mall','inherit','open','open','','dsc01760','','','2010-09-06 09:17:04','2010-09-06 08:17:04','',3288,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01760.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3288,1,'2010-09-06 09:20:59','2010-09-06 08:20:59','[caption id=\"attachment_3290\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"Snapshot of The Mall \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01760.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3290\" title=\"Snapshot of The Mall \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01760.jpg?w=225\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe minute I step foot in a mall, I feel small and disoriented. I think it\'s a combination of the florescent lighting, the slightly different music in each store, the meandering streams of people, the deliberate maze like nature of malls and shops within them and overly intense air conditioning. It\'s no different in Bulgaria.\n\nOver the last six months or so, Sofia has experienced a boom in malls. We\'ve had two new malls open--neither very far from each other. There\'s something kind of silly feeling about that. How many malls does a city like Sofia need? Clearly the malls were planned before the economy crashed and we sunk into a recession but this doesn\'t seem to have had much of an impact on Bulgarians or the mall culture on a whole.\n\nI can tell you this because I spent a chuck of Sunday afternoon at The Mall. Yes. One of the two new malls in Sofia has been named simply: The Mall. I can\'t really decide if this is an awesome name or a totally ridiculous name.  It\'s a deceptively simple name and yet when you think about it also wholly egotistical.  The thing that I struggle with this what kind of emphasis do you have to put on \"The Mall\" to make it clear where you\'re going when you utter this simple sentence: I am going to The Mall rather than the more general sentence: hey, do you want to go to the mall?<!--more-->\n\nAnyhow, I am not much of a mall girl. For most of my childhood our mall in Walla Walla had a hand full of low-end department stores (Emporium and JCPenny\'s0, a Sears, a Claire\'s, a couple of jewelry stores and a small food court. When I was younger this was all I knew. My MoM and dAd aren\'t really fashion people and I didn\'t have any friends who wanted to hang out at the mall, probably for good reason. Malls in small towns are generally depressing. They are not up to the standards of big-city malls still the small-town mall tries to emulate that experience. So we went there when we needed something--new jeans, back to school supplies, tennis shoes--and we didn\'t stay long.\n\nBasically this is how I\'ve treated all malls ever since. As a necessary evil. Go, get what you need and try not stay any longer than you have to.\n\nThis said, yesterday I had plans to meet a friend at The Mall. I managed to get to the mall about 40 minutes before her so I was forced to wander around by myself. I popped into a few shops, found a few things to try on and I did a decent amount of people watching. Malls are strange places.\n\nBut what I was really struck by is the way in which this mall based solely on appearance could be in any big city in America.  It feels like the kind of mall I\'ve been to before.  I found myself wondering is this mall a replica or an imitation? Or maybe neither.\n\nThis mall seems to be a lens--one that allows me to see American culture through a uniquely Bulgarian perspective. The thing is, this is maybe more disconcerting than bright lights and loud music.\n\nIt was the glimpses of Bulgaria in an otherwise totally familiar American setting which was jarring. It was a couple smoking cigarettes at the Starbucks inside the mall (I did a double take). It was also a head (or three) of overly teased, overly crimped hair in the Gap (Yes, we have a Gap and the shop which has been known for years as a place to snag basics like white tees and jeans was being invaded by women with helmets of hair, super skinny jeans and vests.   Then there was a small child throwing a tantrum in Bulgarian (Why is he screaming in Bulgarian?!).  Finally there was the moment I was getting ready to pay for new shoes and looking in my wallet to find only leva (which was exactly what I should find there but felt somehow wrong given the setting).\n\nNeedless to say, this strange alter-universe that seems to be American on the surface but which actually is not, isn\'t the kind of place you want to stay any longer than you have to.\n\nBut on a whim, right before heading home, my friend and I pop in to <a href=\"http://www.sephora.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Sephora</a>. This shop has their America version down pat from the isles and row after row of make up to the lighting and even the sales reps black clothing.  It\'s pretty incredible. That\'s when I realize this is probably part of the appeal of the whole thing for Bulgarians. And why shouldn\'t it be?\n\nThen the nicest things to happen to me in the mall all afternoon happens (and I don\'t generally expect nice things to happen to me at the mall).  One of the sales clerks comes up to me to say hello and introduce herself. It turns out she\'s been a long time reader of my blog. <em>(Hi!) </em>We had a nice chat about Sofia, the mall and the long weekend. It was the perfect way to end my trip to the mall. Thanks for saying hello!','The Mall and Me','','publish','open','open','','the-mall-and-me','','','2010-09-06 09:20:59','2010-09-06 08:20:59','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3288',0,'post','',7),(3300,1,'2010-09-07 06:24:43','2010-09-07 05:24:43','','A Fig in the hand is better than...','A Fig in the hand is better than...','inherit','open','open','','dsc01922','','','2010-09-07 06:24:43','2010-09-07 05:24:43','',3296,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01922.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3301,1,'2010-09-07 06:28:56','2010-09-07 05:28:56','','DSC01923','','inherit','open','open','','dsc01923','','','2010-09-07 06:28:56','2010-09-07 05:28:56','',3296,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01923.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3302,1,'2010-09-07 06:30:54','2010-09-07 05:30:54','','Fresh Fig!','Fresh Fig!','inherit','open','open','','dsc01923-2','','','2010-09-07 06:30:54','2010-09-07 05:30:54','',3296,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc019231.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3296,1,'2010-09-07 06:36:47','2010-09-07 05:36:47','Figs have started appearing in the local markets across Sofia. I don\'t know much about the fruit. It\'s just not a fruit that I grew up eating. I don\'t think that they like the growing season in Washington State.\n\nIn the States, I\'ve seen figs and eaten them dried, reduced in sauces or turned into jam but generally they are too expensive to buy fresh carefully packed four to a plastic container. But in Bulgaria, it\'s like they grow on trees! I know, right!?\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3302\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Fresh Fig! \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc019231.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3302\" title=\"Fresh Fig! \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc019231.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe best thing? Fresh figs are so delicious.\n\nI love them. Just washed. Or sliced open and dripped with honey. Or with yogurt. Wowsa figs are delightful.<!--more-->\n\nSo I guess it should come as no surprise that I just spent a couple of hours this past weekend browsing recipes for figs on the website<a href=\"http://foodblogsearch.com\" target=\"_blank\"> foodblogsearch</a>. Man these food bloggers are so creative. And all of the fig dishes sound so good and the pictures are excellent. Good thing I am not writing a food blog. There\'s stiff competition in that world.  There\'s a little less competition in the English-language-blog-about-life-in-Bulgaria category of blogging.\n\nAnyhow, back to the figs! The highlights of what I discovered follow:\n<ul>\n	<li>Here\'s a girl who seems to <a href=\"http://shewhoeats.blogspot.com/2005/10/sweet-affair-with-figs.html\" target=\"_blank\">love figs</a> as much as I do. She\'s got recipes for a Fresh Fig Tart with Rosemary Cornmeal Crust and Lemon Mascarpone Cream, Figs on Toast with Cheese, Figs Poached in Spiced Sweet Wine and even a recipe for Fig Cake with Olive Oil and Sweet White Wine.</li>\n	<li>There\'s is recipe which is a take on pineapple upside down cake which sounds and looks incredibly good--<a href=\"http://foodblogga.blogspot.com/2009/10/not-one-but-two-fresh-fig-cake-recipes.html\" target=\"_blank\">Fresh Fig, Walnut, and Rosemary Upside-Down Cake</a>.</li>\n	<li>Then there\'s my friend Nick\'s <a href=\"http://www.macheesmo.com/2009/08/fresh-fig-tart/\" target=\"_blank\">Fresh Fig Tart</a>. This looks pretty tasty but maybe a little bit rich for me.</li>\n	<li>The <a href=\"http://www.goodeatsblog.com/2008/09/baked-brie-with-homemade-crackers.html\" target=\"_blank\">Baked Brie and Homemade Crackers</a> sound pretty to die for. Only I wouldn\'t use fig preserves. I\'d just layer in fresh figs.</li>\n	<li>But it turns out that not all recipes need to be sweet. Case and point, this recipe for <a href=\"http://www.recipegirl.com/2009/08/27/grilled-fig-bruschetta-with-gorgonzola-and-honey/\" target=\"_blank\">Grilled Fig Bruschetta with Gorgonzola and Honey</a></li>\n	<li>Or this: <a href=\"http://cookingwithamy.blogspot.com/2003/12/fig-onion-and-black-olive.html\" target=\"_blank\">Fig, Onion and Black Olive Tapenade</a> recipe.</li>\n	<li>To top it all off, there\'s this incredible recipe for <a href=\"http://mikes-table.themulligans.org/2008/10/25/honeyed-balsamic-braised-chicken-with-figs/\" target=\"_blank\">Honeyed Balsamic Braised Chicken with Figs</a>.</li>\n</ul>\nAt this point, the real question is how am I ever going to pick which recipes to try? I mean, it seems unlikely that I\'ll ever find time to make all of these recipes. What\'s a girl to do?\n\nEat Figs!','Fresh Figs, An Obsession','','publish','open','open','','fresh-figs-an-obsession','','','2010-09-07 06:36:47','2010-09-07 05:36:47','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3296',0,'post','',4),(3276,1,'2010-09-08 06:03:41','2010-09-08 05:03:41','Today, I am writing about  one of my favorite topics. Toilets and toilet paper.\n\nOkay, maybe it\'s not my <em>favorite</em> topic but it\'s one that I find myself thinking about a lot.\n\nWhere\'s the toilet paper?\n\nIn fact, I just searched my blog for \"toilet paper\" because I was sure that I must have written about it before. Nope. <em>Phew</em>. (But I did stumble on this long forgotten post about <a href=\"http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/toilets/\" target=\"_blank\">my love/hate relationship with toilets</a> a post that I wrote my first year in Bulgaria. For the record, I am still afraid of most toilets.)\n\nIt turns out that now that I am starting my third year of blogging I can\'t always remember what I\'ve written about. I was sure that I must have written about toilet paper before now but I guess not.  I am not sure if that\'s a good thing or a bad thing. Well, I mean, clearly it\'s a good thing because it means that I can write about it now--it\'s the remembering thing that concerns me a little bit more than not writing about toilet paper.\n\nOkay back to the point, toilet paper. If you\'re American, toilet paper is second nature. It\'s not something one spends a lot of time thinking about toilet paper. Unless it\'s no longer there.\n\nEnter Bulgaria.<!--more-->\n\nToilet paper outside of the home? Ha. Not likely. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I\'ve seen toilet paper in a cafe or at my school.  And I generally think of my school as a civilized place. (For the record it is, there\'s just never any toilet paper outside of the administrative building.)\n\nSo what does this mean? Civilization = toilet paper? No I am not claiming that, yet. But in reality, it means that you\'ve got to tote your own around.\n\nNow toting a roll of toilet paper around would be awkward and bulky (but it would be great in case you decided you need to toilet paper someone\'s house). Nope there\'s no need to even consider the roll of toilet paper because there are  little purse packets of tissue paper/kleenex double which can toilet paper. These little packets are so effective that I\'ve stopped thinking about them as kleenex. It\'s just pre-cut toilet paper squares.\n\nI get why there\'s not toilet paper in public bathrooms in Bulgaria--it\'s a combination of the attitude \"it\'s not my job\" with \"why should I pay for that?\" and dose of \"no toilet paper?\" plus the shoulder shrug. I also suspect that the distributors of toilet paper in bathrooms like these fear that the roll or rolls will be stolen by the user of the toilet.\n\nBut really why would I do that? I don\'t need a roll of cheep one-ply pressed brown toilet paper in my purse. I really don\'t. I\'ve got my own toilet paper at home.\n\nStill it begs the question: why do I think that toilet paper is a right anyway?\n\nThe simple answer? Because that\'s what I\'ve grown up with.\n\nSo. Question: where\'s the toilet paper? Answer: in my purse. I know, I know. I wish there was a better punch line too. The only thing that might make it better would be some profanity but that\'s not my style. And even then I am not sure that it would actually be funny.<em> Sorry</em>.\n\nAnyhow, stay tuned for my next riveting blog post on types of toilet paper. Um, or not. That seems painfully boring and I <em>like</em> toilet paper.','Where&#039;s the Toilet Paper?','','publish','open','open','','wheres-the-toilet-paper','','','2010-09-08 06:03:41','2010-09-08 05:03:41','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3276',0,'post','',16),(3311,1,'2010-09-09 05:54:34','2010-09-09 04:54:34','Is there a shake up in Europe happening?\n\nAre our paradigms shifting?\n\nWhat\'s happening to Europe?!\n\nAnne Applebaum just wrote a piece for <a href=\"http://www.slate.com/id/2266155/\" target=\"_blank\">the Slate</a> titled: A Tale of Two Europes Forget East and West, Europe is dividing itself into North and South. She makes a case for looking at Europe in a new way. No longer East versus West or even East Meets West rather she\'s thinking about Europe in terms of North and South.\n\nNorth and South you ask? Well, sort of. She\'s more interested in what defines Europe today. The Eastern-communist governments and divisions are a thing of the past.\n\nApplebaum suggests a new division. Her division? North vs South. <!--more-->But then she attempts to locate Ireland in the South.  What\'s that you say? Ireland in the South? Yes. This is because she\'s interested more in the politics of Europe. For her, it\'s the issues and attitudes that are the most important. Okay.\n\nSo Applebaum focuses on things like outlook and self-control function in the countries rather than clear geographical definitions of North and South function. I think you\'ll see what I mean given the following two quotes:\n<blockquote>North and South: Not everybody is going to like that concept, especially not the new South, some of whose members are not necessarily in the southern half of the continent. For these are not geographical designations, but political terms of art. The South contains all those countries whose political classes have not been able to balance their national budgets, whose bureaucrats have not been able to reduce their numbers, whose voters have not learned to approve of austerity: Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, and—at the moment—Ireland.\n\nThe North contains the budget hawks: Germany, Poland, Estonia, Scandinavia, the Czechs, and the Slovaks. Britain\'s new government, with its austerity budget, aims to return to the North, following its recent experience of life in the South. France floats somewhere in between. Wealth, as such, isn\'t northern: Much of the South is very rich. But in the North, private wealth has grown more or less in tandem with the public sector. Private wealth and public squalor are more typical of the South.</blockquote>\nSure, I but it. There\'s a division in Europe and it functions on the level of economics and attitudes towards budgets  but it seems like Applebaum is also painting with some broad and sweeping brush strokes based not so much on wealth but seemingly on stereotypes related to work and attitudes towards work-life balances.  Hardworking Germany. Beach loving Greece. Strike loving Italy. Coffee drinking Bulgaria. And so on and so on. (And yes, I did just make up those stereotypes.)\n\nHere\'s the thing, I like Applebaum\'s idea. I too am not sure that the outdated East vs West divide works anymore. Even more so after my recent travels through the Balkans. But I am not convinced that the North South divide works much better. It seems forced.\n\nThis said, I don\'t have a better division to offer. Mostly because I am not sure that \"this and that\" or \"black and white\" divisions are very helpful. I guess the word that I find myself stumbling over is division more than East/West or North/South.  Probably this is naive. But luckily, I can afford to be naive. I am not an economist or a political scientist.\n\nThoughts about Applebaum\'s claim?','East Meets West or North vs South?','','publish','open','open','','east-meets-west-or-north-vs-south','','','2010-09-09 05:54:34','2010-09-09 04:54:34','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3311',0,'post','',4),(3319,1,'2010-09-10 06:18:14','2010-09-10 05:18:14','','Already 30 in Moda','Already 30 in Moda','inherit','open','open','','dsc01930','','','2010-09-10 06:18:14','2010-09-10 05:18:14','',3317,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01930.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3320,1,'2010-09-10 06:20:56','2010-09-10 05:20:56','','Moda and Sofia','Moda and Sofia','inherit','open','open','','dsc01929','','','2010-09-10 06:20:56','2010-09-10 05:20:56','',3317,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01929.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3318,1,'2010-09-10 08:22:18','2010-09-10 07:22:18','Hey. Guess what? We just had an earthquake in Sofia. I was sitting at my desk checking email and as soon as it started happening I thought: Hey Cool. An Earthquake.\n\nAnd I watched the room shake.\n\nThen I thought: Carolyn!? That was your reaction? Hey Cool.\n\nYep. That was my reaction. I wasn\'t worried. I didn\'t think: maybe I should climb under my desk Oh no.\n\nI thought: Hey Cool!\n\nMaybe it would have been different had things started falling from the walls.  My thought would have probably been: Oh Explicative!!\n\nAnd now you know. Okay. Got to get back to work.\n\n(Oh and MoM <em>really</em> you can stop worrying. Everything is fine. XOXO.)','Earthquake in Sofia','','publish','open','open','','earthquake-in-sofia','','','2010-09-10 08:22:18','2010-09-10 07:22:18','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3318',0,'post','',10),(3317,1,'2010-09-10 13:53:21','2010-09-10 12:53:21','As you may know, I often refer to myself as 20-something. I like the way it sounds. And frankly after 21, birthdays don\'t matter half as much as they used to. You\'re in your twenties and really what\'s the difference between being 25 and say 27 years old? Not much. If you ask me.\n\nThen I started getting older and older. In <a href=\"http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/01/15/to-live-within-your-leva/\" target=\"_blank\">January a reade</a>r, reminded me that maybe I am not a twenty-something  considering the fact that I am almost 30. Yep. It\'s true. I am nearly 30. Though for the record, in January I was still just 28 years old.\n\nIn May this year, I celebrated my 29th birthday. And frankly I feel great. I think that I might even feel better, younger, fresher than I did at 25 or 26. None of this, however negates the fact that on May 18th next year I\'ll be 30.\n\nExcept for this:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3319\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Already 30 in Moda\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01930.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3319\" title=\"Already 30 in Moda\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01930.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYep, according to Moda, magazine, I am already 30!\n\nIt\'s wrong. I am 29. Only the thing is I kind of like it. <!--more-->I am not scared to turn 30. I\'ve been joking around about staring <em>down</em> 30--trying to figure it out. But now I am staring <em>at</em> 30 in Moda and I think it looks pretty great.\n\nSure it helps that I am <em>in</em> Moda again. <a href=\"http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/moda-my-magazine-debut/\" target=\"_blank\">Unlike in February</a> where I was interviewed about being a foreigner in Bulgaria this time I\'ve written a short piece for the September issue on life in Sofia.\n\nBut I should probably come clean, I didn\'t write the piece in Bulgarian. That\'s still a little bit much for me. Maybe next time. This time I wrote it in English and it was then translated.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3320\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Moda and Sofia \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01929.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3320\" title=\"Moda and Sofia \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01929.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYeah there\'s a whole issue devoted to Sofia--from the main interview to the fashion shoots which are on the streets of Sofia and a number of vignettes about life in Sofia. It\'s beautifully done.\n\nI had a hard time knowing what to write. I didn\'t want to write something too cliche, too trite, too silly. I wanted it to be honest, a little funny and slightly self-deprecating--that is after all what I do on this blog--but it\'s not an easy balance to strike.\n\nSo I wrote about feeling lost. The kind of lost that is both actual and imagined and the disorientation that results. Reading it again, I don\'t love it. But that happens. I am too self-critical and after the fact, I can always see what I could have done, what I should have said to make it that much better.\n\nThis said, I had a lot of fun writing the piece this summer and if you get a chance to pick up the magazine or flip though it--look for me. I am in it.','To be 30 in Moda and Sofia','','publish','open','open','','to-be-30-in-moda-and-sofia','','','2010-09-10 13:53:21','2010-09-10 12:53:21','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3317',0,'post','',9),(3333,1,'2010-09-11 09:00:11','2010-09-11 08:00:11','','Reading Bulgaria','Reading Bulgaria','inherit','open','open','','dsc01925','','','2010-09-11 09:00:11','2010-09-11 08:00:11','',3332,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01925.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3332,1,'2010-09-11 09:02:52','2010-09-11 08:02:52','Ever wonder if and when I am going to read <em>Under the Yoke</em>? Ha, ha. Me too.\n\nThe good news is: these are the books currently on my beside table.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3333\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Reading Bulgaria \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01925.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3333\" title=\"Reading Bulgaria \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01925.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd Under the Yoke is among them.\n\nI will read it. This year.\n\nI just finished <em>Cold Snap</em>. It was hard to put down.  Really hard.','Books on my Bedside Table','','publish','open','open','','books-on-my-bedside-table','','','2010-09-11 09:02:52','2010-09-11 08:02:52','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3332',0,'post','',6),(3338,1,'2010-09-12 18:17:14','2010-09-12 17:17:14','','Dance Week 2010','Dance Week 2010','inherit','open','open','','dsc01924','','','2010-09-12 18:17:14','2010-09-12 17:17:14','',3337,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01924.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3337,1,'2010-09-12 18:31:25','2010-09-12 17:31:25','It\'s that time of year. <a href=\"http://sofiadanceweek.com/\">Sofia Dance Week is coming</a>. I know because I saw this sign on my way home from work this last week.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3338\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Dance Week 2010\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01924.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3338\" title=\"Dance Week 2010\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01924.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI\'m not really sure what to make of the billboard with a car, a garbage can and a dance street sign of sorts.  But it caught my eye and I guess that\'s all that matters.\n\nIt helps that I already know this: Sofia dance week is great fun!\n\nThis week (Monday 13-17 at 7pm) there are free dance classes in <a href=\"http://sofiadanceweek.com/something-old-something-new-something-borrowed-and-something-blue-2205.html\" target=\"_blank\">Borisova Gradina</a>! And next week (September 23-29)  Dance Week proper starts.\n\n<a href=\"http://sofiadanceweek.com/category/program\" target=\"_blank\">The program</a> this year looks pretty great.  I am definitely not going to miss going to check out at least one show this year!! Now the question is: which one (or ones)?\n\nI\'ve got to make some plans.','Making Plans: Sofia Dance Week','','publish','open','open','','making-plans-sofia-dance-week','','','2010-09-12 18:31:25','2010-09-12 17:31:25','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3337',0,'post','',0),(3343,1,'2010-09-13 09:32:52','2010-09-13 08:32:52','I am really digging NPR. I grew up listening to NPR. That\'s <a href=\"http://www.npr.org/\" target=\"_blank\">National Public Radio</a> in case you\'re interested. And recently I\'ve found myself listening to it once again.\n\nI guess this shouldn\'t be much of a surprise. My MoM regularly listened to NPR driving around town when we were little and in fact she still does today. When I lived in DC, I\'d listen every morning while I was getting for work and pretty regularly on the weekends.\n\nI fell out of the habit when I moved to Bulgaria two years ago. However this summer every time I borrowed my MoM\'s car the radio was set to NPR and I once again found myself hooked. NPR is great. <!--more-->\n\nThey have such good programing from the news to analysis to interviews and movie/tv/music reviews. Oh and the music selection is incredible. I\'ve been in love with <a href=\"http://www.thisamericanlife.org/\" target=\"_blank\">This American Life</a> for ages but the range of live concerts available at <a href=\"http://www.npr.org/music/\" target=\"_blank\">NPR Music</a> has gotten me through the last couple of weeks of work.  Specifically, I can\'t seem to stop listening to the concerts from Mountain Stage.\n\nBasically, NPR is radio for anyone in the states who wants to be informed. But it does have a liberal slant--the stereotype is probably that NPR is for smart people. The other way to think about NPR\'s audience is this way: if you read the NYT on Sunday there\'s a pretty good chance that NPR is right up your alley.\n\nThe one thing about listening to the NPR shows in Bulgaria is that your kind of always a day behind. For the most part this doesn\'t matter too much but when I was listening to a heart breaking piece on 9/11 this morning before work and nearly found myself in tears--I felt a little behind the curve. Oh well.\n\nI am still going to keep listening.  Listening to the radio really allows you to multi-task. I can fold laundry and listen to the news but I can\'t read the NYT and do dishes.\n\nWant to get started listening? My three favorite NPR news programs are Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Fresh Air.','Digging NPR and NPR Music','','publish','open','open','','digging-npr-and-npr-music','','','2010-09-13 09:32:52','2010-09-13 08:32:52','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3343',0,'post','',3),(3347,1,'2010-09-15 17:22:43','2010-09-15 16:22:43','Today is my third first day of school in Bulgaria! Pretty cool.\n\nIt was a pretty great day. I am tired though.\n\nSchool always starts here on the 15th of September. It doesn\'t really matter if it\'s a Monday or a Thursday. It always starts on the 15th. Okay, I am not really sure what happens when the 15th lands on a Saturday or a Sunday but that\'s another story.\n\nThe thing is that the 15th isn\'t really a <em>school day</em> as I know it in the States.  We don\'t have our students sitting in their chairs, taking notes or anything else first-day-of-school like.  The 15th is like a celebration <em>of </em>school rather <em>than</em> school.<!--more-->\n\nAnyhow, at the American College of Sofia, it means that we formally welcome the students, our newest class the 8th grades (who we fondly call our preps) are introduced and then we play field games. The games are silly and generally aimed at getting the students to work together, to get to know each other and to catch up with their school friends before we require that they sit still and silently in their chairs. It\'s really a pretty great idea.\n\nWe also have a developing advisory system and each small-group advisory fits into a larger house system.  This means that playing field-games for a day lets you get to know your eight or nine advisees and gives the students a chance to feel like apart of their individual house.\n\nAnd great news: my house came in second in the school wide olympics!! So, all in all, it was a pretty wonderful first day of school.\n\nBut, now I am tired.\n\nI\'ve got to go because I have to get up bright and early tomorrow morning. For my second day of school and my first day of teaching.','First Day of School!!','','publish','open','open','','first-day-of-school-2','','','2010-09-15 17:22:43','2010-09-15 16:22:43','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3347',0,'post','',6),(3351,1,'2010-09-17 06:14:00','2010-09-17 05:14:00','I know I\'ve said it before but I\'ll say it again: man, Balkan Dance is hard. I went back last night for the first time in months. Probably four months. That\'s when I remembered how hard it is. And how bad I am at it.\n\nWhy is it hard do you ask? Well between my feet not doing what I want them to do, the seemingly completely irregular beat of the music and all of the dance directions coming at me in Bulgarian--Bulgarian national dance is difficult. And in addition to the class being difficult, I am not good at it.\n\nI am the kind of not good that it\'s clear that sometimes people don\'t want to dance next to me.  <em>Yeah</em>. <!--more-->\n\nI get why. When everyone is going to the right and I am going to the left because I am a step behind, a step off or I simply can\'t remember the steps--it\'s probably not that much fun to dance next to me.  For record, sometimes it\'s not that great for me either. I don\'t relish being the one who\'s always off, who\'s always doing the wrong thing.\n\n<em>Still</em>, I keep going back.\n\nThat\'s probably the funny part. Some people would probably cut their losses and stop going to class. But, I am apparently not one of those people. Because I keep going back.\n\nI\'ve somehow convinced myself that with enough practice, I\'ll get better. That if I work hard enough at it, at some point I\'ll get it. To date, this doesn\'t seem to be the case.\n\nI have really hard time remembering the dance steps. On top of this, nearly every song sounds new to me. This results in probably the biggest problem: I can\'t really remember the songs and which dance goes with them from class to class.  (And I went twice a week for about six months last year.)\n\nBut, maybe this is my year. (Or, maybe not, we\'ll see.) I try to tell myself that it doesn\'t matter as long as I\'m having fun. This said, sometimes there\'s a fine line between fun and frustration.','Back to Balkan Dance','','publish','open','open','','back-to-balkan-dance','','','2010-09-17 06:14:00','2010-09-17 05:14:00','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3351',0,'post','',3),(3356,1,'2010-09-18 17:41:30','2010-09-18 16:41:30','I\'ve been reading a really depressing book about Bulgaria titled <em>The Good Balkans</em> by a British journalist Jack Hamilton. He paints a colorful picture of life in Bulgaria shortly after the changes--that\'s the middle to late 1990\'s and the 2000\'s--but it seems to start off as a string of love stories but it\'s actually a string of heavy, disappointing and crushing stories.\n\nIn his book, Hamilton traces the recent Bulgarian past in present day Bulgaria--generally the political, social, economic and religious pressures that the country faces today but which have been a big part of the country\'s past as well.  I\'d say that he gets a lot of it right--there are some really wonderful moments, where he gives words to things I\'ve experienced and places I\'ve been. These moments become shared experiences but in the end Bulgaria seems to have trampled on Hamilton.\n\nHe ends his book with this thought:\n<blockquote>But there are no answers [to] these questions. Bulgaria is very good at hiding the solutions to its mysteries.</blockquote>\nAnd this it seems to me is the easy answer--because it\'s no answer at all.\n\nTruth be told, this doesn\'t happen to me much but when I got to the end of the book, I found myself frustrated. Why read this book at all? <!--more-->Why invest all of this time reading the poorly edited 300-page book if all you can tell me at the end is that after plowing through these 30)-pages you don\'t really see any solutions to the Bulgaria-problem? <em>Awesome</em>. Or actually not so awesome as the case may be.\n\nIt\'s funny, I wasn\'t looking for a feel good love story or anything about Bulgaria--I mean, I am in the Balkans but I was expecting something somehow more insightful than this book.\n\nI don\'t normally get down on books--generally I can be happy reading almost anything.  Frankly, I was very happy reading many sections of this book. I just don\'t like feeling let down by a book. And this book let me down.\n\nInterestingly, the book seems to be currently out of print. <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Good-Balkans-Adventures-Bulgaria/dp/0955796903\" target=\"_blank\">Amazon.com </a>doesn\'t have a single copy new or used. I guess it\'s lucky that I was able to borrow the copy I read from a teacher at school.\n\nIt\'s also lucky that the book isn\'t much longer than it is because after reading it, I got really down about life Bulgaria. I finished the book late on Saturday morning and when a friend called to see if I wanted to meet her for coffee, I almost said no. I was still thinking about the book--I was still busy being depressed by the book and by Bulgaria.\n\nAt one point, I thought: it\'s a good thing you didn\'t read this book before moving to Bulgaria. Hopeful it is not. <em>Uplifting</em>? Far from it. <em>Truthful</em>? I think so. Worth reading? If you can get your hands on a copy, probably but just be warned--it\'s not a feel-good book.\n\nBut it was probably perfect preparation for the following combination: me + <em>Under the Yoke</em>.','Review: The Good Balkans','','publish','open','open','','review-the-good-balkans','','','2010-09-18 17:41:30','2010-09-18 16:41:30','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3356',0,'post','',8),(3361,1,'2010-09-20 19:14:50','2010-09-20 18:14:50','I\'ve been so excited to be back at school. I\'ve got a new bigger classroom this year, great new students and at the same time, I know all of last year\'s students still. It\'s good to be settling into a routine.\n\nAll in all the first few days of school are super. Except for this: I am tired.\n\nI forgot how hard it is to stand on your feet all day, to engage all of your students even the shy ones, to try to remember all of their names and to stick to your lesson plans. I forgot that all of this makes you tired.\n\nWa, wa, wa. I know, I know.  It is the life of a teacher.\n\nSo here I am, sitting on my couch. I\'ve got tired feet. And I\'m yawning--a lot even though is only 9pm. On top of this, I don\'t feel very funny or clever making blogging less than exciting. <em>Sorry</em>.\n\nYep, that\'s what it comes down to. I am making tea. I am going to sit on my couch for maybe 20 more minutes and then, then I am going to bed. That\'s how great my life.\n\nDon\'t get me wrong. I like teaching. I like my students. I like the routine of it. But I don\'t like being tired.\n\nLuckily these things too pass. Soon it will all seem second nature. And I\'ll be going strong in the classroom and on the blog. Just give me a day or two. <em>Okay?</em> Thanks!','Teaching is Hard Work!','','publish','open','open','','teaching-is-hard-work','','','2010-09-20 19:14:50','2010-09-20 18:14:50','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3361',0,'post','',3),(3363,1,'2010-09-21 05:16:26','2010-09-21 04:16:26','Teaching is never easy. It\'s hard work. It takes time. It requires energy, creativity and a sometimes even a smile when the last thing you want to do is smile. But if you\'re an American teaching in Bulgaria, it often requires even more.\n\nIt\'s a country where nearly everyone is appreciative of what you\'re doing--it\'s just that not everyone has the same understanding of <em>what</em> you\'re doing and <em>how</em> you\'re going about it. So what do you need to know about teaching in Bulgaria?\n<ol>\n	<li>On a whole students have big hearts and are well meaning. This doesn\'t always translate to them doing their homework. Go figure. Teenagers are teenagers everywhere!!</li>\n	<li>At some point, you\'ll have to write on a chalk board. This means that to erase it you will have to stick your hand in a bucket of water at the front of the classroom under the chalkboard to grab an over-sized soaking wet sponge to clean the board.  Bulgarian teachers will tell you to have your students do it but you won\'t. Because you\'re American.</li>\n	<li>Students can\'t imagine what you\'re doing in Bulgaria. The problem is this: they can\'t understand why you are <em>here</em> and the thing they want is to be anywhere but here--that goes for why you\'re teaching them in their school, why you\'re in Sofia and Bulgaria, or even why you\'re traveling in Europe when you could be in America. They\'ll ask you lots of questions about this. <!--more--></li>\n	<li>One day you\'ll think you need a photocopy for each of your students for your hand out--someone else will make you half of what you think you need. It will probably be on accident. All you can do is smile and make do.</li>\n	<li>Textbooks will have you teaching British English. You\'ll want to laugh. British English is silly enough without hearing it come out of your own mouth!!</li>\n	<li>You\'ll also want to correct spelling mistakes that include errant \"u\"s. Turns out those \"u\"s are okay in words like flavour or colour. Oh those Brits.</li>\n	<li>In your first month, 50% of the time you wont understand exactly what your students are saying. This may be because they don\'t speak loudly enough, they have an accent of some sort or they are speaking in Bulgarian. After a month, you won\'t even notice. Then one day you\'ll hear Bulgarian-ized English pass through you\'re lips. Your heart will stop. You\'d never have thought that was possible.</li>\n	<li>At some point, a sea of little Bulgarian heads will shake their heads in the Western \"no\" when you ask them: do you understand what you\'re supposed to do now? They are actually shaking their heads yes with the Bulgarian \"yes.\" But in this moment you wont remember and you\'ll be scared and maybe speechless until you realize what\'s happened and the 2 seconds it took to click will have felt like hours.</li>\n	<li>You will have a resource problem.  Be it a cd player, an LCD projector or a dvd player that will not work when you need it. This will frustrate you. A lot. But this too will pass.</li>\n	<li>Ask your  Bulgarian colleagues questions, generally speaking, they know what they are doing. Heck, Bulgarians have been learning and mastering English for the last 50-plus years without you.</li>\n</ol>\nThis said, teaching in Bulgaria is a treat and a surprise. It will keep you on your toes and it will force you to be more flexible than you thought possible.\n\nThe truth is that not everything about teaching in Bulgaria is easy. Luckily, these kids will make you laugh. A lot. They will say things in English that make you smile because you know that you taught them that. They will say things that you can\'t believe just came out of their mouths and you\'ll wonder where they picked that up--thanks to American movies, tv or pop music. They\'ll say things that surprise you because it\'s articulate, well developed and just plain old everyday smart. And then you\'ll remember that they are doing this in their <em>second</em> language. It\'s wonderful and humbling at the same time.','10 Things to Know about Teaching in BG','','publish','open','open','','10-things-to-know-about-teaching-in-bg','','','2010-09-21 05:16:26','2010-09-21 04:16:26','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3363',0,'post','',9),(3368,1,'2010-09-22 15:28:59','2010-09-22 14:28:59','I am celebrating a Bulgarian holiday today. This means: no work for me.\n\nIt\'s kind of strange not to have to work in the middle of the week. Once again it makes me think that the Bulgarians should really consider some floating Monday holidays. I would really prefer to have a three day weekend than a Wednesday holiday but truth be told, I\'ll take a holiday when I can get one.\n\nSo here\'s my recap in numbers:\n<ul>\n	<li>Wednesday, September 22. No work.</li>\n	<li>Wake up at 6am. Realize there\'s no work. \"Sleep in\" until 8am.</li>\n	<li>Make 1 pot of coffee. Drink all of it over the course of the morning.</li>\n	<li>Read a dozen of my favorite blogs.</li>\n	<li>Make a small batch of scones. 4 total. Eat 2.</li>\n	<li>Watch some bad tv. It\'s a holiday--that\'s okay.</li>\n	<li>Do 1 load of laundry.</li>\n	<li>Read 40 pages of Under the Yoke.</li>\n	<li>Break a glass full of orange juice. It takes 4 towels to clean up the mess.</li>\n	<li>Start my 2nd load of laundry for the day. <em>Great</em>.</li>\n	<li>Think about writing my 9 letters of recommendation.</li>\n	<li>Watch 1 episode of the Daily Show. Tell myself after those 22 minutes of mindless tv watching I\'ll start my letters.</li>\n</ul>\nAnd that brings me to right now. I am writing. The only thing is that I am writing a blog post rather than those letters of recommendation. I guess I\'d better finish this up and start actually writing my letters of recommendation.','Middle of the Week Holiday Re-cap','','publish','open','open','','middle-of-the-week-holiday-re-cap','','','2010-09-22 15:28:59','2010-09-22 14:28:59','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3368',0,'post','',2),(3376,1,'2010-09-25 19:17:24','2010-09-25 18:17:24','Hey, Thursday was the first day of autumn. Who knew? Well not me clearly. I am writing about it today. This said it seems fitting that yesterday I was introduced to this Bulgarian blog. It\'s mostly photos that catch the unexpected beauty of Bulgaria.\n\nCheck it out! <a href=\"http://spaze.info/tales/\">Tales of Rado</a>:\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"640\" caption=\"End of 23.09.2010\"]<img title=\"End of 23.09.2010\" src=\"http://spaze.info/tales/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/IMG_0158.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"375\" />[/caption]\n\nThis picture titled End of 23.09.2010 and it\'s captured the feeling of Sofia this past week.\n\nAutumn is coming. But it\'s not actually here yet. The mornings are cool while the days are still getting pretty warm. It\'s the kind of weather that\'s impossible to dress for and every evening I\'ve found myself walking home with my jacket draped over my arm rather than wearing it.\n\nStill, autumn is inevitable. It\'s bittersweet.\n\nLuckily though, I love the crisp air that is fall morning. I love digging out my sweaters. I love seeing my breath in the gray morning light. I love the leaves turning colors.  I am also in love with this new-to-me blog.\n\nHeck, I\'ve already added it to my google reader. I don\'t want to miss a post.','This Week: Autumn','','publish','open','open','','this-week-autumn','','','2010-09-25 19:17:24','2010-09-25 18:17:24','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3376',0,'post','',2),(3384,1,'2010-09-26 09:57:25','2010-09-26 08:57:25','','5th Ave Pizza Menu','5th Ave Pizza Menu','inherit','open','open','','dsc01949','','','2010-09-26 09:57:25','2010-09-26 08:57:25','',3383,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01949.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3385,1,'2010-09-26 10:06:01','2010-09-26 09:06:01','','P. and his pizza!','P. and his large pizza!','inherit','open','open','','dsc01953','','','2010-09-26 10:06:01','2010-09-26 09:06:01','',3383,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01953.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3386,1,'2010-09-26 10:14:11','2010-09-26 09:14:11','','My little pizza at 5th Ave','My little pizza at 5th Ave','inherit','open','open','','dsc01955','','','2010-09-26 10:14:11','2010-09-26 09:14:11','',3383,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01955.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3389,1,'2010-09-26 10:23:39','2010-09-26 09:23:39','','Pizza Restaurant 5th Avenue','Pizza Restaurant 5th Avenue','inherit','open','open','','dsc01956','','','2010-09-26 10:23:39','2010-09-26 09:23:39','',3383,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01956.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3383,1,'2010-09-26 10:29:10','2010-09-26 09:29:10','Well, kind of. I checked out 5th Ave. Pizza this weekend with my American friend P. and some of his friends. It\'s a new pizza place in Sofia that claims to be making American-style pizza. The street address? 174 Rakovski.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3389\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Pizza Restaurant 5th Avenue\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01956.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3389\" title=\"Pizza Restaurant 5th Avenue\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01956.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nNow I like pizza. I actually even like Bulgarian-influenced pizza with kashkaval cheese, an assortment of veggies including both pickles and corn (but generally I avoid having both on the same pizza), the occasional egg and hardly any sauce. It\'s definitely not pizza as I knew it growing up in the States. But I am living in Bulgaria.  I knew what I was getting into.\n\nSo when my friend P. told me there was a new pizza place open in Sofia and it claimed to make American style pizza we had to go. It\'s also pretty funny that P. and I became friends over pizza. Believe it or not, I wrote a post last fall on the <a href=\"http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/pizza-in-sofia/\" target=\"_blank\">best pizza in Sofia</a>. My blog got plenty of comments about different options and the result? P. and I cemented our friendship over pizza.\n\nBut do they really make American-style pizza? Yes. And no.<!--more-->\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3384\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"5th Ave Pizza Menu \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01949.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3384\" title=\"5th Ave Pizza Menu \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01949.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nLet me explain, the names of pizzas, the toppings and the combination of toppings are the most American I\'ve seen in Bulgaria. Pizza like peperoni, meat lovers, deluxe seem right at home on the menu. There\'s also clearly a push to get the names of as many American places on the menu as possible from Napa, Texas, Hawaii, California, Philadelphia and Mexico.\n\nYou may also notice the inclusion of mozzarella on the menu. That\'s pretty exciting. And the mozzarella was pretty tasty.\n\nThe hot dog pizza seems a little suspect. I\'ve never eaten a hot dog pizza but it looks less silly located on the second have of the menu sandwiched between the philly cheese stake and the cheeseburger pizzas.\n\nWhen the pizza came to the table it look great. It was steaming hot.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3385\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"P. and his large pizza! \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01953.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3385\" title=\"P. and his pizza! \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01953.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYeah, look at how excited P. is to eat his pizza. That\'s pure pizza joy.\n\nIt should probably be noted here that the pizza is beautiful as well. Check it out. It\'s a perfect mix of toppings and cheese.\n\nThis said, 5th Ave. is a pizza joint in Sofia and not actually on 5th Ave. in New York City.  Why point this out? Well, they are a pizza restaurant in Bulgaria and while the pizza looks amazing American the pizza definitely leans towards Bulgarian pizza tastes.\n\nThe crust it seems was premade rather than made in the kitchen and there wasn\'t really enough tomato sauce between the crust and the toppings for my liking--as an American who is supposedly eating American pizza.\n\nBut really, who am I kidding? I\'ll definitely go back. I mean look at this great pizza.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3386\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"My little pizza at 5th Ave\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01955.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3386\" title=\"My little pizza at 5th Ave\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01955.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nSure the restaurant is a little more expensive than Ugo but it\'s worth it. The service was great. But Bulgarian, when we arrived at about 7pm Friday night there was some concern that we didn\'t have a reservation.  <em>Really</em>? Because the place was nearly empty. They did find us a table.\n\nWhat was really great was that our pizzas all came out at the same time. That was pretty stellar--pretty <em>American.</em> Don\'t worry because then I washed my American pizza down with some Bulgarian beer!!\n\nNext time? We\'ll I\'ve got my eye on the prosciutto and arugula pizza!!','American Pizza in Sofia?','','publish','open','open','','american-pizza-in-sofia','','','2010-09-26 10:29:10','2010-09-26 09:29:10','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3383',0,'post','',2),(3392,1,'2010-09-26 16:22:06','2010-09-26 15:22:06','Today I had my regular Sunday Bulgarian lesson with my tutor I. It was great.\n\nThe only problem was that I haven\'t really studied Bulgarian for the better part of three months. And the only time I spoke Bulgarian this summer was when I was traveling in Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Kosovo (that last one was in a pinch).  Sure, since I\'ve been back in Sofia, I\'ve said my good morning, hellos, how are yous and order my coffees in Bulgarian but mostly I\'ve been off in the English speaking bubble that is ACS.\n\nNeedless to say, my Bulgarian is rusty. And my grammar? Ug. Don\'t even ask.\n\nMy tutor I. decided that today we would review nouns and articles, plurals, adjectives and articles, personal pronouns both the short and long forms and verbs. She had made a serious worksheet to do so.  Good thing. Because basically I stumbled through the whole thing. I think on a whole I answered probably 75% of her questions right. Sure that\'s better than say 50% which would have been guessing but it\'s not great.\n\nSure a Bulgarian would understand me if I made a masculine object plural using the feminine plural rather than the masculine but I used to know all of this stuff last year--and get it right. This year? Apparently, not.\n\nWhat does this mean? I\'ve got some serious work to do.\n\nSo you can look forward to a new composition from me in Bulgarian shortly. It will be titled: What I did this summer vacation.  Just give me a few days to work on it!','My First Bulgarian Lesson of the Year','','publish','open','open','','my-first-bulgarian-lesson-of-the-year','','','2010-09-26 16:22:06','2010-09-26 15:22:06','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3392',0,'post','',0),(3396,1,'2010-09-26 17:47:16','2010-09-26 16:47:16','','Degas in Sofia!','Degas in Sofia!','inherit','open','open','','dsc01961','','','2010-09-26 17:47:16','2010-09-26 16:47:16','',3395,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01961.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3401,1,'2010-09-26 18:09:10','2010-09-26 17:09:10','','Coffee and sweets at 100 Grams','Coffee and sweets at 100 Grams','inherit','open','open','','dsc01934-2','','','2010-09-26 18:09:10','2010-09-26 17:09:10','',3400,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01934.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3402,1,'2010-09-26 18:20:09','2010-09-26 17:20:09','','A Sweet (and new to me) Shop','A Sweet (and new to me) Shop','inherit','open','open','','dsc01932','','','2010-09-26 18:20:09','2010-09-26 17:20:09','',3400,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01932.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3395,1,'2010-09-27 05:55:49','2010-09-27 04:55:49','On Saturday, I checked the Degas exhibit at the National Art Gallery here in Sofia. It was totally worth going.\n\nDegas is a really incredible sculptor.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3396\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Degas in Sofia! \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01961.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3396\" title=\"Degas in Sofia! \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01961.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"666\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI\'m familiar with many of his impressionist paintings. The ballerina dancers--those girls in full skirts, point shoes and satin bows. Paintings in shades of white, green, yellow and blue. I knew the sculpture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Petite_Danseuse_de_Quatorze_Ans\" target=\"_blank\">\"La Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans\"</a> (Little Dancer of Fourteen Years) but many of the other sculptures were new to me. <!--more-->\n\nThe sense of moment in the female sculptures is really beautiful and for being cast out of bronze the sculptures are also incredibly graceful. Degas captures the lines of human body but also the imperfections. While many of his paintings seem ephemeral the sculpture is solid and physical but notably still playful and light. There\'s a sense of balance in these pieces.\n\nIn comparison, I found the horse sculptures much less interesting. They look like bronze horses. Then again, I\'ve never been much of a horse girl. But they do provide an certain contrast to the female sculptures.\n\nSo, if you\'re thinking about going and can check out the exhibit on a weekday, I think it would probably be smart. Saturday it was really crowded.  Often you had to wait your turn to really look at a sculpture. I mean if you\'re happy peering over someone\'s shoulder to glimpse the sculptures then that\'s a different story.  You can check out the exhibit whenever you want to. But for everyone else I\'d recommend a weekday or trying to hit the gallery when it opens.\n\nThe other thing that could have really improved the exhibit would have been spacing out the sculptures more.  In fact, I think that many of the sculptures were too close together. The feeling was a little claustrophobic in a couple of places. I realize that the space for the exhibit is what it is.  Given the space the gallery was working with, the Degas pieces are displayed as well as can be.\n\nMy big complaint? The collection is only labeled in Bulgarian and French.  <em>Ug. </em>The problem with this is that my Bulgarian isn\'t very good and neither is my French. Luckily, I know my body parts in Bulgarian and I can make out enough \"dancers-French\" that I never felt too lost.  But <em>really</em>? There was no one who could translate the names of each piece into English?  Apparently not. I mean, it\'s not the end of the world but it\'s things like this that sometimes makes Bulgaria seem inaccessible to foreigners.\n\nThe good news? The sculptures speak for themselves. You don\'t really need to know the names of the pieces. Unless, you\'d like to tell your MoM, your friends or your blog readers your favorite one and you can\'t. Sorry.','Degas in Sofia','','publish','open','open','','degas-in-sofia','','','2010-09-27 05:55:49','2010-09-27 04:55:49','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3395',0,'post','',4),(3400,1,'2010-09-28 04:40:47','2010-09-28 03:40:47','As I think you all know, I love coffee.  Not a little bit. A lot.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3402\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"A Sweet (and new to me) Shop\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01932.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3402\" title=\"A Sweet (and new to me) Shop\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01932.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThis is why I cannot imagine why it\'s taken me two whole years to discover the sweet shop/coffee shop 100 Grams of Sweets or in Bulgarian: 100 грама сладки. It\'s delicious.\n\nFirst it\'s so cute.<!--more-->\n\nSecond, they serve coffee in tea cups. Good coffee in tea cups. Tea cups with flowers.\n\nThird, their sweets are to die for. I want to eat everything in the shop. I did not. But I wanted to.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3401\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Coffee and sweets at 100 Grams \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01934.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3401\" title=\"Coffee and sweets at 100 Grams \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01934.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYep. Apparently, until now, I\'ve been living in the dark ages. I know, I know. It\'s shocking. Luckily for me my friend K. knows what\'s up. She\'s the one who took me there.\n\nNow all I have to try not to do is GO ALL OF THE TIME.\n\nWant to check it out? You\'ll find the shop at 18A Angel Kanchev. It\'s right next to the restaurant Dani\'s.\n\nOh yeah, and I\'d recommend that you try the macaroons. They are crispy on the outside and light and airy inside. The one I had was blueberry. And it tasted like <em>real</em> blueberry. No fake sticky-sweet blueberry flavor here.','Coffee and 100 Grams of Sweets','','publish','open','open','','coffee-and-100-grams-of-sweets','','','2010-09-28 04:40:47','2010-09-28 03:40:47','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3400',0,'post','',7),(3415,1,'2010-09-28 16:11:44','2010-09-28 15:11:44','Something you may not know about me is that I love Ace of Base. In fact, one of my first cds was Ace of Base. I mean, what\'s not to love? I am just really happy that I had good taste at age 11 when I was buying my first cd and even happier that I still love the group.\n\nIf these guys come on at a party? I am dancing.\n\nAnyhow, this summer when the Lady Gaga song Alejandro came out, I spent the whole summer getting really pumped up only to realize that it was Lady Gaga and not Ace of Base. Lady Gaga is fine and everything but you can\'t help but feel let down when it\'s not actually Ace of Base.\n\nNeedless to say, I spend the whole month of July telling my friend R. who I was traveling through the Balkans with this: you know what would make this better? <em>Ace of Base</em>.\n\nWhy? well when you\'re stuck in the backseat of an overly crowded, hot and smelly minibus blaring Albanian pop-folk and the man sitting next to your sweating all over your arm from Tirana to Ohrid you need something to look forward to and/or joke about. In my case, this was Ace of Base. It\'s slightly absurd and slightly possible that you\'d stumble across someone (who\'d clearly be awesome) playing Ace of Base. Unfortunately, the whole I never heard any Ace of Base.\n\nThat is until I turned my tv on this afternoon after a long day at work. And there were men singing an Ace of Base cover!!  In Bulgarian. Wow. <em>Wow</em>. <!--more-->Now here\'s the thing, I regularly listen/watch this hysterical-wonderful-ridiculous Bulgarian tv channel called \"The Voice\"--it\'s part pop, hip-hop, euro-pop and a wide variety of Bulgarian pop/rap. I like it for all of these reasons. It\'s a channel that never fails to make me laugh.\n\n[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6tqKXWfdh8]\n\nBut today, I couldn\'t peel my eyes off of the television.\n\nFirst, who decides to cover an Ace of Base song in Bulgarian?\n\nSecond, do you see what these guys are wearing?\n\nThird, half or more of the places they are filming are recognizably Sofia.\n\nFinally, where are they going on the Metro? There\'s only one line. (More on the metro tomorrow.)\n\nAnyhow all of these things combine to be pretty outstanding. It\'s like this song was made just for me. I love Ace of Base, The Voice and Bulgarian. How did I get so lucky?\n\nI\'m so pumped up. I am probably going to watch the youtube video a few more times. (Please don\'t judge me.)','Covering Ace of Base in Bulgarian','','publish','open','open','','covering-ace-of-base-in-bulgarian','','','2010-09-28 16:11:44','2010-09-28 15:11:44','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3415',0,'post','',9),(3419,1,'2010-09-28 19:13:33','2010-09-28 18:13:33','','Morning in Mladost','Morning in Mladost','inherit','open','open','','dsc01964','','','2010-09-28 19:13:33','2010-09-28 18:13:33','',3418,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01964.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3420,1,'2010-09-28 19:15:43','2010-09-28 18:15:43','','Mladost Morning','Mladost Morning','inherit','open','open','','dsc01965','','','2010-09-28 19:15:43','2010-09-28 18:15:43','',3418,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01965.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3423,1,'2010-09-28 19:22:49','2010-09-28 18:22:49','','The Fence around the Metro','The Fence around the Metro','inherit','open','open','','dsc01969','','','2010-09-28 19:22:49','2010-09-28 18:22:49','',3418,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01969.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3424,1,'2010-09-28 19:25:18','2010-09-28 18:25:18','','The Hole through the Fence','The Hole through the Fence (it was the only place I could get my camera in through the green)','inherit','open','open','','dsc01968','','','2010-09-28 19:25:18','2010-09-28 18:25:18','',3418,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01968.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3418,1,'2010-09-29 05:07:50','2010-09-29 04:07:50','It was bound to happen. The metro is growing. There\'s been a large hole by the Billa for months. But I never actually considered the road that I used everyday to get to school would close due to construction. Until Monday morning when there was more fencing up than ever before. Then Monday after school the road was closed.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3423\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"The Fence around the Metro \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01969.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3423\" title=\"The Fence around the Metro \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01969.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3424\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"The Hole through the Fence (N. This one is for you! This was the only place I could get my camera in through the green so it&#039;s not very nice. )\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01968.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3424\" title=\"The Hole through the Fence \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01968.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nHumpf. My shortcut was gone. I had to walk back out to the main road and take a longer route home. I am a creature of habit. I don\'t like surprises or changes like this. Irrational and unreasonable? <em>Oh yes</em>.\n\nBut at least I know this about myself.\n\nAnyhow, these things happen. There are two giant holes down the street from me that at some point will be a metro. Maybe the road closure is progress. Maybe it\'s just annoying.\n\n<!--more-->\n\nSo Tuesday morning, I left for school early. I don\'t know how long it will take me on my new route (minus my short cut). Luckily it doesn\'t seem to be that much longer maybe just a few minutes.\n\nBut back to the point, My routine was thrown off--so I was prepared to be grumpy. I was prepared for a much longer walk. I was prepared for the worst. (And I am normally a pretty happy-cheerful person.) Then I looked around me.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3419\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Morning in Mladost\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01964.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3419\" title=\"Morning in Mladost\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01964.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3420\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Mladost Morning \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01965.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3420\" title=\"Mladost Morning \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/dsc01965.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nMladost didn\'t look so bad.\n\nMaybe this wasn\'t the worst thing that could have happened to me.\n\nAnd that\'s when I also realized: at some point in the future I am going to have the metro down the street from me! (Rather than the current one which is also just down the street from me. The difference? This new one will be closer.)\n\nI hope this single thought will carry me through the winter especially when I can no longer take my short cut. I also hope that they\'ll be quick about things. But that seems unlikely.\n\n(Oh and it\'s pouring rain right now as I re-read and edit this post. <em>Of course</em>. Good-bye summer.)','Mladost and the Metro','','publish','open','open','','mladost-and-the-metro','','','2010-09-29 05:07:50','2010-09-29 04:07:50','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3418',0,'post','',2),(3431,1,'2010-09-30 04:58:57','2010-09-30 03:58:57','The Economist has a catchy article on <a href=\"http://www.economist.com/node/17090924#\" target=\"_blank\">\"The Marmite Effect\"</a> yep, that\'s the Australian yeast-spread. Have you had the spread? It\'s tangy. I think it kind of looks like peanut butter but it\'s not. It\'s also not my thing.\n\nBut that\'s what the article is about. Kind of. It\'s also about brand loyalty. Well mostly it\'s about brand loyalty but the article opens with a couple of catchy expat-brand loyalty stories and it caught my eye.\n\nThe idea of nostalgia for brands of our youth rings very, very true to me.  Especially now that I am living abroad. I am really not a peanut butter kind of girl but this most recent trip, a small jar of peanut butter made it in my suitcase. As did marshmallows, chocolate chips, tobasco sauce, maple flavoring,  packets of taco mix and ranch dressing (please don\'t judge me!). In fact, I was kind of embarrassed for myself when I was unpacking my suitcase.<!--more-->\n\nGiven this recent behavior, it comes as no surprise that:\n<blockquote>Past research has shown that people are often willing to pay much more  for a favoured brand than for seemingly identical alternatives. It is  not always obvious why. For instance, people routinely express a strong  liking for a brand that they are unable to tell apart from rivals in  blind tests.</blockquote>\nInterestingly, I\'ve spent most of my adult life buying what\'s on sale at the grocery store but this most recent trip I came back with my favorite brands--no matter what was on sale. `\n\nSure, many of the objects I came back to Bulgaria with could be found at a store like Hit but I still made room for these American favorites in my suitcase but because it\'s about more than food. It\'s clearly nostalgia--a place, tastes and textures that I don\'t currently have access to. And for the record, when in Bulgaria, I try to stick to Bulgarian foods. I don\'t see the point for paying three or four times as much for American brands in Bulgaria. Still, I have that suitcase to compete with.\n\nThe flip side of this whole thing? I have basically zero brand loyalty here in Bulgaria. First of all, I can never remember which brand I bought last time I was at the store. Second, I can\'t tell the difference between anything like laundry soap, shampoo or even (gasp) yogurt. Third, I\'m not sure I care that much.  As long as a product does what I need it to do or tastes good--why worry?\n\nIt\'s a notable contrast given the fact that on my most recent trip home at the grocery store I picked out old favorites regardless of price.  I can\'t help but wonder if I\'ll find and feel a similar nostalgia for Bulgarian brands whenever I find myself living once again in the States.  Maybe though it wont be brands but it will be flavors, textures and combinations that I crave.\n\n<em>Thoughts? </em>','Nostalgia, Brand Loyalty and Living Abroad','','publish','open','open','','nostalgia-brand-loyalty-and-living-abroad','','','2010-09-30 04:58:57','2010-09-30 03:58:57','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3431',0,'post','',4),(3434,1,'2010-10-01 05:08:18','2010-10-01 04:08:18','Great news: it\'s pumpkin banitsa season!!\n\nHello Fall!\n\nHello October!\n\nHello Tikvenik! (That\'s the actual name for pumpkin banitsa... tikvenik.)\n\nI had my first piece of the pastry/sweet/delicious-ness of the year yesterday at school. This stuff is so tasty.  I probably should have just eaten tikvenik for lunch.  Clearly I wasn\'t thinking. <!--more-->\n\nI love pumpkin. And tikvenik? Shredded pumpkin layered in filo dough with some walnuts and maybe some cinnamon and then baked until hot?!   Fall might not get much better than this. Really.\n\nTruth be told, it\'s kind of like I am addicted (or just obsessed) to the stuff because at 6:45 in the morning I am already trying to figure out where I can get my next slice of tikvenik. My guess: lunch 11:15 am. Four hours from now.\n\nRight now I am eating my first bowl of oatmeal and it\'s good. Don\'t get me wrong. In fact, it\'s my first bowl in months but I am dreaming of tikvenik. How sad is that?! Then I started thinking about the fact that I could make pumpkin-cinnamon oatmeal topped off with some walnuts. That thought kind of blew my mind. It might just be the best of both worlds--oatmeal and pumpkin.\n\nThe only problem?\n\nI really don\'t want to haul a whole pumpkin home, cut it up and roast it before then being able to use is for my oatmeal. That seems like much too much work for me.\n\nI\'ll just stick to the tikvenik.\n\n(Oh and a special thanks to my bulgarian-twitter friends for being such lovely human-dictionaries. This would have been a really lame post had I either misspelled tikvenik every time or simply written tikve-something each time.)','Pumpkin Banitsa, an Ode','','publish','open','open','','pumpkin-banitsa-an-ode','','','2010-10-01 05:08:18','2010-10-01 04:08:18','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3434',0,'post','',9),(3440,1,'2010-10-02 15:49:17','2010-10-02 14:49:17','','Signs in Mladost','Signs in Mladost','inherit','open','open','','dsc01971','','','2010-10-02 15:49:17','2010-10-02 14:49:17','',3439,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01971.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3439,1,'2010-10-02 15:56:03','2010-10-02 14:56:03','Saw these signs on the way home from school today.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3440\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Signs in Mladost\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01971.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3440\" title=\"Signs in Mladost \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01971.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"666\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nApparently the Monster Truck Show tonight beat out the Scorpions.\n\nA monster truck shows seems uniquely American to me but this said, why shouldn\'t the Bulgarians also enjoy monster trucks?!','Signs in Mladost','','publish','open','open','','signs-in-mladost','','','2010-10-02 15:56:03','2010-10-02 14:56:03','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3439',0,'post','',2),(3444,1,'2010-10-03 09:45:32','2010-10-03 08:45:32','The pursuit of a good haircut can be maddening. In the States, when you start looking for a new stylist you ask everyone who\'s haircut you like where they got it cut and who did it. Then you inquire about cost and how far in advance you should schedule your cut. The most important part is word of mouth. I mean nobody wants a bad hair cut.\n\nI think that the same strategy should work anywhere. Ask friends where they had their hair cut. See if they are satisfied and if they\'d recommend the salon and stylist. Make sure it\'s not too expensive.\n\nThe thing is, here in Bulgaria I\'ve got a problem. Word of Mouth. Basically, it\'s this, I don\'t have a very big circle of friends, colleagues or acquaintances to ask about their haircuts--their salons.\n\nIn fact, all fall, at campus events, my American and foreign colleagues have been asking me where I got my haircut. The questions I\'ve described above seem to roll off my friends tongues. Everyone is desperate for a good stylist but <a href=\"http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/07/08/i-am-a-whole-new-person/\" target=\"_blank\">L. who cut and colored my hair in June</a> has since moved to the States.\n\nSo, I can\'t help them. I can only sympathize. I\'ve got no one to cut my hair--let alone to recommend to friends. <!--more-->\n\nMan, if I had the name of a good stylist in Bulgaria I could make a lot of expats in Sofia really happy (not to mention the stylist).\n\nOh and I\'d be really happy too. I am in need of another haircut.\n\nSo what am I looking for?\n\nI am looking for someone young and hip who has excellent technique and is comfortable with cutting shorter hair. But really, I\'d rather have someone who knows the craft than is necessarily young and hip. I just want a good haircut.  Ideally, this person speaks some English--I\'d rather not communicate with hand gestures and my questionable Bulgarian.\n\nInterestingly, neither of my Bulgarian text books seem to have a chapter on going to the salon.  This said they all have chapters on going to restaurants, taking public transportation and grocery shopping. Maybe I could give the same directions  to my stylist that I give to taxi cab drivers. Go to the left. Go straight. Stop here. <em>Maybe not</em>.\n\nBack to the point. I am looking for a new stylist and I am hoping that one or more of my loyal Bulgarian readers might have recommendations for me. Maybe you are a stylist. Or a relative of yours is.  Or maybe you have a stylist that you love and would be happy to recommend.\n\n<em>Yes?</em> Please let me know.','Word of Mouth and Haircuts','','publish','open','open','','word-of-mouth-and-haircuts','','','2010-10-03 09:45:32','2010-10-03 08:45:32','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3444',0,'post','',6),(3447,1,'2010-10-03 18:58:34','2010-10-03 17:58:34','','Going to the wedding with my MoM!!','','inherit','open','open','','dsc01860','','','2010-10-03 18:58:34','2010-10-03 17:58:34','',3446,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01860.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3446,1,'2010-10-04 05:00:38','2010-10-04 04:00:38','[caption id=\"attachment_3447\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Going to the wedding with my MoM!!\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01860.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3447\" title=\"Going to the wedding with my MoM!!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01860.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nПрез Лятото аз ходих в Синиморец. Там беше хубаво. След морето аз ходих в Будапеща. Моята преятелка Р. също беше в Будапеща. През Юли ние ходихме в Сърбия, Черна Гора, Албания, Макадония, Косожо и България. През Август ас бях бкъщи с майка ми, баща ме, сестра ми, брат ме и приятелката му. Аз ядох много. Майка ми и баща ми са най-добрите готвачи. в моята къща е много топло през лятото, но ние имаме басейн.  Ас плубах всеки ден. След една седмица аз ходих във Вашингтон. Видях много приятели!! След още една седмица аз се прибрах вкъщи. Моята приятелка се женеше. След това аз бях в уала уала 10 дни и в края на Август аз дойдох в София.\n\nAnd for my MoM: this Bulgarian post is a quick summary of my summer. And I wrote it in past tense!','През Лятото','','publish','open','open','','%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b7-%d0%bb%d1%8f%d1%82%d0%be%d1%82%d0%be','','','2010-10-04 05:00:38','2010-10-04 04:00:38','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3446',0,'post','',10),(3451,1,'2010-10-05 18:47:29','2010-10-05 17:47:29','On the way home today, I found myself thinking about the metro project. The last metro on the line closest to my house is Mladost 1.\n\nI live in Mladost 1A.\n\nSo, I\'ve been thinking about the giant hole fondly as Metro: Mladost 1A.\n\nWow. <em>Right?!</em>\n\nThat\'s how clever I am. Or not.\n\nNope, I didn\'t give the hole a great name. Nope. Every time, I\'ve walked by I\'ve called Mladost 1A.\n\nBut for some reason, tonight was the night that I realized how ridiculous it would be to actually name the stop Mladost 1A.\n\nFirst, it doesn\'t roll off the tongue and second, it\'s a pretty lack luster. Oh and what\'s the difference really between Mladost 1 and Mladost 1a?!\n\nThus my question: does the soon-to-be-new-stop have a name? What is it?','What&#039;s the Name for the New Metro Stop?','','publish','open','open','','whats-the-name-for-the-new-metro-stop','','','2010-10-05 18:47:29','2010-10-05 17:47:29','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3451',0,'post','',10),(3459,1,'2010-10-07 10:08:48','2010-10-07 09:08:48','Bulgaria is again in the news.  More specifically, the New York Times. When this happens it\'s generally bad.  American\'s don\'t seem to care about the good things that are happening in a country it\'s the bad stuff that sells from natural disasters to corruption to war.\n\nThat\'s why this headline caught my eye: <a href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/06/world/europe/06bulgaria.html?_r=5&amp;pagewanted=1&amp;ref=europe\" target=\"_blank\">Unlikely Allies in Bulgaria Reveal Fatal Mental Health Neglect</a>. First I had no idea what the headline meant and second because issues of neglect, mental health, children and death break my heart.\n\nInterestingly, the first two paragraphs of the article play up the shock factor:\n<blockquote>An unusual investigation that brought together prosecutors and human rights lawyers has revealed a grisly picture of neglect at Bulgarian state homes for mentally disabled children: 238 deaths since 2000.More than three-fourths of the deaths were found to have been avoidable: 84 from physical deterioration caused by neglect; 36 from exposure to cold or long-term immobility; 31 from malnutrition; 13 from infections caused by poor hygiene; 6 from accidents; 15 were unexplained.</blockquote>\nThese numbers seem appallingly high given the fact that Bulgaria is a part of the EU.  This said, the death of children is always shocking but in my mind, the death of children who cannot advocate for themselves is that much worse.\n\nWhat\'s notable is what\'s being done to investigate these deaths. Basically, Bulgarian prosecutors and humans rights lawyers have teamed up to collect evidence.  <!--more-->Yeah, they are working together to confront this problem. Apparently:\n<blockquote>The effort represents a strategic break from the familiar pattern of advocates’ naming and shaming governments for appalling standards of care for their societies’ most vulnerable citizens.\n\nEvidence was collected to identify those guilty of crimes and build legal cases to send them to prison.\n\n“It’s about ending impunity,” said Margarita Ilieva, legal director at the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee. “This will instill a fear of criminal liability, and that will change the behavior of the executive branch of government.”\n\nLast month, the Bulgarian prosecutor general announced criminal investigations into 166 of the deaths and 30 more cases of abuse of children still living in the homes. More than 80 percent of the deaths in the homes were not reported to authorities — as required by law — and the bodies were buried without autopsies.\n\nSeveral legal experts working in the region said they could recall no case of anyone ever going to jail for crimes in state institutions for the mentally disabled.</blockquote>\nSo, it turn out that something is happening. Maybe it will even prevent deaths in the future.  And this it turns out is an article about good things that are happening because of a bad situation. Clear it would be better if these deaths had never happened but in my book, it\'s definitely worth noting that steps are being taken to confront the problem.\n\nI seriously hope that this marks a step forward for the rights of disabled children living in state homes in Bulgaria.','In The News: Neglect, Mental Health &amp; Children','','publish','open','open','','in-the-news-neglect-mental-health-children','','','2010-10-07 10:08:48','2010-10-07 09:08:48','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3459',0,'post','',13),(3468,1,'2010-10-08 10:57:34','2010-10-08 09:57:34','I\'ve got friends visiting Sofia this weekend which I am really excited about. I love having a chance to show Sofia off.  Only we didn\'t plan/communicate very well so Saturday I am going to Koprivshtitsa on Saturday night and they\'re flying in from Budapest on Saturday afternoon. Ooops! Needless to say, we\'ve got plans to meet on Sunday.\n\nIt seems to me the 10 must sees in Sofia are as follows:\n<ol>\n	<li><strong>Alexander Nevski Cathedral</strong> (and the crypt with ions!) The building is beautiful with the stone construction, the gold and green roof and the wrought iron gates.  And the<strong> icon museum</strong> is both cool and a little over the top. Clearly my austere protestant background adds to the sense that the icons are fascinating and a bit wild in their depictions of different saints. The Eastern Orthodox church <strong>St. Sofia</strong> is right next to the cathedral and worth popping into if only to look into floor and see earlier remains of a church build on the same site.</li>\n	<li><strong>Ivan Vazov National Theater</strong> and the park in front of the theater. The theater is imposing sitting on one end of a pretty little park. On the far end of the park is the <strong>Sofia City Art Gallery</strong> which is free and usually has art worth checking out. <!--more--></li>\n	<li><strong>The Russian Church </strong>is beautiful both inside and outside. It\'s also pretty hard to miss with the onion domes.</li>\n	<li>The National Art Gallery--<strong>the Former Tsar\'s Palace</strong> and Toba &amp; Co. You might not feel like checking out either the gallery or the ethnographic museum but you can have a good cup of coffee in the cafe/bar behind the palace <strong>Toba &amp; Co</strong> and enjoy the architecture of the building.</li>\n	<li>The <strong>Banya Bashi mosque</strong> and the <strong>baths</strong>--between the minaret and the bright colors of the baths the two form a pleasing addition to downtown Sofia. You can pay a small fee and enter the mosque but while there\'s no longer a big fence around the baths you can\'t go in.</li>\n	<li>One of my favorite museums in the city is in an old mosque the <strong>Archaeological Museum</strong>. It has a great collection of Bulgaria\'s treasures--and it\'s not too big making it easy to see and enjoy the collection without feeling overwhelmed.  Oh and there\'s lots of awesome stuff made out of gold here--you know if you\'re into that kind of thing.</li>\n	<li><strong>Zhenski Pazar or the Women\'s market</strong> is a startling contrast to live on <strong>Vitosha Street</strong>. You can find all sorts of fruits and veggies as well as a range of different clothing and shoe stalls at the market. My favorite is the Bulgarian pottery. I am becoming a regular at these stands. While Vitosha is supposedly Sofia\'s nicest and fanciest shopping street. There are a lot of western shops along this street but I am not convinced it\'s the nicest.</li>\n	<li>At the far end of <strong>Borisova Gradina</strong> there\'s a really great communist monument that I always get a kick out of. And unlike a lot of former communist countries, it hasn\'t been moved. It\'s just been heavily vandalized.</li>\n	<li><strong>NDK </strong>otherwise known as the National Palace of Culture. This building is not beautiful but it\'s got, um, character.  Build in the late 1970\'s and early 1980\'s you go to admire the architecture and the concrete required to build this building.</li>\n	<li>Anything and everything in and around <strong>Graf Ignativ</strong> Street from the outdoor fruit and veggie stands to the book stalls a little further up the street to the church of the seven saints and a slew of restaurants, cafes and little shops.</li>\n</ol>\nThoughts? Anything else that should be added to the list?','Visting Sofia in 10!','','publish','open','open','','visting-sofia','','','2010-10-08 10:57:34','2010-10-08 09:57:34','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3468',0,'post','',8),(3475,1,'2010-10-09 07:17:02','2010-10-09 06:17:02','Foreign Policy magazine has a piece on the changing world of travel writing titled: <a href=\"http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/10/05/travel_writing_ain_t_what_it_used_to_be?page=0,1\">Travel Writing Ain\'t What It Used to Be</a>. The argument is that now that the world is smaller--it\'s easier to travel and publish that travel writing has changed along with it. Well, of course. The question at hand seems to be do we still need the travel writer?\n\nThe old formula seems to be: \"I saw, you didn\'t.\"\n\n<em>Right?!</em> Isn\'t that great? That is travel writing at it\'s most basic.\n\nWhy then do I like to read travel writing--books about Bulgaria and the Balkans if I live here? I\'ve been there and seen much of it first hand.\n\nThis seems to lead pretty naturally to the question: then, am I a travel writer? <!--more-->\n\nIf I am not, what kind of writing am I doing? I live abroad and travel, but my instinct is not to call myself a travel writer. Sure I see things that other people don\'t but I guess that it\'s the tone and style that make travel writing more than the location. This makes me suspect that I am in fact not a travel writer--either by current standards or past standards.\n\nSure, I am writing a personal narrative on the blog but now anyone can. Thus I guess it\'s no surprise that even first-person narrative is undergoing (or maybe even undergone) changes.  In face, the Foreign Policy article says this:\n<blockquote>Long-form travel writing has always been mostly about the writer. It\'s a first-person account of an expedition into uncharted territories. Authors went off to search for truth and beauty and pleasure, and came back with grand stories about human nature, the weirdness of exile, and the spirit of the place. (They also returned with memorable and useful life skills, like Sir Richard Francis Burton\'s advice on the best way to learn a foreign language: Lie in the arms of a beautiful married woman and she will teach you all the proper vocabulary to navigate society -- and when her husband discovers you, you will learn all the coarse street language you will ever need.)\n\nBut the first-person narrative has changed dramatically over the last 50 years with the rise of the memoir, and outer territories have been abandoned for inner ones. If everyone can hop on a plane to Patagonia, what distinguishes your story from mine? Well, me, of course. So we have shelf after shelf of books of men and women walking across Spain, going to the islands, riding horseback across Mongolia, and coming back with stories about what they learned about themselves.</blockquote>\nSo, if it\'s actually true that the only thing which distinguishes travel writing now is the story and the person at the center of it, it seems like travel writing has become pretty narcissistic. Who can do it best, find the wildest story, get the most off the beaten path. Travel writing as competition rather than as enjoyment, exploration and adventure. There\'s something pretty sad about that.\n\nIt\'s clearly only fitting that the piece ends with this question:\n<blockquote>Do we still need the travel writer? In <em>Black Lamb and Grey Falcon</em>, Rebecca West wrote that \"sometimes it is necessary for us to know where we are in eternity as well as in time.\" You get the feeling that most travel writers these days are just passing through, missions and checklists in hand. Travel is about more than sunny beaches, fruit drinks served by the sexually attractive. It\'s more than being a fuzzy version of Hemingway. It\'s about how the world works. The ease of the transitory has hidden the necessity of the eternal.</blockquote>\nAnd so the conclusion makes me think that maybe I am a travel writer. I am just much less interested in checking places, things and experiences off a list than many the current travel writer. Yes, I am living here and working here but for better or worse, I am also writing this experience and I guess that makes me a travel writer.','Is this Travel Writing?','','publish','open','open','','is-this-travel-writing','','','2010-10-09 07:17:02','2010-10-09 06:17:02','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3475',0,'post','',2),(3480,1,'2010-10-11 16:07:09','2010-10-11 15:07:09','','Koprivshtitsa','Koprivshtitsa','inherit','open','open','','img_6060','','','2010-10-11 16:07:09','2010-10-11 15:07:09','',3479,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6060.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3481,1,'2010-10-11 16:09:48','2010-10-11 15:09:48','','Goat on a wall in Koprivshtitsa','Goat on a wall in Koprivshtitsa','inherit','open','open','','img_6047','','','2010-10-11 16:09:48','2010-10-11 15:09:48','',3479,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6047.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3482,1,'2010-10-11 16:12:14','2010-10-11 15:12:14','','Man in a potato Field in Koprivshtitsa','Man in a potato Field in Koprivshtitsa','inherit','open','open','','img_6076','','','2010-10-11 16:12:14','2010-10-11 15:12:14','',3479,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6076.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3483,1,'2010-10-11 16:16:09','2010-10-11 15:16:09','','Cars in Koprivshtitsa','Cars in Koprivshtitsa','inherit','open','open','','img_6049','','','2010-10-11 16:16:09','2010-10-11 15:16:09','',3479,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6049.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3479,1,'2010-10-11 16:27:16','2010-10-11 15:27:16','&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3481\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Goat on a wall in Koprivshtitsa\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6047.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3481\" title=\"Goat on a wall in Koprivshtitsa\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6047.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nApparently, I am the kind of girl who makes a yearly trek to Koprivshtitsa. I didn\'t know this about myself but it\'s true. I\'ve been to Koprivshtitsa four times in a little more than 2 years. That seems pretty good.\n\nI\'ve hit up the house museums, I\'ve been hiking, I\'ve purchases jars upon jars of homemade jam and I\'ve eaten my way through the town.\n\nAnd I can\'t get enough of it. <!--more-->\n\nKoprivshtitsa is <em>so</em> cute.\n\nYep, I dig Koprivshtitsa.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3482\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Man in a potato Field in Koprivshtitsa\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6076.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3482\" title=\"Man in a potato Field in Koprivshtitsa\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6076.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis year was equally great. The weather was crisp and I got to wear my mittens that my MoM and dAd gave me for Christmas last year. I also pulled out my plaid scarf but that was kind of over-kill. But still it was nice.\n\nThe leaves are turning colors in Koprivshtitsa but the grass is still green. It makes for stunning views.\n\nIt\'s also potato season in Koprivshtitsa. Everyone seemed to be tending a potato patch. Phew. It looks like lots of work to me. Lots and lots of work to be exact.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3483\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Cars in Koprivshtitsa\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6049.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3483\" title=\"Cars in Koprivshtitsa\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6049.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nAnyhow, I had a wonderful weekend away. Now I\'ve got plenty of work to catch up on--between housework, homework and school work. I kind of feel like I could use a weekend to catch-up after the weekend. Funny how that works.\n\nOh yeah, don\'t forget to check out all of my photos from Koprivshtitsa on my flickr feed to the right of this post!!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3480\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Koprivshtitsa\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6060.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3480\" title=\"Koprivshtitsa \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6060.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;','Koprivshtitsa October 2010','','publish','open','open','','koprivshtitsa-october-2010','','','2010-10-11 16:27:16','2010-10-11 15:27:16','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3479',0,'post','',0),(3492,1,'2010-10-12 05:20:30','2010-10-12 04:20:30','','goals','','inherit','open','open','','dsc01990','','','2010-10-12 05:20:30','2010-10-12 04:20:30','',3491,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01990.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3491,1,'2010-10-12 19:15:33','2010-10-12 18:15:33','A year ago, I made <a href=\"http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/back-in-bulgaria/#comments\" target=\"_blank\">a list of a few things that I wanted to do in my second year</a> in Bulgaria.\n\nGood thought. Bad follow through.\n\nI still don\'t have a baba and I have yet to make rakiya.\n\nI do however have an amazing Bulgarian tutor--I. who found me (thanks to my post), I checked out some new places in Bulgaria and I went to a number of new cultural events.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01990.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-3492\" title=\"goals \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01990.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>\n\nYear three?\n\nWell, I guess it\'s going to be more of the same: traveling, trying new things, learning more and writing about it.\n\nThat\'s it for now!!','Year Three and Me','','publish','open','open','','year-three-and-me','','','2010-10-12 19:15:33','2010-10-12 18:15:33','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3491',0,'post','',5),(3496,1,'2010-10-13 18:19:32','2010-10-13 17:19:32','Last night on the 76 bus after a loonnngggg day, two giggling girls caught my eye. Actually they caught my ear first. They couldn\'t stop giggling.\n\nI was tired and hungry. It was dark outside. I was trekking home after almost an hour and a half of Bulgarian dance class. And these girls could hardly contain themselves.\n\nThe two girls climbed on a stop or two after mine talking and giggling. Then I heard a few \"okays.\" My ears perked up and I realized that they were speaking English. <em>Kind of</em>.\n\nThey were laughing and it sounded like they were going through some practice dialogue. A dialogue which included hellos, numbers, okays and some longer harder to understand sentences--these were clearly the hard sentences for the girls too. The result was that the dialogue kept being interrupted by spattering of giggles as they when through the dialogue and stumbled over the hard words.\n\nIt was actually great fun to listen to. Both the English and the giggling.\n\nI kind of wanted say hello but I didn\'t. I didn\'t want to be the creepy American girl listening in on conversations. Even though I regularly try to listen in on random Bulgarian conversations. Somehow this doesn\'t feel like eavesdropping but listening in on a English conversation does. Anyhow, the girls were giggling too hard to pay much attention to me anyway.\n\nThat\'s when it stuck me. I need to have more fun learning Bulgarian. I want to laugh and giggle like that.\n\nI am not really sure how to make that happen. But I am going to think about it. I really like giggling.','Giggling Girls and Learning Languages','','publish','open','open','','giggling-girls-and-learning-languages','','','2010-10-13 18:19:32','2010-10-13 17:19:32','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3496',0,'post','',3),(3500,1,'2010-10-13 19:02:37','2010-10-13 18:02:37','','Plastic Coffee Cup','Plastic Coffee Cup','inherit','open','open','','dsc01979','','','2010-10-13 19:02:37','2010-10-13 18:02:37','',3498,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01979.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3501,1,'2010-10-13 19:05:20','2010-10-13 18:05:20','','Ug, Plastic Coffee Cup','','inherit','open','open','','dsc01980','','','2010-10-13 19:05:20','2010-10-13 18:05:20','',3498,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01980.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3502,1,'2010-10-13 19:08:44','2010-10-13 18:08:44','','Ug, Gulp, Gulp, Plastic Coffee Cup','Ug, Gulp, Gulp, Plastic Coffee Cup','inherit','open','open','','dsc01981','','','2010-10-13 19:08:44','2010-10-13 18:08:44','',3498,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01981.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3498,1,'2010-10-14 09:00:48','2010-10-14 08:00:48','I love coffee. If you\'ve been reading this blog for a while now you probably know this.\n\nThere are such hits on my blog as: <a href=\"http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/i-love-coffee/\" target=\"_blank\">I love coffee</a> and <a href=\"http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/03/07/coffee-stat/\" target=\"_blank\">Coffee, STAT.</a> Because really, I do love coffee. Not a little bit but a lot.\n\nBasically when it comes to coffee I know what I like but I have no real standards. If someone claims it coffee and it looks and smells like coffee, I\'ll give it a go.\n\nThat\'s why I am more than willing to drink steaming hot coffee out of much-too-thin plastic cups.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3500\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Plastic Coffee Cup\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01979.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3500\" title=\"Plastic Coffee Cup\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01979.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThese cups scare me. For good reason.  <!--more-->First they are hard to hold with so much steaming hot liquid in them.  Second because, the liquid often causes the cup to deform. This then makes it impossible to put you cup down. You must either hold on to it while you wait for it to cool or you must try to drink it quickly. I usually aim for the second of these two options.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3501\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Ug, Plastic Coffee Cup\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01980.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3501\" title=\"Ug, Plastic Coffee Cup\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01980.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis is because if you forget, you there\'s the possibility that you might squish your too hot plastic coffee cup. It\'s pretty easy to do as I demonstrate in the photo below. This is kind of annoying if you as me. But no one really asks me about these things so I am left to ramble about it on my blog.\n\nOf course, Bulgarians seem to drink coffee out of these plastic cups all of the time without hesitation and without incident. This gives me pause and makes me wonder: <em>are they superior coffee drinkers</em>?\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3502\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Ug, Gulp, Gulp, Plastic Coffee Cup\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01981.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3502\" title=\"Ug, Gulp, Gulp, Plastic Coffee Cup\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01981.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis seems supremely unfair but highly likely. It seems like a skill set that Bulgarians have a acquired out of necessity which for a myriad of different reasons never developed in the States. Namely, there\'s no way an extra hot no foam grande sugar free vanilla latte would fit in one of these little cups.\n\nSo while I generally fear drinking from these too-hot slightly melted plastic cups, I also dig it. Probably I feel like I earning some serious coffee-drinking street cred in the process.','Cups of Coffee','','publish','open','open','','cups-of-coffee','','','2010-10-14 09:00:48','2010-10-14 08:00:48','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3498',0,'post','',12),(3513,1,'2010-10-15 05:14:43','2010-10-15 04:14:43','','The Billa Shopping Bag','The Billa Shopping Bag','inherit','open','open','','dsc01988','','','2010-10-15 05:14:43','2010-10-15 04:14:43','',3512,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01988.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3512,1,'2010-10-15 05:16:27','2010-10-15 04:16:27','Two mornings ago I noticed that the Billa sing/bag was lying on its side on the ground in Mladost.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3513\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"600\" caption=\"The Billa Shopping Bag\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01988.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3513 \" title=\"The Billa Shopping Bag\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01988.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis surprised me for two reasons. First, I had no idea how big the bag actually was. It\'s big. Second, I couldn\'t tell if it had fallen or if it had been taken down. By the time I saw it, it was propped up on some packing flats of plywood but I wasn\'t sure if it was an attempt to keep the sign out of the muddy grass.\r\n\r\nIt\'s been rainy lately.','Billa Sign and Shopping Bag','','publish','open','open','','billa-sign-and-shopping-bag','','','2010-10-24 18:15:12','2010-10-24 18:15:12','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3512',0,'post','',4),(3517,1,'2010-10-15 11:15:10','2010-10-15 10:15:10','It\'s been raining all week. So much so that yesterday in my Bulgarian lesson I learned: дано да не вали (something like: hopefully it wont rain). But learning this did little to change the weather patterns.\n\nYes, it\'s still raining. I guess it\'s officially fall in Sofia. Normally, I\'d say that I like and dislike rain in equal parts. Today, I am not so sure.\n<ol>\n	<li>On my walk to the bus stop the <strong>305, 306 and 76 buses all try their best to swamp me</strong> with a tidal wave of run-off rain water. I manage to dodge all attempts.</li>\n	<li>Only to be <strong>done in by a loose sidewalk tile</strong>. I step on it, it tilts and the water collecting under it splashed up, out and over the tile onto my foot.</li>\n	<li>Now I have one wet foot. <strong>I hate wet shoes</strong>.  Why didn\'t I put my rain boots on? Because they didn\'t go with my out fit. Why am I so silly and vain?!<!--more--></li>\n	<li><strong>Mladost is a wash of gray</strong>. Gray sidewalks, buildings and cars. Everyone is hiding under black umbrellas.</li>\n	<li>At the bus stop a 111 bus and a 76 bus pull up at the same time. Everyone moves for the open doors without fully closing their umbrellas. I realize<strong> it\'s a good thing I am wearing my glasses</strong>. Built in umbrella-in-the-eye protection.</li>\n	<li>On the bus, my glasses fog up instantaneously. All of a sudden,<strong> it\'s a bad thing</strong>. I can\'t see anything and my hands are full. I can\'t hold on to the rail, my umbrella and clean the fog off of my glasses. I am basically blind for four stops.</li>\n	<li>A very wet stray dog meets me at the bus stop. <strong>He smells bad</strong>. I am glad I am not a dog.  A wet stray dog at that.</li>\n	<li>The stretch between school and the bus stop is <strong>a time-bomb of mud, puddles or broken sidewalk</strong>. I will be very unhappy if minutes from school I end up any wetter or muddier than I am already.</li>\n	<li>After my first period class, I do an inventory. I\'ve got one cup of coffee and <strong>five new umbrellas!!</strong></li>\n	<li>Thank-God,<strong> it\'s rain and not snow</strong>.</li>\n</ol>','Rainy Day in 10','','publish','open','open','','rainy-day-in-10','','','2010-10-15 11:15:10','2010-10-15 10:15:10','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3517',0,'post','',6),(3524,1,'2010-10-16 17:04:40','2010-10-16 16:04:40','I\'ve been working seriously on my blog this weekend.\n\nBasically, here\'s what is happening: I making a jump from wordpress.com to self-hosting my blog using wordpress.org.\n\nSo I am obsessing over colors, fonts and style rather than actually writing a new blog post.\n\nI expect that the new site will be up running within a week. I mean, if all goes well.\n\n<em>Fingers crossed.</em>\n\n&nbsp;','Busy Blog Bumble Bee','','publish','open','open','','busy-blog-bumble-bee','','','2010-10-16 17:04:40','2010-10-16 16:04:40','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3524',0,'post','',3),(3529,1,'2010-10-17 09:15:44','2010-10-17 08:15:44','','Homemade Jam','Homemade Jam','inherit','open','open','','img_6102','','','2010-10-17 09:15:44','2010-10-17 08:15:44','',3528,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6102.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3531,1,'2010-10-17 09:18:13','2010-10-17 08:18:13','','Jam, jam, jam','Jam, jam, jam','inherit','open','open','','img_6106','','','2010-10-17 09:18:13','2010-10-17 08:18:13','',3528,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6106.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3528,1,'2010-10-17 09:23:12','2010-10-17 08:23:12','Last Saturday, on my weekend out of Sofia, I bought lots of homemade jam in Koprivshtitsa.\r\n\r\nWhy? Well, I don\'t have the time, the energy or the interest necessary to make my own jam.  I am much happier buying it from little old women who\'ve set-up a cardboard tables of jam.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3529\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Homemade Jam \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6102.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3529 \" title=\"Homemade Jam \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6102.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBecause what\'s better than homemade jam?\r\n\r\nI got home four jars--two jars of strawberry, one blueberry and a jar of pumpkin and walnut. The strawberry and blueberry are pretty standard issue. Tiny berries, hand picked, beautiful color.\r\n\r\nBut the pumpkin and walnut jam, that\'s another story. <!--more-->I\'ve never heard of such a thing. The jar was so pretty. The color is very orange and the walnuts are floating in a syrup and suspended between the pumpkin pieces.\r\n\r\nThe thing is I haven\'t tried the pumpkin-walnut jam yet.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3531\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Jam, jam, jam\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6106.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3531 \" title=\"Jam, jam, jam\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6106.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI am kind of afraid. I know that\'s totally silly but it\'s so pretty. What if I don\'t like it?\r\n\r\nThe other issue that\'s floating around is that now that I have the jam at home I can\'t get the thought that it\'s a jar vegetable jam.  Vegetable jam sounds a little too weird for words.  Clearly, that\'s only because I\'ve never tried it.\r\n\r\nSo, today\'s the day. I am going to try the pumpkin-walnut jam.  The only thing I haven\'t decided yet is if I\'ll have it on a piece of toast or over yogurt. Thoughts?','Homemade Pumpkin-Walnut Jam','','publish','open','open','','homemade-pumpkin-walnut-jam','','','2010-10-24 18:05:49','2010-10-24 18:05:49','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3528',0,'post','',8),(3534,1,'2010-10-17 19:30:56','2010-10-17 18:30:56','','Mladost','Mladost this Weekend','inherit','open','open','','img_6146','','','2010-10-17 19:30:56','2010-10-17 18:30:56','',3533,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6146.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3535,1,'2010-10-17 19:48:50','2010-10-17 18:48:50','','Mladost 1A Blocks in Fall','Mladost 1A Blocks in Fall','inherit','open','open','','img_6112','','','2010-10-17 19:48:50','2010-10-17 18:48:50','',3533,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6112.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3536,1,'2010-10-17 19:52:08','2010-10-17 18:52:08','','Garbage in Mladost 1A','Garbage in Mladost 1A','inherit','open','open','','img_6116','','','2010-10-17 19:52:08','2010-10-17 18:52:08','',3533,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6116.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3537,1,'2010-10-17 19:54:48','2010-10-17 18:54:48','','Women Selling Veggies','Women Selling Veggies','inherit','open','open','','img_6118','','','2010-10-17 19:54:48','2010-10-17 18:54:48','',3533,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6118.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3541,1,'2010-10-17 20:01:44','2010-10-17 19:01:44','','Mladost Supermarket','Mladost Supermarket','inherit','open','open','','img_6128','','','2010-10-17 20:01:44','2010-10-17 19:01:44','',3533,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6128.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (3533,1,'2010-10-18 05:05:11','2010-10-18 04:05:11','[caption id=\"attachment_3541\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Mladost Supermarket \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6128.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3541 \" title=\"Mladost Supermarket \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6128.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOn my way to my Bulgarian lesson today, I snapped a bunch of photos of Mladost.\r\n\r\nIt\'s officially fall here.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3534\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Mladost this Weekend\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6146.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3534 \" title=\"Mladost \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6146.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere are a few more photos after the jump and nearly two-dozen in Flickr. Check them out, okay!?<!--more-->\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3535\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Mladost 1A Blocks in Fall\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6112.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3535 \" title=\"Mladost 1A Blocks in Fall\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6112.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3536\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Garbage in Mladost 1A\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6116.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3536 \" title=\"Garbage in Mladost 1A\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6116.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3537\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Women Selling Veggies \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6118.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3537 \" title=\"Women Selling Veggies \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6118.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /></a>[/caption]','Mladost in Photos','','publish','open','open','','mladost-in-photos','','','2010-10-24 18:03:13','2010-10-24 18:03:13','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3533',0,'post','',6),(3546,1,'2010-10-20 17:53:08','2010-10-20 16:53:08','Well, it\'s only Wednesday but I am tired. As one of my students said today: Wednesday is the new Monday. I know, I know. Wednesday is the middle of the week and I should be glad that the week is half over.\n\nI am. Don\'t get me wrong. I am also just much more tired than I normally am by Wednesday.\n\nA lot of different factors seem to have collided this week and the result is that I\'d be more than happy to curl up in bed with a good book than grade the stack of papers I can\'t seem to make a dent in and have become impossible to ignore. <!--more-->\n\nThis past weekend was a lovely lazy weekend. That might have been my first mistake but oh well, what\'s past is past. Then this week there were a few extra-long meetings at school. Turns out, a meeting cuts into grading, planning and prepping time. Funny how that works.\n\nThen last night I went to the first meeting of our international teachers book club. It was great fun but of course, I was eating really tasty food, talking about a book and sipping on wine rather than making a dent in my to-do list.\n\nBut heck, a girl can\'t be too crazy about her to-do list and book club was great fun. We read and discussed the novel <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Imperfectionists-Novel-Tom-Rachman/dp/0385343663/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1287592456&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\">The Imperfectionists </a>by Tom Rachman. It\'s a collection of short stories that are interwoven and tied together through a newspaper in Rome. I liked the book. It\'s fine. It\'s not really a book that I\'d recommend though.\n\nToday, I was busy, busy at work--teaching three classes, planning up coming units, making photocopies and meeting with students. I walked home, whipped up some dinner and now here I am. Writing a kind of lame blog post. Because, really, this happens sometimes. It\'s not like a girl can be funny and witty all of the time.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Tired and then some','','publish','open','open','','tired-and-then-some','','','2010-10-20 17:53:08','2010-10-20 16:53:08','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3546',0,'post','',0),(3551,1,'2010-10-20 19:14:33','2010-10-20 18:14:33','','Crepes Step One','Crepes Step One','inherit','open','open','','dsc02005','','','2010-10-20 19:14:33','2010-10-20 18:14:33','',3549,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02005.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3552,1,'2010-10-20 19:16:33','2010-10-20 18:16:33','','Crepes Step Two','Crepes Step Two','inherit','open','open','','dsc02006','','','2010-10-20 19:16:33','2010-10-20 18:16:33','',3549,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02006.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3553,1,'2010-10-20 19:19:42','2010-10-20 18:19:42','','Crepes Step Three','Crepes Step Three','inherit','open','open','','dsc02008','','','2010-10-20 19:19:42','2010-10-20 18:19:42','',3549,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02008.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3549,1,'2010-10-21 04:32:47','2010-10-21 03:32:47','Earlier this week, I posted about <a href=\"http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/10/17/homemade-pumpkin-walnut-jam/\" target=\"_blank\">buying pumpkin jam in Koprivshtitsa</a>. I\'d never seen or heard of such a thing. The jar is a beautiful orange color.\r\n\r\nI\'d been thinking about eating the jam on toast or with yogurt--but then one of my readers suggested crepe/Bulgarian style pancakes. I read the comment and thought I can do that.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3551\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"660\" caption=\"Crepes Step One \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02005.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3551  \" title=\"Crepes Step One \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02005.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"496\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI meant to do it Sunday night. But I ran out of time. Monday and Tuesday were busy, busy. So Wednesday it was.\r\n\r\nThe good news is that I like pumpkin and I like jam. So I thought: perfect! (I also like the color orange but I think that might be beside the point.) Anyhow, I thought this is the perfect combination.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThis said, pumpkin is a vegetable so I wasn\'t sure what to expect or if I\'d like it. But I do like pumpkin pie and <a href=\"http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/pumpkin-banitsa-an-ode/\" target=\"_blank\">pumpkin banitsa</a> which lead me to believe that pumpkin jam was right up my alley.\r\n\r\nI opened the jar tonight. The plan: pumpkin jam and crepes. Thanks for the recipe <a href=\"http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/crepes-recipe/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Alton Brown</a>.\r\n\r\nI gathered all of my ingredients together. (Okay, there aren\'t actually that many.) I stirred everything together, heated up a pan and then I opened the jar of jam.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3552\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Crepes Step Two \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02006.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3552\" title=\"Crepes Step Two \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02006.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHere was the big surprise. The pieces of pumpkin seemed to have been candied. They were slightly crunchy and floating in a simple syrup of sorts. It was good but it wasn\'t what I\'d been expecting.\r\n\r\nBiting into my first pumpkin piece I was relieved that it wasn\'t mushy. It was not for example, barely clinging to it\'s shape and fighting a battle with a thick pumpkin syrup. It was sweet but not too sweet. But I can honestly say that the crunchy pumpkin wasn\'t a textured I\'d have ever guessed given the fact that I thought it was jam.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3553\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Crepes Step Three\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02008.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3553\" title=\"Crepes Step Three\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02008.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd in my mind, jam isn\'t crunchy--or even firm for that matter. Nope, this stuff isn\'t quite jam. Or I guess it\'s no jam that I\'ve ever known.\r\n\r\nSo what? Well, it was an odd mix with crepes. The crepes were soft, light and slightly chewy and the pumpkin jam had a little bit to it.  On the other hand, I think that this stuff would be great on a thick yogurt. I also think that you could mix some in with brocolli (or cauliflower) and roast the two in the oven for a delightful combination.\r\n\r\nAs such, I\'ve reached the following conclusion. I wouldn\'t use it on slice of toast anytime soon but that\'s okay. That\'s what I\'ve got strawberry jam for!!','Pumpkin Jam and Pancakes','','publish','open','open','','pumpkin-jam-and-pancakes','','','2010-10-24 17:55:05','2010-10-24 17:55:05','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3549',0,'post','',4),(3557,1,'2010-10-21 19:01:50','2010-10-21 18:01:50','I just met a twitter follower for tea at Chai House, a Bulgarian who\'s been living in the States for the last nine or so years. It was great fun. We talked about Bulgaria and the States, about college, about work, about visas (I\'ve got it pretty easy in comparison), the internet, restaurants and food and a range of other things that people talk about but who share the sense of confusion and dislocation of living into different cultures. .\n\nOne of the first questions I was asked was about Bulgaria--something to the effect of did I <em>really</em> like it here? Um, yes. Then I went on for a bit about what I like.\n\nThis is however actually a hard question to answer. Most of the time, I like Bulgaria. Only thing is when I don\'t like it, I really don\'t like it.  But I guess frankly, that\'s life anywhere.\n\nWe joked around about shopska salad. Yeah, I am not even sure that shopska salad jokes are funny but when you\'ve eaten as many shopska salads as I have. These things happen.<!--more-->\n\nI lamented not having a baba and laughed about what it feels like to be an American speaking Bulgarian. I am (still) convinced I could learn Bulgarian like this (insert finger snap here) if I had a baba but instead, I am stuck with my flash cards, workbooks and fairly regular Bulgarian lessons.\n\nAnd then there was the sentence I never expected in a million years to hear: \"My mom\'s tikvenik is dope.\" It\'s just such a great mix of colloquial English with the word dope and a cultural Bulgarian food reference to tikvenik.<em> Amazing</em>.  But maybe just maybe I am the only one.\n\nAnyhow, after tea I walked to the metro .\n\nThere were so many awesome Bulgarian things on my way home.\n\nThings that I didn\'t even think of when we were talking earlier.\n\nLots of rowdy football fans. A batty-Bulgarian woman on the metro and a train full of Bulgarians staring silently at her. A woman smoking out of one of the underground in the Mladost 1 metro station and ashing into a plastic coffee cup. A little boy peeing on a tree while his mom held on to him. A young woman wearing a too snug coat, a huge scarf and her sunglasses outside. Old men drinking beer on the sidewalk. Overcrowded buses.\n\nSure, Bulgaria is more than just these things but I like Bulgaria for all of these reasons and more.  Yep, I like the good and the bad. It\'s just funny what you notice after you\'ve talked up a place.\n\nI got home and found myself shaking my head and thinking: oh Bulgaria.','Oh Bulgaria, I Like You','','publish','open','open','','oh-bulgaria-i-like-you','','','2010-10-21 19:01:50','2010-10-21 18:01:50','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3557',0,'post','',3),(3294,1,'2010-10-22 04:30:36','2010-10-22 03:30:36','I just plowed through the novel/collection of short stories entitled:<em> Cold Snap</em> by <a href=\"http://cynthiaphoel.com/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Cynthia Morrison Phoel</a>.  I bought it <a href=\"http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Snap-Cynthia-Morrison-Phoel/dp/0870745611\" target=\"_blank\">via amazon.com </a>this summer in hard copy--there\'s no kindle version available. This said, it\'s nice to read a book like this, to smell the paper to turn the pages to feel the weight of the book in your hands to see how much you\'ve got left to read.<img class=\"alignnone\" title=\"Cold Snap \" src=\"http://www.novinite.com/media/images/2010-06/photo_verybig_117323.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"290\" />\n\nI <a href=\"http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/06/29/cold-snap/\" target=\"_blank\">wrote about this book the first time in June/July</a> but I didn\'t finish reading it <a href=\"http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/books-on-my-bedside-table/\" target=\"_blank\">until September</a> and I haven\'t made time to write a serious post about the book until now. It\'s fitting considering winter is around the corner.\n\nFirst off, this is a great book. Buy a copy of it. Read it. Love it or hate it. But read it.\n\nSecond, I can shake the feeling of burr after reading the book and thinking about this post. The book reminds me of my first winter in Sofia three years ago when I lived downtown in an older building without central heat. I spent the whole winter cold. Then in January it got even colder with the natural gas crisis. Thinking about it, I am not sure that I was really warm, warm between the November and March.  In comparison, last winter was a lot better.  And these days my classroom at ACS feels downright balmy.\n\nThree years ago, I didn\'t know that I was having a quintessential Bulgarian experience. But that\'s how things like this always work. In hindsight, it\'s clear at the time however, I was just cold. At the time, I couldn\'t imagine that this was an experience that I would latter connect to other than to trade frustrated, humps with my teacher colleagues at the First English Language School.\n\nAnyhow, back to the book, it\'s a collection of interrelated short stories set in an imaginary town outside of Sofia.\n\nCynthia Morrison Phoel was a Peace Corps volunteer during the early years of the program shortly after the country opened up--post communism. From what I\'ve read about her, when she was here in Sofia, she was a teacher in Pravetz.  Want to know more about her? There\'s a great interview/discussion with Cynthia and Petya from the blog <a href=\"http://www.howtomarryabulgarian.com/2010/08/conversation-with-cold-snap-author.html\" target=\"_blank\">How to Marry a Bulgarian</a>. (It turns out that Cynthia taught Petya English here in Bulgaria. How wonderful is that? The the foreign teacher in me loves it. The world it seems is a very, very small place.)\n\nThis said, the world that Cynthia created is stark and drab. <!--more-->It\'s a world of block buildings, unemployment and under-employment, huge tv sets and lopsided relationships. It seems totally honest to me. It\'s a world and set relationships that are brutal but absolutely in line with what I know of life generally and what I can imagine of life more specifically in Bulgaria in the 1990\'s.\n\nShe integrates Bulgarian apologetically into the stories without translating what she\'s just said but in context I think it makes sense even if you don\'t speak the language. And with a dog named Krastivtsa (or cucumber in English) and an idealistic American English teacher making a cameo in the book, what\'s not to love?\n\nWell a lot. There\'s a lot in the book that\'s hard to swallow but that\'s what makes so good. The book is well written and the characters are well developed.  In my mind, it\'s the characters who make the book. They\'re the kind of people I\'ve met, seen, known or imagined in Sofia and Cynthia seems to have captured them on the pages of her book good, bad and everything in between.\n\nIt\'s wonderful.\n\n<em>Cold</em>. But wonderful.\n\nMaybe it wasn\'t <em>exactly</em> the right book to read right before my third winter in Bulgaria but what\'s done is done.  I guess the good thing about a cold snap is that while it\'s intense it doesn\'t last forever.\n\nOh and if you\'re interested you can check out the facebook page for <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cold-Snap-Bulgaria-Stories/120892737923449\" target=\"_blank\">Cold Snap</a>. Turns out Cynthia is going to be in Boston this next week. If I were in Boston, I\'d go to meet her but I am here in Sofia.','Cold Snap and Cynthia Morrison Phoel','','publish','open','open','','cold-snap-and-cynthia-morrison-phoel','','','2010-10-22 04:30:36','2010-10-22 03:30:36','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3294',0,'post','',3),(3569,1,'2010-10-24 09:02:31','2010-10-24 08:02:31','','Vitosha Clean-up','Vitosha Clean-up','inherit','open','open','','dsc02022','','','2010-10-24 09:02:31','2010-10-24 08:02:31','',3567,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02022.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3570,1,'2010-10-24 09:04:30','2010-10-24 08:04:30','','Sofia from Vitosha','Sofia from Vitosha','inherit','open','open','','dsc02028','','','2010-10-24 09:04:30','2010-10-24 08:04:30','',3567,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02028.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3571,1,'2010-10-24 09:06:23','2010-10-24 08:06:23','','Collecting Garbage','There\'s nothing glamorous about collecting garbage','inherit','open','open','','dsc02031','','','2010-10-24 09:06:23','2010-10-24 08:06:23','',3567,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02031.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3567,1,'2010-10-24 09:08:48','2010-10-24 08:08:48','[caption id=\"attachment_3569\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"270\" caption=\"Vitosha Clean-up \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02022.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3569 \" title=\"Vitosha Clean-up \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02022.jpg?w=225\" alt=\"\" width=\"270\" height=\"360\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYesterday I helped clean up Mt. Vitosha. I picked up more than 100 cigarette butts! (That\'s a personal record I\'ll have you know.)\r\n\r\nI also picked up plastic bags, beer bottle lids, bits and pieces of glass bottles, crumpled up aluminum foil, what had been at one point a sweatshirt and tons of unidentifiable pieces of paper.\r\n\r\nWhy would I spend my Saturday doing this? Well, I volunteered to be a chaperone so that ACS faculty and students could participate in a Bulgaria-wide volunteer day, sponsored in part by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria (\"AmCham\"). The project we picked to participate in was cleaning-up Mt. Vitosha.\r\n\r\nBasically, we chose to devote a Saturday to picking up other people\'s garbage. To cleaning up <em>the Nature</em>.\r\n\r\nYep, you read that correctly: the Nature. I know, I know. Grammatically, it\'s incorrect to say \"the nature\" you don\'t need the article the because we always speak generally about nature in English. This said my students and widely speaking Bulgarians regularly make this mistake and add the to nature. Making it \"the nature\" that they are speaking about.  This mistake makes the English teacher in me grimace but yesterday it really did feel like we were cleaning up <em>the Nature</em>. Vitosha was incredibly beautiful.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nAt 8 am when I was leaving my apartment with about 10 layers on, I wasn\'t really sure what I\'d gotten myself into. It was 2 degrees celsius or right above freezing for those of you who speak \"farenheit\" and we were told that regularly temperatures on Mt. Vitosha are 5-10 degrees colder than in Sofia proper. I had a backpack full of snacks, sandwiches, water and my hat and gloves.\r\n\r\nWhen the other teachers and I got to Vitosha, a mountain that overlooks Sofia and is about 15 minutes away from the American College, I thought: Wow! I am a chaperone and this mountain is really big. Ultimately there were 10 chaperones and almost 80 kids. That\'s a lot of kids to keep an eye on. Luckily our kids are generally really good and as a result we didn\'t have a single problem. Phew.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, we divided into groups and were assigned different parts of the mountain to clean. Pretty straightforward. The challenge of course was keeping an eye on the kids as they scrambled all over the mountain side looking for garbage.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3570\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Sofia from Vitosha \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02028.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3570\" title=\"Sofia from Vitosha \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02028.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAlong our stretch of Vitosha, there were lots of curious Bulgarians both young and old who stopped to ask questions about what we were doing. Usually these questions were directed to me as the adult but the students were kind enough to step in and explain in Bulgarian. (Thanks!) The Bulgarians were generally full of thanks that the students would be doing this and in one case, a couple asked for their own bag to collect any garbage they came across. That was pretty cool.\r\n\r\nAt one point in the day, I heard an impassioned: Ms Emigh! My first thought was: Oh no. I thought a student must have hurt herself. It turned out that a student had found a half-full 2 liter bottle of beer and wondered if she could pour it out. <em>Phew</em>.\r\n\r\nThen I had the thought: what if one of our kids finds a dead body? Followed much too quickly by: if anyone finds a dead body on Mt. Vitosha let it be our group. (I know, I know. That\'s a horrible thought. I must be watching way too much Law and Order.) Needless to say, in the end I was relieved that no one found a dead body. I mean frankly, I am not trained to deal with something like this.\r\n\r\nSo I stuck to picking up cigarette butts and there seem to be enough of these to keep a girl busy for a life time not just a Saturday.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3571\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"There&#39;s nothing glamorous about collecting garbage\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02031.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3571\" title=\"Collecting Garbage \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02031.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe kids though kept lamenting the lack of garbage to pick up. They wanted more. I understand though, it\'s not very satisfying to scramble around for a few bits of paper. They kept saying: why didn\'t we get sent to X or Y path--there would have been plenty of garbage there. It\'s pretty funny to hear kids complaining about the fact that there\'s not <em>enough</em> garbage to collect.\r\n\r\nAfter collecting garbage for the better part of a day, I went downtown to have dinner with some language-school friends who I\'ve known since my first month in Bulgaria. On the walk from the metro to the get together, I couldn\'t stop seeing garbage. It was everywhere. I thought: huna, it might have been more satisfying to clean up Vitosha Street than Mt. Vitosha today.','The Nature and Volunteering on Vitosha','','publish','open','open','','the-nature-and-volunteering-on-vitosha','','','2010-10-24 18:13:40','2010-10-24 18:13:40','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/?p=3567',0,'post','',2),(3581,1,'2010-10-24 11:21:34','2010-10-24 10:21:34','[caption id=\"attachment_3739\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"409\" caption=\"At My Parents&#39; House!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3739\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/%d0%ba%d0%b0%d1%80%d0%be%d0%bb%d0%b8%d0%bd%d0%ba%d0%b0/dpp_0020/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3739 \" title=\"Me in Stripes 1\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DPP_0020-682x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"409\" height=\"614\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nЗдрасти! Аз съм Каролин и съм на 29 години. Живея в София от 3 години. През моята първа година аз участвах в програма \"Fulbright\" и работих в Първа Английска Езикова Гимназия. Пътувах из България, учих Български език и ядох много традиционна храна.\r\n\r\nХересвам тази страна и искам да жевея тук още енда година.\r\n\r\nПрез моята втора година, работих в Американския Колеж в София. Преподаветелка по Английски съм. Това е моята трета година в България и работя на същото място. Преподавам Английска литература на дедети и единайсти клас.\r\n\r\n<strong>За Моето Семейство</strong>\r\n\r\nМайка ми е Джил, а баща ми е Дейв. Те живеят в Уала Уала. Майка ми е професорка по химия, а баща ми има антикварен магазин. Те обичат да готвят, да пият вино, да ходят на къмпинг и да се разхождат. Моята майка казва, че баща ме трябва да се разхожда вески ден, защото той е на 60 години. 60 години не са много, но майка ми се притеснява за него.\r\n\r\nАз имам брат и сестра също. Те са по-малки от мен.\r\n\r\nБрат ми се казва Ник и е на 26 години. Той има сериозна приятелка. Тя се казва К. Сега те живеят с моите родители. Н. и К. искат да си купят къща и трябва да пестят много пари. Аз съм много щастлива за тях.\r\n\r\nСестра ми се казва Шарлот и е на 24 години. Има кестенява коса, сини очи и обикновено носи очила. Аз мисля, че тя прилича повече на майка ми отколкото на мен.  Тя е студентка. Моята сестра обича да чете и ми казва кои нови книги трябва да прочета. Щастлива съм, че тя ми е сестра!\r\n\r\nАз имам много лели и чичовци, които живеят в Америка. Имам също много братовчеди.  Но нямам племенници за сега!','Каролинка','','publish','open','open','','%d0%ba%d0%b0%d1%80%d0%be%d0%bb%d0%b8%d0%bd%d0%ba%d0%b0','','','2010-11-04 21:25:42','2010-11-04 19:25:42','',0,'http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/',0,'page','',11),(3582,1,'2010-10-24 11:53:36','2010-10-24 10:53:36','','Carolyn in Stripes','','inherit','open','open','','dpp_0014','','','2010-10-24 11:53:36','2010-10-24 10:53:36','',3581,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dpp_0014.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3583,1,'2010-10-24 11:21:34','2010-10-24 10:21:34','<strong><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dpp_0014.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-3580\" title=\"Carolyn in Stripes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dpp_0014.jpg?w=200\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>За Мен</strong>\n\nЗдрасти! Аз съм Каролин и на 29 години. Живея в София от 3 години. През моята първа тодина, аз участвах в програма \"\" и работих в Първа Английска Езикова Гимназия. Пътувах из България, учих Български език, и ядох много традиционна храна.\n\nХересвам тази страна и искам да жевея тук още енда година.\n\nПрез моята втора година, работих в Американския Колеж в София. Преподаветелка по Английски съм. Това е Моята трета година в България и работя на същото място. Преподабам Английска литература на дедети и единайсти клас.\n\n<strong>За Моето Семейство</strong>\n\nМайка ми е Джил, а баща ми е Дейв. Те живеят в уала уала. Майка ми е професорка по химия, а баща ми има антикварен магазин. Те обичат да готвят, да пият вино, да ходят на къмпинг, и да се разхождат. Моята майка казва, че баща ме трябва да се разхожда вески ден, защото тойе на 60 години. 60 години не са много стар, но майка ми се притеснява за него.\n\nАз имам брат и сестра също. те са по-малки от мен.\n\nБрат ми се казва ник и е на 26 години. Той има сериозна приятелка. Тя се казва К. Сега те жижеят с моите родители. Н. и К. искат да си купят къща и трябва да пестят много пари. Аз съм много щастлива за тях.\n\nСестра ми се казва Шарлот и е на 24 години. Има кестенява коса, сини очи и обикновено носи очила. Аз мисля, че тя прилича повече на майка ми от колкото на мен.  Тя е студентка. Моята сестра обича да чете и ми казва кои нови книги трябва да прочета. щастлива съм, че тя ми е сестра!\n\nАз имам много лели и чичовци които живеят в Америка. Имам също много братовчеди.  Но нямам племенници за сега!','Каролинка','','inherit','open','open','','3581-revision','','','2010-10-24 11:21:34','2010-10-24 10:21:34','',3581,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/24/3581-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3584,1,'2011-02-10 13:13:20','2011-02-10 11:13:20','[caption id=\"attachment_3739\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"409\" caption=\"At My Parents&#39; House!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3739\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/%d0%ba%d0%b0%d1%80%d0%be%d0%bb%d0%b8%d0%bd%d0%ba%d0%b0/dpp_0020/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3739 \" title=\"Me in Stripes 1\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DPP_0020-682x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"409\" height=\"614\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nЗдрасти! Аз съм Каролин и съм на 29 години. Живея в София от 3 години. През моята първа година аз участвах в програма \"Fulbright\" и работих в Първа Английска Езикова Гимназия. Пътувах из България, учих Български език и ядох много традиционна храна.\n\nХересвам тази страна и искам да жевея тук още енда година.\n\nПрез моята втора година, работих в Американския Колеж в София. Преподаветелка по Английски съм. Това е моята трета година в България и работя на същото място. Преподавам Английска литература на дедети и единайсти клас.\n\n<strong>За Моето Семейство</strong>\n\nМайка ми е Джил, а баща ми е Дейв. Те живеят в Уала Уала. Майка ми е професорка по химия, а баща ми има антикварен магазин. Те обичат да готвят, да пият вино, да ходят на къмпинг и да се разхождат. Моята майка казва, че баща ме трябва да се разхожда вески ден, защото той е на 60 години. 60 години не са много, но майка ми се притеснява за него.\n\nАз имам брат и сестра също. Те са по-малки от мен.\n\nБрат ми се казва Ник и е на 26 години. Той има сериозна приятелка. Тя се казва К. Сега те живеят с моите родители. Н. и К. искат да си купят къща и трябва да пестят много пари. Аз съм много щастлива за тях.\n\nСестра ми се казва Шарлот и е на 24 години. Има кестенява коса, сини очи и обикновено носи очила. Аз мисля, че тя прилича повече на майка ми отколкото на мен.  Тя е студентка. Моята сестра обича да чете и ми казва кои нови книги трябва да прочета. Щастлива съм, че тя ми е сестра!\n\nАз имам много лели и чичовци, които живеят в Америка. Имам също много братовчеди.  Но нямам племенници за сега!','Каролинка','','inherit','open','open','','3581-autosave','','','2011-02-10 13:13:20','2011-02-10 11:13:20','',3581,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/24/3581-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(3585,1,'2010-10-24 17:54:29','2010-10-24 17:54:29','Earlier this week, I posted about <a href=\"http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/10/17/homemade-pumpkin-walnut-jam/\" target=\"_blank\">buying pumpkin jam in Koprivshtitsa</a>. I\'d never seen or heard of such a thing. The jar is a beautiful orange color.\r\n\r\nI\'d been thinking about eating the jam on toast or with yogurt--but then one of my readers suggested crepe/Bulgarian style pancakes. I read the comment and thought I can do that.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3551\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"660\" caption=\"Crepes Step One \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02005.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3551  \" title=\"Crepes Step One \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02005.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"496\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI meant to do it Sunday night. But I ran out of time. Monday and Tuesday were busy, busy. So Wednesday it was.\r\n\r\nThe good news is that I like pumpkin and I like jam. So I thought: perfect! (I also like the color orange but I think that might be beside the point.) Anyhow, I thought this is the perfect combination.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThis said, pumpkin is a vegetable so I wasn\'t sure what to expect or if I\'d like it. But I do like pumpkin pie and <a href=\"http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/pumpkin-banitsa-an-ode/\" target=\"_blank\">pumpkin banitsa</a> which lead me to believe that pumpkin jam was right up my alley.\r\n\r\nI opened the jar tonight. The plan: pumpkin jam and crepes. Thanks for the recipe <a href=\"http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/crepes-recipe/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Alton Brown</a>.\r\n\r\nI gathered all of my ingredients together. (Okay, there aren\'t actually that many.) I stirred everything together, heated up a pan and then I opened the jar of jam.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3552\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Crepes Step Two \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02006.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3552\" title=\"Crepes Step Two \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02006.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nHere was the big surprise. The pieces of pumpkin seemed to have been candied. They were slightly crunchy and floating in a simple syrup of sorts. It was good but it wasn\'t what I\'d been expecting.\r\n\r\nBiting into my first pumpkin piece I was relieved that it wasn\'t mushy. It was not for example, barely clinging to it\'s shape and fighting a battle with a thick pumpkin syrup. It was sweet but not too sweet. But I can honestly say that the crunchy pumpkin wasn\'t a textured I\'d have ever guessed given the fact that I thought it was jam.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3553\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Crepes Step Three\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02008.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3553\" title=\"Crepes Step Three\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02008.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd in my mind, jam isn\'t crunchy--or even firm for that matter. Nope, this stuff isn\'t quite jam. Or I guess it\'s no jam that I\'ve ever known.\r\n\r\nSo what? Well, it was an odd mix with crepes. The crepes were soft, light and slightly chewy and the pumpkin jam had a little bit to it.  On the other hand, I think that this stuff would be great on a thick yogurt. I also think that you could mix some in with brocolli (or cauliflower) and roast the two in the oven for a delightful combination.\r\n\r\nAs such, I\'ve reached the following conclusion. I wouldn\'t use it on slice of toast anytime soon but that\'s okay. That\'s what I\'ve got strawberry jam for!!','Pumpkin Jam and Pancakes','','inherit','open','open','','3549-autosave','','','2010-10-24 17:54:29','2010-10-24 17:54:29','',3549,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/24/3549-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(3586,1,'2010-10-21 04:32:47','2010-10-21 03:32:47','Earlier this week, I posted about <a href=\"http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/10/17/homemade-pumpkin-walnut-jam/\" target=\"_blank\">buying pumpkin jam in Koprivshtitsa</a>. I\'d never seen or heard of such a thing. The jar is a beautiful orange color.\n\nI\'d been thinking about eating the jam on toast or with yogurt--but then one of my readers suggested crepe/Bulgarian style pancakes. I read the comment and thought I can do that.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3551\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Crepes Step One \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02005.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3551\" title=\"Crepes Step One \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02005.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI meant to do it Sunday night. But I ran out of time. Monday and Tuesday were busy, busy. So Wednesday it was.\n\nThe good news is that I like pumpkin and I like jam. So I thought: perfect! (I also like the color orange but I think that might be beside the point.) Anyhow, I thought this is the perfect combination.<!--more-->\n\nThis said, pumpkin is a vegetable so I wasn\'t sure what to expect or if I\'d like it. But I do like pumpkin pie and <a href=\"http://karolinkabulgaria.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/pumpkin-banitsa-an-ode/\" target=\"_blank\">pumpkin banitsa</a> which lead me to believe that pumpkin jam was right up my alley.\n\nI opened the jar tonight. The plan: pumpkin jam and crepes. Thanks for the recipe <a href=\"http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/crepes-recipe/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Alton Brown</a>.\n\nI gathered all of my ingredients together. (Okay, there aren\'t actually that many.) I stirred everything together, heated up a pan and then I opened the jar of jam.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3552\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Crepes Step Two \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02006.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3552\" title=\"Crepes Step Two \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02006.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nHere was the big surprise. The pieces of pumpkin seemed to have been candied. They were slightly crunchy and floating in a simple syrup of sorts. It was good but it wasn\'t what I\'d been expecting.\n\nBiting into my first pumpkin piece I was relieved that it wasn\'t mushy. It was not for example, barely clinging to it\'s shape and fighting a battle with a thick pumpkin syrup. It was sweet but not too sweet. But I can honestly say that the crunchy pumpkin wasn\'t a textured I\'d have ever guessed given the fact that I thought it was jam.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3553\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Crepes Step Three\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02008.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3553\" title=\"Crepes Step Three\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02008.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd in my mind, jam isn\'t crunchy--or even firm for that matter. Nope, this stuff isn\'t quite jam. Or I guess it\'s no jam that I\'ve ever known.\n\nSo what? Well, it was an odd mix with crepes. The crepes were soft, light and slightly chewy and the pumpkin jam had a little bit to it.  On the other hand, I think that this stuff would be great on a thick yogurt. I also think that you could mix some in with brocolli (or cauliflower) and roast the two in the oven for a delightful combination.\n\nAs such, I\'ve reached the following conclusion. I wouldn\'t use it on slice of toast anytime soon but that\'s okay. That\'s what I\'ve got strawberry jam for!!','Pumpkin Jam and Pancakes','','inherit','open','open','','3549-revision','','','2010-10-21 04:32:47','2010-10-21 03:32:47','',3549,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/21/3549-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3587,1,'2010-10-25 03:38:18','2010-10-25 03:38:18','http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com','Home','','inherit','open','open','','2-autosave','','','2010-10-25 03:38:18','2010-10-25 03:38:18','',2,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/24/2-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(3588,1,'2010-09-01 20:28:28','2010-09-01 20:28:28','This is an example of a WordPress page, you could edit this to put information about yourself or your site so readers know where you are coming from. You can create as many pages like this one or sub-pages as you like and manage all of your content inside of WordPress.','About','','inherit','open','open','','2-revision','','','2010-09-01 20:28:28','2010-09-01 20:28:28','',2,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/09/01/2-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3590,1,'2010-10-24 18:03:00','2010-10-24 18:03:00','[caption id=\"attachment_3541\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Mladost Supermarket \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6128.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3541 \" title=\"Mladost Supermarket \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6128.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOn my way to my Bulgarian lesson today, I snapped a bunch of photos of Mladost.\r\n\r\nIt\'s officially fall here.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3534\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Mladost this Weekend\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6146.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3534 \" title=\"Mladost \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6146.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere are a few more photos after the jump and nearly two-dozen in Flickr. Check them out, okay!?<!--more-->\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3535\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Mladost 1A Blocks in Fall\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6112.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3535 \" title=\"Mladost 1A Blocks in Fall\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6112.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3536\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Garbage in Mladost 1A\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6116.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3536 \" title=\"Garbage in Mladost 1A\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6116.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3537\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Women Selling Veggies \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6118.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3537 \" title=\"Women Selling Veggies \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6118.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /></a>[/caption]','Mladost in Photos','','inherit','open','open','','3533-revision-2','','','2010-10-24 18:03:00','2010-10-24 18:03:00','',3533,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/24/3533-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(3591,1,'2010-10-25 03:38:25','2010-10-25 03:38:25','Last Saturday, on my weekend out of Sofia, I bought lots of homemade jam in Koprivshtitsa.\n\nWhy? Well, I don\'t have the time, the energy or the interest necessary to make my own jam.  I am much happier buying it from little old women who\'ve set-up a cardboard tables of jam.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3529\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Homemade Jam \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6102.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3529 \" title=\"Homemade Jam \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6102.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBecause what\'s better than homemade jam?\n\nI got home four jars--two jars of strawberry, one blueberry and a jar of pumpkin and walnut. The strawberry and blueberry are pretty standard issue. Tiny berries, hand picked, beautiful color.\n\nBut the pumpkin and walnut jam, that\'s another story. <!--more-->I\'ve never heard of such a thing. The jar was so pretty. The color is very orange and the walnuts are floating in a syrup and suspended between the pumpkin pieces.\n\nThe thing is I haven\'t tried the pumpkin-walnut jam yet.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3531\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Jam, jam, jam\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6106.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3531 \" title=\"Jam, jam, jam\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6106.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI am kind of afraid. I know that\'s totally silly but it\'s so pretty. What if I don\'t like it?\n\nThe other issue that\'s floating around is that now that I have the jam at home I can\'t get the thought that it\'s a jar vegetable jam.  Vegetable jam sounds a little too weird for words.  Clearly, that\'s only because I\'ve never tried it.\n\nSo, today\'s the day. I am going to try the pumpkin-walnut jam.  The only thing I haven\'t decided yet is if I\'ll have it on a piece of toast or over yogurt. Thoughts?','Homemade Pumpkin-Walnut Jam','','inherit','open','open','','3528-autosave','','','2010-10-25 03:38:25','2010-10-25 03:38:25','',3528,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/24/3528-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(3592,1,'2010-10-17 09:23:12','2010-10-17 08:23:12','Last Saturday, on my weekend out of Sofia, I bought lots of homemade jam in Koprivshtitsa.\n\nWhy? Well, I don\'t have the time, the energy or the interest necessary to make my own jam.  I am much happier buying it from little old women who\'ve set-up a cardboard tables of jam.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3529\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Homemade Jam \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6102.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3529\" title=\"Homemade Jam \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6102.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBecause what\'s better than homemade jam?\n\nI got home four jars--two jars of strawberry, one blueberry and a jar of pumpkin and walnut. The strawberry and blueberry are pretty standard issue. Tiny berries, hand picked, beautiful color.\n\nBut the pumpkin and walnut jam, that\'s another story. <!--more-->I\'ve never heard of such a thing. The jar was so pretty. The color is very orange and the walnuts are floating in a syrup and suspended between the pumpkin pieces.\n\nThe thing is I haven\'t tried the pumpkin-walnut jam yet.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3531\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Jam, jam, jam\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6106.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3531\" title=\"Jam, jam, jam\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/img_6106.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI am kind of afraid. I know that\'s totally silly but it\'s so pretty. What if I don\'t like it?\n\nThe other issue that\'s floating around is that now that I have the jam at home I can\'t get the thought that it\'s a jar vegetable jam.  Vegetable jam sounds a little too weird for words.  Clearly, that\'s only because I\'ve never tried it.\n\nSo, today\'s the day. I am going to try the pumpkin-walnut jam.  The only thing I haven\'t decided yet is if I\'ll have it on a piece of toast or over yogurt. Thoughts?','Homemade Pumpkin-Walnut Jam','','inherit','open','open','','3528-revision','','','2010-10-17 09:23:12','2010-10-17 08:23:12','',3528,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/17/3528-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3593,1,'2010-10-24 09:08:48','2010-10-24 08:08:48','[caption id=\"attachment_3569\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"Vitosha Clean-up \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02022.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3569\" title=\"Vitosha Clean-up \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02022.jpg?w=225\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYesterday I helped clean up Mt. Vitosha. I picked up more than 100 cigarette butts! (That\'s a personal record I\'ll have you know.)\n\nI also picked up plastic bags, beer bottle lids, bits and pieces of glass bottles, crumpled up aluminum foil, what had been at one point a sweatshirt and tons of unidentifiable pieces of paper.\n\nWhy would I spend my Saturday doing this? Well, I volunteered to be a chaperone so that ACS faculty and students could participate in a Bulgaria-wide volunteer day, sponsored in part by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria (\"AmCham\"). The project we picked to participate in was cleaning-up Mt. Vitosha.\n\nBasically, we chose to devote a Saturday to picking up other people\'s garbage. To cleaning up <em>the Nature</em>.\n\nYep, you read that correctly: the Nature. I know, I know. Grammatically, it\'s incorrect to say \"the nature\" you don\'t need the article the because we always speak generally about nature in English. This said my students and widely speaking Bulgarians regularly make this mistake and add the to nature. Making it \"the nature\" that they are speaking about.  This mistake makes the English teacher in me grimace but yesterday it really did feel like we were cleaning up <em>the Nature</em>. Vitosha was incredibly beautiful.<!--more-->\n\nAt 8 am when I was leaving my apartment with about 10 layers on, I wasn\'t really sure what I\'d gotten myself into. It was 2 degrees celsius or right above freezing for those of you who speak \"farenheit\" and we were told that regularly temperatures on Mt. Vitosha are 5-10 degrees colder than in Sofia proper. I had a backpack full of snacks, sandwiches, water and my hat and gloves.\n\nWhen the other teachers and I got to Vitosha, a mountain that overlooks Sofia and is about 15 minutes away from the American College, I thought: Wow! I am a chaperone and this mountain is really big. Ultimately there were 10 chaperones and almost 80 kids. That\'s a lot of kids to keep an eye on. Luckily our kids are generally really good and as a result we didn\'t have a single problem. Phew.\n\nAnyhow, we divided into groups and were assigned different parts of the mountain to clean. Pretty straightforward. The challenge of course was keeping an eye on the kids as they scrambled all over the mountain side looking for garbage.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3570\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"Sofia from Vitosha \"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02028.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3570\" title=\"Sofia from Vitosha \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02028.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAlong our stretch of Vitosha, there were lots of curious Bulgarians both young and old who stopped to ask questions about what we were doing. Usually these questions were directed to me as the adult but the students were kind enough to step in and explain in Bulgarian. (Thanks!) The Bulgarians were generally full of thanks that the students would be doing this and in one case, a couple asked for their own bag to collect any garbage they came across. That was pretty cool.\n\nAt one point in the day, I heard an impassioned: Ms Emigh! My first thought was: Oh no. I thought a student must have hurt herself. It turned out that a student had found a half-full 2 liter bottle of beer and wondered if she could pour it out. <em>Phew</em>.\n\nThen I had the thought: what if one of our kids finds a dead body? Followed much too quickly by: if anyone finds a dead body on Mt. Vitosha let it be our group. (I know, I know. That\'s a horrible thought. I must be watching way too much Law and Order.) Needless to say, in the end I was relieved that no one found a dead body. I mean frankly, I am not trained to deal with something like this.\n\nSo I stuck to picking up cigarette butts and there seem to be enough of these to keep a girl busy for a life time not just a Saturday.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3571\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"There&#039;s nothing glamorous about collecting garbage\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02031.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3571\" title=\"Collecting Garbage \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc02031.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe kids though kept lamenting the lack of garbage to pick up. They wanted more. I understand though, it\'s not very satisfying to scramble around for a few bits of paper. They kept saying: why didn\'t we get sent to X or Y path--there would have been plenty of garbage there. It\'s pretty funny to hear kids complaining about the fact that there\'s not <em>enough</em> garbage to collect.\n\nAfter collecting garbage for the better part of a day, I went downtown to have dinner with some language-school friends who I\'ve known since my first month in Bulgaria. On the walk from the metro to the get together, I couldn\'t stop seeing garbage. It was everywhere. I thought: huna, it might have been more satisfying to clean up Vitosha Street than Mt. Vitosha today.','The Nature and Volunteering on Vitosha','','inherit','open','open','','3567-revision','','','2010-10-24 09:08:48','2010-10-24 08:08:48','',3567,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/24/3567-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3594,1,'2010-10-15 05:16:27','2010-10-15 04:16:27','Two mornings ago I noticed that the Billa sing/bag was lying on its side on the ground in Mladost.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3513\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"500\" caption=\"The Billa Shopping Bag\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01988.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3513\" title=\"The Billa Shopping Bag\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01988.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThis surprised me for two reasons. First, I had no idea how big the bag actually was. It\'s big. Second, I couldn\'t tell if it had fallen or if it had been taken down. By the time I saw it, it was propped up on some packing flats of plywood but I wasn\'t sure if it was an attempt to keep the sign out of the muddy grass.\n\nIt\'s been rainy lately.','Billa Sign and Shopping Bag','','inherit','open','open','','3512-revision','','','2010-10-15 05:16:27','2010-10-15 04:16:27','',3512,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/15/3512-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3595,1,'2010-10-24 18:16:16','2010-10-24 18:16:16','Two mornings ago I noticed that the Billa sing/bag was lying on its side on the ground in Mladost.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3513\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"600\" caption=\"The Billa Shopping Bag\"]<a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01988.jpg\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-3513 \" title=\"The Billa Shopping Bag\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dsc01988.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThis surprised me for two reasons. First, I had no idea how big the bag actually was. It\'s big. Second, I couldn\'t tell if it had fallen or if it had been taken down. By the time I saw it, it was propped up on some packing flats of plywood but I wasn\'t sure if it was an attempt to keep the sign out of the muddy grass.\n\nIt\'s been rainy lately.','Billa Sign and Shopping Bag','','inherit','open','open','','3512-autosave','','','2010-10-24 18:16:16','2010-10-24 18:16:16','',3512,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/24/3512-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(3596,1,'2010-10-24 18:19:26','2010-10-24 18:19:26','<code>','Home','','inherit','open','open','','2-revision-2','','','2010-10-24 18:19:26','2010-10-24 18:19:26','',2,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/24/2-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(3601,1,'2010-10-24 19:06:31','2010-10-24 19:06:31','','Home','','inherit','open','open','','2-revision-5','','','2010-10-24 19:06:31','2010-10-24 19:06:31','',2,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/24/2-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(3598,1,'2010-10-24 18:19:47','2010-10-24 18:19:47','http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com','Home','','inherit','open','open','','2-revision-3','','','2010-10-24 18:19:47','2010-10-24 18:19:47','',2,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/24/2-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(3597,1,'2010-10-24 17:38:27','2010-10-24 17:38:27','<strong><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dpp_0014.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-3580\" title=\"Carolyn in Stripes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dpp_0014.jpg?w=200\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>За Мен</strong>\r\n\r\nЗдрасти! Аз съм Каролин и на 29 години. Живея в София от 3 години. През моята първа година, аз участвах в програма \"Fulbright\" и работих в Първа Английска Езикова Гимназия. Пътувах из България, учих Български език, и ядох много традиционна храна.\r\n\r\nХересвам тази страна и искам да жевея тук още енда година.\r\n\r\nПрез моята втора година, работих в Американския Колеж в София. Преподаветелка по Английски съм. Това е Моята трета година в България и работя на същото място. Преподабам Английска литература на дедети и единайсти клас.\r\n\r\n<strong>За Моето Семейство</strong>\r\n\r\nМайка ми е Джил, а баща ми е Дейв. Те живеят в уала уала. Майка ми е професорка по химия, а баща ми има антикварен магазин. Те обичат да готвят, да пият вино, да ходят на къмпинг, и да се разхождат. Моята майка казва, че баща ме трябва да се разхожда вески ден, защото тойе на 60 години. 60 години не са много стар, но майка ми се притеснява за него.\r\n\r\nАз имам брат и сестра също. те са по-малки от мен.\r\n\r\nБрат ми се казва ник и е на 26 години. Той има сериозна приятелка. Тя се казва К. Сега те жижеят с моите родители. Н. и К. искат да си купят къща и трябва да пестят много пари. Аз съм много щастлива за тях.\r\n\r\nСестра ми се казва Шарлот и е на 24 години. Има кестенява коса, сини очи и обикновено носи очила. Аз мисля, че тя прилича повече на майка ми от колкото на мен.  Тя е студентка. Моята сестра обича да чете и ми казва кои нови книги трябва да прочета. щастлива съм, че тя ми е сестра!\r\n\r\nАз имам много лели и чичовци които живеят в Америка. Имам също много братовчеди.  Но нямам племенници за сега!','Каролинка','','inherit','open','open','','3581-revision-2','','','2010-10-24 17:38:27','2010-10-24 17:38:27','',3581,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/24/3581-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(3599,1,'2010-10-24 18:35:51','2010-10-24 18:35:51','','Me in Stripes ','','inherit','open','open','','dpp_0014-2','','','2010-10-24 18:35:51','2010-10-24 18:35:51','',3581,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DPP_0014.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3606,1,'2010-10-24 18:21:18','2010-10-24 18:21:18','<strong><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dpp_0014.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-3580\" title=\"Carolyn in Stripes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dpp_0014.jpg?w=200\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"360\" /></a>За Мен</strong>\r\n\r\nЗдрасти! Аз съм Каролин и на 29 години. Живея в София от 3 години. През моята първа година, аз участвах в програма \"Fulbright\" и работих в Първа Английска Езикова Гимназия. Пътувах из България, учих Български език, и ядох много традиционна храна.\r\n\r\nХересвам тази страна и искам да жевея тук още енда година.\r\n\r\nПрез моята втора година, работих в Американския Колеж в София. Преподаветелка по Английски съм. Това е Моята трета година в България и работя на същото място. Преподабам Английска литература на дедети и единайсти клас.\r\n\r\n<strong>За Моето Семейство</strong>\r\n\r\nМайка ми е Джил, а баща ми е Дейв. Те живеят в уала уала. Майка ми е професорка по химия, а баща ми има антикварен магазин. Те обичат да готвят, да пият вино, да ходят на къмпинг, и да се разхождат. Моята майка казва, че баща ме трябва да се разхожда вески ден, защото тойе на 60 години. 60 години не са много стар, но майка ми се притеснява за него.\r\n\r\nАз имам брат и сестра също. те са по-малки от мен.\r\n\r\nБрат ми се казва ник и е на 26 години. Той има сериозна приятелка. Тя се казва К. Сега те жижеят с моите родители. Н. и К. искат да си купят къща и трябва да пестят много пари. Аз съм много щастлива за тях.\r\n\r\nСестра ми се казва Шарлот и е на 24 години. Има кестенява коса, сини очи и обикновено носи очила. Аз мисля, че тя прилича повече на майка ми от колкото на мен.  Тя е студентка. Моята сестра обича да чете и ми казва кои нови книги трябва да прочета. щастлива съм, че тя ми е сестра!\r\n\r\nАз имам много лели и чичовци които живеят в Америка. Имам също много братовчеди.  Но нямам племенници за сега!','Каролинка','','inherit','open','open','','3581-revision-3','','','2010-10-24 18:21:18','2010-10-24 18:21:18','',3581,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/24/3581-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(3607,1,'2010-10-25 17:09:54','2010-10-25 17:09:54','<strong><a href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dpp_0014.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-3580\" title=\"Carolyn in Stripes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dpp_0014.jpg?w=200\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"360\" /></a>За Мен</strong>\r\n\r\nЗдрасти! Аз съм Каролин и съм на 29 години. Живея в София от 3 години. През моята първа година аз участвах в програма \"Fulbright\" и работих в Първа Английска Езикова Гимназия. Пътувах из България, учих Български език и ядох много традиционна храна.\r\n\r\nХересвам тази страна и искам да жевея тук още енда година.\r\n\r\nПрез моята втора година, работих в Американския Колеж в София. Преподаветелка по Английски съм. Това е моята трета година в България и работя на същото място. Преподавам Английска литература на дедети и единайсти клас.\r\n\r\n<strong>За Моето Семейство</strong>\r\n\r\nМайка ми е Джил, а баща ми е Дейв. Те живеят в уала уала. Майка ми е професорка по химия, а баща ми има антикварен магазин. Те обичат да готвят, да пият вино, да ходят на къмпинг, и да се разхождат. Моята майка казва, че баща ме трябва да се разхожда вески ден, защото тойе на 60 години. 60 години не са много стар, но майка ми се притеснява за него.\r\n\r\nАз имам брат и сестра също. те са по-малки от мен.\r\n\r\nБрат ми се казва ник и е на 26 години. Той има сериозна приятелка. Тя се казва К. Сега те жижеят с моите родители. Н. и К. искат да си купят къща и трябва да пестят много пари. Аз съм много щастлива за тях.\r\n\r\nСестра ми се казва Шарлот и е на 24 години. Има кестенява коса, сини очи и обикновено носи очила. Аз мисля, че тя прилича повече на майка ми от колкото на мен.  Тя е студентка. Моята сестра обича да чете и ми казва кои нови книги трябва да прочета. щастлива съм, че тя ми е сестра!\r\n\r\nАз имам много лели и чичовци които живеят в Америка. Имам също много братовчеди.  Но нямам племенници за сега!','Каролинка','','inherit','open','open','','3581-revision-4','','','2010-10-25 17:09:54','2010-10-25 17:09:54','',3581,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/25/3581-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(3600,1,'2010-10-24 18:26:44','2010-10-24 18:26:44','http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com','Home','','inherit','open','open','','2-revision-4','','','2010-10-24 18:26:44','2010-10-24 18:26:44','',2,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/24/2-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(3603,1,'2010-10-25 04:04:32','2010-10-25 04:04:32','Well, the new blog is up and running! Until now, I\'ve glided happily along using wordpress.com. I did what I could do with it. I butted heads with it now and then and it usually won.\n\nThen about a month ago, about the time I started noticing that nearly equal numbers of people were searching Каролинка as Karolinka to arrive at my blog, I thought: I want to know more about my statistics. I want to run google analytics.\n\nNeedless to say, this started a long chain of events which has brought me to here: It official, I\'m self hosting my blog.  It\'s still a work in progress but I am pretty happy with things. There are a few bits and pieces that I am still tinkering with including the photo titles but I don\'t think it\'s anything that prevents readability.\n\nThe big new addition? Well, I\'ve made a tab: Каролинка.  Right now it\'s about me and my family all in Bulgarian!!\n\nAnyhow, let me know what you think and if you encounter any problems. I\'d love to spend the day tinkering with it but I\'ve got to go to work.','A Work in Progress ','','inherit','open','open','','3602-revision','','','2010-10-25 04:04:32','2010-10-25 04:04:32','',3602,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/25/3602-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3655,1,'2010-11-01 19:23:37','2010-11-01 19:23:37','I got back from my weekend adventure in Southern Bulgaria a couple of hours ago.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3657\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"S. and Me on the way to Yagodina \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3657\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/rhodopes-in-autumn/img_6184/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3657 \" title=\"Me and S. on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6184-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI make it home with a jar of strawberry honey, some dried herbs for tea, and a stripped green and orange pumpkin. Good old Rhodopi mud coat my jeans and tennis shoes.  And I\'ve got 300+ photos to sort through. This said, I had a great time.\r\n\r\nStill, it\'s good to be home.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nI am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, to being able to roll over easily at night and to not having to wear my long underwear to bed (even though my sky blue LLBean long underwear is pretty great). More on this later.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3658\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Lake on the way\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3658\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/rhodopes-in-autumn/img_6297/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3658 \" title=\"Lake on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6297-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI hiked one mountain, climbed around two caves, hit up one church/museum, ate a lot of great (and new) food, spoke a lot of Bulgarian, spotted a whole crowd of children trick-or-treating, supervised the carving of one pumpkin and probably spent more than 12 hours in a car without shocks on some of the poorest roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nBut, I had a hell of a time!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3661\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One of many cows on the road\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3661\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/rhodopes-in-autumn/img_6196/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3661 \" title=\"One of many cows on the road\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6196-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis weekend I was part of a group of teachers from school who decided we were leaving Sofia behind and going exploring. Seeing as it\'s not yet winter in the Rhodopes we decided it\'s now or never.  Over the course of the three day weekend we went to Velingrad, Batak, Yagodina, Trigrad and Devin. We stayed for one night in Velingrad and two nights in Yagodina--using Yagodina as a base for exploring Southern Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nGenerally speaking the roads in the Rhodopes tend to be narrow and in poor shape. Well aside from the stretch outside of Devin which is among the nicest of roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria. This is in contrast to a few places where the roads aren\'t wide enough for two cars to pass each other and are riddled with potholes and patches which are once again in need of replacement.  On a whole it makes for a slow bumpy and at times jarring ride.\r\n\r\nBut it\'s worth it.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3662\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Some of the Rhodopes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3662\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/rhodopes-in-autumn/img_6381/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3662 \" title=\"Some of the Rhodopes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6381-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe Rhodopes are stunningly beautiful.\r\n\r\nAnd I don\'t use a word like stunningly all that regularly.\r\n\r\nIt\'s a serious car ride to get to the tiny village of Yagodina. I think that made it that much better. Yagodina (which means strawberry in Bulgarian) is a town of no more than 500 people. The center of town has a fountain and a mosque. They still has a functioning school. But, the school is for 25 local children. There used to be a woolen blanket factory in town but it closed three years ago and moved to a bigger town.\r\n\r\nToday, it seems people farm, chop wood and tend to livestock.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3663\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence in Yagodina \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3663\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/rhodopes-in-autumn/img_6447/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3663 \" title=\"Fence in Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6447-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe stayed in a small family hotel--but truthfully it was probably much more of a rustic bed and breakfast than a hotel. It was great. Everyone was incredibly nice to us, the rooms were clean and the food--both breakfast and dinner were outstanding.\r\n\r\nThe amazing part? I spent no more than 150 leva for the weekend including three nights away, meals, gas and a couple of tickets to various cultural sites.\r\n\r\n(Don\'t worry, there\'s much more to come about this trip.)','Rhodopes in Autumn ','','publish','open','open','','rhodopes-in-autumn','','','2010-11-01 19:23:37','2010-11-01 19:23:37','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=3655',0,'post','',8),(3605,1,'2010-10-25 16:53:02','2010-10-25 16:53:02','Well, the new blog is up and running! Until now, I\'ve glided happily along using wordpress.com. I did what I could do with it. I butted heads with it now and then and it usually won.\n\nThen about a month ago, about the time I started noticing that nearly equal numbers of people were searching Каролинка as Karolinka to arrive at my blog, I thought: I want to know more about my statistics. I want to run google analytics.\n\nNeedless to say, this started a long chain of events which has brought me to here: It official, I\'m self hosting my blog.  It\'s still a work in progress but I am pretty happy with things. There are a few bits and pieces that I am still tinkering with including the photo titles but I don\'t think it\'s anything that prevents readability.\n\nThe big new addition? Well, I\'ve made a tab: Каролинка.  Right now it\'s about me and my family all in Bulgarian!!\n\nAnyhow, let me know what you think and if you encounter any problems. I\'d love to spend the day tinkering with it but I\'ve got to go to work.','A Work in Progress ','','inherit','open','open','','3602-autosave','','','2010-10-25 16:53:02','2010-10-25 16:53:02','',3602,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/25/3602-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(3608,1,'2010-10-26 03:38:26','2010-10-26 03:38:26','The biggest landmark close to my school is the supermarket Hit-complex. I met an expat friend P. there after work today. I debated not telling anyone this.\r\n\r\nI mean, who meets friends at grocery store? Apparently, I do.\r\n\r\nI am not sure if it makes it better or worse but we actually met-up at Jysk a home-wear shop which is part Ikea and part Bed, Bath and Beyond.  P. needed new pillows. I was looking for a new duvet cover and a basket to store towels in.\r\n\r\nI\'ve been really lucky not to need to buy much for my fully-furnished apartment but I\'ve been regularly battling my towels so a basket was a prefect solution. The duvet cover? Well, that was mostly me looking for something new and more: Carolyn. I found it. It was on sale. And P. confirmed that I had to buy it.\r\n\r\nAnyhow it was great fun to meet up with P. to do a little shopping. After Jysk we ate dinner in the food court.\r\n\r\nYes, I am just that classy.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nI had a stuffed tomato and a stuffed zucchini and I washed it down with a lemon Fanta. Then we hit up Hit.\r\n\r\nYes, I just made that pun.\r\n\r\nI ended up with a bottle of Bulgarian wine, some random Asian food items--noodles and coconut milk, two containers of fancy yogurt (I am such a sucker for packaging) and musli. I feel like every time I get home from Hit, I never actually have a meal in my bag just a bunch of interesting things. I don\'t what it is about the store that makes me totally incapable of planning a meal while I am wandering up and down the aisles.\r\n\r\nAt some point though, P. spotted these:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3609\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Trueman&#39;s American Hot Dogs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3609\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/the-hit-me-some-hot-dogs/digital-camera/\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3609  \" title=\"Trueman\'s American Hot Dogs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/American-style-hotdogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYeah, they are hot dogs in a jar. The name of the brand is Trueman\'s not Truman after our 33rd president. Nope, it\'s Trueman\'s. These are hot dogs in a jar with an American flag label to be more specific. But don\'t be fooled. The label actually reads: American Style. What does that mean?\r\n\r\nI pretty clearly would have never seen these on my own. The canned and tinned meat really isn\'t my thing.\r\n\r\nBut you\'d never know by looking at this picture:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3610\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3610\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/the-hit-me-some-hot-dogs/digital-camera-2/\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3610\" title=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Me-and-the-Hot-Dogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe moral of this story? When a friend calls and tells you they are going  going to be in your neighborhood, say yes.  Even if it means meeting them at a grocery store.','The Hit, Me & some hot dogs','','publish','open','open','','the-hit-me-some-hot-dogs','','','2010-10-26 18:49:46','2010-10-26 18:49:46','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=3608',0,'post','',5),(3609,1,'2010-10-25 19:08:43','2010-10-25 19:08:43','','Trueman\'s American Hot Dogs','Trueman\'s American Hot Dogs','inherit','open','open','','digital-camera','','','2010-10-25 19:08:43','2010-10-25 19:08:43','',3608,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/American-style-hotdogs.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3610,1,'2010-10-25 19:17:55','2010-10-25 19:17:55','','Me and the Hot Dogs ','Me and the Hot Dogs ','inherit','open','open','','digital-camera-2','','','2010-10-25 19:17:55','2010-10-25 19:17:55','',3608,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Me-and-the-Hot-Dogs.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3611,1,'2010-10-25 19:18:35','2010-10-25 19:18:35','The biggest landmark close to my school is the supermarket Hit-complex. I met an expat friend P. there after work today. I debated not telling anyone this.\n\nI mean, who meets friends at grocery store? Apparently, I do.\n\nI am not sure if it makes it better or worse but we actually met-up at Jysk a home-wear shop which is part Ikea and part Bed, Bath and Beyond.  P. needed new pillows. I was looking for a new duvet cover and a basket to store towels in.\n\nI\'ve been really lucky not to need to buy much for my fully-furnished apartment but I\'ve been regularly battling my towels so a basket was a prefect solution. The duvet cover? Well, that was mostly me looking for something new and more: Carolyn. I found it. It was on sale. And P. confirmed that I had to buy it.\n\nAnyhow it was great fun to meet up with P. After Jysk we ate dinner in the food court.\n\nYes, I am just that classy.\n\nI had a stuffed tomato and a stuffed zucchini and I washed it down with a lemon Fanta. Then we hit up Hit. I ended up with a bottle of Bulgarian wine, some random Asian food items--noodles and coconut milk, two containers of fancy yogurt (I am such a sucker for packaging) and musli.\n\nAt some point though, P. spotted these:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3609\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Trueman&#39;s American Hot Dogs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3609\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3609\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3609\" title=\"Trueman\'s American Hot Dogs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/American-style-hotdogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYeah, they are hot dogs in a jar. Hot dogs in a jar with an American flag label to be more specific. But don\'t be fooled the label actually reads: American Style.\n\nI pretty clearly would have never seen these on my own. The canned and tinned meat really isn\'t my thing.\n\nBut you\'d never know by looking at this picture:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3610\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3610\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3610\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3610\" title=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Me-and-the-Hot-Dogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe other thing is when a friend calls and tells you they are going  going to be in your neighborhood, it\'s pretty hard to say: no, I can\'t  meet you.','The Hit & Me ','','inherit','open','open','','3608-revision','','','2010-10-25 19:18:35','2010-10-25 19:18:35','',3608,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/25/3608-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3612,1,'2010-10-25 19:19:39','2010-10-25 19:19:39','The biggest landmark close to my school is the supermarket Hit-complex. I met an expat friend P. there after work today. I debated not telling anyone this.\r\n\r\nI mean, who meets friends at grocery store? Apparently, I do.\r\n\r\nI am not sure if it makes it better or worse but we actually met-up at Jysk a home-wear shop which is part Ikea and part Bed, Bath and Beyond.  P. needed new pillows. I was looking for a new duvet cover and a basket to store towels in.\r\n\r\nI\'ve been really lucky not to need to buy much for my fully-furnished apartment but I\'ve been regularly battling my towels so a basket was a prefect solution. The duvet cover? Well, that was mostly me looking for something new and more: Carolyn. I found it. It was on sale. And P. confirmed that I had to buy it.\r\n\r\nAnyhow it was great fun to meet up with P. After Jysk we ate dinner in the food court.\r\n\r\nYes, I am just that classy.\r\n\r\nI had a stuffed tomato and a stuffed zucchini and I washed it down with a lemon Fanta. Then we hit up Hit. I ended up with a bottle of Bulgarian wine, some random Asian food items--noodles and coconut milk, two containers of fancy yogurt (I am such a sucker for packaging) and musli.\r\n\r\nAt some point though, P. spotted these:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3609\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Trueman&#39;s American Hot Dogs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3609\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3609\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3609\" title=\"Trueman\'s American Hot Dogs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/American-style-hotdogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYeah, they are hot dogs in a jar. Hot dogs in a jar with an American flag label to be more specific. But don\'t be fooled the label actually reads: American Style.\r\n\r\nI pretty clearly would have never seen these on my own. The canned and tinned meat really isn\'t my thing.\r\n\r\nBut you\'d never know by looking at this picture:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3610\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3610\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3610\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3610\" title=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Me-and-the-Hot-Dogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe other thing is when a friend calls and tells you they are going  going to be in your neighborhood, it\'s pretty hard to say: no, I can\'t  meet you.','The Hit & Me ','','inherit','open','open','','3608-revision-2','','','2010-10-25 19:19:39','2010-10-25 19:19:39','',3608,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/25/3608-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(3613,1,'2010-10-25 19:19:39','2010-10-25 19:19:39','The biggest landmark close to my school is the supermarket Hit-complex. I met an expat friend P. there after work today. I debated not telling anyone this.\r\n\r\nI mean, who meets friends at grocery store? Apparently, I do.\r\n\r\nI am not sure if it makes it better or worse but we actually met-up at Jysk a home-wear shop which is part Ikea and part Bed, Bath and Beyond.  P. needed new pillows. I was looking for a new duvet cover and a basket to store towels in.\r\n\r\nI\'ve been really lucky not to need to buy much for my fully-furnished apartment but I\'ve been regularly battling my towels so a basket was a prefect solution. The duvet cover? Well, that was mostly me looking for something new and more: Carolyn. I found it. It was on sale. And P. confirmed that I had to buy it.\r\n\r\nAnyhow it was great fun to meet up with P. After Jysk we ate dinner in the food court.\r\n\r\nYes, I am just that classy.\r\n\r\nI had a stuffed tomato and a stuffed zucchini and I washed it down with a lemon Fanta. Then we hit up Hit. I ended up with a bottle of Bulgarian wine, some random Asian food items--noodles and coconut milk, two containers of fancy yogurt (I am such a sucker for packaging) and musli.\r\n\r\nAt some point though, P. spotted these:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3609\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Trueman&#39;s American Hot Dogs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3609\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3609\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3609\" title=\"Trueman\'s American Hot Dogs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/American-style-hotdogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYeah, they are hot dogs in a jar. Hot dogs in a jar with an American flag label to be more specific. But don\'t be fooled the label actually reads: American Style.\r\n\r\nI pretty clearly would have never seen these on my own. The canned and tinned meat really isn\'t my thing.\r\n\r\nBut you\'d never know by looking at this picture:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3610\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3610\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3610\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3610\" title=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Me-and-the-Hot-Dogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe other thing is when a friend calls and tells you they are going  going to be in your neighborhood, it\'s pretty hard to say: no, I can\'t  meet you.','The Hit & Me ','','inherit','open','open','','3608-revision-3','','','2010-10-25 19:19:39','2010-10-25 19:19:39','',3608,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/25/3608-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(3614,1,'2010-10-25 19:19:41','2010-10-25 19:19:41','The biggest landmark close to my school is the supermarket Hit-complex. I met an expat friend P. there after work today. I debated not telling anyone this.\r\n\r\nI mean, who meets friends at grocery store? Apparently, I do.\r\n\r\nI am not sure if it makes it better or worse but we actually met-up at Jysk a home-wear shop which is part Ikea and part Bed, Bath and Beyond.  P. needed new pillows. I was looking for a new duvet cover and a basket to store towels in.\r\n\r\nI\'ve been really lucky not to need to buy much for my fully-furnished apartment but I\'ve been regularly battling my towels so a basket was a prefect solution. The duvet cover? Well, that was mostly me looking for something new and more: Carolyn. I found it. It was on sale. And P. confirmed that I had to buy it.\r\n\r\nAnyhow it was great fun to meet up with P. After Jysk we ate dinner in the food court.\r\n\r\nYes, I am just that classy.\r\n\r\nI had a stuffed tomato and a stuffed zucchini and I washed it down with a lemon Fanta. Then we hit up Hit. I ended up with a bottle of Bulgarian wine, some random Asian food items--noodles and coconut milk, two containers of fancy yogurt (I am such a sucker for packaging) and musli.\r\n\r\nAt some point though, P. spotted these:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3609\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Trueman&#39;s American Hot Dogs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3609\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3609\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3609\" title=\"Trueman\'s American Hot Dogs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/American-style-hotdogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYeah, they are hot dogs in a jar. Hot dogs in a jar with an American flag label to be more specific. But don\'t be fooled the label actually reads: American Style.\r\n\r\nI pretty clearly would have never seen these on my own. The canned and tinned meat really isn\'t my thing.\r\n\r\nBut you\'d never know by looking at this picture:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3610\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3610\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3610\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3610\" title=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Me-and-the-Hot-Dogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe other thing is when a friend calls and tells you they are going  going to be in your neighborhood, it\'s pretty hard to say: no, I can\'t  meet you.','The Hit & Me ','','inherit','open','open','','3608-revision-4','','','2010-10-25 19:19:41','2010-10-25 19:19:41','',3608,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/25/3608-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(3615,1,'2010-10-25 19:19:41','2010-10-25 19:19:41','The biggest landmark close to my school is the supermarket Hit-complex. I met an expat friend P. there after work today. I debated not telling anyone this.\r\n\r\nI mean, who meets friends at grocery store? Apparently, I do.\r\n\r\nI am not sure if it makes it better or worse but we actually met-up at Jysk a home-wear shop which is part Ikea and part Bed, Bath and Beyond.  P. needed new pillows. I was looking for a new duvet cover and a basket to store towels in.\r\n\r\nI\'ve been really lucky not to need to buy much for my fully-furnished apartment but I\'ve been regularly battling my towels so a basket was a prefect solution. The duvet cover? Well, that was mostly me looking for something new and more: Carolyn. I found it. It was on sale. And P. confirmed that I had to buy it.\r\n\r\nAnyhow it was great fun to meet up with P. After Jysk we ate dinner in the food court.\r\n\r\nYes, I am just that classy.\r\n\r\nI had a stuffed tomato and a stuffed zucchini and I washed it down with a lemon Fanta. Then we hit up Hit. I ended up with a bottle of Bulgarian wine, some random Asian food items--noodles and coconut milk, two containers of fancy yogurt (I am such a sucker for packaging) and musli.\r\n\r\nAt some point though, P. spotted these:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3609\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Trueman&#39;s American Hot Dogs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3609\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3609\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3609\" title=\"Trueman\'s American Hot Dogs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/American-style-hotdogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYeah, they are hot dogs in a jar. Hot dogs in a jar with an American flag label to be more specific. But don\'t be fooled the label actually reads: American Style.\r\n\r\nI pretty clearly would have never seen these on my own. The canned and tinned meat really isn\'t my thing.\r\n\r\nBut you\'d never know by looking at this picture:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3610\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3610\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3610\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3610\" title=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Me-and-the-Hot-Dogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe other thing is when a friend calls and tells you they are going  going to be in your neighborhood, it\'s pretty hard to say: no, I can\'t  meet you.','The Hit & Me ','','inherit','open','open','','3608-revision-5','','','2010-10-25 19:19:41','2010-10-25 19:19:41','',3608,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/25/3608-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(3616,1,'2010-10-25 19:21:44','2010-10-25 19:21:44','The biggest landmark close to my school is the supermarket Hit-complex. I met an expat friend P. there after work today. I debated not telling anyone this.\r\n\r\nI mean, who meets friends at grocery store? Apparently, I do.\r\n\r\nI am not sure if it makes it better or worse but we actually met-up at Jysk a home-wear shop which is part Ikea and part Bed, Bath and Beyond.  P. needed new pillows. I was looking for a new duvet cover and a basket to store towels in.\r\n\r\nI\'ve been really lucky not to need to buy much for my fully-furnished apartment but I\'ve been regularly battling my towels so a basket was a prefect solution. The duvet cover? Well, that was mostly me looking for something new and more: Carolyn. I found it. It was on sale. And P. confirmed that I had to buy it.\r\n\r\nAnyhow it was great fun to meet up with P. After Jysk we ate dinner in the food court.\r\n\r\nYes, I am just that classy.\r\n\r\nI had a stuffed tomato and a stuffed zucchini and I washed it down with a lemon Fanta. Then we hit up Hit. I ended up with a bottle of Bulgarian wine, some random Asian food items--noodles and coconut milk, two containers of fancy yogurt (I am such a sucker for packaging) and musli.\r\n\r\nAt some point though, P. spotted these:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3609\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Trueman&#39;s American Hot Dogs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3609\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3609\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3609 \" title=\"Trueman\'s American Hot Dogs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/American-style-hotdogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYeah, they are hot dogs in a jar. Hot dogs in a jar with an American flag label to be more specific. But don\'t be fooled the label actually reads: American Style.\r\n\r\nI pretty clearly would have never seen these on my own. The canned and tinned meat really isn\'t my thing.\r\n\r\nBut you\'d never know by looking at this picture:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3610\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3610\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3610\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3610\" title=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Me-and-the-Hot-Dogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe other thing is when a friend calls and tells you they are going  going to be in your neighborhood, it\'s pretty hard to say: no, I can\'t  meet you.','The Hit & Me ','','inherit','open','open','','3608-revision-6','','','2010-10-25 19:21:44','2010-10-25 19:21:44','',3608,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/25/3608-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(3617,1,'2010-10-25 19:21:46','2010-10-25 19:21:46','The biggest landmark close to my school is the supermarket Hit-complex. I met an expat friend P. there after work today. I debated not telling anyone this.\n\nI mean, who meets friends at grocery store? Apparently, I do.\n\nI am not sure if it makes it better or worse but we actually met-up at Jysk a home-wear shop which is part Ikea and part Bed, Bath and Beyond.  P. needed new pillows. I was looking for a new duvet cover and a basket to store towels in.\n\nI\'ve been really lucky not to need to buy much for my fully-furnished apartment but I\'ve been regularly battling my towels so a basket was a prefect solution. The duvet cover? Well, that was mostly me looking for something new and more: Carolyn. I found it. It was on sale. And P. confirmed that I had to buy it.\n\nAnyhow it was great fun to meet up with P. After Jysk we ate dinner in the food court.\n\nYes, I am just that classy.\n\nI had a stuffed tomato and a stuffed zucchini and I washed it down with a lemon Fanta. Then we hit up Hit. I ended up with a bottle of Bulgarian wine, some random Asian food items--noodles and coconut milk, two containers of fancy yogurt (I am such a sucker for packaging) and musli.\n\nAt some point though, P. spotted these:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3609\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"600\" caption=\"Trueman&#39;s American Hot Dogs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3609\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3609\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3609 \" title=\"Trueman\'s American Hot Dogs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/American-style-hotdogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYeah, they are hot dogs in a jar. Hot dogs in a jar with an American flag label to be more specific. But don\'t be fooled the label actually reads: American Style.\n\nI pretty clearly would have never seen these on my own. The canned and tinned meat really isn\'t my thing.\n\nBut you\'d never know by looking at this picture:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3610\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3610\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3610\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3610\" title=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Me-and-the-Hot-Dogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe other thing is when a friend calls and tells you they are going  going to be in your neighborhood, it\'s pretty hard to say: no, I can\'t  meet you.','The Hit & Me ','','inherit','open','open','','3608-revision-7','','','2010-10-25 19:21:46','2010-10-25 19:21:46','',3608,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/25/3608-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(3618,1,'2010-10-26 03:38:26','2010-10-26 03:38:26','The biggest landmark close to my school is the supermarket Hit-complex. I met an expat friend P. there after work today. I debated not telling anyone this.\r\n\r\nI mean, who meets friends at grocery store? Apparently, I do.\r\n\r\nI am not sure if it makes it better or worse but we actually met-up at Jysk a home-wear shop which is part Ikea and part Bed, Bath and Beyond.  P. needed new pillows. I was looking for a new duvet cover and a basket to store towels in.\r\n\r\nI\'ve been really lucky not to need to buy much for my fully-furnished apartment but I\'ve been regularly battling my towels so a basket was a prefect solution. The duvet cover? Well, that was mostly me looking for something new and more: Carolyn. I found it. It was on sale. And P. confirmed that I had to buy it.\r\n\r\nAnyhow it was great fun to meet up with P. to do a little shopping. After Jysk we ate dinner in the food court.\r\n\r\nYes, I am just that classy.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nI had a stuffed tomato and a stuffed zucchini and I washed it down with a lemon Fanta. Then we hit up Hit.\r\n\r\nYes, I just made that pun.\r\n\r\nI ended up with a bottle of Bulgarian wine, some random Asian food items--noodles and coconut milk, two containers of fancy yogurt (I am such a sucker for packaging) and musli. I feel like every time I get home from Hit, I never actually have a meal in my bag just a bunch of interesting things. I don\'t what it is about the store that makes me totally incapable of planning a meal while I am wandering up and down the isles.\r\n\r\nAt some point though, P. spotted these:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3609\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Trueman&#39;s American Hot Dogs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3609\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3609\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3609  \" title=\"Trueman\'s American Hot Dogs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/American-style-hotdogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYeah, they are hot dogs in a jar. The name of the brand is Trueman\'s not Truman after our 33rd president. Nope, it\'s Trueman\'s. These are hot dogs in a jar with an American flag label to be more specific. But don\'t be fooled. The label actually reads: American Style. What does that mean?\r\n\r\nI pretty clearly would have never seen these on my own. The canned and tinned meat really isn\'t my thing.\r\n\r\nBut you\'d never know by looking at this picture:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3610\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3610\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3610\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3610\" title=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Me-and-the-Hot-Dogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe moral of this story? When a friend calls and tells you they are going  going to be in your neighborhood, say yes.  Even if it means meeting them at a grocery store.','The Hit, Me & some hot dogs','','inherit','open','open','','3608-revision-8','','','2010-10-26 03:38:26','2010-10-26 03:38:26','',3608,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3608-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(3619,1,'2010-10-26 03:39:32','2010-10-26 03:39:32','The biggest landmark close to my school is the supermarket Hit-complex. I met an expat friend P. there after work today. I debated not telling anyone this.\n\nI mean, who meets friends at grocery store? Apparently, I do.\n\nI am not sure if it makes it better or worse but we actually met-up at Jysk a home-wear shop which is part Ikea and part Bed, Bath and Beyond.  P. needed new pillows. I was looking for a new duvet cover and a basket to store towels in.\n\nI\'ve been really lucky not to need to buy much for my fully-furnished apartment but I\'ve been regularly battling my towels so a basket was a prefect solution. The duvet cover? Well, that was mostly me looking for something new and more: Carolyn. I found it. It was on sale. And P. confirmed that I had to buy it.\n\nAnyhow it was great fun to meet up with P. to do a little shopping. After Jysk we ate dinner in the food court.\n\nYes, I am just that classy.<!--more-->\n\nI had a stuffed tomato and a stuffed zucchini and I washed it down with a lemon Fanta. Then we hit up Hit.\n\nYes, I just made that pun.\n\nI ended up with a bottle of Bulgarian wine, some random Asian food items--noodles and coconut milk, two containers of fancy yogurt (I am such a sucker for packaging) and musli. I feel like every time I get home from Hit, I never actually have a meal in my bag just a bunch of interesting things. I don\'t what it is about the store that makes me totally incapable of planning a meal while I am wandering up and down the isles.\n\nAt some point though, P. spotted these:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3609\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Trueman&#39;s American Hot Dogs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3609\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/the-hit-me-some-hot-dogs/digital-camera/\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3609  \" title=\"Trueman\'s American Hot Dogs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/American-style-hotdogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nYeah, they are hot dogs in a jar. The name of the brand is Trueman\'s not Truman after our 33rd president. Nope, it\'s Trueman\'s. These are hot dogs in a jar with an American flag label to be more specific. But don\'t be fooled. The label actually reads: American Style. What does that mean?\n\nI pretty clearly would have never seen these on my own. The canned and tinned meat really isn\'t my thing.\n\nBut you\'d never know by looking at this picture:\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3610\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3610\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/the-hit-me-some-hot-dogs/digital-camera-2/\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3610\" title=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Me-and-the-Hot-Dogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe moral of this story? When a friend calls and tells you they are going  going to be in your neighborhood, say yes.  Even if it means meeting them at a grocery store.','The Hit, Me & some hot dogs','','inherit','open','open','','3608-autosave','','','2010-10-26 03:39:32','2010-10-26 03:39:32','',3608,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3608-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(3620,1,'2010-10-26 18:44:55','2010-10-26 18:44:55','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\r\n\r\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a moot <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">mute</span> point but you get the idea.\r\n\r\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS. The leaves are beautiful this time of year. The men raking leaves on the sidewalks outside my classroom? Not so lovely.\r\n\r\nFor the record, a metal rake on cement might be worse than a finger nail on a chalkboard.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3621\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Trees on Campus \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3621\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/fall-at-acs/dsc02000/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3621     \" title=\"Trees on Campus \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. (You know, if that acceptable to say about your own photo.)\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3626\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3626\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/fall-at-acs/dsc02003/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3626 \" title=\"Fence \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02003-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. And I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter. But I told myself that I am not thinking about that.','Fall at ACS ','','publish','open','open','','fall-at-acs','','','2010-10-27 03:38:27','2010-10-27 03:38:27','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=3620',0,'post','',3),(3621,1,'2010-10-26 18:31:40','2010-10-26 18:31:40','','Trees on Campus ','Trees on Campus ','inherit','open','open','','dsc02000','','','2010-10-26 18:31:40','2010-10-26 18:31:40','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3622,1,'2010-10-26 18:29:30','2010-10-26 18:29:30','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\n\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a mute point but you get the idea.\n\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS.\n\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. If I can say that about my own photo.\n\nThe picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\n\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter.','Fall at ACS ','','inherit','open','open','','3620-revision','','','2010-10-26 18:29:30','2010-10-26 18:29:30','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3620-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3623,1,'2010-10-26 18:32:37','2010-10-26 18:32:37','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\r\n\r\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a mute point but you get the idea.\r\n\r\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3621\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"819\" caption=\"Trees on Campus \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3621\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3621\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3621 \" title=\"Trees on Campus \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"819\" height=\"614\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. If I can say that about my own photo.\r\n\r\nThe picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter. But I told myself that I am not thinking about that.','Fall at ACS ','','inherit','open','open','','3620-revision-2','','','2010-10-26 18:32:37','2010-10-26 18:32:37','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3620-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(3624,1,'2010-10-26 18:32:37','2010-10-26 18:32:37','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\r\n\r\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a mute point but you get the idea.\r\n\r\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3621\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"819\" caption=\"Trees on Campus \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3621\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3621\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3621 \" title=\"Trees on Campus \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"819\" height=\"614\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. If I can say that about my own photo.\r\n\r\nThe picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter. But I told myself that I am not thinking about that.','Fall at ACS ','','inherit','open','open','','3620-revision-3','','','2010-10-26 18:32:37','2010-10-26 18:32:37','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3620-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(3625,1,'2010-10-26 18:33:03','2010-10-26 18:33:03','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\r\n\r\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a mute point but you get the idea.\r\n\r\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3621\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"491\" caption=\"Trees on Campus \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3621\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3621\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3621  \" title=\"Trees on Campus \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"491\" height=\"368\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. If I can say that about my own photo.\r\n\r\nThe picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter. But I told myself that I am not thinking about that.','Fall at ACS ','','inherit','open','open','','3620-revision-4','','','2010-10-26 18:33:03','2010-10-26 18:33:03','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3620-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(3626,1,'2010-10-26 18:34:36','2010-10-26 18:34:36','','Fence ','Fence ','inherit','open','open','','dsc02003','','','2010-10-26 18:34:36','2010-10-26 18:34:36','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02003.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3627,1,'2010-10-26 18:33:30','2010-10-26 18:33:30','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\n\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a mute point but you get the idea.\n\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3621\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"491\" caption=\"Trees on Campus \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3621\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3621\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3621  \" title=\"Trees on Campus \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"491\" height=\"368\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. If I can say that about my own photo.\n\nThe picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\n\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter. But I told myself that I am not thinking about that.','Fall at ACS ','','inherit','open','open','','3620-revision-5','','','2010-10-26 18:33:30','2010-10-26 18:33:30','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3620-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(3628,1,'2010-10-26 18:37:19','2010-10-26 18:37:19','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\r\n\r\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a mute point but you get the idea.\r\n\r\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3621\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"491\" caption=\"Trees on Campus \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3621\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3621\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3621  \" title=\"Trees on Campus \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"491\" height=\"368\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. If I can say that about my own photo.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3626\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3626\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3626\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3626 \" title=\"Fence \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02003-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter. But I told myself that I am not thinking about that.','Fall at ACS ','','inherit','open','open','','3620-revision-6','','','2010-10-26 18:37:19','2010-10-26 18:37:19','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3620-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(3629,1,'2010-10-26 18:37:19','2010-10-26 18:37:19','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\r\n\r\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a mute point but you get the idea.\r\n\r\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3621\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"491\" caption=\"Trees on Campus \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3621\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3621\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3621  \" title=\"Trees on Campus \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"491\" height=\"368\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. If I can say that about my own photo.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3626\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3626\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3626\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3626 \" title=\"Fence \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02003-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter. But I told myself that I am not thinking about that.','Fall at ACS ','','inherit','open','open','','3620-revision-7','','','2010-10-26 18:37:19','2010-10-26 18:37:19','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3620-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(3630,1,'2010-10-26 18:39:08','2010-10-26 18:39:08','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\r\n\r\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a mute point but you get the idea.\r\n\r\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3621\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"717\" caption=\"Trees on Campus \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3621\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3621\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3621    \" title=\"Trees on Campus \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"717\" height=\"538\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. If I can say that about my own photo.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3626\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3626\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3626\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3626 \" title=\"Fence \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02003-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter. But I told myself that I am not thinking about that.','Fall at ACS ','','inherit','open','open','','3620-revision-8','','','2010-10-26 18:39:08','2010-10-26 18:39:08','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3620-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(3631,1,'2010-10-26 18:39:09','2010-10-26 18:39:09','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\r\n\r\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a mute point but you get the idea.\r\n\r\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3621\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"717\" caption=\"Trees on Campus \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3621\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3621\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3621    \" title=\"Trees on Campus \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"717\" height=\"538\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. If I can say that about my own photo.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3626\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3626\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3626\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3626 \" title=\"Fence \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02003-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter. But I told myself that I am not thinking about that.','Fall at ACS ','','inherit','open','open','','3620-revision-9','','','2010-10-26 18:39:09','2010-10-26 18:39:09','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3620-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(3632,1,'2010-10-26 18:40:56','2010-10-26 18:40:56','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\r\n\r\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a mute point but you get the idea.\r\n\r\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3621\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Trees on Campus \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3621\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3621\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3621     \" title=\"Trees on Campus \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. If I can say that about my own photo.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3626\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3626\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3626\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3626 \" title=\"Fence \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02003-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter. But I told myself that I am not thinking about that.','Fall at ACS ','','inherit','open','open','','3620-revision-10','','','2010-10-26 18:40:56','2010-10-26 18:40:56','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3620-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(3633,1,'2010-10-26 18:40:56','2010-10-26 18:40:56','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\r\n\r\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a mute point but you get the idea.\r\n\r\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3621\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Trees on Campus \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3621\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3621\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3621     \" title=\"Trees on Campus \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. If I can say that about my own photo.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3626\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3626\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3626\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3626 \" title=\"Fence \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02003-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter. But I told myself that I am not thinking about that.','Fall at ACS ','','inherit','open','open','','3620-revision-11','','','2010-10-26 18:40:56','2010-10-26 18:40:56','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3620-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(3634,1,'2010-10-26 18:40:57','2010-10-26 18:40:57','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\r\n\r\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a mute point but you get the idea.\r\n\r\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3621\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Trees on Campus \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3621\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3621\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3621     \" title=\"Trees on Campus \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. If I can say that about my own photo.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3626\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3626\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3626\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3626 \" title=\"Fence \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02003-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter. But I told myself that I am not thinking about that.','Fall at ACS ','','inherit','open','open','','3620-revision-12','','','2010-10-26 18:40:57','2010-10-26 18:40:57','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3620-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(3635,1,'2010-10-26 18:44:02','2010-10-26 18:44:02','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\n\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a mute point but you get the idea.\n\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS. The leaves are beautiful this time of year. The men raking leaves on the sidewalks outside my classroom? Not so lovely.\n\nFor the record, a metal rake on cement might be worse than a finger nail on a chalkboard.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3621\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Trees on Campus \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3621\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3621\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3621     \" title=\"Trees on Campus \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. If I can say that about my own photo.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3626\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3626\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3626\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3626 \" title=\"Fence \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02003-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThis picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. And I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\n\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter. But I told myself that I am not thinking about that.','Fall at ACS ','','inherit','open','open','','3620-revision-13','','','2010-10-26 18:44:02','2010-10-26 18:44:02','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3620-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(3636,1,'2010-10-26 18:44:55','2010-10-26 18:44:55','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\r\n\r\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a mute point but you get the idea.\r\n\r\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS. The leaves are beautiful this time of year. The men raking leaves on the sidewalks outside my classroom? Not so lovely.\r\n\r\nFor the record, a metal rake on cement might be worse than a finger nail on a chalkboard.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3621\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Trees on Campus \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3621\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3621\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3621     \" title=\"Trees on Campus \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. (You know, if that acceptable to say about your own photo.)\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3626\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3626\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3626\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3626 \" title=\"Fence \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02003-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. And I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter. But I told myself that I am not thinking about that.','Fall at ACS ','','inherit','open','open','','3620-revision-14','','','2010-10-26 18:44:55','2010-10-26 18:44:55','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3620-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(3637,1,'2010-10-26 18:46:00','2010-10-26 18:46:00','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\n\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a mute point but you get the idea.\n\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS. The leaves are beautiful this time of year. The men raking leaves on the sidewalks outside my classroom? Not so lovely.\n\nFor the record, a metal rake on cement might be worse than a finger nail on a chalkboard.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3621\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Trees on Campus \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3621\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/fall-at-acs/dsc02000/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3621     \" title=\"Trees on Campus \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. (You know, if that acceptable to say about your own photo.)\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3626\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3626\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/fall-at-acs/dsc02003/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3626 \" title=\"Fence \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02003-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThis picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. And I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\n\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter. But I told myself that I am not thinking about that.','Fall at ACS ','','inherit','open','open','','3620-autosave','','','2010-10-26 18:46:00','2010-10-26 18:46:00','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3620-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(3638,1,'2010-10-26 03:38:26','2010-10-26 03:38:26','The biggest landmark close to my school is the supermarket Hit-complex. I met an expat friend P. there after work today. I debated not telling anyone this.\r\n\r\nI mean, who meets friends at grocery store? Apparently, I do.\r\n\r\nI am not sure if it makes it better or worse but we actually met-up at Jysk a home-wear shop which is part Ikea and part Bed, Bath and Beyond.  P. needed new pillows. I was looking for a new duvet cover and a basket to store towels in.\r\n\r\nI\'ve been really lucky not to need to buy much for my fully-furnished apartment but I\'ve been regularly battling my towels so a basket was a prefect solution. The duvet cover? Well, that was mostly me looking for something new and more: Carolyn. I found it. It was on sale. And P. confirmed that I had to buy it.\r\n\r\nAnyhow it was great fun to meet up with P. to do a little shopping. After Jysk we ate dinner in the food court.\r\n\r\nYes, I am just that classy.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nI had a stuffed tomato and a stuffed zucchini and I washed it down with a lemon Fanta. Then we hit up Hit.\r\n\r\nYes, I just made that pun.\r\n\r\nI ended up with a bottle of Bulgarian wine, some random Asian food items--noodles and coconut milk, two containers of fancy yogurt (I am such a sucker for packaging) and musli. I feel like every time I get home from Hit, I never actually have a meal in my bag just a bunch of interesting things. I don\'t what it is about the store that makes me totally incapable of planning a meal while I am wandering up and down the isles.\r\n\r\nAt some point though, P. spotted these:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3609\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Trueman&#39;s American Hot Dogs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3609\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/the-hit-me-some-hot-dogs/digital-camera/\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3609  \" title=\"Trueman\'s American Hot Dogs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/American-style-hotdogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYeah, they are hot dogs in a jar. The name of the brand is Trueman\'s not Truman after our 33rd president. Nope, it\'s Trueman\'s. These are hot dogs in a jar with an American flag label to be more specific. But don\'t be fooled. The label actually reads: American Style. What does that mean?\r\n\r\nI pretty clearly would have never seen these on my own. The canned and tinned meat really isn\'t my thing.\r\n\r\nBut you\'d never know by looking at this picture:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3610\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3610\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/the-hit-me-some-hot-dogs/digital-camera-2/\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3610\" title=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Me-and-the-Hot-Dogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe moral of this story? When a friend calls and tells you they are going  going to be in your neighborhood, say yes.  Even if it means meeting them at a grocery store.','The Hit, Me & some hot dogs','','inherit','open','open','','3608-revision-9','','','2010-10-26 03:38:26','2010-10-26 03:38:26','',3608,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3608-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(3639,1,'2010-10-26 18:49:46','2010-10-26 18:49:46','The biggest landmark close to my school is the supermarket Hit-complex. I met an expat friend P. there after work today. I debated not telling anyone this.\r\n\r\nI mean, who meets friends at grocery store? Apparently, I do.\r\n\r\nI am not sure if it makes it better or worse but we actually met-up at Jysk a home-wear shop which is part Ikea and part Bed, Bath and Beyond.  P. needed new pillows. I was looking for a new duvet cover and a basket to store towels in.\r\n\r\nI\'ve been really lucky not to need to buy much for my fully-furnished apartment but I\'ve been regularly battling my towels so a basket was a prefect solution. The duvet cover? Well, that was mostly me looking for something new and more: Carolyn. I found it. It was on sale. And P. confirmed that I had to buy it.\r\n\r\nAnyhow it was great fun to meet up with P. to do a little shopping. After Jysk we ate dinner in the food court.\r\n\r\nYes, I am just that classy.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nI had a stuffed tomato and a stuffed zucchini and I washed it down with a lemon Fanta. Then we hit up Hit.\r\n\r\nYes, I just made that pun.\r\n\r\nI ended up with a bottle of Bulgarian wine, some random Asian food items--noodles and coconut milk, two containers of fancy yogurt (I am such a sucker for packaging) and musli. I feel like every time I get home from Hit, I never actually have a meal in my bag just a bunch of interesting things. I don\'t what it is about the store that makes me totally incapable of planning a meal while I am wandering up and down the aisles.\r\n\r\nAt some point though, P. spotted these:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3609\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Trueman&#39;s American Hot Dogs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3609\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/the-hit-me-some-hot-dogs/digital-camera/\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3609  \" title=\"Trueman\'s American Hot Dogs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/American-style-hotdogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nYeah, they are hot dogs in a jar. The name of the brand is Trueman\'s not Truman after our 33rd president. Nope, it\'s Trueman\'s. These are hot dogs in a jar with an American flag label to be more specific. But don\'t be fooled. The label actually reads: American Style. What does that mean?\r\n\r\nI pretty clearly would have never seen these on my own. The canned and tinned meat really isn\'t my thing.\r\n\r\nBut you\'d never know by looking at this picture:\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3610\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3610\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/the-hit-me-some-hot-dogs/digital-camera-2/\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-3610\" title=\"Me and the Hot Dogs \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Me-and-the-Hot-Dogs-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe moral of this story? When a friend calls and tells you they are going  going to be in your neighborhood, say yes.  Even if it means meeting them at a grocery store.','The Hit, Me & some hot dogs','','inherit','open','open','','3608-revision-10','','','2010-10-26 18:49:46','2010-10-26 18:49:46','',3608,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3608-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(3640,1,'2010-10-26 18:44:55','2010-10-26 18:44:55','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\r\n\r\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a mute point but you get the idea.\r\n\r\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS. The leaves are beautiful this time of year. The men raking leaves on the sidewalks outside my classroom? Not so lovely.\r\n\r\nFor the record, a metal rake on cement might be worse than a finger nail on a chalkboard.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3621\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Trees on Campus \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3621\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/fall-at-acs/dsc02000/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3621     \" title=\"Trees on Campus \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. (You know, if that acceptable to say about your own photo.)\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3626\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3626\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/fall-at-acs/dsc02003/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3626 \" title=\"Fence \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02003-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. And I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter. But I told myself that I am not thinking about that.','Fall at ACS ','','inherit','open','open','','3620-revision-15','','','2010-10-26 18:44:55','2010-10-26 18:44:55','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/3620-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(3641,1,'2010-10-27 03:38:27','2010-10-27 03:38:27','I\'ve been tinkering with my blog for the last two weeks. I\'ve been thinking about what I like, what I don\'t like, what I want to change. Now that I can do whatever I want with it, it\'s hard to know what I should do. So I keep thinking: edit, edit, edit. It\'s some version of careful, careful, careful.\r\n\r\nI mean, I don\'t want my blog to end up looking like a 14 year old girl\'s my space page.  Maybe 14 year olds don\'t have my space pages anymore so this is a moot <span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\">mute</span> point but you get the idea.\r\n\r\nAnyhow at some point in the haze of the blog obsession I am currently consumed by, I took some pictures of Autumn at ACS. The leaves are beautiful this time of year. The men raking leaves on the sidewalks outside my classroom? Not so lovely.\r\n\r\nFor the record, a metal rake on cement might be worse than a finger nail on a chalkboard.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3621\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Trees on Campus \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3621\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/fall-at-acs/dsc02000/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3621     \" title=\"Trees on Campus \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02000-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe first picture is out my classroom window. There was a lot of rain last week so the light is really awesome. (You know, if that acceptable to say about your own photo.)\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3626\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3626\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/26/fall-at-acs/dsc02003/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3626 \" title=\"Fence \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/DSC02003-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"461\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis picture is on the way to the front gate of our campus. The blue fence belongs to the State Police. I think. Either that or the Police Academy. And I am not sure that it\'s even worth trying to distinguish between the two. The point is that I walk along this fence every morning and afternoon on my way out of school.  The fence looks pretty good in contrast to the leaves.\r\n\r\nAs you can imagine, it\'s just kind of depressing in winter. But I told myself that I am not thinking about that.','Fall at ACS ','','inherit','open','open','','3620-revision-16','','','2010-10-27 03:38:27','2010-10-27 03:38:27','',3620,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/27/3620-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(3642,1,'2010-10-27 04:28:07','2010-10-27 04:28:07','Three days ago, one of my Bulgarian readers sent me a <a href=\"http://suzercatel.net/?p=579\" target=\"_blank\">link to this movie</a>--East Meets Berrry West. In his email he wrote only this: An independent movie about a vacation in Bulgaria.  Okay.\r\n\r\nI followed the link.\r\n\r\nThen it stood open in a sea of my open tabs for almost 24 hours.  Before I started watching.\r\n\r\n<object classid=\"clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000\" width=\"640\" height=\"385\" codebase=\"http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0\"><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\" /><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\" /><param name=\"src\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/VHoLb-St-y0?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US\" /><param name=\"allowfullscreen\" value=\"true\" /><embed type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"640\" height=\"385\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/VHoLb-St-y0?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\"></embed></object>\r\n\r\nWhat was I thinking?!\r\n\r\nThat was a really silly thing. I should have started watching it <em>immediately</em>.\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, 25 minutes into the movie I was dying laughing. The worst part is that I am still not done watching because I\'ve been too busy with school. In an attempt to catch up on my grading, I haven\'t let myself get sidetracked. Maybe tonight\'s my night to finish watching.\r\n\r\nSo far? Well, there\'s a lot to like (and dislike). <!--more-->\r\n\r\nWell, the main character an skinny Irish tourist with stringy hair makes me totally uncomfortable as he\'s navigating Bulgarian culture. But it\'s sort of a good uncomfortable the kind that you can laugh about, recognize a little bit of yourself in him and generally feel embarrassed for him.\r\n\r\nHe\'s trying to get from the capitol to Varna--but he\'s climbed on the wrong bus. Of course.\r\n\r\nAt the same time there\'s the Bulgarian Mafia who speak English. They are all wearing pretty fantastic suits. The ringleader speaks such heavily accented English that he subtitles. Only his subtitles are pretty un-helpful because his strange accent is written out.  Ultimately, this is pretty funny but a little hard to catch on to, to start with.\r\n\r\nThe highlight in my mind thus far in are the singing and dancing babas. They are wearing traditional costume and dancing for a table of old men also in traditional costume and the skinny Irish foreigner is smack-dab in the middle of the table drinking rakiya after rikiya.\r\n\r\nI\'d guess that I am about 1/3 of the way in but already it\'s clear that it\'s the absurdity of the whole situation that makes the film so funny. Oh and the clash of cultural stereotypes.\r\n\r\nIn real life, I would clearly hate Berry West but in this film he\'s such a caricature of the Western tourist looking for a cheep flight, even less expensive alcohol and plenty of sand that he\'s funny.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, check out the film. It\'s worth it.','East Meets Berry West ','','publish','open','open','','east-meets-berry-west','','','2010-10-27 04:28:07','2010-10-27 04:28:07','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=3642',0,'post','',5),(3643,1,'2010-10-27 04:20:07','2010-10-27 04:20:07','Three days ago, one of my Bulgarian readers sent me a <a href=\"http://suzercatel.net/?p=579\" target=\"_blank\">link to this movie</a>--East Meets Berrry West. In his email he wrote only this: An independent movie about a vacation in Bulgaria.  Okay.\n\nI followed the link.\n\nThen it stood open in a sea of my open tabs for almost 24 hours.  Before I started watching.\n\nWhat was I thinking?!\n\nNeedless to say, 25 minutes into the movie I was dying laughing. The worst part is that I am still not done watching because I\'ve been too busy with school. I\'ve been trying not to let myself get sidetracked. Maybe tonight.\n\nSo far?\n\nWell, the main character an skinny Irish tourist with stringy hair makes me totally uncomfortable as he\'s navigating Bulgarian culture. But it\'s sort of a good uncomfortable the kind that you can laugh about, recognize a little bit of yourself in him and generally feel embarrassed for him.\n\nHe\'s trying to get from the capitol to Varna--but he\'s climbed on the wrong bus. Of course.\n\nAt the same time there\'s the Bulgarian Mafia who speak English. They are all wearing pretty fantastic suits. The ringleader speaks such heavily accented English that he subtitles. Only his subtitles are pretty un-helpful because his strange accent is written out.  Ultimately, this is pretty funny but a little hard to catch on to, to start with.\n\nThe highlight in my mind thus far in are the singing and dancing babas. They are wearing traditional costume and dancing for a table of old men also in traditional costume and the skinny Irish foreigner is smack-dab in the middle of the table drinking rakiya after rikiya.\n\nI\'d guess that I am about 1/3 of the way in but already it\'s clear that it\'s the absurdity of the whole situation that makes the film so funny. Oh and the clash of cultural stereotypes.\n\nIn real life, I would clearly hate Berry West but in this film he\'s such a caricature of the Western tourist looking for a cheep flight, even less expensive alcohol and plenty of sand that he\'s funny.\n\nAnyhow, check out the film. It\'s worth it.','East Meets Berry West ','','inherit','open','open','','3642-revision','','','2010-10-27 04:20:07','2010-10-27 04:20:07','',3642,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/27/3642-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3644,1,'2010-10-27 04:22:07','2010-10-27 04:22:07','Three days ago, one of my Bulgarian readers sent me a <a href=\"http://suzercatel.net/?p=579\" target=\"_blank\">link to this movie</a>--East Meets Berrry West. In his email he wrote only this: An independent movie about a vacation in Bulgaria.  Okay.\n\nI followed the link.\n\nThen it stood open in a sea of my open tabs for almost 24 hours.  Before I started watching.\n\n<a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHoLb-St-y0&amp;feature=player_embedded\">East Meets Berrry West </a>\n\nWhat was I thinking?!\n\nNeedless to say, 25 minutes into the movie I was dying laughing. The worst part is that I am still not done watching because I\'ve been too busy with school. I\'ve been trying not to let myself get sidetracked. Maybe tonight.\n\nSo far?\n\nWell, the main character an skinny Irish tourist with stringy hair makes me totally uncomfortable as he\'s navigating Bulgarian culture. But it\'s sort of a good uncomfortable the kind that you can laugh about, recognize a little bit of yourself in him and generally feel embarrassed for him.\n\nHe\'s trying to get from the capitol to Varna--but he\'s climbed on the wrong bus. Of course.\n\nAt the same time there\'s the Bulgarian Mafia who speak English. They are all wearing pretty fantastic suits. The ringleader speaks such heavily accented English that he subtitles. Only his subtitles are pretty un-helpful because his strange accent is written out.  Ultimately, this is pretty funny but a little hard to catch on to, to start with.\n\nThe highlight in my mind thus far in are the singing and dancing babas. They are wearing traditional costume and dancing for a table of old men also in traditional costume and the skinny Irish foreigner is smack-dab in the middle of the table drinking rakiya after rikiya.\n\nI\'d guess that I am about 1/3 of the way in but already it\'s clear that it\'s the absurdity of the whole situation that makes the film so funny. Oh and the clash of cultural stereotypes.\n\nIn real life, I would clearly hate Berry West but in this film he\'s such a caricature of the Western tourist looking for a cheep flight, even less expensive alcohol and plenty of sand that he\'s funny.\n\nAnyhow, check out the film. It\'s worth it.','East Meets Berry West ','','inherit','open','open','','3642-revision-2','','','2010-10-27 04:22:07','2010-10-27 04:22:07','',3642,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/27/3642-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(3645,1,'2010-10-27 04:23:49','2010-10-27 04:23:49','Three days ago, one of my Bulgarian readers sent me a <a href=\"http://suzercatel.net/?p=579\" target=\"_blank\">link to this movie</a>--East Meets Berrry West. In his email he wrote only this: An independent movie about a vacation in Bulgaria.  Okay.\r\n\r\nI followed the link.\r\n\r\nThen it stood open in a sea of my open tabs for almost 24 hours.  Before I started watching.\r\n\r\n<object classid=\"clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000\" width=\"640\" height=\"385\" codebase=\"http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0\"><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\" /><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\" /><param name=\"src\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/VHoLb-St-y0?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US\" /><param name=\"allowfullscreen\" value=\"true\" /><embed type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"640\" height=\"385\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/VHoLb-St-y0?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\"></embed></object>\r\n\r\nWhat was I thinking?!\r\n\r\nNeedless to say, 25 minutes into the movie I was dying laughing. The worst part is that I am still not done watching because I\'ve been too busy with school. I\'ve been trying not to let myself get sidetracked. Maybe tonight.\r\n\r\nSo far?\r\n\r\nWell, the main character an skinny Irish tourist with stringy hair makes me totally uncomfortable as he\'s navigating Bulgarian culture. But it\'s sort of a good uncomfortable the kind that you can laugh about, recognize a little bit of yourself in him and generally feel embarrassed for him.\r\n\r\nHe\'s trying to get from the capitol to Varna--but he\'s climbed on the wrong bus. Of course.\r\n\r\nAt the same time there\'s the Bulgarian Mafia who speak English. They are all wearing pretty fantastic suits. The ringleader speaks such heavily accented English that he subtitles. Only his subtitles are pretty un-helpful because his strange accent is written out.  Ultimately, this is pretty funny but a little hard to catch on to, to start with.\r\n\r\nThe highlight in my mind thus far in are the singing and dancing babas. They are wearing traditional costume and dancing for a table of old men also in traditional costume and the skinny Irish foreigner is smack-dab in the middle of the table drinking rakiya after rikiya.\r\n\r\nI\'d guess that I am about 1/3 of the way in but already it\'s clear that it\'s the absurdity of the whole situation that makes the film so funny. Oh and the clash of cultural stereotypes.\r\n\r\nIn real life, I would clearly hate Berry West but in this film he\'s such a caricature of the Western tourist looking for a cheep flight, even less expensive alcohol and plenty of sand that he\'s funny.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, check out the film. It\'s worth it.','East Meets Berry West ','','inherit','open','open','','3642-revision-3','','','2010-10-27 04:23:49','2010-10-27 04:23:49','',3642,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/27/3642-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(3646,1,'2010-10-27 04:27:54','2010-10-27 04:27:54','Three days ago, one of my Bulgarian readers sent me a <a href=\"http://suzercatel.net/?p=579\" target=\"_blank\">link to this movie</a>--East Meets Berrry West. In his email he wrote only this: An independent movie about a vacation in Bulgaria.  Okay.\n\nI followed the link.\n\nThen it stood open in a sea of my open tabs for almost 24 hours.  Before I started watching.\n\n<object classid=\"clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000\" width=\"640\" height=\"385\" codebase=\"http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0\"><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\" /><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\" /><param name=\"src\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/VHoLb-St-y0?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US\" /><param name=\"allowfullscreen\" value=\"true\" /><embed type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"640\" height=\"385\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/VHoLb-St-y0?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\"></embed></object>\n\nWhat was I thinking?!\n\nThat was a really silly thing. I should have started watching it <em>immediately</em>.\n\nNeedless to say, 25 minutes into the movie I was dying laughing. The worst part is that I am still not done watching because I\'ve been too busy with school. In an attempt to catch up on my grading, I haven\'t let myself get sidetracked. Maybe tonight\'s my night to finish watching.\n\nSo far? Well, there\'s a lot to like. <!--more-->\n\nWell, the main character an skinny Irish tourist with stringy hair makes me totally uncomfortable as he\'s navigating Bulgarian culture. But it\'s sort of a good uncomfortable the kind that you can laugh about, recognize a little bit of yourself in him and generally feel embarrassed for him.\n\nHe\'s trying to get from the capitol to Varna--but he\'s climbed on the wrong bus. Of course.\n\nAt the same time there\'s the Bulgarian Mafia who speak English. They are all wearing pretty fantastic suits. The ringleader speaks such heavily accented English that he subtitles. Only his subtitles are pretty un-helpful because his strange accent is written out.  Ultimately, this is pretty funny but a little hard to catch on to, to start with.\n\nThe highlight in my mind thus far in are the singing and dancing babas. They are wearing traditional costume and dancing for a table of old men also in traditional costume and the skinny Irish foreigner is smack-dab in the middle of the table drinking rakiya after rikiya.\n\nI\'d guess that I am about 1/3 of the way in but already it\'s clear that it\'s the absurdity of the whole situation that makes the film so funny. Oh and the clash of cultural stereotypes.\n\nIn real life, I would clearly hate Berry West but in this film he\'s such a caricature of the Western tourist looking for a cheep flight, even less expensive alcohol and plenty of sand that he\'s funny.\n\nAnyhow, check out the film. It\'s worth it.','East Meets Berry West ','','inherit','open','open','','3642-revision-4','','','2010-10-27 04:27:54','2010-10-27 04:27:54','',3642,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/27/3642-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(3647,1,'2010-10-27 04:29:13','2010-10-27 04:29:13','Three days ago, one of my Bulgarian readers sent me a <a href=\"http://suzercatel.net/?p=579\" target=\"_blank\">link to this movie</a>--East Meets Berrry West. In his email he wrote only this: An independent movie about a vacation in Bulgaria.  Okay.\n\nI followed the link.\n\nThen it stood open in a sea of my open tabs for almost 24 hours.  Before I started watching.\n\n<object classid=\"clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000\" width=\"640\" height=\"385\" codebase=\"http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0\"><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\" /><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\" /><param name=\"src\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/VHoLb-St-y0?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US\" /><param name=\"allowfullscreen\" value=\"true\" /><embed type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"640\" height=\"385\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/VHoLb-St-y0?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\"></embed></object>\n\nWhat was I thinking?!\n\nThat was a really silly thing. I should have started watching it <em>immediately</em>.\n\nNeedless to say, 25 minutes into the movie I was dying laughing. The worst part is that I am still not done watching because I\'ve been too busy with school. In an attempt to catch up on my grading, I haven\'t let myself get sidetracked. Maybe tonight\'s my night to finish watching.\n\nSo far? Well, there\'s a lot to like (and dislike). <!--more-->\n\nWell, the main character an skinny Irish tourist with stringy hair makes me totally uncomfortable as he\'s navigating Bulgarian culture. But it\'s sort of a good uncomfortable the kind that you can laugh about, recognize a little bit of yourself in him and generally feel embarrassed for him.\n\nHe\'s trying to get from the capitol to Varna--but he\'s climbed on the wrong bus. Of course.\n\nAt the same time there\'s the Bulgarian Mafia who speak English. They are all wearing pretty fantastic suits. The ringleader speaks such heavily accented English that he subtitles. Only his subtitles are pretty un-helpful because his strange accent is written out.  Ultimately, this is pretty funny but a little hard to catch on to, to start with.\n\nThe highlight in my mind thus far in are the singing and dancing babas. They are wearing traditional costume and dancing for a table of old men also in traditional costume and the skinny Irish foreigner is smack-dab in the middle of the table drinking rakiya after rikiya.\n\nI\'d guess that I am about 1/3 of the way in but already it\'s clear that it\'s the absurdity of the whole situation that makes the film so funny. Oh and the clash of cultural stereotypes.\n\nIn real life, I would clearly hate Berry West but in this film he\'s such a caricature of the Western tourist looking for a cheep flight, even less expensive alcohol and plenty of sand that he\'s funny.\n\nAnyhow, check out the film. It\'s worth it.','East Meets Berry West ','','inherit','open','open','','3642-autosave','','','2010-10-27 04:29:13','2010-10-27 04:29:13','',3642,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/27/3642-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(3648,1,'2010-10-28 19:12:44','2010-10-28 19:12:44','It snowed today. The kind of snow that\'s on and off. Big thick flakes.  Nothing stuck but it was undeniably snow.\r\n\r\nWow. Snow in October. It seems early.\r\n\r\nThen again, I had a student tell me recently: Ms. Emigh, this year is going to be the coldest year in Bulgaria for 1000 years. Me doubtful: really, in a <em>thousand</em> years? Answer: Yes. I remain doubtful. Then the student starts referencing either a newspaper or tv. I am not sure which. The student remains firm: It\'s going to be a very cold winter.\r\n\r\nOkay. I let the student win. Even though it seems totally unlikely to me that the student knows what he\'s talking about.  Still, the comments get me thinking. I wondered if he\'d misunderstood what he\'d heard, was communicating it poorly to me in English or if there was a chance that it was actually true.\r\n\r\nAnd today, it snowed.\r\n\r\nMaybe the student\'s on to something after all. Maybe I should buy a new hat and some warmer gloves. Maybe. <!--more-->\r\n\r\nNow, I am gulping down tea and getting ready to climb into bed after spending an hour outside tonight. Oh the things I do as a teacher. We had a Halloween party this evening after school and in my on going attempt to do my part, I signed up to be a chaperone.\r\n\r\nIt seemed like a great plan Monday when it wasn\'t snowing. Tonight there was snow it was just damn cold and boring. Regrettably, the students were very well behaved and being a chaperone was just boring and cold.\r\n\r\nCold and I didn\'t have enough warm clothes on. I didn\'t know that it was going to snow tonight when I left my house this morning at 7:15. Needless to say, by 7pm I wished that I had a hat and gloves with me. An hour and a half later I was dreaming of tea and my bed.\r\n\r\nThe good news?\r\n\r\nShortly, I am going to crawl into my bed, pull the covers up and read <em>Under the Yoke</em>. I promised myself I\'d finish it by Christmas. Then I can move onto reading other Bulgarian Literature.\r\n\r\nThere are two obstacles with this though: the novel it too heavy to read easily in bed and reading it puts me to sleep.  But I <em>will </em>finish the book.','The First Snow & Life','','publish','open','open','','the-first-snow-life','','','2010-10-28 19:12:44','2010-10-28 19:12:44','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=3648',0,'post','',6),(3649,1,'2010-10-28 19:12:05','2010-10-28 19:12:05','It snowed today. The kind of snow that\'s on and off. Big thick flakes.  Nothing stuck but it was undeniably snow.\n\nWow. Snow in October. It seems early.\n\nThen again, I had a student tell me recently: Ms. Emigh, this year is going to be the coldest year in Bulgaria for 1000 years. Me doubtful: really, in a <em>thousand</em> years? Answer: Yes. I remain doubtful. Then the student starts referencing either a newspaper or tv. I am not sure which. The student remains firm: It\'s going to be a very cold winter.\n\nOkay. I let the student win. Even though it seems totally unlikely to me that the student knows what he\'s talking about.  Still, the comments get me thinking. I wondered if he\'d misunderstood what he\'d heard, was communicating it poorly to me in English or if there was a chance that it was actually true.\n\nAnd today, it snowed.\n\nMaybe the student\'s on to something after all. Maybe I should buy a new hat and some warmer gloves. Maybe. <!--more-->\n\nNow, I am gulping down tea and getting ready to climb into bed after spending an hour outside tonight. Oh the things I do as a teacher. We had a Halloween party this evening after school and in my on going attempt to do my part, I signed up to be a chaperone.\n\nIt seemed like a great plan Monday when it wasn\'t snowing. Tonight there was snow it was just damn cold and boring. Regrettably, the students were very well behaved and being a chaperone was just boring and cold.\n\nCold and I didn\'t have enough warm clothes on. I didn\'t know that it was going to snow tonight when I left my house this morning at 7:15. Needless to say, by 7pm I wished that I had a hat and gloves with me. An hour and a half later I was dreaming of tea and my bed.\n\nShortly, I am going to crawl into my bed, pull the covers up and read <em>Under the Yoke</em>. I promised myself I\'d finish it by Christmas. Then I can move onto reading other Bulgarian Literature.\n\nThere are two obstacles with this though: the novel it too heavy to read easily in bed and reading it puts me to sleep.','The First Snow & Life','','inherit','open','open','','3648-revision','','','2010-10-28 19:12:05','2010-10-28 19:12:05','',3648,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/28/3648-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3650,1,'2010-10-28 19:13:52','2010-10-28 19:13:52','It snowed today. The kind of snow that\'s on and off. Big thick flakes.  Nothing stuck but it was undeniably snow.\n\nWow. Snow in October. It seems early.\n\nThen again, I had a student tell me recently: Ms. Emigh, this year is going to be the coldest year in Bulgaria for 1000 years. Me doubtful: really, in a <em>thousand</em> years? Answer: Yes. I remain doubtful. Then the student starts referencing either a newspaper or tv. I am not sure which. The student remains firm: It\'s going to be a very cold winter.\n\nOkay. I let the student win. Even though it seems totally unlikely to me that the student knows what he\'s talking about.  Still, the comments get me thinking. I wondered if he\'d misunderstood what he\'d heard, was communicating it poorly to me in English or if there was a chance that it was actually true.\n\nAnd today, it snowed.\n\nMaybe the student\'s on to something after all. Maybe I should buy a new hat and some warmer gloves. Maybe. <!--more-->\n\nNow, I am gulping down tea and getting ready to climb into bed after spending an hour outside tonight. Oh the things I do as a teacher. We had a Halloween party this evening after school and in my on going attempt to do my part, I signed up to be a chaperone.\n\nIt seemed like a great plan Monday when it wasn\'t snowing. Tonight there was snow it was just damn cold and boring. Regrettably, the students were very well behaved and being a chaperone was just boring and cold.\n\nCold and I didn\'t have enough warm clothes on. I didn\'t know that it was going to snow tonight when I left my house this morning at 7:15. Needless to say, by 7pm I wished that I had a hat and gloves with me. An hour and a half later I was dreaming of tea and my bed.\n\nThe good news?\n\nShortly, I am going to crawl into my bed, pull the covers up and read <em>Under the Yoke</em>. I promised myself I\'d finish it by Christmas. Then I can move onto reading other Bulgarian Literature.\n\nThere are two obstacles with this though: the novel it too heavy to read easily in bed and reading it puts me to sleep.  But I <em>will </em>finish the book.','The First Snow & Life','','inherit','open','open','','3648-autosave','','','2010-10-28 19:13:52','2010-10-28 19:13:52','',3648,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/28/3648-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(3651,1,'2010-10-29 10:10:49','2010-10-29 10:10:49','Great news.\r\n\r\nMonday, November 1st is the \"Day of Enlightenment.\"\r\n\r\nI am not really sure what that means. Or what exactly we are celebrating. Well, aside from <em>enlightenment </em>but even that\'s kind of vague.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, there\'s no school on Monday.\r\n\r\nWhen I told my tutor I that I had plans for the long weekend and I wouldn\'t be able to meet this Sunday for my lesson, she looked at me and squinted her eyes at me--as if to say: what long weekend?!\r\n\r\nI explained. That\'s when she told me that everyone else in Bulgaria is working on Monday.  Only schools are celebrating this holiday. This means it\'s a long weekend for teachers and students in Bulgaria. That\'s great for me but that stinks for everyone else who\'s not a teacher.\r\n\r\nSo come Monday, I will not be at work. <em></em>\r\n\r\n<em>Hip-hip-horay!</em>\r\n\r\nIn fact, after school today I am going on an adventure.  <!--more-->\r\n\r\nRhodopes here I come.\r\n\r\nSome teachers and I are going to Velingrad tonight.  From Velingrad we\'ll head to Trigrad on Saturday. Frankly, I couldn\'t be happier with the plan. Tonight I\'ll be soaking in a spa and tomorrow fresh mountain air here I come.\r\n\r\nI am looking forward to doing some serious relaxing, a little hike, reading a books, eating some good food and generally enjoying myself for three whole days!\r\n\r\nThe bad news?\r\n\r\nThis trip means that I am going to be taking a break from blogging for the long weekend.\r\n\r\nI think there will probably be two reactions to this news.\r\n\r\nFirst, for some of you it will be hard to get out of bed each morning knowing that I am not going to write on my blog for the better part of three whole days and for that I am sorry. There\'s very little I can do about this.  Just try to be strong for me. Okay?\r\n\r\nAnd second, the group who knows Bulgaria and the weather we\'ve been having lately and is thinking: better her than me. Yeah, I think it\'s going to be pretty cold this weekend in the Rodopes but there\'s not much I can do about it aside from wear my hat and gloves.\r\n\r\nSo just think about it. Either way I\'ll be back to blogging soon enough and I plan on having all sorts of great things to tell you about in just three short days!!\r\n\r\nOn this note, have a great weekend everyone!!','Long Weekend in the Rhodopes','','publish','open','open','','long-weekend-in-the-rhodopes','','','2010-10-29 10:10:49','2010-10-29 10:10:49','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=3651',0,'post','',7),(3652,1,'2010-10-29 10:05:06','2010-10-29 10:05:06','Great news.\n\nMonday, November 1st is the \"Day of Enlightenment.\" I am not really sure what that means. Or what exactly we are celebrating. Well, aside from <em>enlightenment </em>but even that\'s kind of vague.\n\nWhen I told my tutor I that I had plans for the long weekend, she looked at me and squinted her eyes at me--as if to say: what long weekend?!\n\nThat\'s when she told me that everyone else in Bulgaria is working on Monday.  Only schools are celebrating this holiday. This means it\'s a long weekend for teachers and students in Bulgaria. That\'s great for me but that stinks for everyone else who\'s not a teacher.\n\nSo come Monday, I will not be at work. <em></em>\n\n<em>Hip-hip-horay!</em>\n\nIn fact, after school today I am going on an adventure.\n\nRhodopes here I come.\n\nSome teachers and I are going to Velingrad tonight.  From Velingrad we\'ll head to Trigrad on Saturday. Frankly, I couldn\'t be happier with the plan. Tonight I\'ll be soaking in a spa and tomorrow fresh mountain air here I come.\n\nI am looking forward to doing some serious relaxing, a little hike, reading a books, eating some good food and generally enjoying myself for three whole days!\n\nThe bad news?\n\nThis trip means that I am going to be taking a break from blogging for the long weekend.\n\nI think there will probably be two reactions to this news.\n\nFirst, for some of you it will be hard to get out of bed each morning knowing that I am not going to write on my blog for the better part of three whole days and for that I am sorry. There\'s very little I can do about this.  Just try to be strong for me. Okay?\n\nAnd second, the group who knows Bulgaria and the weather we\'ve been having lately and is thinking: better her than me. Yeah, I think it\'s going to be pretty cold this weekend in the Rodopes but there\'s not much I can do about it aside from wear my hat and gloves.\n\nSo just think about it. Either way I\'ll be back to blogging soon enough and I plan on having all sorts of great things to tell you about in just three short days!!','Long Weekend in the Rhodopes','','inherit','open','open','','3651-revision','','','2010-10-29 10:05:06','2010-10-29 10:05:06','',3651,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/29/3651-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3653,1,'2010-10-29 10:10:45','2010-10-29 10:10:45','Great news.\n\nMonday, November 1st is the \"Day of Enlightenment.\"\n\nI am not really sure what that means. Or what exactly we are celebrating. Well, aside from <em>enlightenment </em>but even that\'s kind of vague.\n\nAnyhow, there\'s no school on Monday.\n\nWhen I told my tutor I that I had plans for the long weekend and I wouldn\'t be able to meet this Sunday for my lesson, she looked at me and squinted her eyes at me--as if to say: what long weekend?!\n\nI explained. That\'s when she told me that everyone else in Bulgaria is working on Monday.  Only schools are celebrating this holiday. This means it\'s a long weekend for teachers and students in Bulgaria. That\'s great for me but that stinks for everyone else who\'s not a teacher.\n\nSo come Monday, I will not be at work. <em></em>\n\n<em>Hip-hip-horay!</em>\n\nIn fact, after school today I am going on an adventure.  <!--more-->\n\nRhodopes here I come.\n\nSome teachers and I are going to Velingrad tonight.  From Velingrad we\'ll head to Trigrad on Saturday. Frankly, I couldn\'t be happier with the plan. Tonight I\'ll be soaking in a spa and tomorrow fresh mountain air here I come.\n\nI am looking forward to doing some serious relaxing, a little hike, reading a books, eating some good food and generally enjoying myself for three whole days!\n\nThe bad news?\n\nThis trip means that I am going to be taking a break from blogging for the long weekend.\n\nI think there will probably be two reactions to this news.\n\nFirst, for some of you it will be hard to get out of bed each morning knowing that I am not going to write on my blog for the better part of three whole days and for that I am sorry. There\'s very little I can do about this.  Just try to be strong for me. Okay?\n\nAnd second, the group who knows Bulgaria and the weather we\'ve been having lately and is thinking: better her than me. Yeah, I think it\'s going to be pretty cold this weekend in the Rodopes but there\'s not much I can do about it aside from wear my hat and gloves.\n\nSo just think about it. Either way I\'ll be back to blogging soon enough and I plan on having all sorts of great things to tell you about in just three short days!!\n\nOn this note, have a great weekend everyone!!','Long Weekend in the Rhodopes','','inherit','open','open','','3651-revision-2','','','2010-10-29 10:10:45','2010-10-29 10:10:45','',3651,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/29/3651-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(3654,1,'2010-10-29 10:11:54','2010-10-29 10:11:54','Great news.\n\nMonday, November 1st is the \"Day of Enlightenment.\"\n\nI am not really sure what that means. Or what exactly we are celebrating. Well, aside from <em>enlightenment </em>but even that\'s kind of vague.\n\nAnyhow, there\'s no school on Monday.\n\nWhen I told my tutor I that I had plans for the long weekend and I wouldn\'t be able to meet this Sunday for my lesson, she looked at me and squinted her eyes at me--as if to say: what long weekend?!\n\nI explained. That\'s when she told me that everyone else in Bulgaria is working on Monday.  Only schools are celebrating this holiday. This means it\'s a long weekend for teachers and students in Bulgaria. That\'s great for me but that stinks for everyone else who\'s not a teacher.\n\nSo come Monday, I will not be at work. <em></em>\n\n<em>Hip-hip-horay!</em>\n\nIn fact, after school today I am going on an adventure.  <!--more-->\n\nRhodopes here I come.\n\nSome teachers and I are going to Velingrad tonight.  From Velingrad we\'ll head to Trigrad on Saturday. Frankly, I couldn\'t be happier with the plan. Tonight I\'ll be soaking in a spa and tomorrow fresh mountain air here I come.\n\nI am looking forward to doing some serious relaxing, a little hike, reading a books, eating some good food and generally enjoying myself for three whole days!\n\nThe bad news?\n\nThis trip means that I am going to be taking a break from blogging for the long weekend.\n\nI think there will probably be two reactions to this news.\n\nFirst, for some of you it will be hard to get out of bed each morning knowing that I am not going to write on my blog for the better part of three whole days and for that I am sorry. There\'s very little I can do about this.  Just try to be strong for me. Okay?\n\nAnd second, the group who knows Bulgaria and the weather we\'ve been having lately and is thinking: better her than me. Yeah, I think it\'s going to be pretty cold this weekend in the Rodopes but there\'s not much I can do about it aside from wear my hat and gloves.\n\nSo just think about it. Either way I\'ll be back to blogging soon enough and I plan on having all sorts of great things to tell you about in just three short days!!\n\nOn this note, have a great weekend everyone!!','Long Weekend in the Rhodopes','','inherit','open','open','','3651-autosave','','','2010-10-29 10:11:54','2010-10-29 10:11:54','',3651,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/10/29/3651-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(3656,1,'2010-11-01 18:49:06','2010-11-01 18:49:06','I got back from my weekend adventure in Southern Bulgaria a couple of hours ago.\n\nI make it home with a jar of strawberry honey, some dried herbs for tea, and a stripped green and orange pumpkin. Good old Rhodope mud coat my jeans and tennis shoes.  And I\'ve got 300+ photos to sort through. This said, I had a great time.\n\nStill, it\'s good to be home.\n\nI am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, to being able to roll over easily at night and to not having to wear my long underwear to bed (even though my sky blue LLBean long underwear is pretty great). More on this later.\n\nI hiked one mountain, climbed around two caves, hit up one church/museum, ate a lot of great (and new) food, spoke a lot of Bulgarian, spotted a whole crowd of children trick-or-treating, supervised the carving of one pumpkin and probably spent more than 12 hours in a car without shocks on some of the poorest roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria.\n\nBut, I had a hell of a time!\n\nThis weekend I was part of a group of teachers from school who decided we were leaving Sofia behind and going exploring. Seeing as it\'s not yet winter in the Rhodopes we decided it\'s now or never.  Over the course of the three day weekend we went to Velingrad, Batak, Yagodina, Trigrad and Devin. We stayed for one night in Velingrad and two nights in Yagodina--using Yagodina as a base for exploring Southern Bulgaria.\n\nGenerally speaking the roads in the Rhodopes tend to be narrow and in poor shape. Well aside from the stretch outside of Devin which is among the nicest of roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria. This is in contrast to a few places where the roads aren\'t wide enough for two cars to pass each other and are riddled with potholes and patches which are once again in need of replacement.  On a whole it makes for a slow bumpy and at times jarring ride.\n\nBut it\'s worth it.\n\nThe Rhodopes are stunningly beautiful.\n\nAnd I don\'t use a word like stunningly all that regularly.\n\nIt\'s a serious car ride to get to the tiny village of Yagodina. I think that made it that much better. Yagodina (which means strawberry in Bulgarian) is a town of no more than 500 people. The center of town has a fountain and a mosque. They still has a functioning school. But, the school is for 25 local children. There used to be a woolen blanket factory in town but it closed three years ago and moved to a bigger town.\n\nToday, it seems people farm, chop wood and tend to livestock.\n\nWe stayed in a small family hotel--but truthfully it was probably much more of a rustic bed and breakfast than a hotel. It was great. Everyone was incredibly nice to us, the rooms were clean and the food--both breakfast and dinner were outstanding.\n\nThe amazing part? I spent no more than 150 leva for the weekend including three nights away, meals, gas and a couple of tickets to various cultural sites.\n\n(Don\'t worry, there\'s much more to come about this trip.','Rhodopes in Autumn ','','inherit','open','open','','3655-revision','','','2010-11-01 18:49:06','2010-11-01 18:49:06','',3655,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/3655-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3657,1,'2010-11-01 18:56:23','2010-11-01 18:56:23','','Me and S. on the way to Yagodina ','S. and Me on the way to Yagodina ','inherit','open','open','','img_6184','','','2010-11-01 18:56:23','2010-11-01 18:56:23','',3655,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6184.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3658,1,'2010-11-01 19:02:06','2010-11-01 19:02:06','','Lake on the way to Yagodina ','Lake on the way','inherit','open','open','','img_6297','','','2010-11-01 19:02:06','2010-11-01 19:02:06','',3655,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6297.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3659,1,'2010-11-01 19:04:23','2010-11-01 19:04:23','I got back from my weekend adventure in Southern Bulgaria a couple of hours ago.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3657\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"S. and Me on the way to Yagodina \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3657\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3657\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3657 \" title=\"Me and S. on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6184-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI make it home with a jar of strawberry honey, some dried herbs for tea, and a stripped green and orange pumpkin. Good old Rhodope mud coat my jeans and tennis shoes.  And I\'ve got 300+ photos to sort through. This said, I had a great time.\n\nStill, it\'s good to be home.\n\nI am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, to being able to roll over easily at night and to not having to wear my long underwear to bed (even though my sky blue LLBean long underwear is pretty great). More on this later.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3658\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Lake on the way\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3658\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3658\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3658 \" title=\"Lake on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6297-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI hiked one mountain, climbed around two caves, hit up one church/museum, ate a lot of great (and new) food, spoke a lot of Bulgarian, spotted a whole crowd of children trick-or-treating, supervised the carving of one pumpkin and probably spent more than 12 hours in a car without shocks on some of the poorest roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria.\n\nBut, I had a hell of a time!\n\nThis weekend I was part of a group of teachers from school who decided we were leaving Sofia behind and going exploring. Seeing as it\'s not yet winter in the Rhodopes we decided it\'s now or never.  Over the course of the three day weekend we went to Velingrad, Batak, Yagodina, Trigrad and Devin. We stayed for one night in Velingrad and two nights in Yagodina--using Yagodina as a base for exploring Southern Bulgaria.\n\nGenerally speaking the roads in the Rhodopes tend to be narrow and in poor shape. Well aside from the stretch outside of Devin which is among the nicest of roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria. This is in contrast to a few places where the roads aren\'t wide enough for two cars to pass each other and are riddled with potholes and patches which are once again in need of replacement.  On a whole it makes for a slow bumpy and at times jarring ride.\n\nBut it\'s worth it.\n\nThe Rhodopes are stunningly beautiful.\n\nAnd I don\'t use a word like stunningly all that regularly.\n\nIt\'s a serious car ride to get to the tiny village of Yagodina. I think that made it that much better. Yagodina (which means strawberry in Bulgarian) is a town of no more than 500 people. The center of town has a fountain and a mosque. They still has a functioning school. But, the school is for 25 local children. There used to be a woolen blanket factory in town but it closed three years ago and moved to a bigger town.\n\nToday, it seems people farm, chop wood and tend to livestock.\n\nWe stayed in a small family hotel--but truthfully it was probably much more of a rustic bed and breakfast than a hotel. It was great. Everyone was incredibly nice to us, the rooms were clean and the food--both breakfast and dinner were outstanding.\n\nThe amazing part? I spent no more than 150 leva for the weekend including three nights away, meals, gas and a couple of tickets to various cultural sites.\n\n(Don\'t worry, there\'s much more to come about this trip.)','Rhodopes in Autumn ','','inherit','open','open','','3655-revision-2','','','2010-11-01 19:04:23','2010-11-01 19:04:23','',3655,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/3655-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(3660,1,'2010-11-01 19:04:23','2010-11-01 19:04:23','I got back from my weekend adventure in Southern Bulgaria a couple of hours ago.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3657\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"S. and Me on the way to Yagodina \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3657\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3657\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3657 \" title=\"Me and S. on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6184-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI make it home with a jar of strawberry honey, some dried herbs for tea, and a stripped green and orange pumpkin. Good old Rhodope mud coat my jeans and tennis shoes.  And I\'ve got 300+ photos to sort through. This said, I had a great time.\r\n\r\nStill, it\'s good to be home.\r\n\r\nI am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, to being able to roll over easily at night and to not having to wear my long underwear to bed (even though my sky blue LLBean long underwear is pretty great). More on this later.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3658\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Lake on the way\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3658\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3658\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3658 \" title=\"Lake on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6297-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI hiked one mountain, climbed around two caves, hit up one church/museum, ate a lot of great (and new) food, spoke a lot of Bulgarian, spotted a whole crowd of children trick-or-treating, supervised the carving of one pumpkin and probably spent more than 12 hours in a car without shocks on some of the poorest roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nBut, I had a hell of a time!\r\n\r\nThis weekend I was part of a group of teachers from school who decided we were leaving Sofia behind and going exploring. Seeing as it\'s not yet winter in the Rhodopes we decided it\'s now or never.  Over the course of the three day weekend we went to Velingrad, Batak, Yagodina, Trigrad and Devin. We stayed for one night in Velingrad and two nights in Yagodina--using Yagodina as a base for exploring Southern Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nGenerally speaking the roads in the Rhodopes tend to be narrow and in poor shape. Well aside from the stretch outside of Devin which is among the nicest of roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria. This is in contrast to a few places where the roads aren\'t wide enough for two cars to pass each other and are riddled with potholes and patches which are once again in need of replacement.  On a whole it makes for a slow bumpy and at times jarring ride.\r\n\r\nBut it\'s worth it.\r\n\r\nThe Rhodopes are stunningly beautiful.\r\n\r\nAnd I don\'t use a word like stunningly all that regularly.\r\n\r\nIt\'s a serious car ride to get to the tiny village of Yagodina. I think that made it that much better. Yagodina (which means strawberry in Bulgarian) is a town of no more than 500 people. The center of town has a fountain and a mosque. They still has a functioning school. But, the school is for 25 local children. There used to be a woolen blanket factory in town but it closed three years ago and moved to a bigger town.\r\n\r\nToday, it seems people farm, chop wood and tend to livestock.\r\n\r\nWe stayed in a small family hotel--but truthfully it was probably much more of a rustic bed and breakfast than a hotel. It was great. Everyone was incredibly nice to us, the rooms were clean and the food--both breakfast and dinner were outstanding.\r\n\r\nThe amazing part? I spent no more than 150 leva for the weekend including three nights away, meals, gas and a couple of tickets to various cultural sites.\r\n\r\n(Don\'t worry, there\'s much more to come about this trip.)','Rhodopes in Autumn ','','inherit','open','open','','3655-revision-3','','','2010-11-01 19:04:23','2010-11-01 19:04:23','',3655,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/3655-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(3661,1,'2010-11-01 19:08:00','2010-11-01 19:08:00','','One of many cows on the road','One of many cows on the road','inherit','open','open','','img_6196','','','2010-11-01 19:08:00','2010-11-01 19:08:00','',3655,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6196.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3662,1,'2010-11-01 19:11:55','2010-11-01 19:11:55','','Some of the Rhodopes ','Some of the Rhodopes','inherit','open','open','','img_6381','','','2010-11-01 19:11:55','2010-11-01 19:11:55','',3655,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6381.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3663,1,'2010-11-01 19:17:41','2010-11-01 19:17:41','','Fence in Yagodina ','Fence in Yagodina ','inherit','open','open','','img_6447','','','2010-11-01 19:17:41','2010-11-01 19:17:41','',3655,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6447.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3664,1,'2010-11-01 19:04:23','2010-11-01 19:04:23','I got back from my weekend adventure in Southern Bulgaria a couple of hours ago.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3657\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"S. and Me on the way to Yagodina \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3657\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3657\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3657 \" title=\"Me and S. on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6184-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI make it home with a jar of strawberry honey, some dried herbs for tea, and a stripped green and orange pumpkin. Good old Rhodope mud coat my jeans and tennis shoes.  And I\'ve got 300+ photos to sort through. This said, I had a great time.\r\n\r\nStill, it\'s good to be home.\r\n\r\nI am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, to being able to roll over easily at night and to not having to wear my long underwear to bed (even though my sky blue LLBean long underwear is pretty great). More on this later.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3658\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Lake on the way\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3658\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3658\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3658 \" title=\"Lake on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6297-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI hiked one mountain, climbed around two caves, hit up one church/museum, ate a lot of great (and new) food, spoke a lot of Bulgarian, spotted a whole crowd of children trick-or-treating, supervised the carving of one pumpkin and probably spent more than 12 hours in a car without shocks on some of the poorest roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nBut, I had a hell of a time!\r\n\r\nThis weekend I was part of a group of teachers from school who decided we were leaving Sofia behind and going exploring. Seeing as it\'s not yet winter in the Rhodopes we decided it\'s now or never.  Over the course of the three day weekend we went to Velingrad, Batak, Yagodina, Trigrad and Devin. We stayed for one night in Velingrad and two nights in Yagodina--using Yagodina as a base for exploring Southern Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nGenerally speaking the roads in the Rhodopes tend to be narrow and in poor shape. Well aside from the stretch outside of Devin which is among the nicest of roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria. This is in contrast to a few places where the roads aren\'t wide enough for two cars to pass each other and are riddled with potholes and patches which are once again in need of replacement.  On a whole it makes for a slow bumpy and at times jarring ride.\r\n\r\nBut it\'s worth it.\r\n\r\nThe Rhodopes are stunningly beautiful.\r\n\r\nAnd I don\'t use a word like stunningly all that regularly.\r\n\r\nIt\'s a serious car ride to get to the tiny village of Yagodina. I think that made it that much better. Yagodina (which means strawberry in Bulgarian) is a town of no more than 500 people. The center of town has a fountain and a mosque. They still has a functioning school. But, the school is for 25 local children. There used to be a woolen blanket factory in town but it closed three years ago and moved to a bigger town.\r\n\r\nToday, it seems people farm, chop wood and tend to livestock.\r\n\r\nWe stayed in a small family hotel--but truthfully it was probably much more of a rustic bed and breakfast than a hotel. It was great. Everyone was incredibly nice to us, the rooms were clean and the food--both breakfast and dinner were outstanding.\r\n\r\nThe amazing part? I spent no more than 150 leva for the weekend including three nights away, meals, gas and a couple of tickets to various cultural sites.\r\n\r\n(Don\'t worry, there\'s much more to come about this trip.)','Rhodopes in Autumn ','','inherit','open','open','','3655-revision-4','','','2010-11-01 19:04:23','2010-11-01 19:04:23','',3655,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/3655-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(3665,1,'2010-11-01 19:20:28','2010-11-01 19:20:28','I got back from my weekend adventure in Southern Bulgaria a couple of hours ago.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3657\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"S. and Me on the way to Yagodina \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3657\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3657\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3657 \" title=\"Me and S. on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6184-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI make it home with a jar of strawberry honey, some dried herbs for tea, and a stripped green and orange pumpkin. Good old Rhodope mud coat my jeans and tennis shoes.  And I\'ve got 300+ photos to sort through. This said, I had a great time.\r\n\r\nStill, it\'s good to be home.\r\n\r\nI am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, to being able to roll over easily at night and to not having to wear my long underwear to bed (even though my sky blue LLBean long underwear is pretty great). More on this later.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3658\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Lake on the way\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3658\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3658\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3658 \" title=\"Lake on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6297-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI hiked one mountain, climbed around two caves, hit up one church/museum, ate a lot of great (and new) food, spoke a lot of Bulgarian, spotted a whole crowd of children trick-or-treating, supervised the carving of one pumpkin and probably spent more than 12 hours in a car without shocks on some of the poorest roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nBut, I had a hell of a time!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3661\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One of many cows on the road\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3661\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3661\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3661 \" title=\"One of many cows on the road\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6196-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis weekend I was part of a group of teachers from school who decided we were leaving Sofia behind and going exploring. Seeing as it\'s not yet winter in the Rhodopes we decided it\'s now or never.  Over the course of the three day weekend we went to Velingrad, Batak, Yagodina, Trigrad and Devin. We stayed for one night in Velingrad and two nights in Yagodina--using Yagodina as a base for exploring Southern Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nGenerally speaking the roads in the Rhodopes tend to be narrow and in poor shape. Well aside from the stretch outside of Devin which is among the nicest of roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria. This is in contrast to a few places where the roads aren\'t wide enough for two cars to pass each other and are riddled with potholes and patches which are once again in need of replacement.  On a whole it makes for a slow bumpy and at times jarring ride.\r\n\r\nBut it\'s worth it.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3662\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Some of the Rhodopes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3662\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3662\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3662 \" title=\"Some of the Rhodopes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6381-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe Rhodopes are stunningly beautiful.\r\n\r\nAnd I don\'t use a word like stunningly all that regularly.\r\n\r\nIt\'s a serious car ride to get to the tiny village of Yagodina. I think that made it that much better. Yagodina (which means strawberry in Bulgarian) is a town of no more than 500 people. The center of town has a fountain and a mosque. They still has a functioning school. But, the school is for 25 local children. There used to be a woolen blanket factory in town but it closed three years ago and moved to a bigger town.\r\n\r\nToday, it seems people farm, chop wood and tend to livestock.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3663\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence in Yagodina \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3663\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3663\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3663 \" title=\"Fence in Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6447-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe stayed in a small family hotel--but truthfully it was probably much more of a rustic bed and breakfast than a hotel. It was great. Everyone was incredibly nice to us, the rooms were clean and the food--both breakfast and dinner were outstanding.\r\n\r\nThe amazing part? I spent no more than 150 leva for the weekend including three nights away, meals, gas and a couple of tickets to various cultural sites.\r\n\r\n(Don\'t worry, there\'s much more to come about this trip.)','Rhodopes in Autumn ','','inherit','open','open','','3655-revision-5','','','2010-11-01 19:20:28','2010-11-01 19:20:28','',3655,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/3655-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(3666,1,'2010-11-01 19:20:28','2010-11-01 19:20:28','I got back from my weekend adventure in Southern Bulgaria a couple of hours ago.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3657\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"S. and Me on the way to Yagodina \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3657\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3657\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3657 \" title=\"Me and S. on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6184-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI make it home with a jar of strawberry honey, some dried herbs for tea, and a stripped green and orange pumpkin. Good old Rhodope mud coat my jeans and tennis shoes.  And I\'ve got 300+ photos to sort through. This said, I had a great time.\r\n\r\nStill, it\'s good to be home.\r\n\r\nI am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, to being able to roll over easily at night and to not having to wear my long underwear to bed (even though my sky blue LLBean long underwear is pretty great). More on this later.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3658\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Lake on the way\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3658\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3658\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3658 \" title=\"Lake on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6297-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI hiked one mountain, climbed around two caves, hit up one church/museum, ate a lot of great (and new) food, spoke a lot of Bulgarian, spotted a whole crowd of children trick-or-treating, supervised the carving of one pumpkin and probably spent more than 12 hours in a car without shocks on some of the poorest roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nBut, I had a hell of a time!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3661\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One of many cows on the road\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3661\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3661\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3661 \" title=\"One of many cows on the road\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6196-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis weekend I was part of a group of teachers from school who decided we were leaving Sofia behind and going exploring. Seeing as it\'s not yet winter in the Rhodopes we decided it\'s now or never.  Over the course of the three day weekend we went to Velingrad, Batak, Yagodina, Trigrad and Devin. We stayed for one night in Velingrad and two nights in Yagodina--using Yagodina as a base for exploring Southern Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nGenerally speaking the roads in the Rhodopes tend to be narrow and in poor shape. Well aside from the stretch outside of Devin which is among the nicest of roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria. This is in contrast to a few places where the roads aren\'t wide enough for two cars to pass each other and are riddled with potholes and patches which are once again in need of replacement.  On a whole it makes for a slow bumpy and at times jarring ride.\r\n\r\nBut it\'s worth it.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3662\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Some of the Rhodopes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3662\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3662\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3662 \" title=\"Some of the Rhodopes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6381-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe Rhodopes are stunningly beautiful.\r\n\r\nAnd I don\'t use a word like stunningly all that regularly.\r\n\r\nIt\'s a serious car ride to get to the tiny village of Yagodina. I think that made it that much better. Yagodina (which means strawberry in Bulgarian) is a town of no more than 500 people. The center of town has a fountain and a mosque. They still has a functioning school. But, the school is for 25 local children. There used to be a woolen blanket factory in town but it closed three years ago and moved to a bigger town.\r\n\r\nToday, it seems people farm, chop wood and tend to livestock.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3663\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence in Yagodina \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3663\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3663\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3663 \" title=\"Fence in Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6447-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe stayed in a small family hotel--but truthfully it was probably much more of a rustic bed and breakfast than a hotel. It was great. Everyone was incredibly nice to us, the rooms were clean and the food--both breakfast and dinner were outstanding.\r\n\r\nThe amazing part? I spent no more than 150 leva for the weekend including three nights away, meals, gas and a couple of tickets to various cultural sites.\r\n\r\n(Don\'t worry, there\'s much more to come about this trip.)','Rhodopes in Autumn ','','inherit','open','open','','3655-revision-6','','','2010-11-01 19:20:28','2010-11-01 19:20:28','',3655,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/3655-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(3667,1,'2010-11-01 19:20:29','2010-11-01 19:20:29','I got back from my weekend adventure in Southern Bulgaria a couple of hours ago.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3657\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"S. and Me on the way to Yagodina \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3657\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3657\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3657 \" title=\"Me and S. on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6184-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI make it home with a jar of strawberry honey, some dried herbs for tea, and a stripped green and orange pumpkin. Good old Rhodope mud coat my jeans and tennis shoes.  And I\'ve got 300+ photos to sort through. This said, I had a great time.\r\n\r\nStill, it\'s good to be home.\r\n\r\nI am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, to being able to roll over easily at night and to not having to wear my long underwear to bed (even though my sky blue LLBean long underwear is pretty great). More on this later.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3658\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Lake on the way\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3658\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3658\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3658 \" title=\"Lake on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6297-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI hiked one mountain, climbed around two caves, hit up one church/museum, ate a lot of great (and new) food, spoke a lot of Bulgarian, spotted a whole crowd of children trick-or-treating, supervised the carving of one pumpkin and probably spent more than 12 hours in a car without shocks on some of the poorest roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nBut, I had a hell of a time!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3661\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One of many cows on the road\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3661\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3661\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3661 \" title=\"One of many cows on the road\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6196-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis weekend I was part of a group of teachers from school who decided we were leaving Sofia behind and going exploring. Seeing as it\'s not yet winter in the Rhodopes we decided it\'s now or never.  Over the course of the three day weekend we went to Velingrad, Batak, Yagodina, Trigrad and Devin. We stayed for one night in Velingrad and two nights in Yagodina--using Yagodina as a base for exploring Southern Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nGenerally speaking the roads in the Rhodopes tend to be narrow and in poor shape. Well aside from the stretch outside of Devin which is among the nicest of roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria. This is in contrast to a few places where the roads aren\'t wide enough for two cars to pass each other and are riddled with potholes and patches which are once again in need of replacement.  On a whole it makes for a slow bumpy and at times jarring ride.\r\n\r\nBut it\'s worth it.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3662\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Some of the Rhodopes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3662\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3662\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3662 \" title=\"Some of the Rhodopes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6381-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe Rhodopes are stunningly beautiful.\r\n\r\nAnd I don\'t use a word like stunningly all that regularly.\r\n\r\nIt\'s a serious car ride to get to the tiny village of Yagodina. I think that made it that much better. Yagodina (which means strawberry in Bulgarian) is a town of no more than 500 people. The center of town has a fountain and a mosque. They still has a functioning school. But, the school is for 25 local children. There used to be a woolen blanket factory in town but it closed three years ago and moved to a bigger town.\r\n\r\nToday, it seems people farm, chop wood and tend to livestock.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3663\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence in Yagodina \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3663\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3663\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3663 \" title=\"Fence in Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6447-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe stayed in a small family hotel--but truthfully it was probably much more of a rustic bed and breakfast than a hotel. It was great. Everyone was incredibly nice to us, the rooms were clean and the food--both breakfast and dinner were outstanding.\r\n\r\nThe amazing part? I spent no more than 150 leva for the weekend including three nights away, meals, gas and a couple of tickets to various cultural sites.\r\n\r\n(Don\'t worry, there\'s much more to come about this trip.)','Rhodopes in Autumn ','','inherit','open','open','','3655-revision-7','','','2010-11-01 19:20:29','2010-11-01 19:20:29','',3655,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/3655-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(3668,1,'2010-11-01 19:23:34','2010-11-01 19:23:34','I got back from my weekend adventure in Southern Bulgaria a couple of hours ago.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3657\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"S. and Me on the way to Yagodina \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3657\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3657\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3657 \" title=\"Me and S. on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6184-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI make it home with a jar of strawberry honey, some dried herbs for tea, and a stripped green and orange pumpkin. Good old Rhodopi mud coat my jeans and tennis shoes.  And I\'ve got 300+ photos to sort through. This said, I had a great time.\n\nStill, it\'s good to be home.<!--more-->\n\nI am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, to being able to roll over easily at night and to not having to wear my long underwear to bed (even though my sky blue LLBean long underwear is pretty great). More on this later.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3658\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Lake on the way\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3658\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3658\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3658 \" title=\"Lake on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6297-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI hiked one mountain, climbed around two caves, hit up one church/museum, ate a lot of great (and new) food, spoke a lot of Bulgarian, spotted a whole crowd of children trick-or-treating, supervised the carving of one pumpkin and probably spent more than 12 hours in a car without shocks on some of the poorest roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria.\n\nBut, I had a hell of a time!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3661\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One of many cows on the road\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3661\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3661\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3661 \" title=\"One of many cows on the road\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6196-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThis weekend I was part of a group of teachers from school who decided we were leaving Sofia behind and going exploring. Seeing as it\'s not yet winter in the Rhodopes we decided it\'s now or never.  Over the course of the three day weekend we went to Velingrad, Batak, Yagodina, Trigrad and Devin. We stayed for one night in Velingrad and two nights in Yagodina--using Yagodina as a base for exploring Southern Bulgaria.\n\nGenerally speaking the roads in the Rhodopes tend to be narrow and in poor shape. Well aside from the stretch outside of Devin which is among the nicest of roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria. This is in contrast to a few places where the roads aren\'t wide enough for two cars to pass each other and are riddled with potholes and patches which are once again in need of replacement.  On a whole it makes for a slow bumpy and at times jarring ride.\n\nBut it\'s worth it.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3662\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Some of the Rhodopes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3662\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3662\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3662 \" title=\"Some of the Rhodopes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6381-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe Rhodopes are stunningly beautiful.\n\nAnd I don\'t use a word like stunningly all that regularly.\n\nIt\'s a serious car ride to get to the tiny village of Yagodina. I think that made it that much better. Yagodina (which means strawberry in Bulgarian) is a town of no more than 500 people. The center of town has a fountain and a mosque. They still has a functioning school. But, the school is for 25 local children. There used to be a woolen blanket factory in town but it closed three years ago and moved to a bigger town.\n\nToday, it seems people farm, chop wood and tend to livestock.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3663\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence in Yagodina \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3663\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3663\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3663 \" title=\"Fence in Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6447-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe stayed in a small family hotel--but truthfully it was probably much more of a rustic bed and breakfast than a hotel. It was great. Everyone was incredibly nice to us, the rooms were clean and the food--both breakfast and dinner were outstanding.\n\nThe amazing part? I spent no more than 150 leva for the weekend including three nights away, meals, gas and a couple of tickets to various cultural sites.\n\n(Don\'t worry, there\'s much more to come about this trip.)','Rhodopes in Autumn ','','inherit','open','open','','3655-revision-8','','','2010-11-01 19:23:34','2010-11-01 19:23:34','',3655,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/3655-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(3669,1,'2010-11-01 19:23:37','2010-11-01 19:23:37','I got back from my weekend adventure in Southern Bulgaria a couple of hours ago.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3657\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"S. and Me on the way to Yagodina \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3657\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3657\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3657 \" title=\"Me and S. on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6184-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI make it home with a jar of strawberry honey, some dried herbs for tea, and a stripped green and orange pumpkin. Good old Rhodopi mud coat my jeans and tennis shoes.  And I\'ve got 300+ photos to sort through. This said, I had a great time.\r\n\r\nStill, it\'s good to be home.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nI am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, to being able to roll over easily at night and to not having to wear my long underwear to bed (even though my sky blue LLBean long underwear is pretty great). More on this later.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3658\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Lake on the way\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3658\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3658\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3658 \" title=\"Lake on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6297-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI hiked one mountain, climbed around two caves, hit up one church/museum, ate a lot of great (and new) food, spoke a lot of Bulgarian, spotted a whole crowd of children trick-or-treating, supervised the carving of one pumpkin and probably spent more than 12 hours in a car without shocks on some of the poorest roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nBut, I had a hell of a time!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3661\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One of many cows on the road\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3661\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3661\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3661 \" title=\"One of many cows on the road\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6196-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThis weekend I was part of a group of teachers from school who decided we were leaving Sofia behind and going exploring. Seeing as it\'s not yet winter in the Rhodopes we decided it\'s now or never.  Over the course of the three day weekend we went to Velingrad, Batak, Yagodina, Trigrad and Devin. We stayed for one night in Velingrad and two nights in Yagodina--using Yagodina as a base for exploring Southern Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nGenerally speaking the roads in the Rhodopes tend to be narrow and in poor shape. Well aside from the stretch outside of Devin which is among the nicest of roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria. This is in contrast to a few places where the roads aren\'t wide enough for two cars to pass each other and are riddled with potholes and patches which are once again in need of replacement.  On a whole it makes for a slow bumpy and at times jarring ride.\r\n\r\nBut it\'s worth it.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3662\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Some of the Rhodopes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3662\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3662\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3662 \" title=\"Some of the Rhodopes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6381-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe Rhodopes are stunningly beautiful.\r\n\r\nAnd I don\'t use a word like stunningly all that regularly.\r\n\r\nIt\'s a serious car ride to get to the tiny village of Yagodina. I think that made it that much better. Yagodina (which means strawberry in Bulgarian) is a town of no more than 500 people. The center of town has a fountain and a mosque. They still has a functioning school. But, the school is for 25 local children. There used to be a woolen blanket factory in town but it closed three years ago and moved to a bigger town.\r\n\r\nToday, it seems people farm, chop wood and tend to livestock.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3663\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence in Yagodina \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3663\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3663\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3663 \" title=\"Fence in Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6447-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe stayed in a small family hotel--but truthfully it was probably much more of a rustic bed and breakfast than a hotel. It was great. Everyone was incredibly nice to us, the rooms were clean and the food--both breakfast and dinner were outstanding.\r\n\r\nThe amazing part? I spent no more than 150 leva for the weekend including three nights away, meals, gas and a couple of tickets to various cultural sites.\r\n\r\n(Don\'t worry, there\'s much more to come about this trip.)','Rhodopes in Autumn ','','inherit','open','open','','3655-revision-9','','','2010-11-01 19:23:37','2010-11-01 19:23:37','',3655,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/3655-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(3670,1,'2010-11-01 19:24:46','2010-11-01 19:24:46','I got back from my weekend adventure in Southern Bulgaria a couple of hours ago.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3657\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"S. and Me on the way to Yagodina \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3657\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/rhodopes-in-autumn/img_6184/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3657 \" title=\"Me and S. on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6184-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI make it home with a jar of strawberry honey, some dried herbs for tea, and a stripped green and orange pumpkin. Good old Rhodopi mud coat my jeans and tennis shoes.  And I\'ve got 300+ photos to sort through. This said, I had a great time.\n\nStill, it\'s good to be home.<!--more-->\n\nI am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, to being able to roll over easily at night and to not having to wear my long underwear to bed (even though my sky blue LLBean long underwear is pretty great). More on this later.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3658\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Lake on the way\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3658\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/rhodopes-in-autumn/img_6297/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3658 \" title=\"Lake on the way to Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6297-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI hiked one mountain, climbed around two caves, hit up one church/museum, ate a lot of great (and new) food, spoke a lot of Bulgarian, spotted a whole crowd of children trick-or-treating, supervised the carving of one pumpkin and probably spent more than 12 hours in a car without shocks on some of the poorest roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria.\n\nBut, I had a hell of a time!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3661\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"One of many cows on the road\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3661\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/rhodopes-in-autumn/img_6196/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3661 \" title=\"One of many cows on the road\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6196-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThis weekend I was part of a group of teachers from school who decided we were leaving Sofia behind and going exploring. Seeing as it\'s not yet winter in the Rhodopes we decided it\'s now or never.  Over the course of the three day weekend we went to Velingrad, Batak, Yagodina, Trigrad and Devin. We stayed for one night in Velingrad and two nights in Yagodina--using Yagodina as a base for exploring Southern Bulgaria.\n\nGenerally speaking the roads in the Rhodopes tend to be narrow and in poor shape. Well aside from the stretch outside of Devin which is among the nicest of roads I\'ve seen in Bulgaria. This is in contrast to a few places where the roads aren\'t wide enough for two cars to pass each other and are riddled with potholes and patches which are once again in need of replacement.  On a whole it makes for a slow bumpy and at times jarring ride.\n\nBut it\'s worth it.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3662\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Some of the Rhodopes\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3662\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/rhodopes-in-autumn/img_6381/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3662 \" title=\"Some of the Rhodopes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6381-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe Rhodopes are stunningly beautiful.\n\nAnd I don\'t use a word like stunningly all that regularly.\n\nIt\'s a serious car ride to get to the tiny village of Yagodina. I think that made it that much better. Yagodina (which means strawberry in Bulgarian) is a town of no more than 500 people. The center of town has a fountain and a mosque. They still has a functioning school. But, the school is for 25 local children. There used to be a woolen blanket factory in town but it closed three years ago and moved to a bigger town.\n\nToday, it seems people farm, chop wood and tend to livestock.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3663\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Fence in Yagodina \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3663\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/rhodopes-in-autumn/img_6447/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3663 \" title=\"Fence in Yagodina \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6447-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe stayed in a small family hotel--but truthfully it was probably much more of a rustic bed and breakfast than a hotel. It was great. Everyone was incredibly nice to us, the rooms were clean and the food--both breakfast and dinner were outstanding.\n\nThe amazing part? I spent no more than 150 leva for the weekend including three nights away, meals, gas and a couple of tickets to various cultural sites.\n\n(Don\'t worry, there\'s much more to come about this trip.)','Rhodopes in Autumn ','','inherit','open','open','','3655-autosave','','','2010-11-01 19:24:46','2010-11-01 19:24:46','',3655,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/01/3655-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(3771,1,'2010-11-10 19:50:30','2010-11-10 17:50:30','ACS (that\'s the American College of Sofia) is celebrating 150 years in December.  That\'s pretty big deal. One hundred and fifty years in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nI realize that it\'s not exactly an uninterrupted 150 years given Communism but still, a 15o years is a 150 years.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, we\'re celebrating!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"ACS and Vasko Vassilev \"]<img title=\"ACS and Vasko Vassilev \" src=\"http://acs.bg/MC_NewsData/Photos/634215246585553520.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"451\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\nI just bought a ticket to the <a href=\"http://acs.bg/NewsDetails.aspx?cat_id=3&amp;news_id=113\" target=\"_blank\">Vasko Vassilev concert on December 6th</a>. The school is hosting a benefit concert as a part of the celebration this year. What\'s especially great about the concert is that all of the proceeds are going towards our <a href=\"http://www.acs.bg/NewsDetails.aspx?cat_id=3&amp;news_id=61\" target=\"_blank\">150th Anniversary Scholarship Fund</a>.\r\n\r\nOh and apparently Vasko Vassilev isn\'t half-bad either. Actually, I hear that he\'s excellent. I don\'t know much about him but all of the Bulgarians at school are really excited about him. So I\'m trying to be too. I hear that he\'s kind of a character. He looks incredibly intense on <a href=\"http://www.vaskovassilev.com/\" target=\"_blank\">his blog</a>.\r\n\r\nI\'ll be staring at him from the third row.\r\n\r\nIf you\'re in Sofia, you too could be too. Tickets are on sale at ACS and Bulgaria Hall.\r\n\r\nI think that if you\'re interested in tickets you\'d better do so sooner than later. I understand that tickets are selling very quickly.','ACS, 150 Years and Vasko Vassilev','','publish','open','open','','acs-150-years-and-vasko-vassilev','','','2010-11-10 19:50:30','2010-11-10 17:50:30','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=3771',0,'post','',1),(3672,1,'2010-11-02 05:01:45','2010-11-02 05:01:45','First stop on the trip was Velingrad. The town is about three hours from Sofia by car. We set out after work on Friday and found ourselves at the hotel about three hours later--give or take. We took a couple of wrong turns, encountered a sea of potholes (which we renamed sharks because they are always there lurking and waiting to attack your car) and we stopped to take a number of photos.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3673\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"View of Velingrad from the Hotel \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3673\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/02/relaxing-in-velingrad/img_6155/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3673 \" title=\"View of Velingrad from the Hotel \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6155-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nVelingrad is known as a spa town. But then again many of the towns in Southern Bulgaria seem to be known as spa towns. We walked into the hotel at 8pm so it was dark and steam was rising from all three outdoor pools. It was cool. We couldn\'t soak at night which seems like kind of a silly thing as the pools close at 8pm but we could eat dinner so that\'s what we did.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nWe walked to the town and ate at a nearly empty restaurant. Normally, I think that\'s a bad sign but the food was good and there was live music. Then in a totally small world moment one of our colleagues in the Business Dept at school walked into the restaurant with a big group of her Bulgarian friends. I never expect to see anyone I know when I am traveling in Bulgaria--I mean between students, colleagues and friends I probably don\'t know more than 500 people total in the country.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3674\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Aura Hotel (and me in the reflection)\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3674\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/02/relaxing-in-velingrad/img_6160/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3674 \" title=\"Aura Hotel (and me in the reflection)\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6160-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe next morning we had a wonderful breakfast at the hotel, Aura, which was included in the price of our room. After breakfast we put on our swimsuits and headed outside to soak in the outdoor pools. We ended up in the jacuzzi. It was lovely and very relaxing. A trip inside to the spa center revealed a sauna and a steam room and an indoor pool which we also used.\r\n\r\nI could have stayed at the hotel for a whole week.\r\n\r\nBut, we were moving on.','Relaxing in Velingrad ','','publish','open','open','','relaxing-in-velingrad','','','2010-11-02 05:01:45','2010-11-02 05:01:45','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=3672',0,'post','',2),(3673,1,'2010-11-02 04:56:49','2010-11-02 04:56:49','','View of Velingrad from the Hotel ','View of Velingrad from the Hotel ','inherit','open','open','','img_6155','','','2010-11-02 04:56:49','2010-11-02 04:56:49','',3672,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6155.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3674,1,'2010-11-02 04:58:39','2010-11-02 04:58:39','','Aura Hotel (and me in the reflection)','Aura Hotel (and me in the reflection)','inherit','open','open','','img_6160','','','2010-11-02 04:58:39','2010-11-02 04:58:39','',3672,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6160.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3675,1,'2010-11-02 05:01:24','2010-11-02 05:01:24','First stop on the trip was Velingrad. The town is about three hours from Sofia by car. We set out after work on Friday and found ourselves at the hotel about three hours later--give or take. We took a couple of wrong turns, encountered a sea of potholes (which we renamed sharks because they are always there lurking and waiting to attack your car) and we stopped to take a number of photos.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3673\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"View of Velingrad from the Hotel \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3673\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3673\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3673 \" title=\"View of Velingrad from the Hotel \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6155-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nVelingrad is known as a spa town. But then again many of the towns in Southern Bulgaria seem to be known as spa towns. We walked into the hotel at 8pm so it was dark and steam was rising from all three outdoor pools. It was cool. We couldn\'t soak at night which seems like kind of a silly thing as the pools close at 8pm but we could eat dinner so that\'s what we did.\n\nWe walked to the town and ate at a nearly empty restaurant. Normally, I think that\'s a bad sign but the food was good and there was live music. Then in a totally small world moment one of our colleagues in the Business Dept at school walked into the restaurant with a big group of her Bulgarian friends. I never expect to see anyone I know when I am traveling in Bulgaria--I mean between students, colleagues and friends I probably don\'t know more than 500 people total in the country.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3674\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Aura Hotel (and me in the reflection)\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3674\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3674\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3674 \" title=\"Aura Hotel (and me in the reflection)\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6160-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe next morning we had a wonderful breakfast at the hotel, Aura, which was included in the price of our room. After breakfast we put on our swimsuits and headed outside to soak in the outdoor pools. We ended up in the jacuzzi. It was lovely and very relaxing. A trip inside to the spa center revealed a sauna and a steam room and an indoor pool which we also used.\n\nI could have stayed at the hotel for a whole week.\n\nBut, we were moving on.','Relaxing in Velingrad ','','inherit','open','open','','3672-revision','','','2010-11-02 05:01:24','2010-11-02 05:01:24','',3672,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/02/3672-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3676,1,'2010-11-02 05:01:45','2010-11-02 05:01:45','First stop on the trip was Velingrad. The town is about three hours from Sofia by car. We set out after work on Friday and found ourselves at the hotel about three hours later--give or take. We took a couple of wrong turns, encountered a sea of potholes (which we renamed sharks because they are always there lurking and waiting to attack your car) and we stopped to take a number of photos.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3673\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"View of Velingrad from the Hotel \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3673\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3673\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3673 \" title=\"View of Velingrad from the Hotel \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6155-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nVelingrad is known as a spa town. But then again many of the towns in Southern Bulgaria seem to be known as spa towns. We walked into the hotel at 8pm so it was dark and steam was rising from all three outdoor pools. It was cool. We couldn\'t soak at night which seems like kind of a silly thing as the pools close at 8pm but we could eat dinner so that\'s what we did.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nWe walked to the town and ate at a nearly empty restaurant. Normally, I think that\'s a bad sign but the food was good and there was live music. Then in a totally small world moment one of our colleagues in the Business Dept at school walked into the restaurant with a big group of her Bulgarian friends. I never expect to see anyone I know when I am traveling in Bulgaria--I mean between students, colleagues and friends I probably don\'t know more than 500 people total in the country.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3674\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Aura Hotel (and me in the reflection)\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3674\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3674\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3674 \" title=\"Aura Hotel (and me in the reflection)\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6160-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe next morning we had a wonderful breakfast at the hotel, Aura, which was included in the price of our room. After breakfast we put on our swimsuits and headed outside to soak in the outdoor pools. We ended up in the jacuzzi. It was lovely and very relaxing. A trip inside to the spa center revealed a sauna and a steam room and an indoor pool which we also used.\r\n\r\nI could have stayed at the hotel for a whole week.\r\n\r\nBut, we were moving on.','Relaxing in Velingrad ','','inherit','open','open','','3672-revision-2','','','2010-11-02 05:01:45','2010-11-02 05:01:45','',3672,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/02/3672-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(3677,1,'2010-11-02 05:02:51','2010-11-02 05:02:51','First stop on the trip was Velingrad. The town is about three hours from Sofia by car. We set out after work on Friday and found ourselves at the hotel about three hours later--give or take. We took a couple of wrong turns, encountered a sea of potholes (which we renamed sharks because they are always there lurking and waiting to attack your car) and we stopped to take a number of photos.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3673\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"View of Velingrad from the Hotel \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3673\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/02/relaxing-in-velingrad/img_6155/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3673 \" title=\"View of Velingrad from the Hotel \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6155-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nVelingrad is known as a spa town. But then again many of the towns in Southern Bulgaria seem to be known as spa towns. We walked into the hotel at 8pm so it was dark and steam was rising from all three outdoor pools. It was cool. We couldn\'t soak at night which seems like kind of a silly thing as the pools close at 8pm but we could eat dinner so that\'s what we did.<!--more-->\n\nWe walked to the town and ate at a nearly empty restaurant. Normally, I think that\'s a bad sign but the food was good and there was live music. Then in a totally small world moment one of our colleagues in the Business Dept at school walked into the restaurant with a big group of her Bulgarian friends. I never expect to see anyone I know when I am traveling in Bulgaria--I mean between students, colleagues and friends I probably don\'t know more than 500 people total in the country.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3674\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Aura Hotel (and me in the reflection)\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3674\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/02/relaxing-in-velingrad/img_6160/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3674 \" title=\"Aura Hotel (and me in the reflection)\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6160-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe next morning we had a wonderful breakfast at the hotel, Aura, which was included in the price of our room. After breakfast we put on our swimsuits and headed outside to soak in the outdoor pools. We ended up in the jacuzzi. It was lovely and very relaxing. A trip inside to the spa center revealed a sauna and a steam room and an indoor pool which we also used.\n\nI could have stayed at the hotel for a whole week.\n\nBut, we were moving on.','Relaxing in Velingrad ','','inherit','open','open','','3672-autosave','','','2010-11-02 05:02:51','2010-11-02 05:02:51','',3672,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/02/3672-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(3678,1,'2010-11-03 08:55:24','2010-11-03 08:55:24','Yagodina is a little town hidden away in Southern Bulgaria. The town has a great mountain to climb and two caves. One cave is really close to Yagodina and easy to explore and a slightly further away there\'s a cave which is about a half an hour away and has plenty of stairs to climb.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3680\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Mountain to Climb\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3680\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/yagodina-mountains-and-caves/img_6359/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3680 \" title=\"Mountain to Climb \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6359-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe stayed in a great family hotel.\r\n\r\nThe hotel is at the bottom of a pretty serious hill. Really, I guess it\'s a mountain. So we climbed it.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nIt was pretty steep. I had to stop and catch my breath a few times. Luckily it was worth it. The view from the top was pretty great.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3681\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me on the Plank\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3681\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/yagodina-mountains-and-caves/img_6394/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3681 \" title=\"Me on the Plank \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6394-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOh and there\'s a metal plank that juts out from the mountain so that you can get a better a view--or at least take some silly pictures.\r\n\r\nBasically, we spent the morning climbing up and down the mountain and through a number of fields on our way back to the house we were staying in.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3682\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"View from the Mountain \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3682\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/yagodina-mountains-and-caves/img_6414/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3682 \" title=\"View from the Mountain \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6414-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen we went to Trigrad for lunch. From Trigrad we went the cave known as the Devil\'s Throat. This cave has part of a waterfall in it. I thought it was going to be really impressive. It wasn\'t. I mean, it\'s cave with a river.  A river that makes a pretty steep drop which could be a waterfall but you can\'t actually see that much of it.\r\n\r\nI kind of think that if you\'re going to climb a bunch of questionably safe stairs that are both wet and muddy you deserve to see something<em> really awesome</em>. This cave in my mind was not this. It was fine but the stairs were kind of scary. Also the tour was less than 15 minutes.\r\n\r\nBy far my favorite of the two caves was Yagodina cave which is really long. The tour of this cave took much more like 45 minutes. There were lots of things to see like stalactites and stalagmites.  Also there are stalactites and stalagmites that look like famous people--Kiril and Methodius.  Yep, they\'re the creators of the Cyrillic alphabet.\r\n\r\nI don\'t have any cave pictures because in my experience they turn out notoriously bad. The big problem is the lighting. I know, I know. It\'s hard to believe there\'s bad lighting in caves.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, Yagodina is in the prefect location for both caves and to a climb the mountain peak.','Yagodina: Mountains and Caves ','','publish','open','open','','yagodina-mountains-and-caves','','','2010-11-02 20:01:03','2010-11-02 20:01:03','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=3678',0,'post','',6),(3679,1,'2010-11-02 19:33:31','2010-11-02 19:33:31','Yagodina is a little town hidden away in Southern Bulgaria. The town has a great mountain to climb and two caves. One cave is really close to Yagodina and easy to explore and a slightly further away there\'s a cave which is about a half an hour away and has plenty of stairs to climb.\n\nWe stayed in a great family hotel.\n\nThe hotel is at the bottom of a pretty serious hill. Really, I guess it\'s a mountain. So we climbed it.\n\nIt was pretty steep. I had to stop and catch my breath a few times. Luckily it was worth it. The view from the top was pretty great.\n\nBasically, we spent the morning climbing up and down the mountain and through a number of fields on our way back to the house we were staying in.\n\nThen we went to Trigrad for lunch. From Trigrad we went the cave known as the Devil\'s Throat. This cave has part of a waterfall in it. I thought it was going to be really impressive. It wasn\'t. I mean, it\'s cave with a river.  A river that makes a pretty steep drop which could be a waterfall but you can\'t actually see that much of it.\n\nI kind of think that if you\'re going to climb a bunch of questionably safe stairs that are both wet and muddy you deserve to see something<em> really awesome</em>. This cave in my mind was not this. It was fine but the stairs were kind of scary. Also the tour was less than 15 minutes.\n\nBy far my favorite of the two caves was Yagodina cave which is really long. The tour of this cave took much more like 45 minutes. There were lots of things to see like stalactites and stalagmites.  Also there are stalactites and stalagmites that look like famous people--Kiril and Methodius.  Yep, they\'re the creators of the Cyrillic alphabet.\n\nI don\'t have any cave pictures because in my experience they turn out notoriously bad. The big problem is the lighting. I know, I know. It\'s hard to believe there\'s bad lighting in caves.\n\nAnyhow, Yagodina is in the prefect location for both caves and a climb to the mountain peak.','Yagodina: Mountains and Caves ','','inherit','open','open','','3678-revision','','','2010-11-02 19:33:31','2010-11-02 19:33:31','',3678,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/02/3678-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3680,1,'2010-11-02 19:45:42','2010-11-02 19:45:42','','Mountain to Climb ','Mountain to Climb','inherit','open','open','','img_6359','','','2010-11-02 19:45:42','2010-11-02 19:45:42','',3678,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6359.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3681,1,'2010-11-02 19:49:17','2010-11-02 19:49:17','','Me on the Plank ','Me on the Plank','inherit','open','open','','img_6394','','','2010-11-02 19:49:17','2010-11-02 19:49:17','',3678,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6394.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3682,1,'2010-11-02 19:51:46','2010-11-02 19:51:46','','View from the Mountain ','View from the Mountain ','inherit','open','open','','img_6414','','','2010-11-02 19:51:46','2010-11-02 19:51:46','',3678,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6414.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3683,1,'2010-11-02 19:54:13','2010-11-02 19:54:13','','On the Mountain','On the Mountain with Friends','inherit','open','open','','img_6408','','','2010-11-02 19:54:13','2010-11-02 19:54:13','',3678,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6408.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3684,1,'2010-11-02 19:53:08','2010-11-02 19:53:08','Yagodina is a little town hidden away in Southern Bulgaria. The town has a great mountain to climb and two caves. One cave is really close to Yagodina and easy to explore and a slightly further away there\'s a cave which is about a half an hour away and has plenty of stairs to climb.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3680\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Mountain to Climb\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3680\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3680\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3680 \" title=\"Mountain to Climb \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6359-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe stayed in a great family hotel.\n\nThe hotel is at the bottom of a pretty serious hill. Really, I guess it\'s a mountain. So we climbed it.\n\nIt was pretty steep. I had to stop and catch my breath a few times. Luckily it was worth it. The view from the top was pretty great.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3681\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me on the Plank\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3681\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3681\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3681 \" title=\"Me on the Plank \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6394-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOh and there\'s a metal plank that juts out from the mountain so that you can get a better a view--or at least take some silly pictures.\n\nBasically, we spent the morning climbing up and down the mountain and through a number of fields on our way back to the house we were staying in.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3682\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"View from the Mountain \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3682\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3682\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3682 \" title=\"View from the Mountain \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6414-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen we went to Trigrad for lunch. From Trigrad we went the cave known as the Devil\'s Throat. This cave has part of a waterfall in it. I thought it was going to be really impressive. It wasn\'t. I mean, it\'s cave with a river.  A river that makes a pretty steep drop which could be a waterfall but you can\'t actually see that much of it.\n\nI kind of think that if you\'re going to climb a bunch of questionably safe stairs that are both wet and muddy you deserve to see something<em> really awesome</em>. This cave in my mind was not this. It was fine but the stairs were kind of scary. Also the tour was less than 15 minutes.\n\nBy far my favorite of the two caves was Yagodina cave which is really long. The tour of this cave took much more like 45 minutes. There were lots of things to see like stalactites and stalagmites.  Also there are stalactites and stalagmites that look like famous people--Kiril and Methodius.  Yep, they\'re the creators of the Cyrillic alphabet.\n\nI don\'t have any cave pictures because in my experience they turn out notoriously bad. The big problem is the lighting. I know, I know. It\'s hard to believe there\'s bad lighting in caves.\n\nAnyhow, Yagodina is in the prefect location for both caves and to a climb the mountain peak.','Yagodina: Mountains and Caves ','','inherit','open','open','','3678-revision-2','','','2010-11-02 19:53:08','2010-11-02 19:53:08','',3678,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/02/3678-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(3688,1,'2010-11-02 19:58:28','2010-11-02 19:58:28','Yagodina is a little town hidden away in Southern Bulgaria. The town has a great mountain to climb and two caves. One cave is really close to Yagodina and easy to explore and a slightly further away there\'s a cave which is about a half an hour away and has plenty of stairs to climb.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3680\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Mountain to Climb\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3680\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3680\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3680 \" title=\"Mountain to Climb \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6359-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe stayed in a great family hotel.\n\nThe hotel is at the bottom of a pretty serious hill. Really, I guess it\'s a mountain. So we climbed it.\n\nIt was pretty steep. I had to stop and catch my breath a few times. Luckily it was worth it. The view from the top was pretty great.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3681\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me on the Plank\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3681\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3681\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3681 \" title=\"Me on the Plank \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6394-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOh and there\'s a metal plank that juts out from the mountain so that you can get a better a view--or at least take some silly pictures.\n\nBasically, we spent the morning climbing up and down the mountain and through a number of fields on our way back to the house we were staying in.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3682\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"View from the Mountain \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3682\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3682\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3682 \" title=\"View from the Mountain \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6414-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen we went to Trigrad for lunch. From Trigrad we went the cave known as the Devil\'s Throat. This cave has part of a waterfall in it. I thought it was going to be really impressive. It wasn\'t. I mean, it\'s cave with a river.  A river that makes a pretty steep drop which could be a waterfall but you can\'t actually see that much of it.\n\nI kind of think that if you\'re going to climb a bunch of questionably safe stairs that are both wet and muddy you deserve to see something<em> really awesome</em>. This cave in my mind was not this. It was fine but the stairs were kind of scary. Also the tour was less than 15 minutes.\n\nBy far my favorite of the two caves was Yagodina cave which is really long. The tour of this cave took much more like 45 minutes. There were lots of things to see like stalactites and stalagmites.  Also there are stalactites and stalagmites that look like famous people--Kiril and Methodius.  Yep, they\'re the creators of the Cyrillic alphabet.\n\nI don\'t have any cave pictures because in my experience they turn out notoriously bad. The big problem is the lighting. I know, I know. It\'s hard to believe there\'s bad lighting in caves.\n\nAnyhow, Yagodina is in the prefect location for both caves and to a climb the mountain peak.','Yagodina: Mountains and Caves ','','inherit','open','open','','3678-revision-6','','','2010-11-02 19:58:28','2010-11-02 19:58:28','',3678,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/02/3678-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(3685,1,'2010-11-02 19:55:23','2010-11-02 19:55:23','Yagodina is a little town hidden away in Southern Bulgaria. The town has a great mountain to climb and two caves. One cave is really close to Yagodina and easy to explore and a slightly further away there\'s a cave which is about a half an hour away and has plenty of stairs to climb.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3680\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Mountain to Climb\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3680\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3680\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3680 \" title=\"Mountain to Climb \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6359-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe stayed in a great family hotel.\r\n\r\nThe hotel is at the bottom of a pretty serious hill. Really, I guess it\'s a mountain. So we climbed it.\r\n\r\nIt was pretty steep. I had to stop and catch my breath a few times. Luckily it was worth it. The view from the top was pretty great.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3681\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me on the Plank\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3681\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3681\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3681 \" title=\"Me on the Plank \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6394-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOh and there\'s a metal plank that juts out from the mountain so that you can get a better a view--or at least take some silly pictures.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3683\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"On the Mountain with Friends\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3683\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3683\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3683 \" title=\"On the Mountain\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6408-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBasically, we spent the morning climbing up and down the mountain and through a number of fields on our way back to the house we were staying in.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3682\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"View from the Mountain \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3682\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3682\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3682 \" title=\"View from the Mountain \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6414-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen we went to Trigrad for lunch. From Trigrad we went the cave known as the Devil\'s Throat. This cave has part of a waterfall in it. I thought it was going to be really impressive. It wasn\'t. I mean, it\'s cave with a river.  A river that makes a pretty steep drop which could be a waterfall but you can\'t actually see that much of it.\r\n\r\nI kind of think that if you\'re going to climb a bunch of questionably safe stairs that are both wet and muddy you deserve to see something<em> really awesome</em>. This cave in my mind was not this. It was fine but the stairs were kind of scary. Also the tour was less than 15 minutes.\r\n\r\nBy far my favorite of the two caves was Yagodina cave which is really long. The tour of this cave took much more like 45 minutes. There were lots of things to see like stalactites and stalagmites.  Also there are stalactites and stalagmites that look like famous people--Kiril and Methodius.  Yep, they\'re the creators of the Cyrillic alphabet.\r\n\r\nI don\'t have any cave pictures because in my experience they turn out notoriously bad. The big problem is the lighting. I know, I know. It\'s hard to believe there\'s bad lighting in caves.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, Yagodina is in the prefect location for both caves and to a climb the mountain peak.','Yagodina: Mountains and Caves ','','inherit','open','open','','3678-revision-3','','','2010-11-02 19:55:23','2010-11-02 19:55:23','',3678,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/02/3678-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(3686,1,'2010-11-02 19:55:23','2010-11-02 19:55:23','Yagodina is a little town hidden away in Southern Bulgaria. The town has a great mountain to climb and two caves. One cave is really close to Yagodina and easy to explore and a slightly further away there\'s a cave which is about a half an hour away and has plenty of stairs to climb.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3680\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Mountain to Climb\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3680\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3680\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3680 \" title=\"Mountain to Climb \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6359-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe stayed in a great family hotel.\r\n\r\nThe hotel is at the bottom of a pretty serious hill. Really, I guess it\'s a mountain. So we climbed it.\r\n\r\nIt was pretty steep. I had to stop and catch my breath a few times. Luckily it was worth it. The view from the top was pretty great.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3681\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me on the Plank\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3681\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3681\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3681 \" title=\"Me on the Plank \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6394-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOh and there\'s a metal plank that juts out from the mountain so that you can get a better a view--or at least take some silly pictures.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3683\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"On the Mountain with Friends\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3683\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3683\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3683 \" title=\"On the Mountain\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6408-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBasically, we spent the morning climbing up and down the mountain and through a number of fields on our way back to the house we were staying in.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3682\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"View from the Mountain \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3682\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3682\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3682 \" title=\"View from the Mountain \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6414-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen we went to Trigrad for lunch. From Trigrad we went the cave known as the Devil\'s Throat. This cave has part of a waterfall in it. I thought it was going to be really impressive. It wasn\'t. I mean, it\'s cave with a river.  A river that makes a pretty steep drop which could be a waterfall but you can\'t actually see that much of it.\r\n\r\nI kind of think that if you\'re going to climb a bunch of questionably safe stairs that are both wet and muddy you deserve to see something<em> really awesome</em>. This cave in my mind was not this. It was fine but the stairs were kind of scary. Also the tour was less than 15 minutes.\r\n\r\nBy far my favorite of the two caves was Yagodina cave which is really long. The tour of this cave took much more like 45 minutes. There were lots of things to see like stalactites and stalagmites.  Also there are stalactites and stalagmites that look like famous people--Kiril and Methodius.  Yep, they\'re the creators of the Cyrillic alphabet.\r\n\r\nI don\'t have any cave pictures because in my experience they turn out notoriously bad. The big problem is the lighting. I know, I know. It\'s hard to believe there\'s bad lighting in caves.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, Yagodina is in the prefect location for both caves and to a climb the mountain peak.','Yagodina: Mountains and Caves ','','inherit','open','open','','3678-revision-4','','','2010-11-02 19:55:23','2010-11-02 19:55:23','',3678,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/02/3678-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(3687,1,'2010-11-02 19:55:24','2010-11-02 19:55:24','Yagodina is a little town hidden away in Southern Bulgaria. The town has a great mountain to climb and two caves. One cave is really close to Yagodina and easy to explore and a slightly further away there\'s a cave which is about a half an hour away and has plenty of stairs to climb.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3680\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Mountain to Climb\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3680\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3680\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3680 \" title=\"Mountain to Climb \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6359-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe stayed in a great family hotel.\r\n\r\nThe hotel is at the bottom of a pretty serious hill. Really, I guess it\'s a mountain. So we climbed it.\r\n\r\nIt was pretty steep. I had to stop and catch my breath a few times. Luckily it was worth it. The view from the top was pretty great.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3681\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me on the Plank\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3681\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3681\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3681 \" title=\"Me on the Plank \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6394-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOh and there\'s a metal plank that juts out from the mountain so that you can get a better a view--or at least take some silly pictures.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3683\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"On the Mountain with Friends\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3683\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3683\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3683 \" title=\"On the Mountain\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6408-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBasically, we spent the morning climbing up and down the mountain and through a number of fields on our way back to the house we were staying in.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3682\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"View from the Mountain \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3682\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3682\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3682 \" title=\"View from the Mountain \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6414-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen we went to Trigrad for lunch. From Trigrad we went the cave known as the Devil\'s Throat. This cave has part of a waterfall in it. I thought it was going to be really impressive. It wasn\'t. I mean, it\'s cave with a river.  A river that makes a pretty steep drop which could be a waterfall but you can\'t actually see that much of it.\r\n\r\nI kind of think that if you\'re going to climb a bunch of questionably safe stairs that are both wet and muddy you deserve to see something<em> really awesome</em>. This cave in my mind was not this. It was fine but the stairs were kind of scary. Also the tour was less than 15 minutes.\r\n\r\nBy far my favorite of the two caves was Yagodina cave which is really long. The tour of this cave took much more like 45 minutes. There were lots of things to see like stalactites and stalagmites.  Also there are stalactites and stalagmites that look like famous people--Kiril and Methodius.  Yep, they\'re the creators of the Cyrillic alphabet.\r\n\r\nI don\'t have any cave pictures because in my experience they turn out notoriously bad. The big problem is the lighting. I know, I know. It\'s hard to believe there\'s bad lighting in caves.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, Yagodina is in the prefect location for both caves and to a climb the mountain peak.','Yagodina: Mountains and Caves ','','inherit','open','open','','3678-revision-5','','','2010-11-02 19:55:24','2010-11-02 19:55:24','',3678,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/02/3678-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(3689,1,'2010-11-02 20:01:03','2010-11-02 20:01:03','Yagodina is a little town hidden away in Southern Bulgaria. The town has a great mountain to climb and two caves. One cave is really close to Yagodina and easy to explore and a slightly further away there\'s a cave which is about a half an hour away and has plenty of stairs to climb.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3680\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Mountain to Climb\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3680\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3680\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3680 \" title=\"Mountain to Climb \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6359-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWe stayed in a great family hotel.\r\n\r\nThe hotel is at the bottom of a pretty serious hill. Really, I guess it\'s a mountain. So we climbed it.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nIt was pretty steep. I had to stop and catch my breath a few times. Luckily it was worth it. The view from the top was pretty great.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3681\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me on the Plank\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3681\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3681\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3681 \" title=\"Me on the Plank \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6394-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nOh and there\'s a metal plank that juts out from the mountain so that you can get a better a view--or at least take some silly pictures.\r\n\r\nBasically, we spent the morning climbing up and down the mountain and through a number of fields on our way back to the house we were staying in.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3682\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"View from the Mountain \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3682\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3682\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3682 \" title=\"View from the Mountain \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6414-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen we went to Trigrad for lunch. From Trigrad we went the cave known as the Devil\'s Throat. This cave has part of a waterfall in it. I thought it was going to be really impressive. It wasn\'t. I mean, it\'s cave with a river.  A river that makes a pretty steep drop which could be a waterfall but you can\'t actually see that much of it.\r\n\r\nI kind of think that if you\'re going to climb a bunch of questionably safe stairs that are both wet and muddy you deserve to see something<em> really awesome</em>. This cave in my mind was not this. It was fine but the stairs were kind of scary. Also the tour was less than 15 minutes.\r\n\r\nBy far my favorite of the two caves was Yagodina cave which is really long. The tour of this cave took much more like 45 minutes. There were lots of things to see like stalactites and stalagmites.  Also there are stalactites and stalagmites that look like famous people--Kiril and Methodius.  Yep, they\'re the creators of the Cyrillic alphabet.\r\n\r\nI don\'t have any cave pictures because in my experience they turn out notoriously bad. The big problem is the lighting. I know, I know. It\'s hard to believe there\'s bad lighting in caves.\r\n\r\nAnyhow, Yagodina is in the prefect location for both caves and to a climb the mountain peak.','Yagodina: Mountains and Caves ','','inherit','open','open','','3678-revision-7','','','2010-11-02 20:01:03','2010-11-02 20:01:03','',3678,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/02/3678-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(3690,1,'2010-11-02 20:02:09','2010-11-02 20:02:09','Yagodina is a little town hidden away in Southern Bulgaria. The town has a great mountain to climb and two caves. One cave is really close to Yagodina and easy to explore and a slightly further away there\'s a cave which is about a half an hour away and has plenty of stairs to climb.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3680\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Mountain to Climb\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3680\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/yagodina-mountains-and-caves/img_6359/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3680 \" title=\"Mountain to Climb \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6359-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWe stayed in a great family hotel.\n\nThe hotel is at the bottom of a pretty serious hill. Really, I guess it\'s a mountain. So we climbed it.<!--more-->\n\nIt was pretty steep. I had to stop and catch my breath a few times. Luckily it was worth it. The view from the top was pretty great.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3681\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me on the Plank\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3681\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/yagodina-mountains-and-caves/img_6394/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3681 \" title=\"Me on the Plank \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6394-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nOh and there\'s a metal plank that juts out from the mountain so that you can get a better a view--or at least take some silly pictures.\n\nBasically, we spent the morning climbing up and down the mountain and through a number of fields on our way back to the house we were staying in.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3682\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"View from the Mountain \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3682\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/yagodina-mountains-and-caves/img_6414/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3682 \" title=\"View from the Mountain \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6414-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen we went to Trigrad for lunch. From Trigrad we went the cave known as the Devil\'s Throat. This cave has part of a waterfall in it. I thought it was going to be really impressive. It wasn\'t. I mean, it\'s cave with a river.  A river that makes a pretty steep drop which could be a waterfall but you can\'t actually see that much of it.\n\nI kind of think that if you\'re going to climb a bunch of questionably safe stairs that are both wet and muddy you deserve to see something<em> really awesome</em>. This cave in my mind was not this. It was fine but the stairs were kind of scary. Also the tour was less than 15 minutes.\n\nBy far my favorite of the two caves was Yagodina cave which is really long. The tour of this cave took much more like 45 minutes. There were lots of things to see like stalactites and stalagmites.  Also there are stalactites and stalagmites that look like famous people--Kiril and Methodius.  Yep, they\'re the creators of the Cyrillic alphabet.\n\nI don\'t have any cave pictures because in my experience they turn out notoriously bad. The big problem is the lighting. I know, I know. It\'s hard to believe there\'s bad lighting in caves.\n\nAnyhow, Yagodina is in the prefect location for both caves and to a climb the mountain peak.','Yagodina: Mountains and Caves ','','inherit','open','open','','3678-autosave','','','2010-11-02 20:02:09','2010-11-02 20:02:09','',3678,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/02/3678-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(3691,1,'2010-11-03 18:41:13','2010-11-03 18:41:13','I had some of the yummiest candy this weekend.\r\n\r\nThe candy is called Rhodopche. It looks really silly in English. I think it looks much cooler in Bulgarian: Родопче.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3692\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3692\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/rhodopche-candy/img_6524/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3692 \" title=\"New Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6524-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nUm, this stuff is so tasty.  It\'s chocolate and peanut butter. I haven\'t tasted anything quite like it before.\r\n\r\nBut to my untrained eye, anything that comes merely wrapped in foil looks a little questionable. Don\'t worry this didn\'t prevent me from trying the candy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3693\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"The Rhodopi Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3693\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/rhodopche-candy/img_6526/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3693 \" title=\"The Rhodopi Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6526-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI thought for sure that the candy was homemade because it\'s wrapped in tin foil but a Bulgarian friend was quick to correct my mistake this weekend. <!--more-->It turns out that the candy is store made and was packaged this way during communism. Apparently, not much has changed for this candy.\r\n\r\nIt\'s probably a good thing. I don\'t think anything needs to change. The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is divine and so creamy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3694\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Rodopche Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3694\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/rhodopche-candy/img_6527/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3694 \" title=\"Rodopche Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6527-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen this week in my on going attempt to learn Bulgarian or to practice my self-patience and to work on being humble, I stumbled through everything I did and ate over the weekend while my teacher dutifully listened to me and corrected me as necessary. After going through a long list of potato dishes including patatnik--one of my new favorite dishes--part potato, part banitsa and 100% delicious.\r\n\r\nThis lead me to the candy Rhodopche.\r\n\r\nIt was a really wonderful moment this week in my Bulgarian lesson.  I told her about this candy in Bulgarian and she said, she hadn\'t thought about or eaten the candy in 30 years. I was totally fascinated watching her think about the candy, the flavor and the last time she\'d eaten it.\r\n\r\nThis made me want to eat another piece of the candy all the more. Only, I am in Sofia. And the candy is in the Rhodopes.','Rhodopche Candy ','','publish','open','open','','rhodopche-candy','','','2010-11-03 18:41:13','2010-11-03 18:41:13','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=3691',0,'post','',6),(3692,1,'2010-11-02 20:11:02','2010-11-02 20:11:02','','New Candy ','New Candy ','inherit','open','open','','img_6524','','','2010-11-02 20:11:02','2010-11-02 20:11:02','',3691,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6524.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3693,1,'2010-11-02 20:15:47','2010-11-02 20:15:47','','The Rhodopi Candy ','The Rhodopi Candy ','inherit','open','open','','img_6526','','','2010-11-02 20:15:47','2010-11-02 20:15:47','',3691,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6526.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3694,1,'2010-11-02 20:19:35','2010-11-02 20:19:35','','Rodopche Candy ','Rodopche Candy ','inherit','open','open','','img_6527','','','2010-11-02 20:19:35','2010-11-02 20:19:35','',3691,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6527.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3695,1,'2010-11-02 20:24:48','2010-11-02 20:24:48','I had some of the yummiest candy this weekend.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3692\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3692\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3692\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3692 \" title=\"New Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6524-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nUm, this stuff is so tasty.  It\'s chocolate and peanut butter. I haven\'t tasted anything quite like it before.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3693\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"The Rhodopi Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3693\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3693\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3693 \" title=\"The Rhodopi Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6526-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI thought for sure that the candy was homemade because it\'s wrapped in tin foil but it turns out that it\'s store made and was packaged this way during communism. Apparently, not much has changed for this candy.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3694\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Rodopche Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3694\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3694\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3694 \" title=\"Rodopche Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6527-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn a really wonderful moment this week in my Bulgarian lesson, I was talking to my teacher about the food and what I\'d eaten on the trip. I told her about this candy and she said, she hadn\'t thought about or eaten the candy in 30 years. It was so interwas a','Rhodopche Candy ','','inherit','open','open','','3691-revision','','','2010-11-02 20:24:48','2010-11-02 20:24:48','',3691,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/02/3691-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3696,1,'2010-11-02 20:25:25','2010-11-02 20:25:25','I had some of the yummiest candy this weekend.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3692\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3692\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3692\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3692 \" title=\"New Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6524-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nUm, this stuff is so tasty.  It\'s chocolate and peanut butter. I haven\'t tasted anything quite like it before.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3693\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"The Rhodopi Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3693\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3693\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3693 \" title=\"The Rhodopi Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6526-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI thought for sure that the candy was homemade because it\'s wrapped in tin foil but it turns out that it\'s store made and was packaged this way during communism. Apparently, not much has changed for this candy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3694\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Rodopche Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3694\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3694\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3694 \" title=\"Rodopche Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6527-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn a really wonderful moment this week in my Bulgarian lesson, I was talking to my teacher about the food and what I\'d eaten on the trip. I told her about this candy and she said, she hadn\'t thought about or eaten the candy in 30 years. It was so interesting watching her think about the candy, the flavor and the last time she ate it.','Rhodopche Candy ','','inherit','open','open','','3691-revision-2','','','2010-11-02 20:25:25','2010-11-02 20:25:25','',3691,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/02/3691-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(3697,1,'2010-11-03 04:25:20','2010-11-03 04:25:20','I had some of the yummiest candy this weekend.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3692\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3692\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3692\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3692 \" title=\"New Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6524-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nUm, this stuff is so tasty.  It\'s chocolate and peanut butter. I haven\'t tasted anything quite like it before.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3693\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"The Rhodopi Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3693\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3693\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3693 \" title=\"The Rhodopi Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6526-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI thought for sure that the candy was homemade because it\'s wrapped in tin foil but it turns out that it\'s store made and was packaged this way during communism. Apparently, not much has changed for this candy.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3694\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Rodopche Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3694\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3694\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3694 \" title=\"Rodopche Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6527-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn a really wonderful moment this week in my Bulgarian lesson, I was talking to my teacher about the food and what I\'d eaten on the trip. I told her about this candy and she said, she hadn\'t thought about or eaten the candy in 30 years. It was so interesting watching her think about the candy, the flavor and the last time she ate it.','Rhodopche Candy ','','inherit','open','open','','3691-revision-3','','','2010-11-03 04:25:20','2010-11-03 04:25:20','',3691,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/3691-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(3698,1,'2010-11-03 04:36:10','2010-11-03 04:36:10','I had some of the yummiest candy this weekend.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3692\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3692\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3692\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3692 \" title=\"New Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6524-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nUm, this stuff is so tasty.  It\'s chocolate and peanut butter. I haven\'t tasted anything quite like it before.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3693\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"The Rhodopi Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3693\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3693\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3693 \" title=\"The Rhodopi Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6526-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI thought for sure that the candy was homemade because it\'s wrapped in tin foil but it turns out that it\'s store made and was packaged this way during communism. Apparently, not much has changed for this candy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3694\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Rodopche Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3694\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3694\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3694 \" title=\"Rodopche Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6527-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn a really wonderful moment this week in my Bulgarian lesson, I was talking to my teacher about the food and what I\'d eaten on the trip. I told her about this candy and she said, she hadn\'t thought about or eaten the candy in 30 years. It was so interesting watching her think about the candy, the flavor and the last time she ate it.','Rhodopche Candy ','','inherit','open','open','','3691-revision-4','','','2010-11-03 04:36:10','2010-11-03 04:36:10','',3691,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/3691-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(3699,1,'2010-11-03 18:26:44','2010-11-03 18:26:44','I had some of the yummiest candy this weekend.\n\nThe candy is called Rhodopche. It looks really silly in English. I think it looks much cooler in Bulgarian: Родопче.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3692\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3692\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3692\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3692 \" title=\"New Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6524-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nUm, this stuff is so tasty.  It\'s chocolate and peanut butter. I haven\'t tasted anything quite like it before.\n\nBut to my untrained eye, anything that comes merely wrapped in foil looks a little questionable. Don\'t worry this didn\'t prevent me from trying the candy.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3693\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"The Rhodopi Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3693\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3693\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3693 \" title=\"The Rhodopi Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6526-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI thought for sure that the candy was homemade because it\'s wrapped in tin foil. A Bulgarian friend was quick to correct my mistake this weekend. It turns out that the candy is store made and was packaged this way during communism. Apparently, not much has changed for this candy.\n\nIt\'s probably a good thing. I don\'t think anything needs to change. The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is divine and so creamy.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3694\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Rodopche Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3694\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3694\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3694 \" title=\"Rodopche Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6527-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIn a really wonderful moment this week in my Bulgarian lesson, I was talking to my teacher about the food and what I\'d eaten on the trip. I told her about this candy and she said, she hadn\'t thought about or eaten the candy in 30 years. It was so interesting watching her think about the candy, the flavor and the last time she ate it.','Rhodopche Candy ','','inherit','open','open','','3691-revision-5','','','2010-11-03 18:26:44','2010-11-03 18:26:44','',3691,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/3691-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(3700,1,'2010-11-03 18:26:56','2010-11-03 18:26:56','I had some of the yummiest candy this weekend.\r\n\r\nThe candy is called Rhodopche. It looks really silly in English. I think it looks much cooler in Bulgarian: Родопче.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3692\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3692\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3692\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3692 \" title=\"New Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6524-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nUm, this stuff is so tasty.  It\'s chocolate and peanut butter. I haven\'t tasted anything quite like it before.\r\n\r\nBut to my untrained eye, anything that comes merely wrapped in foil looks a little questionable. Don\'t worry this didn\'t prevent me from trying the candy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3693\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"The Rhodopi Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3693\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3693\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3693 \" title=\"The Rhodopi Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6526-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI thought for sure that the candy was homemade because it\'s wrapped in tin foil. A Bulgarian friend was quick to correct my mistake this weekend. It turns out that the candy is store made and was packaged this way during communism. Apparently, not much has changed for this candy.\r\n\r\nIt\'s probably a good thing. I don\'t think anything needs to change. The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is divine and so creamy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3694\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Rodopche Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3694\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3694\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3694 \" title=\"Rodopche Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6527-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIn a really wonderful moment this week in my Bulgarian lesson, I was talking to my teacher about the food and what I\'d eaten on the trip. I told her about this candy and she said, she hadn\'t thought about or eaten the candy in 30 years. It was so interesting watching her think about the candy, the flavor and the last time she ate it.','Rhodopche Candy ','','inherit','open','open','','3691-revision-6','','','2010-11-03 18:26:56','2010-11-03 18:26:56','',3691,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/3691-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(3701,1,'2010-11-03 18:39:03','2010-11-03 18:39:03','I had some of the yummiest candy this weekend.\n\nThe candy is called Rhodopche. It looks really silly in English. I think it looks much cooler in Bulgarian: Родопче.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3692\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3692\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3692\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3692 \" title=\"New Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6524-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nUm, this stuff is so tasty.  It\'s chocolate and peanut butter. I haven\'t tasted anything quite like it before.\n\nBut to my untrained eye, anything that comes merely wrapped in foil looks a little questionable. Don\'t worry this didn\'t prevent me from trying the candy.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3693\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"The Rhodopi Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3693\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3693\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3693 \" title=\"The Rhodopi Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6526-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI thought for sure that the candy was homemade because it\'s wrapped in tin foil. A Bulgarian friend was quick to correct my mistake this weekend. It turns out that the candy is store made and was packaged this way during communism. Apparently, not much has changed for this candy.\n\nIt\'s probably a good thing. I don\'t think anything needs to change. The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is divine and so creamy.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3694\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Rodopche Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3694\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3694\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3694 \" title=\"Rodopche Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6527-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen this week in my on going attempt to learn Bulgarian or to practice my self-patience and to work on being humble, I stumbled through everything I did and ate over the weekend while my teacher dutifully listened to me and corrected me as necessary. After going through a long list of potato dishes including patatnik--one of my new favorite dishes--part potato, part banitsa and 100% delicious.\n\nThis lead me to the candy Rhodopche.\n\nIt was a really wonderful moment this week in my Bulgarian lesson.  I told her about this candy in Bulgarian and she said, she hadn\'t thought about or eaten the candy in 30 years. I was totally fascinated watching her think about the candy, the flavor and the last time she\'d eaten it.\n\nThis made me want to eat another piece of the candy all the more. Only, I am in Sofia. And the candy is in the Rhodopes.','Rhodopche Candy ','','inherit','open','open','','3691-revision-7','','','2010-11-03 18:39:03','2010-11-03 18:39:03','',3691,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/3691-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(3702,1,'2010-11-03 18:39:55','2010-11-03 18:39:55','I had some of the yummiest candy this weekend.\r\n\r\nThe candy is called Rhodopche. It looks really silly in English. I think it looks much cooler in Bulgarian: Родопче.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3692\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3692\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3692\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3692 \" title=\"New Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6524-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nUm, this stuff is so tasty.  It\'s chocolate and peanut butter. I haven\'t tasted anything quite like it before.\r\n\r\nBut to my untrained eye, anything that comes merely wrapped in foil looks a little questionable. Don\'t worry this didn\'t prevent me from trying the candy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3693\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"The Rhodopi Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3693\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3693\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3693 \" title=\"The Rhodopi Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6526-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI thought for sure that the candy was homemade because it\'s wrapped in tin foil. A Bulgarian friend was quick to correct my mistake this weekend. It turns out that the candy is store made and was packaged this way during communism. Apparently, not much has changed for this candy.\r\n\r\nIt\'s probably a good thing. I don\'t think anything needs to change. The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is divine and so creamy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3694\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Rodopche Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3694\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3694\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3694 \" title=\"Rodopche Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6527-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen this week in my on going attempt to learn Bulgarian or to practice my self-patience and to work on being humble, I stumbled through everything I did and ate over the weekend while my teacher dutifully listened to me and corrected me as necessary. After going through a long list of potato dishes including patatnik--one of my new favorite dishes--part potato, part banitsa and 100% delicious.\r\n\r\nThis lead me to the candy Rhodopche.\r\n\r\nIt was a really wonderful moment this week in my Bulgarian lesson.  I told her about this candy in Bulgarian and she said, she hadn\'t thought about or eaten the candy in 30 years. I was totally fascinated watching her think about the candy, the flavor and the last time she\'d eaten it.\r\n\r\nThis made me want to eat another piece of the candy all the more. Only, I am in Sofia. And the candy is in the Rhodopes.','Rhodopche Candy ','','inherit','open','open','','3691-revision-8','','','2010-11-03 18:39:55','2010-11-03 18:39:55','',3691,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/3691-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(3703,1,'2010-11-03 18:41:01','2010-11-03 18:41:01','I had some of the yummiest candy this weekend.\n\nThe candy is called Rhodopche. It looks really silly in English. I think it looks much cooler in Bulgarian: Родопче.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3692\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3692\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3692\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3692 \" title=\"New Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6524-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nUm, this stuff is so tasty.  It\'s chocolate and peanut butter. I haven\'t tasted anything quite like it before.\n\nBut to my untrained eye, anything that comes merely wrapped in foil looks a little questionable. Don\'t worry this didn\'t prevent me from trying the candy.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3693\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"The Rhodopi Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3693\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3693\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3693 \" title=\"The Rhodopi Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6526-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nI thought for sure that the candy was homemade because it\'s wrapped in tin foil but a Bulgarian friend was quick to correct my mistake this weekend. <!--more-->It turns out that the candy is store made and was packaged this way during communism. Apparently, not much has changed for this candy.\n\nIt\'s probably a good thing. I don\'t think anything needs to change. The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is divine and so creamy.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3694\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Rodopche Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3694\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3694\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3694 \" title=\"Rodopche Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6527-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen this week in my on going attempt to learn Bulgarian or to practice my self-patience and to work on being humble, I stumbled through everything I did and ate over the weekend while my teacher dutifully listened to me and corrected me as necessary. After going through a long list of potato dishes including patatnik--one of my new favorite dishes--part potato, part banitsa and 100% delicious.\n\nThis lead me to the candy Rhodopche.\n\nIt was a really wonderful moment this week in my Bulgarian lesson.  I told her about this candy in Bulgarian and she said, she hadn\'t thought about or eaten the candy in 30 years. I was totally fascinated watching her think about the candy, the flavor and the last time she\'d eaten it.\n\nThis made me want to eat another piece of the candy all the more. Only, I am in Sofia. And the candy is in the Rhodopes.','Rhodopche Candy ','','inherit','open','open','','3691-revision-9','','','2010-11-03 18:41:01','2010-11-03 18:41:01','',3691,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/3691-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(3704,1,'2010-11-03 18:41:13','2010-11-03 18:41:13','I had some of the yummiest candy this weekend.\r\n\r\nThe candy is called Rhodopche. It looks really silly in English. I think it looks much cooler in Bulgarian: Родопче.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3692\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"New Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3692\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3692\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3692 \" title=\"New Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6524-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nUm, this stuff is so tasty.  It\'s chocolate and peanut butter. I haven\'t tasted anything quite like it before.\r\n\r\nBut to my untrained eye, anything that comes merely wrapped in foil looks a little questionable. Don\'t worry this didn\'t prevent me from trying the candy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3693\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"The Rhodopi Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3693\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3693\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3693 \" title=\"The Rhodopi Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6526-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI thought for sure that the candy was homemade because it\'s wrapped in tin foil but a Bulgarian friend was quick to correct my mistake this weekend. <!--more-->It turns out that the candy is store made and was packaged this way during communism. Apparently, not much has changed for this candy.\r\n\r\nIt\'s probably a good thing. I don\'t think anything needs to change. The combination of peanut butter and chocolate is divine and so creamy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3694\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Rodopche Candy \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3694\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3694\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3694 \" title=\"Rodopche Candy \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6527-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen this week in my on going attempt to learn Bulgarian or to practice my self-patience and to work on being humble, I stumbled through everything I did and ate over the weekend while my teacher dutifully listened to me and corrected me as necessary. After going through a long list of potato dishes including patatnik--one of my new favorite dishes--part potato, part banitsa and 100% delicious.\r\n\r\nThis lead me to the candy Rhodopche.\r\n\r\nIt was a really wonderful moment this week in my Bulgarian lesson.  I told her about this candy in Bulgarian and she said, she hadn\'t thought about or eaten the candy in 30 years. I was totally fascinated watching her think about the candy, the flavor and the last time she\'d eaten it.\r\n\r\nThis made me want to eat another piece of the candy all the more. Only, I am in Sofia. And the candy is in the Rhodopes.','Rhodopche Candy ','','inherit','open','open','','3691-revision-10','','','2010-11-03 18:41:13','2010-11-03 18:41:13','',3691,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/3691-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(3705,1,'2010-11-04 03:10:37','2010-11-04 03:10:37','I am not really a Halloween person. I hate the pressure of coming up with a costume.  I don\'t really dig trying to guess what other people are.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3708\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3708\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6479/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3708 \" title=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6479-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut I do love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nI also heart candy corn but that\'s another story. And I am trying not to think about that because it\'s an impossible treat to get my hands on here in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nSo back to the point: I was totally happy to get away for the weekend and to feel no obligation what so ever to dress up.\r\n\r\nThen on Halloween in the Rhodopes there turned out to be trick-or-treaters. And I supervised the carving of a pumpkin.\r\n\r\nWho knew?!<!--more-->\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3706\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3706\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6467/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3706 \" title=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6467-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nReally, who knew? How did these kids get turned on to Halloween? And how is it that they were awesome at it on top of everything else?\r\n\r\nBecause really, did you check out their costumes?\r\n\r\nThese kids have made their own paper masks <em>and</em>, AND, they are carrying carved and lit pumpkins. It clearly doesn\'t get any better than this. Also, do you notice a single parent in the photos? Nope. Because there\'s not one.\r\n\r\nI peaked in their bags and were they collecting candy? Again, Nope. Apples. They\'d been given <em>apples</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3707\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkins on String \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3707\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6471/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3707 \" title=\"Pumpkins on String \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6471-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNow carved and lit pumpkins on a string are <em>awesome. </em>I\'ve never seen anything like it. These kids were rocking Halloween. I am proud of them.\r\n\r\nI was also a little afraid they might catch themselves or someone else on fire. That\'s the American in me.\r\n\r\nAfter the trick-or-treaters, I supervised the carving of a pumpkin. The family we were staying with asked us if we wanted to carve pumpkins. We said: yes!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3709\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3709\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6475/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3709 \" title=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6475-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe pumpkins in Bulgaria are much thicker than the variety we grow in the states for carving (rather than the kind we grow for eating) but L. scrounged up some orange-ish pumpkins from the shed of pumpkins. Only after trying to cut the lid off and scoop out the seeds there was some concern that L. and I were going to hurt ourselves carving.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3710\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3710\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6477/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3710 \" title=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6477-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nApparently girls and knives in the kitchen of an older Bulgarian couple leads to supervision of pumpkin carving, lots of wild gestures and some explaining in Bulgarian about your creative vision. But, what ever we did worked. We ended up with two good looking pumpkins.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3711\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Our pumpkins\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3711\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6478/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3711 \" title=\"Our pumpkins\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6478-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd a lot of great memories.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3712\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3712\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6480/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3712 \" title=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6480-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]','Halloween in the Rhodopes','','publish','open','open','','halloween-in-the-rhodopes','','','2010-11-04 06:00:26','2010-11-04 06:00:26','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=3705',0,'post','',0),(3706,1,'2010-11-03 19:41:09','2010-11-03 19:41:09','','Kids Trick-or-Treating','Kids Trick-or-Treating','inherit','open','open','','img_6467','','','2010-11-03 19:41:09','2010-11-03 19:41:09','',3705,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6467.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3707,1,'2010-11-03 19:46:51','2010-11-03 19:46:51','','Pumpkins on String ','Pumpkins on String ','inherit','open','open','','img_6471','','','2010-11-03 19:46:51','2010-11-03 19:46:51','',3705,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6471.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3708,1,'2010-11-03 19:51:46','2010-11-03 19:51:46','','Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two ','Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two ','inherit','open','open','','img_6479','','','2010-11-03 19:51:46','2010-11-03 19:51:46','',3705,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6479.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3709,1,'2010-11-03 19:58:02','2010-11-03 19:58:02','','Master Pumpkin Carver ','Master Pumpkin Carver ','inherit','open','open','','img_6475','','','2010-11-03 19:58:02','2010-11-03 19:58:02','',3705,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6475.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3710,1,'2010-11-03 20:00:09','2010-11-03 20:00:09','','Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver','Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver','inherit','open','open','','img_6477','','','2010-11-03 20:00:09','2010-11-03 20:00:09','',3705,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6477.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3711,1,'2010-11-03 20:02:16','2010-11-03 20:02:16','','Our pumpkins','Our pumpkins','inherit','open','open','','img_6478','','','2010-11-03 20:02:16','2010-11-03 20:02:16','',3705,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6478.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3712,1,'2010-11-03 20:07:13','2010-11-03 20:07:13','','Halloween in the Rhodopes ','Halloween in the Rhodopes ','inherit','open','open','','img_6480','','','2010-11-03 20:07:13','2010-11-03 20:07:13','',3705,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6480.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3713,1,'2010-11-03 20:08:46','2010-11-03 20:08:46','I am not really a Halloween person. I hate the pressure of coming up with a costume.  I don\'t really dig trying to guess what other people are.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3708\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3708\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3708\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3708 \" title=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6479-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBut I do love pumpkins.\n\nI also heart candy corn but that\'s another story. And I am trying not to think about that because it\'s an impossible treat to get my hands on here in Bulgaria.\n\nSo back to the point: I was totally happy to get away for the weekend and to feel no obligation what so ever to dress up.\n\nThen on Halloween in the Rhodopes there turned out to be trick-or-treaters. And I supervised the carving of a pumpkin.\n\nWho knew?!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3706\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3706\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3706\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3706 \" title=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6467-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nReally, who knew? How did these kids get turned on to Halloween? And how is it that they were awesome at it on top of everything else?\n\nBecause really, did you check out their costumes?\n\nThese kids have made their own paper masks <em>and</em>, AND, they are carrying carved and lit pumpkins. It clearly doesn\'t get any better than this. Also, do you notice a single parent in the photos? Nope. Because there\'s not one.\n\nI peaked in their bags and were they collecting candy? Again, Nope. Apples. They\'d been given <em>apples</em>.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3707\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkins on String \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3707\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3707\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3707 \" title=\"Pumpkins on String \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6471-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nNow carved and lit pumpkins on a string are <em>awesome. </em>I\'ve never seen anything like it. These kids were rocking Halloween. I am proud of them.\n\nI was also a little afraid they might catch themselves or someone else on fire. That\'s the American in me.\n\nAfter the trick-or-treaters, I supervised the carving of a pumpkin. The family we were staying with asked us if we wanted to carve pumpkins. We said: yes!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3709\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3709\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3709\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3709 \" title=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6475-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe pumpkins in Bulgaria are much thicker than the variety we grow in the states for carving (rather than the kind we grow for eating) but L. scrounged up some orange-ish pumpkins from the shed of pumpkins. Only after trying to cut the lid off and scoop out the seeds there was some concern that L. and I were going to hurt ourselves carving.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3710\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3710\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3710\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3710 \" title=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6477-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nApparently girls and knives in the kitchen of an older Bulgarian couple leads to supervision of pumpkin carving, lots of wild gestures and some explaining in Bulgarian about your creative vision. But, what ever we did worked. We ended up with two good looking pumpkins.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3711\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Our pumpkins\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3711\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3711\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3711 \" title=\"Our pumpkins\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6478-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd a lot of great memories.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3712\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1024\" caption=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3712\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3712\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3712\" title=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6480-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" /></a>[/caption]','Halloween in the Rhodopes','','inherit','open','open','','3705-revision','','','2010-11-03 20:08:46','2010-11-03 20:08:46','',3705,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/3705-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3717,1,'2010-11-03 20:11:45','2010-11-03 20:11:45','I am not really a Halloween person. I hate the pressure of coming up with a costume.  I don\'t really dig trying to guess what other people are.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3708\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3708\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3708\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3708 \" title=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6479-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBut I do love pumpkins.\n\nI also heart candy corn but that\'s another story. And I am trying not to think about that because it\'s an impossible treat to get my hands on here in Bulgaria.\n\nSo back to the point: I was totally happy to get away for the weekend and to feel no obligation what so ever to dress up.\n\nThen on Halloween in the Rhodopes there turned out to be trick-or-treaters. And I supervised the carving of a pumpkin.\n\nWho knew?!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3706\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3706\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3706\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3706 \" title=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6467-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nReally, who knew? How did these kids get turned on to Halloween? And how is it that they were awesome at it on top of everything else?\n\nBecause really, did you check out their costumes?\n\nThese kids have made their own paper masks <em>and</em>, AND, they are carrying carved and lit pumpkins. It clearly doesn\'t get any better than this. Also, do you notice a single parent in the photos? Nope. Because there\'s not one.\n\nI peaked in their bags and were they collecting candy? Again, Nope. Apples. They\'d been given <em>apples</em>.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3707\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkins on String \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3707\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3707\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3707 \" title=\"Pumpkins on String \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6471-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nNow carved and lit pumpkins on a string are <em>awesome. </em>I\'ve never seen anything like it. These kids were rocking Halloween. I am proud of them.\n\nI was also a little afraid they might catch themselves or someone else on fire. That\'s the American in me.\n\nAfter the trick-or-treaters, I supervised the carving of a pumpkin. The family we were staying with asked us if we wanted to carve pumpkins. We said: yes!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3709\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3709\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3709\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3709 \" title=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6475-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe pumpkins in Bulgaria are much thicker than the variety we grow in the states for carving (rather than the kind we grow for eating) but L. scrounged up some orange-ish pumpkins from the shed of pumpkins. Only after trying to cut the lid off and scoop out the seeds there was some concern that L. and I were going to hurt ourselves carving.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3710\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3710\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3710\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3710 \" title=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6477-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nApparently girls and knives in the kitchen of an older Bulgarian couple leads to supervision of pumpkin carving, lots of wild gestures and some explaining in Bulgarian about your creative vision. But, what ever we did worked. We ended up with two good looking pumpkins.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3711\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Our pumpkins\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3711\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3711\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3711 \" title=\"Our pumpkins\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6478-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd a lot of great memories.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3712\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3712\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3712\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3712 \" title=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6480-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]','Halloween in the Rhodopes','','inherit','open','open','','3705-revision-5','','','2010-11-03 20:11:45','2010-11-03 20:11:45','',3705,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/3705-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(3714,1,'2010-11-03 20:10:35','2010-11-03 20:10:35','I am not really a Halloween person. I hate the pressure of coming up with a costume.  I don\'t really dig trying to guess what other people are.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3708\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3708\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3708\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3708 \" title=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6479-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut I do love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nI also heart candy corn but that\'s another story. And I am trying not to think about that because it\'s an impossible treat to get my hands on here in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nSo back to the point: I was totally happy to get away for the weekend and to feel no obligation what so ever to dress up.\r\n\r\nThen on Halloween in the Rhodopes there turned out to be trick-or-treaters. And I supervised the carving of a pumpkin.\r\n\r\nWho knew?!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3706\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3706\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3706\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3706 \" title=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6467-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nReally, who knew? How did these kids get turned on to Halloween? And how is it that they were awesome at it on top of everything else?\r\n\r\nBecause really, did you check out their costumes?\r\n\r\nThese kids have made their own paper masks <em>and</em>, AND, they are carrying carved and lit pumpkins. It clearly doesn\'t get any better than this. Also, do you notice a single parent in the photos? Nope. Because there\'s not one.\r\n\r\nI peaked in their bags and were they collecting candy? Again, Nope. Apples. They\'d been given <em>apples</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3707\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkins on String \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3707\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3707\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3707 \" title=\"Pumpkins on String \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6471-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNow carved and lit pumpkins on a string are <em>awesome. </em>I\'ve never seen anything like it. These kids were rocking Halloween. I am proud of them.\r\n\r\nI was also a little afraid they might catch themselves or someone else on fire. That\'s the American in me.\r\n\r\nAfter the trick-or-treaters, I supervised the carving of a pumpkin. The family we were staying with asked us if we wanted to carve pumpkins. We said: yes!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3709\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3709\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3709\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3709 \" title=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6475-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe pumpkins in Bulgaria are much thicker than the variety we grow in the states for carving (rather than the kind we grow for eating) but L. scrounged up some orange-ish pumpkins from the shed of pumpkins. Only after trying to cut the lid off and scoop out the seeds there was some concern that L. and I were going to hurt ourselves carving.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3710\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3710\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3710\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3710 \" title=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6477-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nApparently girls and knives in the kitchen of an older Bulgarian couple leads to supervision of pumpkin carving, lots of wild gestures and some explaining in Bulgarian about your creative vision. But, what ever we did worked. We ended up with two good looking pumpkins.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3711\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Our pumpkins\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3711\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3711\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3711 \" title=\"Our pumpkins\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6478-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd a lot of great memories.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3712\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3712\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3712\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3712 \" title=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6480-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]','Halloween in the Rhodopes','','inherit','open','open','','3705-revision-2','','','2010-11-03 20:10:35','2010-11-03 20:10:35','',3705,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/3705-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(3715,1,'2010-11-03 20:10:35','2010-11-03 20:10:35','I am not really a Halloween person. I hate the pressure of coming up with a costume.  I don\'t really dig trying to guess what other people are.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3708\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3708\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3708\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3708 \" title=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6479-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut I do love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nI also heart candy corn but that\'s another story. And I am trying not to think about that because it\'s an impossible treat to get my hands on here in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nSo back to the point: I was totally happy to get away for the weekend and to feel no obligation what so ever to dress up.\r\n\r\nThen on Halloween in the Rhodopes there turned out to be trick-or-treaters. And I supervised the carving of a pumpkin.\r\n\r\nWho knew?!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3706\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3706\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3706\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3706 \" title=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6467-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nReally, who knew? How did these kids get turned on to Halloween? And how is it that they were awesome at it on top of everything else?\r\n\r\nBecause really, did you check out their costumes?\r\n\r\nThese kids have made their own paper masks <em>and</em>, AND, they are carrying carved and lit pumpkins. It clearly doesn\'t get any better than this. Also, do you notice a single parent in the photos? Nope. Because there\'s not one.\r\n\r\nI peaked in their bags and were they collecting candy? Again, Nope. Apples. They\'d been given <em>apples</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3707\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkins on String \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3707\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3707\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3707 \" title=\"Pumpkins on String \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6471-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNow carved and lit pumpkins on a string are <em>awesome. </em>I\'ve never seen anything like it. These kids were rocking Halloween. I am proud of them.\r\n\r\nI was also a little afraid they might catch themselves or someone else on fire. That\'s the American in me.\r\n\r\nAfter the trick-or-treaters, I supervised the carving of a pumpkin. The family we were staying with asked us if we wanted to carve pumpkins. We said: yes!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3709\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3709\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3709\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3709 \" title=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6475-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe pumpkins in Bulgaria are much thicker than the variety we grow in the states for carving (rather than the kind we grow for eating) but L. scrounged up some orange-ish pumpkins from the shed of pumpkins. Only after trying to cut the lid off and scoop out the seeds there was some concern that L. and I were going to hurt ourselves carving.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3710\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3710\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3710\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3710 \" title=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6477-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nApparently girls and knives in the kitchen of an older Bulgarian couple leads to supervision of pumpkin carving, lots of wild gestures and some explaining in Bulgarian about your creative vision. But, what ever we did worked. We ended up with two good looking pumpkins.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3711\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Our pumpkins\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3711\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3711\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3711 \" title=\"Our pumpkins\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6478-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd a lot of great memories.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3712\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3712\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3712\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3712 \" title=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6480-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]','Halloween in the Rhodopes','','inherit','open','open','','3705-revision-3','','','2010-11-03 20:10:35','2010-11-03 20:10:35','',3705,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/3705-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(3716,1,'2010-11-03 20:10:39','2010-11-03 20:10:39','I am not really a Halloween person. I hate the pressure of coming up with a costume.  I don\'t really dig trying to guess what other people are.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3708\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3708\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3708\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3708 \" title=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6479-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut I do love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nI also heart candy corn but that\'s another story. And I am trying not to think about that because it\'s an impossible treat to get my hands on here in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nSo back to the point: I was totally happy to get away for the weekend and to feel no obligation what so ever to dress up.\r\n\r\nThen on Halloween in the Rhodopes there turned out to be trick-or-treaters. And I supervised the carving of a pumpkin.\r\n\r\nWho knew?!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3706\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3706\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3706\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3706 \" title=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6467-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nReally, who knew? How did these kids get turned on to Halloween? And how is it that they were awesome at it on top of everything else?\r\n\r\nBecause really, did you check out their costumes?\r\n\r\nThese kids have made their own paper masks <em>and</em>, AND, they are carrying carved and lit pumpkins. It clearly doesn\'t get any better than this. Also, do you notice a single parent in the photos? Nope. Because there\'s not one.\r\n\r\nI peaked in their bags and were they collecting candy? Again, Nope. Apples. They\'d been given <em>apples</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3707\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkins on String \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3707\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3707\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3707 \" title=\"Pumpkins on String \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6471-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNow carved and lit pumpkins on a string are <em>awesome. </em>I\'ve never seen anything like it. These kids were rocking Halloween. I am proud of them.\r\n\r\nI was also a little afraid they might catch themselves or someone else on fire. That\'s the American in me.\r\n\r\nAfter the trick-or-treaters, I supervised the carving of a pumpkin. The family we were staying with asked us if we wanted to carve pumpkins. We said: yes!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3709\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3709\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3709\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3709 \" title=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6475-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe pumpkins in Bulgaria are much thicker than the variety we grow in the states for carving (rather than the kind we grow for eating) but L. scrounged up some orange-ish pumpkins from the shed of pumpkins. Only after trying to cut the lid off and scoop out the seeds there was some concern that L. and I were going to hurt ourselves carving.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3710\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3710\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3710\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3710 \" title=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6477-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nApparently girls and knives in the kitchen of an older Bulgarian couple leads to supervision of pumpkin carving, lots of wild gestures and some explaining in Bulgarian about your creative vision. But, what ever we did worked. We ended up with two good looking pumpkins.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3711\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Our pumpkins\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3711\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3711\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3711 \" title=\"Our pumpkins\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6478-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd a lot of great memories.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3712\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3712\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3712\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3712 \" title=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6480-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]','Halloween in the Rhodopes','','inherit','open','open','','3705-revision-4','','','2010-11-03 20:10:39','2010-11-03 20:10:39','',3705,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/3705-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(3718,1,'2010-11-03 20:12:09','2010-11-03 20:12:09','I am not really a Halloween person. I hate the pressure of coming up with a costume.  I don\'t really dig trying to guess what other people are.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3708\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3708\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3708\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3708 \" title=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6479-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut I do love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nI also heart candy corn but that\'s another story. And I am trying not to think about that because it\'s an impossible treat to get my hands on here in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nSo back to the point: I was totally happy to get away for the weekend and to feel no obligation what so ever to dress up.\r\n\r\nThen on Halloween in the Rhodopes there turned out to be trick-or-treaters. And I supervised the carving of a pumpkin.\r\n\r\nWho knew?!<!--more-->\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3706\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3706\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3706\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3706 \" title=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6467-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nReally, who knew? How did these kids get turned on to Halloween? And how is it that they were awesome at it on top of everything else?\r\n\r\nBecause really, did you check out their costumes?\r\n\r\nThese kids have made their own paper masks <em>and</em>, AND, they are carrying carved and lit pumpkins. It clearly doesn\'t get any better than this. Also, do you notice a single parent in the photos? Nope. Because there\'s not one.\r\n\r\nI peaked in their bags and were they collecting candy? Again, Nope. Apples. They\'d been given <em>apples</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3707\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkins on String \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3707\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3707\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3707 \" title=\"Pumpkins on String \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6471-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNow carved and lit pumpkins on a string are <em>awesome. </em>I\'ve never seen anything like it. These kids were rocking Halloween. I am proud of them.\r\n\r\nI was also a little afraid they might catch themselves or someone else on fire. That\'s the American in me.\r\n\r\nAfter the trick-or-treaters, I supervised the carving of a pumpkin. The family we were staying with asked us if we wanted to carve pumpkins. We said: yes!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3709\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3709\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3709\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3709 \" title=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6475-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe pumpkins in Bulgaria are much thicker than the variety we grow in the states for carving (rather than the kind we grow for eating) but L. scrounged up some orange-ish pumpkins from the shed of pumpkins. Only after trying to cut the lid off and scoop out the seeds there was some concern that L. and I were going to hurt ourselves carving.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3710\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3710\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3710\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3710 \" title=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6477-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nApparently girls and knives in the kitchen of an older Bulgarian couple leads to supervision of pumpkin carving, lots of wild gestures and some explaining in Bulgarian about your creative vision. But, what ever we did worked. We ended up with two good looking pumpkins.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3711\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Our pumpkins\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3711\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3711\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3711 \" title=\"Our pumpkins\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6478-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd a lot of great memories.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3712\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3712\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3712\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3712 \" title=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6480-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]','Halloween in the Rhodopes','','inherit','open','open','','3705-revision-6','','','2010-11-03 20:12:09','2010-11-03 20:12:09','',3705,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/3705-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(3719,1,'2010-11-03 20:13:14','2010-11-03 20:13:14','I am not really a Halloween person. I hate the pressure of coming up with a costume.  I don\'t really dig trying to guess what other people are.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3708\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3708\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6479/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3708 \" title=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6479-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBut I do love pumpkins.\n\nI also heart candy corn but that\'s another story. And I am trying not to think about that because it\'s an impossible treat to get my hands on here in Bulgaria.\n\nSo back to the point: I was totally happy to get away for the weekend and to feel no obligation what so ever to dress up.\n\nThen on Halloween in the Rhodopes there turned out to be trick-or-treaters. And I supervised the carving of a pumpkin.\n\nWho knew?!<!--more-->\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3706\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3706\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6467/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3706 \" title=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6467-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nReally, who knew? How did these kids get turned on to Halloween? And how is it that they were awesome at it on top of everything else?\n\nBecause really, did you check out their costumes?\n\nThese kids have made their own paper masks <em>and</em>, AND, they are carrying carved and lit pumpkins. It clearly doesn\'t get any better than this. Also, do you notice a single parent in the photos? Nope. Because there\'s not one.\n\nI peaked in their bags and were they collecting candy? Again, Nope. Apples. They\'d been given <em>apples</em>.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3707\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkins on String \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3707\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6471/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3707 \" title=\"Pumpkins on String \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6471-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nNow carved and lit pumpkins on a string are <em>awesome. </em>I\'ve never seen anything like it. These kids were rocking Halloween. I am proud of them.\n\nI was also a little afraid they might catch themselves or someone else on fire. That\'s the American in me.\n\nAfter the trick-or-treaters, I supervised the carving of a pumpkin. The family we were staying with asked us if we wanted to carve pumpkins. We said: yes!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3709\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3709\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6475/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3709 \" title=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6475-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe pumpkins in Bulgaria are much thicker than the variety we grow in the states for carving (rather than the kind we grow for eating) but L. scrounged up some orange-ish pumpkins from the shed of pumpkins. Only after trying to cut the lid off and scoop out the seeds there was some concern that L. and I were going to hurt ourselves carving.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3710\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3710\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6477/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3710 \" title=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6477-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nApparently girls and knives in the kitchen of an older Bulgarian couple leads to supervision of pumpkin carving, lots of wild gestures and some explaining in Bulgarian about your creative vision. But, what ever we did worked. We ended up with two good looking pumpkins.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3711\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Our pumpkins\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3711\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6478/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3711 \" title=\"Our pumpkins\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6478-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nAnd a lot of great memories.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3712\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3712\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6480/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3712 \" title=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6480-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]','Halloween in the Rhodopes','','inherit','open','open','','3705-autosave','','','2010-11-03 20:13:14','2010-11-03 20:13:14','',3705,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/3705-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(3720,1,'2010-11-03 20:12:09','2010-11-03 20:12:09','I am not really a Halloween person. I hate the pressure of coming up with a costume.  I don\'t really dig trying to guess what other people are.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3708\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3708\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6479/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3708 \" title=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6479-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut I do love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nI also heart candy corn but that\'s another story. And I am trying not to think about that because it\'s an impossible treat to get my hands on here in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nSo back to the point: I was totally happy to get away for the weekend and to feel no obligation what so ever to dress up.\r\n\r\nThen on Halloween in the Rhodopes there turned out to be trick-or-treaters. And I supervised the carving of a pumpkin.\r\n\r\nWho knew?!<!--more-->\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3706\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3706\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6467/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3706 \" title=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6467-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nReally, who knew? How did these kids get turned on to Halloween? And how is it that they were awesome at it on top of everything else?\r\n\r\nBecause really, did you check out their costumes?\r\n\r\nThese kids have made their own paper masks <em>and</em>, AND, they are carrying carved and lit pumpkins. It clearly doesn\'t get any better than this. Also, do you notice a single parent in the photos? Nope. Because there\'s not one.\r\n\r\nI peaked in their bags and were they collecting candy? Again, Nope. Apples. They\'d been given <em>apples</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3707\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkins on String \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3707\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6471/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3707 \" title=\"Pumpkins on String \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6471-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNow carved and lit pumpkins on a string are <em>awesome. </em>I\'ve never seen anything like it. These kids were rocking Halloween. I am proud of them.\r\n\r\nI was also a little afraid they might catch themselves or someone else on fire. That\'s the American in me.\r\n\r\nAfter the trick-or-treaters, I supervised the carving of a pumpkin. The family we were staying with asked us if we wanted to carve pumpkins. We said: yes!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3709\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3709\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6475/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3709 \" title=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6475-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe pumpkins in Bulgaria are much thicker than the variety we grow in the states for carving (rather than the kind we grow for eating) but L. scrounged up some orange-ish pumpkins from the shed of pumpkins. Only after trying to cut the lid off and scoop out the seeds there was some concern that L. and I were going to hurt ourselves carving.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3710\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3710\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6477/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3710 \" title=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6477-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nApparently girls and knives in the kitchen of an older Bulgarian couple leads to supervision of pumpkin carving, lots of wild gestures and some explaining in Bulgarian about your creative vision. But, what ever we did worked. We ended up with two good looking pumpkins.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3711\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Our pumpkins\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3711\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6478/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3711 \" title=\"Our pumpkins\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6478-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd a lot of great memories.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3712\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3712\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6480/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3712 \" title=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6480-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]','Halloween in the Rhodopes','','inherit','open','open','','3705-revision-7','','','2010-11-03 20:12:09','2010-11-03 20:12:09','',3705,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/03/3705-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(3721,1,'2010-11-04 06:00:24','2010-11-04 06:00:24','I am not really a Halloween person. I hate the pressure of coming up with a costume.  I don\'t really dig trying to guess what other people are.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3708\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3708\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6479/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3708 \" title=\"Pumpkin One and Pumpkin Two \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6479-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut I do love pumpkins.\r\n\r\nI also heart candy corn but that\'s another story. And I am trying not to think about that because it\'s an impossible treat to get my hands on here in Bulgaria.\r\n\r\nSo back to the point: I was totally happy to get away for the weekend and to feel no obligation what so ever to dress up.\r\n\r\nThen on Halloween in the Rhodopes there turned out to be trick-or-treaters. And I supervised the carving of a pumpkin.\r\n\r\nWho knew?!<!--more-->\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3706\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3706\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6467/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3706 \" title=\"Kids Trick-or-Treating\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6467-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nReally, who knew? How did these kids get turned on to Halloween? And how is it that they were awesome at it on top of everything else?\r\n\r\nBecause really, did you check out their costumes?\r\n\r\nThese kids have made their own paper masks <em>and</em>, AND, they are carrying carved and lit pumpkins. It clearly doesn\'t get any better than this. Also, do you notice a single parent in the photos? Nope. Because there\'s not one.\r\n\r\nI peaked in their bags and were they collecting candy? Again, Nope. Apples. They\'d been given <em>apples</em>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3707\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkins on String \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3707\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6471/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3707 \" title=\"Pumpkins on String \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6471-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nNow carved and lit pumpkins on a string are <em>awesome. </em>I\'ve never seen anything like it. These kids were rocking Halloween. I am proud of them.\r\n\r\nI was also a little afraid they might catch themselves or someone else on fire. That\'s the American in me.\r\n\r\nAfter the trick-or-treaters, I supervised the carving of a pumpkin. The family we were staying with asked us if we wanted to carve pumpkins. We said: yes!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3709\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3709\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6475/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3709 \" title=\"Master Pumpkin Carver \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6475-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe pumpkins in Bulgaria are much thicker than the variety we grow in the states for carving (rather than the kind we grow for eating) but L. scrounged up some orange-ish pumpkins from the shed of pumpkins. Only after trying to cut the lid off and scoop out the seeds there was some concern that L. and I were going to hurt ourselves carving.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3710\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3710\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6477/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3710 \" title=\"Me, My Pumpkin and the Master Carver\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6477-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nApparently girls and knives in the kitchen of an older Bulgarian couple leads to supervision of pumpkin carving, lots of wild gestures and some explaining in Bulgarian about your creative vision. But, what ever we did worked. We ended up with two good looking pumpkins.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3711\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Our pumpkins\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3711\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6478/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3711 \" title=\"Our pumpkins\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6478-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nAnd a lot of great memories.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3712\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3712\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/halloween-in-the-rhodopes/img_6480/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3712 \" title=\"Halloween in the Rhodopes \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6480-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]','Halloween in the Rhodopes','','inherit','open','open','','3705-revision-8','','','2010-11-04 06:00:24','2010-11-04 06:00:24','',3705,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/3705-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(3722,1,'2010-11-05 05:08:07','2010-11-05 05:08:07','So I\'ve never bought tea that looks like this. Mostly I buy tea that comes prepacked in tea bags.\r\n\r\nI am lazy.\r\n\r\nSome times I buy loose tea that I steep and then use a metal strainer. But again, I am lazy and tea bags are so easy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3723\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3723\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/05/making-tea-from-scratch/img_6529/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3723 \" title=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6529-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo on a whole, I\'ve been living a pretty happy life drinking coffee in the mornings and a cup or two of tea at night.  I haven\'t even thought twice about using tea bags.\r\n\r\nThat was until this weekend when I ended up with dried herbs for tea.<!--more-->\r\n\r\nI bought some jam, spoke some questionable Bulgarian and ended up with a bag of herbs for tea as well. It\'s not like you can say no. You don\'t want the herbs. So I took them.\r\n\r\nApparently, they are good for you. Good for your health, your kidneys, your throat, your prostate. Not that I have a prostate.\r\n\r\nOnly, what\'s a girl supposed to do with a plastic bag of whole herbs?!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3724\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Unknown Herbs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3724\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/05/making-tea-from-scratch/img_6536/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3724 \" title=\"Unknown Herbs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6536-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell, I was told to put one sprig in water. Let it soak. Boil it. Drink it.\r\n\r\nI was skeptical.\r\n\r\nStill, I am good at following directions so I got a pot out. Filled it up with water. And I got my sprig of herbs ready.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3725\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3725\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/05/making-tea-from-scratch/img_6539/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3725 \" title=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6539-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen I boiled the herbs. The thing is I am not even sure I should be calling them herbs because I am pretty sure that herbs is a plural word.  As you can see there\'s only one kind of herb that I am tossing into the pot and I\'m only tossing one of the bunch in.\r\n\r\nThus I think I am making unknown herb tea.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3726\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tea. Soaking. \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3726\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/05/making-tea-from-scratch/img_6540/\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3726 \" title=\"Tea. Soaking. \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6540-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe tea is very smooth. I like it. It\'s not very strong but I am not really sure about the proportions.  I mean, I\'m new at this.\r\n\r\nI\'ve also got about four more cups to drink. I apparently made enough for an army. I am not saying that I am converted after one pot of tea but the tea was a lot easier to make than I originally assumed.','Making Tea from Scratch ','','publish','open','open','','making-tea-from-scratch','','','2010-11-05 10:46:37','2010-11-05 08:46:37','',0,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?p=3722',0,'post','',7),(3723,1,'2010-11-04 18:24:50','2010-11-04 18:24:50','','Pumpkin, Honey and Tea','Pumpkin, Honey and Tea','inherit','open','open','','img_6529','','','2010-11-04 18:24:50','2010-11-04 18:24:50','',3722,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6529.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3724,1,'2010-11-04 18:32:30','2010-11-04 18:32:30','','Unknown Herbs','Unknown Herbs','inherit','open','open','','img_6536','','','2010-11-04 18:32:30','2010-11-04 18:32:30','',3722,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6536.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3725,1,'2010-11-04 18:47:21','2010-11-04 18:47:21','','Tossing the Herbs in!','Tossing the Herbs in!','inherit','open','open','','img_6539','','','2010-11-04 18:47:21','2010-11-04 18:47:21','',3722,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6539.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3726,1,'2010-11-04 18:54:22','2010-11-04 18:54:22','','Tea. Soaking. ','Tea. Soaking. ','inherit','open','open','','img_6540','','','2010-11-04 18:54:22','2010-11-04 18:54:22','',3722,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6540.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(3727,1,'2010-11-04 18:57:29','2010-11-04 18:57:29','So I\'ve never bought tea that looks like this. Mostly I buy tea that comes prepacked in tea bags. I am lazy. Some times I buy loose tea that I steep and then use a metal strainer.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3723\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3723\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3723\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3723 \" title=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6529-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nBut on a whole, I am pretty happy with tea bags.\n\nThat was until this weekend when I ended up with dried herbs for tea.\n\nI bought some jam, spoke some questionable Bulgarian and ended up with a bag of herbs for tea as well. It\'s not like you can say no. You don\'t want the herbs. So I took them.\n\nApparently, they are good for you. Good for your health, your kidneys, your throat, your prostate. Not that I have a prostate.\n\nOnly, what\'s a girl supposed to do with a plastic bag of whole herbs?!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3724\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Unknown Herbs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3724\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3724\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3724 \" title=\"Unknown Herbs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6536-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWell, I was told to put one sprig in water. Let it soak. Boil it. Drink it.\n\nI was skeptical.\n\nStill, I am good at following directions so I got a pot out. Put water in. Filled it up with water. And I got my sprig of herbs ready.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3725\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3725\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3725\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3725 \" title=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6539-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen I boiled the herbs. The thing is I am not even sure I should be calling them herbs because I am pretty sure that herbs is a plural word.  As you can see there\'s only one kind of herb that I am tossing into the pot and I\'m only tossing one of the bunch in.\n\nI am making herb tea.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3726\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tea. Soaking. \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3726\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3726\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3726 \" title=\"Tea. Soaking. \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6540-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe tea is very smooth. I like it. It\'s not very strong but I am not really sure about the proportions.','Making Tea from Scratch ','','inherit','open','open','','3722-revision','','','2010-11-04 18:57:29','2010-11-04 18:57:29','',3722,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/3722-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(3728,1,'2010-11-04 18:58:04','2010-11-04 18:58:04','So I\'ve never bought tea that looks like this. Mostly I buy tea that comes prepacked in tea bags. I am lazy. Some times I buy loose tea that I steep and then use a metal strainer.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3723\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3723\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3723\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3723 \" title=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6529-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut on a whole, I am pretty happy with tea bags.\r\n\r\nThat was until this weekend when I ended up with dried herbs for tea.\r\n\r\nI bought some jam, spoke some questionable Bulgarian and ended up with a bag of herbs for tea as well. It\'s not like you can say no. You don\'t want the herbs. So I took them.\r\n\r\nApparently, they are good for you. Good for your health, your kidneys, your throat, your prostate. Not that I have a prostate.\r\n\r\nOnly, what\'s a girl supposed to do with a plastic bag of whole herbs?!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3724\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Unknown Herbs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3724\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3724\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3724 \" title=\"Unknown Herbs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6536-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell, I was told to put one sprig in water. Let it soak. Boil it. Drink it.\r\n\r\nI was skeptical.\r\n\r\nStill, I am good at following directions so I got a pot out. Put water in. Filled it up with water. And I got my sprig of herbs ready.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3725\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3725\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3725\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3725 \" title=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6539-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen I boiled the herbs. The thing is I am not even sure I should be calling them herbs because I am pretty sure that herbs is a plural word.  As you can see there\'s only one kind of herb that I am tossing into the pot and I\'m only tossing one of the bunch in.\r\n\r\nI am making herb tea.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3726\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tea. Soaking. \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3726\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3726\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3726 \" title=\"Tea. Soaking. \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6540-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe tea is very smooth. I like it. It\'s not very strong but I am not really sure about the proportions.  I mean, I\'m new at this.','Making Tea from Scratch ','','inherit','open','open','','3722-revision-2','','','2010-11-04 18:58:04','2010-11-04 18:58:04','',3722,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/3722-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(3729,1,'2010-11-04 18:58:04','2010-11-04 18:58:04','So I\'ve never bought tea that looks like this. Mostly I buy tea that comes prepacked in tea bags. I am lazy. Some times I buy loose tea that I steep and then use a metal strainer.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3723\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3723\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3723\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3723 \" title=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6529-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut on a whole, I am pretty happy with tea bags.\r\n\r\nThat was until this weekend when I ended up with dried herbs for tea.\r\n\r\nI bought some jam, spoke some questionable Bulgarian and ended up with a bag of herbs for tea as well. It\'s not like you can say no. You don\'t want the herbs. So I took them.\r\n\r\nApparently, they are good for you. Good for your health, your kidneys, your throat, your prostate. Not that I have a prostate.\r\n\r\nOnly, what\'s a girl supposed to do with a plastic bag of whole herbs?!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3724\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Unknown Herbs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3724\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3724\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3724 \" title=\"Unknown Herbs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6536-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell, I was told to put one sprig in water. Let it soak. Boil it. Drink it.\r\n\r\nI was skeptical.\r\n\r\nStill, I am good at following directions so I got a pot out. Put water in. Filled it up with water. And I got my sprig of herbs ready.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3725\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3725\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3725\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3725 \" title=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6539-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen I boiled the herbs. The thing is I am not even sure I should be calling them herbs because I am pretty sure that herbs is a plural word.  As you can see there\'s only one kind of herb that I am tossing into the pot and I\'m only tossing one of the bunch in.\r\n\r\nI am making herb tea.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3726\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tea. Soaking. \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3726\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3726\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3726 \" title=\"Tea. Soaking. \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6540-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe tea is very smooth. I like it. It\'s not very strong but I am not really sure about the proportions.  I mean, I\'m new at this.','Making Tea from Scratch ','','inherit','open','open','','3722-revision-3','','','2010-11-04 18:58:04','2010-11-04 18:58:04','',3722,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/3722-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(3730,1,'2010-11-04 18:58:07','2010-11-04 18:58:07','So I\'ve never bought tea that looks like this. Mostly I buy tea that comes prepacked in tea bags. I am lazy. Some times I buy loose tea that I steep and then use a metal strainer.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3723\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3723\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3723\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3723 \" title=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6529-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nBut on a whole, I am pretty happy with tea bags.\r\n\r\nThat was until this weekend when I ended up with dried herbs for tea.\r\n\r\nI bought some jam, spoke some questionable Bulgarian and ended up with a bag of herbs for tea as well. It\'s not like you can say no. You don\'t want the herbs. So I took them.\r\n\r\nApparently, they are good for you. Good for your health, your kidneys, your throat, your prostate. Not that I have a prostate.\r\n\r\nOnly, what\'s a girl supposed to do with a plastic bag of whole herbs?!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3724\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Unknown Herbs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3724\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3724\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3724 \" title=\"Unknown Herbs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6536-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell, I was told to put one sprig in water. Let it soak. Boil it. Drink it.\r\n\r\nI was skeptical.\r\n\r\nStill, I am good at following directions so I got a pot out. Put water in. Filled it up with water. And I got my sprig of herbs ready.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3725\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3725\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3725\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3725 \" title=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6539-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen I boiled the herbs. The thing is I am not even sure I should be calling them herbs because I am pretty sure that herbs is a plural word.  As you can see there\'s only one kind of herb that I am tossing into the pot and I\'m only tossing one of the bunch in.\r\n\r\nI am making herb tea.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3726\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tea. Soaking. \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3726\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3726\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3726 \" title=\"Tea. Soaking. \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6540-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe tea is very smooth. I like it. It\'s not very strong but I am not really sure about the proportions.  I mean, I\'m new at this.','Making Tea from Scratch ','','inherit','open','open','','3722-revision-4','','','2010-11-04 18:58:07','2010-11-04 18:58:07','',3722,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/3722-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(3731,1,'2010-11-04 19:06:11','2010-11-04 19:06:11','So I\'ve never bought tea that looks like this. Mostly I buy tea that comes prepacked in tea bags.\n\nI am lazy.\n\nSome times I buy loose tea that I steep and then use a metal strainer. But again, I am lazy.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3723\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3723\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3723\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3723 \" title=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6529-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nSo on a whole, I\'ve been living a pretty happy life drinking coffee in the mornings and a cup or two of tea at night.  I haven\'t even thought twice about using tea bags.\n\nThat was until this weekend when I ended up with dried herbs for tea.\n\nI bought some jam, spoke some questionable Bulgarian and ended up with a bag of herbs for tea as well. It\'s not like you can say no. You don\'t want the herbs. So I took them.\n\nApparently, they are good for you. Good for your health, your kidneys, your throat, your prostate. Not that I have a prostate.\n\nOnly, what\'s a girl supposed to do with a plastic bag of whole herbs?!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3724\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Unknown Herbs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3724\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3724\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3724 \" title=\"Unknown Herbs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6536-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWell, I was told to put one sprig in water. Let it soak. Boil it. Drink it.\n\nI was skeptical.\n\nStill, I am good at following directions so I got a pot out. Filled it up with water. And I got my sprig of herbs ready.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3725\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3725\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3725\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3725 \" title=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6539-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThen I boiled the herbs. The thing is I am not even sure I should be calling them herbs because I am pretty sure that herbs is a plural word.  As you can see there\'s only one kind of herb that I am tossing into the pot and I\'m only tossing one of the bunch in.\n\nThus I think I am making unknown herb tea.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_3726\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tea. Soaking. \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3726\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3726\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3726 \" title=\"Tea. Soaking. \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6540-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThe tea is very smooth. I like it. It\'s not very strong but I am not really sure about the proportions.  I mean, I\'m new at this.','Making Tea from Scratch ','','inherit','open','open','','3722-revision-5','','','2010-11-04 19:06:11','2010-11-04 19:06:11','',3722,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/3722-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(3732,1,'2010-11-04 19:08:05','2010-11-04 19:08:05','So I\'ve never bought tea that looks like this. Mostly I buy tea that comes prepacked in tea bags.\r\n\r\nI am lazy.\r\n\r\nSome times I buy loose tea that I steep and then use a metal strainer. But again, I am lazy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3723\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3723\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3723\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3723 \" title=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6529-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo on a whole, I\'ve been living a pretty happy life drinking coffee in the mornings and a cup or two of tea at night.  I haven\'t even thought twice about using tea bags.\r\n\r\nThat was until this weekend when I ended up with dried herbs for tea.\r\n\r\nI bought some jam, spoke some questionable Bulgarian and ended up with a bag of herbs for tea as well. It\'s not like you can say no. You don\'t want the herbs. So I took them.\r\n\r\nApparently, they are good for you. Good for your health, your kidneys, your throat, your prostate. Not that I have a prostate.\r\n\r\nOnly, what\'s a girl supposed to do with a plastic bag of whole herbs?!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3724\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Unknown Herbs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3724\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3724\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3724 \" title=\"Unknown Herbs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6536-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell, I was told to put one sprig in water. Let it soak. Boil it. Drink it.\r\n\r\nI was skeptical.\r\n\r\nStill, I am good at following directions so I got a pot out. Filled it up with water. And I got my sprig of herbs ready.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3725\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3725\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3725\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3725 \" title=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6539-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen I boiled the herbs. The thing is I am not even sure I should be calling them herbs because I am pretty sure that herbs is a plural word.  As you can see there\'s only one kind of herb that I am tossing into the pot and I\'m only tossing one of the bunch in.\r\n\r\nThus I think I am making unknown herb tea.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3726\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tea. Soaking. \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3726\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3726\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3726 \" title=\"Tea. Soaking. \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6540-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe tea is very smooth. I like it. It\'s not very strong but I am not really sure about the proportions.  I mean, I\'m new at this.','Making Tea from Scratch ','','inherit','open','open','','3722-revision-6','','','2010-11-04 19:08:05','2010-11-04 19:08:05','',3722,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/3722-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(3733,1,'2010-11-04 19:08:05','2010-11-04 19:08:05','So I\'ve never bought tea that looks like this. Mostly I buy tea that comes prepacked in tea bags.\r\n\r\nI am lazy.\r\n\r\nSome times I buy loose tea that I steep and then use a metal strainer. But again, I am lazy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3723\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3723\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3723\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3723 \" title=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6529-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo on a whole, I\'ve been living a pretty happy life drinking coffee in the mornings and a cup or two of tea at night.  I haven\'t even thought twice about using tea bags.\r\n\r\nThat was until this weekend when I ended up with dried herbs for tea.\r\n\r\nI bought some jam, spoke some questionable Bulgarian and ended up with a bag of herbs for tea as well. It\'s not like you can say no. You don\'t want the herbs. So I took them.\r\n\r\nApparently, they are good for you. Good for your health, your kidneys, your throat, your prostate. Not that I have a prostate.\r\n\r\nOnly, what\'s a girl supposed to do with a plastic bag of whole herbs?!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3724\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Unknown Herbs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3724\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3724\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3724 \" title=\"Unknown Herbs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6536-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell, I was told to put one sprig in water. Let it soak. Boil it. Drink it.\r\n\r\nI was skeptical.\r\n\r\nStill, I am good at following directions so I got a pot out. Filled it up with water. And I got my sprig of herbs ready.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3725\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3725\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3725\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3725 \" title=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6539-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen I boiled the herbs. The thing is I am not even sure I should be calling them herbs because I am pretty sure that herbs is a plural word.  As you can see there\'s only one kind of herb that I am tossing into the pot and I\'m only tossing one of the bunch in.\r\n\r\nThus I think I am making unknown herb tea.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3726\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tea. Soaking. \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3726\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3726\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3726 \" title=\"Tea. Soaking. \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6540-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe tea is very smooth. I like it. It\'s not very strong but I am not really sure about the proportions.  I mean, I\'m new at this.','Making Tea from Scratch ','','inherit','open','open','','3722-revision-7','','','2010-11-04 19:08:05','2010-11-04 19:08:05','',3722,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/3722-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(3734,1,'2010-11-04 19:08:06','2010-11-04 19:08:06','So I\'ve never bought tea that looks like this. Mostly I buy tea that comes prepacked in tea bags.\r\n\r\nI am lazy.\r\n\r\nSome times I buy loose tea that I steep and then use a metal strainer. But again, I am lazy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3723\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3723\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3723\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3723 \" title=\"Pumpkin, Honey and Tea\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6529-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo on a whole, I\'ve been living a pretty happy life drinking coffee in the mornings and a cup or two of tea at night.  I haven\'t even thought twice about using tea bags.\r\n\r\nThat was until this weekend when I ended up with dried herbs for tea.\r\n\r\nI bought some jam, spoke some questionable Bulgarian and ended up with a bag of herbs for tea as well. It\'s not like you can say no. You don\'t want the herbs. So I took them.\r\n\r\nApparently, they are good for you. Good for your health, your kidneys, your throat, your prostate. Not that I have a prostate.\r\n\r\nOnly, what\'s a girl supposed to do with a plastic bag of whole herbs?!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3724\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Unknown Herbs\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3724\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3724\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3724 \" title=\"Unknown Herbs\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6536-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell, I was told to put one sprig in water. Let it soak. Boil it. Drink it.\r\n\r\nI was skeptical.\r\n\r\nStill, I am good at following directions so I got a pot out. Filled it up with water. And I got my sprig of herbs ready.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3725\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3725\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3725\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3725 \" title=\"Tossing the Herbs in!\" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6539-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThen I boiled the herbs. The thing is I am not even sure I should be calling them herbs because I am pretty sure that herbs is a plural word.  As you can see there\'s only one kind of herb that I am tossing into the pot and I\'m only tossing one of the bunch in.\r\n\r\nThus I think I am making unknown herb tea.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_3726\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"614\" caption=\"Tea. Soaking. \"]<a rel=\"attachment wp-att-3726\" href=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=3726\"><img class=\"size-large wp-image-3726 \" title=\"Tea. Soaking. \" src=\"http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_6540-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"614\" height=\"409\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThe tea is very smooth. I like it. It\'s not very strong but I am not really sure about the proportions.  I mean, I\'m new at this.','Making Tea from Scratch ','','inherit','open','open','','3722-revision-8','','','2010-11-04 19:08:06','2010-11-04 19:08:06','',3722,'http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/2010/11/04/3722-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),