Hi Friends!
It has been a LONG, LONG time since our last chat in Malaysia in February and I’ve traversed so much ground on the Get Bus Living Tour in these past several months. I'll try to briefly bring you up to speed in this post, so hang on as this is going to be a bit all over the place. Since starting this journey on January 1, I’ve traveled to Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and then onto Indonesia. In Indonesia I stayed in Ubud, Bali and then enjoyed the freedom of exploring the nearby little island of Nusa Penida on my rented motorbike. From Indonesia I continued on to in New Zealand. The month of March was spent driving thousands of kilometers, exploring both the North and South Islands of this beautiful country. I lived/tent camped out of my rental car, and sprinkled in some hostel and great Airbnb stays along the way.
From New Zealand I crossed half of the world to reunite with my amazingly supportive husband for 2 ½ weeks in Greece. After 3 months apart, every moment of our short time together was truly treasured as we explored Athens and three of the Cyclades Islands together (Naxos, Santorini and Paros). As Bobby’s time in Greece dwindled down, I had no plans on where I was headed to next. As our final day on the island of Paros came and we prepared to head back to Athens, I looked at Bobby and spouted I have absolutely no clue what country I will be laying my head in in less than 48 hours and that is pretty terrifying and awesome at the same time. How many times in your life do you get an opportunity to dance in this kind of spontaneity? In my life I can answer, not often. With cheap flights to Italy, I was so tempted to return to this country that I had fallen in love with on a previous trip there in 2014. However, I fought that temptation and consciously chose to go somewhere new to experience and learn about a place that I had never given much thought to about visiting. So after a bit of travel roulette, I booked a last minute flight to Bulgaria, a country I knew nothing about except for that it was in Eastern Europe.
Bobby boarded a plane from Athens back to the United States in the wee morning hours on April 16 and I stayed behind at our small family run hotel in Athens for one more night before I flew to my next destination. While I had been flying by the seat of my pants just like this throughout my 3+ months of solo travels and thrived off of this type of travel, I was suddenly and strangely filled with anxiety, fear and doubt about my next destination. After several months on the road it was so good for my soul to be reunited with my best friend, my person, my biggest encourager of this unbelievable journey. Traveling with him after several months of solo travel was easy, comfortable and familiar. It was like being home again as we explored a new place together. With his departure all those feelings of familiarity and comfort left with him. Bobby and I have done long distance several times throughout our relationship, but saying goodbye never gets easier and always leaves my heart a bit heavy and my spirits in a bit of a funk. To be completely honest, the day after he left I was a teary, sad, lonely, emotional mess. I knew the day I married this man that I was without a doubt making one of the biggest and best decisions of my life and that certainly still rings true as we approach celebrating 10 years of marriage in August. I also know how privileged I am to have the unfortunately rare enthusiastic support from my partner to pursue an adventure like this. Whenever I reflect on this, I am brought to tears by just how good and selfless this man’s heart is. The day Bobby left I gave myself permission to have a down day to feel and do whatever I needed to do, guilt free. I stayed in my hotel room, soaking up the warm sun and the beautiful Greek neighborhood views from my quaint little patio. I had far too much delicious Greek food from a local taverna delivered to my hotel room and ate my feelings. That evening I spoke with Bobby once he had landed back in the States and shortly after talking with him began to feel better. The next day I was relieved to find that as soon as I boarded the plane to Bulgaria my anxieties subsided and the excitement and enthusiasm that has been present throughout this solo journey returned. I was ready to explore, experience and learn about my newest destination.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria sits in Eastern Europe and is bordered by Romania, the Black Sea, Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, and Serbia. After World War II Bulgaria became a Communist State until 1990. In 2007, Bulgaria joined the European Union, one of the most recent countries to do so providing a new sense of opportunity for this country’s long stagnated economy. I arrived in Bulgaria’s capital of Sofia (pictured above), a city which terrifically feels like it lives oblivious to the existence of the tourists wandering among it. I found this to be a breath of fresh air after being in so many places where the authenticity and culture of a place has too often and willingly been sacrificed in the name of catering to and competing for tourist’s coins and demands. Street after street where locals used to enjoy their city eventually are avoided by its residents as endless rows of travel booking agencies and tacky tourist themed restaurants, bars and souvenir shops fill every available storefront. This is not so in Bulgaria. While there are tourists and a tourist infrastructure in Bulgaria, such as hostels, museums, tourist information centers, free city walking tours and more, the country for the time being still belongs to the locals. Bulgaria has completely surprised me and has quickly become one of my favorite countries that I’ve visited thus far because of this. Tourists are here but they are the exception not the rule, so meeting locals and observing the culture is not something you struggle to do because they surround you.
I was surprised to learn that Bulgaria is a treasure trove of ancient ruins scattered throughout the country. In fact, the city of Plovdiv is Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city, far older than even Rome. Who knew? In the cities of Sofia and Plovdiv tour guides shared ancient ruins are discovered every time a major construction project is undertaken often forcing initial plans to change in order to incorporate and preserve the newly uncovered ruins. You’ll find these incredible ruins aesthetically incorporated into underground walkways or exposed in courtyards surrounded by more recent, yet historic stately buildings. Ancient history is everywhere you look here and it is pretty incredible.
Plovdiv quickly cast me under its spell with its charming old city full of twisting cobblestone roads and historic 19th century mansions serving as museums and guesthouses. The creative and cultural scene is also alive and well in Plovdiv with they city named as the European Capital of Culture 2019 and numerous events scheduled throughout the year in celebration of this honor. The Kapana neighborhood with its commissioned street murals set the ambiance for thriving restaurants, bars, coffee shops and bakeries and is an enjoyable place to while away an afternoon. Bulgarians also love being outdoors and the brisk spring days and evenings don’t deter them from filling the available cafe and restaurant seating that spills out into the streets at all hours. There is definitely not a shortage of wonderful venues to scout out. Pictured below are the old town and the Kapana neighborhood.
One of the highlights of my time in Bulgaria was enjoying the breathtaking panoramic views of Plovdiv from above the city at the Nebet Tepe's ruins. This is the perfect place to find a seat on the old ruins and watch the sunset. I was fortunate to do this with a group of 4 other incredible solo female travelers I had met at my hostel in Sofia and who ventured with me for a day to Plovdiv. Have I mentioned how many solo female travelers of every age I've met everywhere I've been to? It is a woman's world!
The other highlight of my time here in Bulgaria is the day trip I took from Sofia to visit Rila Monestary. This peaceful place is tucked away in the mountains about a 2 hours drive from Sofia and is a point of pilgrimage and pride for the Bulgarian people. It is an awe-inspiring sight, with detailed and colorful fresco covered walls. If you ever find yourself in Bulgaria I highly encourage you make the trip.
As I mentioned at the beginning, this post is a bit all over the place, but I guess that just means it is a good reflection of how my life has been these past few months. I'd like to say I promise to post more frequently, but I don't want to make any promises I can't keep-HAHA! I continue to be inspired by the places I've been, the things I've learned and the people from all around the world I've met.
Until the next time. Get Busy Living!
Anna
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