Chapter Two: Soviet-Era Station Wagons
Renwick - Marshall 2K6. Damn.
My week in Sofia is coming to an end, but a new one in Austria will begin soon. Time went by so fast. It's weird how even though people need a rest and a vacation sometimes, I feel a little strange having left Krygyzstan and my service for a few weeks to travel around Europe. A part of me feels silly for feeling this way. Instead of actually writing anything, here's a list. Lists were a good idea.
- Saw Superman at a theater with popcorn, Diet Coke and beer.
- Walked the city alone and got lost but found my way home, reading Cyrillic.
- Ate McDonald's. Twice.
- Attended a 3-day Bulgarian "Woodstock," but only for a day and night.
- Spent significant time at a coffee shop, reading and drinking.
- Took an inter-Bulgarian train ride.
- Went to a local's birthday party.
- Left the comforts of city life, and ventured off outside Sofia for a day trip.
- Hung out with an Austrian, an Australian, an Italian, some Germans and a bunch of Bulgarians, all of whom could speak fluent English. Even the Australian.
- Pushed the Berlin Wall over.
And that's a wrap. See you when I see you, friend.
Up, up and away.
Part V: Chapter One: Oh, the places you'll go.
From the living room of H. Renwick's, I sit and write this post. It wasn't weird to see her again at all. I'm like that with my friends, and it's a good thing because I do such a poor job communicating with them as it is. It was like I was talking to her on the phone and then had an incoming call on the other line, took it, leaving her on call-waiting, and then clicked back 10 months later. I'm her 12th guest to visit. If anything, that says a lot about the cat she is.
The time difference from Kyrgyzstan is 6 hours, but I refuse to give into my exhaustion. I almost made it last night, but fell asleep before the final outcome of Italy versus France. It's been strange living abroad and being immersed into cultures that actually care about football... I mean, soccer.
Anyway, I've decided to post some pictures since I don't have to pay by the minute. Sofia is a great city. I just can't speak the language.
This is not Sofia. This is my village home. Dig it.
My humble abode. Jety-Oguz.
Istanbul. View from the top.
Matching Lacoste polos are the latest rage on a morning in Turkey.
Fastfood nation. This is the first burger I've had in a long, long time.
When I have the time, I'll compile new pictures from my week here.
Bounce.
Chapter Sixteen: If someone steals your Chaco, Let. It. Go.
...or your new 200 com yellow beach towel, or your irreplacable sleeping bag cover.
This is where it all went down.
But that's neither here nor there. Except for there.
What I really want to say is that today is the last day that I'll be away from people I up and left 10 months ago. Well, at least three of them. Lucky bastards.
As a result of my endeavors, I'll be starting a new part to this wonderfully amazing story soon.
Plus, the K-14s are on their way as we speak to this grand republic, so it's only fitting.
Aight, I'm off to eat dinner, repack my bag, and then board a flight to Istanbul where I'll enjoy the advantage of a 14-hour layover and day visa. Then it's off to Sofia for a week and Vienna soon thereafter.
Enjoy yourselves because I will be.
