The Village Life, Part Seven, The Traditional Side including a Border Run.

On Friday I drove to Sofia to upgrade my Mac with more memory including a run to the Serbian Border for a new Bulgarian visa. Extremely hassle free as long as you have the green card for the auto insurance. Interesting enough, neither side asked for my drivers license. So, I am set until April 15th, which I will most likely depart Bulgaria and travel the Balkans with my car for the spring and then head toward Poland for the Summer.

Couple of the girls in the picture above that I am friends with in the village, kind of cute hiding from the picture.

Extremely positive actions have taken place these last three months, I am very satisfied with the entire situation. I am getting much accomplished and organized by using Thesis and WordPress, including other forms of context on a personal note.
Several people are somewhat surprised concerning the traditional nesting situation I am dwelling among. From a western standpoint it looks kind of grim. The perception is understandable considering the infrastructure in the west; the spoiled lifestyle of washers and dryers, microwaves, and dishwashers etc etc… Microwaves don’t cook food, they “Wave the food with a Mirco”

Personally, I prefer this type of village Bulgarian lifestyle, and will miss it after I leave. The difference is being set up properly. And, I did set myself up for the winter. I find it very convenient just living in a small room, including of course, the shower room with hot water. It is all about routine and taking care of the essentials—cleaning, chopping wood, emptying the wood stove, and such tasks.

Even when I “lived” in my truck for a year in 2000, I was set up with an appropriate routine and a proper situation. The experience proved very beneficial and satisfying.

The picture is how I wash my laundry. I bought two bins; each bid take three buckets of water. Mostly I will use twelve buckets of water from the well. Two bins of water to wash and soak, and two to rinse. Any break in the weather I get out and do some laundry because it is a little tricky in the winter. But, my friend in Parvormay said I can use his washer if needed.

I read many different blogs, and some that write about America will mention about the abundance and variety of food stuffs and the convenience. Well, the extreme abundance certainly adds to a beefy country. I find it a benefit having little choice of restaurants and small food markets. Home cooking must take place in the village life, there is no choice unless a person wants to eat very unhealthy. In every country the beefy and the slim exist, but having less choice in junk food is a benefit.

The other night the main power cable broke in the evening. I thought that there might be a major problem with the house, and I did contemplate about living here with no power. Now, that would change a little context. First, I could still refrigerate food in the entry way in the winter. I would have to use wood for the boiler, and take care of everything during the day. I could still cook since I use a gas stove, and keep warm with the wood burning stove. However, powering the computer would be the only problem. But, the next day my friend called the power company and translated the problem and the power was back on that day. I could live here without power, but without hot water, no way.

Today is snowing heavy, at last if feels like winter.

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Dave and Deb January 23, 2010, 4:27 pm

    It sounds like you have adapted to life beautifully! I think that the way you are living in Bulgaria is empowering. To actually live again rather than to go through the motions. People put too much emphasis on comfort and convenience, but they never know what it actually feels like to be alive. Washing your clothes in a couple of tubs, chopping wood for the fire and cooking food over a gas stove, or if you had to, an open fire, makes you really know what it feels like to live. I always say that the toughest part of travel is what I love, because that is when I feel the most alive. At home, surrounded by comfort, I can sometimes feel numb.
    Although, I am with you…as a blogger, how can we live without our computers?:)
    But then again, as travellers, I am sure that we would adapt well.

  • Shawn January 25, 2010, 11:49 am

    Thanks, I really enjoy this lifestyle, I have much less of an interest in the modern comforts of the world.