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May 19th.
Due to the colder weather slept under a blanket that felt like it could have been lead weighted. So have a slightly stiff back after the very hard bed and heavy blanket.
Greeted with a gorgeous view over the Rila mountains. They are snow capped. Breakfast was again a bread, cheese, meat, jam and a fried dough that was delicious.
Went for another quick walk around the village and enjoying the winter sun.
Hopped on the bus and went for a short drive to dobarsko to visit an 18th century church. The local didn't speak much English but was able to point out all the saints that were painted on the walls inside and I think it may have been Russian orthodox.
It was then just a short drive to Bansko, the city we are staying at for the night. It is located in the foothills of the pyrins mountains and is a skiing town with most tourists visiting in the winter due to the, I am told excellent snow in the mountains above the town.
It is very picturesque town with the mountain in the background... Still snow capped and a town square with cobbled streets. Went out for a quick walk in the town before meeting back to the guesthouse and a visit to the bear sanctuary. The owner of the guesthouse was able to drive us the hour up a very windy dirt track with thousands of pot-holes after the mini driver refused saying the road was too bad.
The bear sanctuary is a place were bulgarian dancing bear are recused from their street performing days and live out their lives in a more natural habitat. The bears have damaged noses due to the rings that were used to keep them chained up and often suffer psychologic and physical damages due to the mistreatment. Some of the bears would pace up and down in a small area as they still think they are in there small cages. Was a nice day so spent a few hours there walking around looking at the bears and also admiring the mountain views.
Talked with a lady that was serving hot soup or BBQ snacks at the entrance. She spoke very good english and made delicious bean soup from vegetables she had gown and seasoned with bush herbs growing in the area.
Then is was back in the car for another hour long slow winding, bumpy trip back to the guest house.
On the drive back concluded that the gardens of Romanian were solely for the purpose of growing the vegetables with window boxes and pot of verandahs for the flowers here in Bulgaria there is often a small strip of flowers growing around the edge of the veggie garden in the house yards, with less windows and almost no pot plants seen.
The death noticed plaster on a4 sheets of paper all over the villages is a little sad. The people are too poor to buy an ad in the paper so instead that make a poster with a person face and poem about them and put it up maybe outside there door or in the village square or church entry. This is to inform the community of the death. But they don't seem to be taken down but just left up till they fall away. Sometimes the front gate of the house also has a black bow on it to symbolise the death of a family member.
Once back at the guesthouse time to get ready for dinner. Headed out to a nice restaurant to enjoy some traditionalish food.
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