Some things have happened the last couple of days. For some of you these things might be really good, but for some of you probably not. Not very bad, but I don't think you will open a bottle of champagne and have a big, big party... Anyway.
A week ago I received an offer I couldn't refuse. The editor of the "travel part" for the swedish website N24.se send me an e-mail and asked if I wanted to run a travel blog at their site. This is really good for me because it's a great opportunity to write for a bigger "crowd", the bad thing is that I'll write in swedish.
For those of you who understand swedish, you'll find the new blog here: http://nyheter24.se/bloggar/resebloggar/fran-kiruna-till-kapstaden
I'm not sure if I'll have enough energy or time to run two blogs at the same time, but I'll really try to do some shorter updates here now and then, just to keep all of you english-speakers updated.
And now over to the last reports from Mr. Magnusson and his travel from Kiruna to Cape Town. I left Beirut a couple of days ago, heading back to Syria and Damascus. Was a bit bored in Beirut, but it was really nice to just relax for a couple of days. Back in Syria again, a country I'm in love with. The situation is a little bit hard for me because there are a lot of things which I'm not very happy about. The fact that it's a dictatorship and some of the social consequences from the religion is not really what I like, but I'm not able to hide my feelings. The people are so friendly, the atmosphere is so great, the food couldn't be better, it's easy to travel around in the country and there's a lot of things to see and do. I'm one of those who love to walk around in a new town for a couple of days, both Damascus and Aleppo are really good for that, but there's also a lot of beautiful landscapes, some great old castles and ruins, the sea and a lot of other things.
Did spend three days in Damascus this time (I'll probably go back for a couple of months when it's possible) and just had a really good time! But everything has an end, and so my time in Syria. On the road again, this time to Amman, Jordan!
One night in Amman before it was time for one of the big highlights of this trip, Petra! It's crazy, go here! Because of that I had a couple of lazy days the last weeks I'm full of energy at the moment, which is perfect over here in Petra. Except of the main sites there are a lot of fantastic mountains for some soft climbing, and I like it! Will stay here for two nights before I move on again. Seven hours of total freedom today and another ten-twelve hours tomorrow.
Heading back to my hostel now for a big dinner and a calm night. Although I'm young and have been saving energy the last days it's a tiring activity to climb mountains in 30 degrees and a burning sun...
Love love!
måndag 29 mars 2010
tisdag 23 mars 2010
Posting comments...
I've understood that some of you are having some problems with posting comments on my posts. I know that it seems to be a bit confusing with the "gmail-accounts" and that kind of things, but you have to do is just to choose "anonym", "anonymous" (or something similar to that) in the list and then sign with your name in the post you're making. It works out for me, without having to sign in or anything, so I think it should work out for you also.
I'm in Beirut at the moment. Have to say that I'm a bit disappointed by this town. It's even more like Paris than I expected before I came here and that's not really what I'm looking for at the moment. The nightlife is excellent though, and it's nice just to relax at my hostel with a couple of cool people all the day long. Wake up late, eating excellent breakfast and just relax before heading out late in the night.
Moving on back to Syria tomorrow or on Thursday. Damascus is coming up for a couple of days before I'm leaving for Jordan.
The sun is smiling to me, and I'm smiling back!
I'm in Beirut at the moment. Have to say that I'm a bit disappointed by this town. It's even more like Paris than I expected before I came here and that's not really what I'm looking for at the moment. The nightlife is excellent though, and it's nice just to relax at my hostel with a couple of cool people all the day long. Wake up late, eating excellent breakfast and just relax before heading out late in the night.
Moving on back to Syria tomorrow or on Thursday. Damascus is coming up for a couple of days before I'm leaving for Jordan.
The sun is smiling to me, and I'm smiling back!
söndag 21 mars 2010
Cedars of Lebanon!
Finally I'm here. In the country I've dreamed about for such a long time. A heaven for a vegetarian. Yesterday night I crossed the border to Lebanon!
Yes, another shared taxi across another border, this time from Syria to Lebanon, and one hour later I arrived in Tripoli. Had a good night beside the sea together with some new-found friends and a couple of Efes, but the thing I' ve been really looking forward to were about to take place today. The Cedars! And it fell out even better than I hoped.
To get to the small village and ski resort called Cedars you have to take a minibus from Tripoli up in the mountains. The view from the car is actually anough for a day trip, but there are more good things coming up. The bus will take you to a small town called Bcharre from where you have to arrange a taxi trip up to Cedars. But Bcharre is not only a place where you jump out of the bus and try to find a taxi as soon as posible. Bcharre is also the place where one of the most famous poets in the world was born, lived during his first twelve years and also burried. His name was Khalil Gibran and I'm sure many of you know about his most famous book, The Prophet.
After some two hours in the house where he was born and at the museum where they have collected a lot of his belongings, paintings and writings (you can see his coffin as well) I moved on up the hill to Cedars. Wow.
The trees are so amazing and the atmosphere is just perfect, as in the surroundings (I can see how Gibran were inspired to write as he did). It's been one of the worst winters ever for skiing, there's no snow at all, so no skiing for me this time, but a lot of walking around in the park where most of the trees are. I had such a god time! And then back again down the mountain to Tripoli where you ca get a falafel for 0.50 euro. Add to this that the falafel of Tripoli is probably the best I've had so far in my life and you can see why I don't complain at all at the moment.
The sun is smiling towards me, and I'm smiling back!
Yes, another shared taxi across another border, this time from Syria to Lebanon, and one hour later I arrived in Tripoli. Had a good night beside the sea together with some new-found friends and a couple of Efes, but the thing I' ve been really looking forward to were about to take place today. The Cedars! And it fell out even better than I hoped.
To get to the small village and ski resort called Cedars you have to take a minibus from Tripoli up in the mountains. The view from the car is actually anough for a day trip, but there are more good things coming up. The bus will take you to a small town called Bcharre from where you have to arrange a taxi trip up to Cedars. But Bcharre is not only a place where you jump out of the bus and try to find a taxi as soon as posible. Bcharre is also the place where one of the most famous poets in the world was born, lived during his first twelve years and also burried. His name was Khalil Gibran and I'm sure many of you know about his most famous book, The Prophet.
After some two hours in the house where he was born and at the museum where they have collected a lot of his belongings, paintings and writings (you can see his coffin as well) I moved on up the hill to Cedars. Wow.
The trees are so amazing and the atmosphere is just perfect, as in the surroundings (I can see how Gibran were inspired to write as he did). It's been one of the worst winters ever for skiing, there's no snow at all, so no skiing for me this time, but a lot of walking around in the park where most of the trees are. I had such a god time! And then back again down the mountain to Tripoli where you ca get a falafel for 0.50 euro. Add to this that the falafel of Tripoli is probably the best I've had so far in my life and you can see why I don't complain at all at the moment.
The sun is smiling towards me, and I'm smiling back!
lördag 20 mars 2010
The sun is shining!
Had some problems with the internet-connections in the beginning of my time in Syria, but there seems to be no problems over here in Tartus. After two great days in Aleppo I moved on to Lattakia for a night. I joined two new friends from England and Scotland (Jennie and Fred) on the train, and also the day after (yesterday).
Outisde of Lattakia there's a couple of cool tourist sights and we did spend the day together exploring some of them. We started with the old "Saladins castle" half an hour away from the town. The castle it self is mostly ruins nowadays, but the location and the view of the surroundings where amazing! Also quite funny to just climb around in old ruins when the sun is shining.
After the climbing excercises we really felt it was about time to head back towards the sea, and so we did. Minibus for another 20 minutes in the other direction from the town took us to a beach, a beach with almost black sand! Jennie, Fred (and all the locals) thought it was a bit to windy for a swim, but that couldn't stop me. It wasn't very hot, but compared to the lakes in Sweden it was acceptable and I really enjoyed it. Life is good to me!
After a break at a restaurant in Lattakia (where we were invited to the kitchen to choose between the different fishes they had caught today) I took the bus down to Tartus and they moved on towards Hama. But we were about to meat again.
Tartus isn't a very big town and when it comes to hotels aren't the selection very big, especially not for budget hotels. The result of this was that I ended up in some kind of luxury hotel for one night. Not really what I was looking for, but sometimes it's really nice to just relax in a big, soft bed and enjoy a large breakfast.
After thtat breakfast I caught another minibus and went to the cool (and well restored) "Crac des Chevalliers", probably one of the best playgrounds in the world. Huge walls, towers and a big castle, everything very well restored, it was truly an exciting day-trip. And I got to see Jennie and Fred again, as a bonus.
Hitchhiked back to Tartus and now I'm about to move on to the next country, Lebanon. I'm not done with Syria yet, but I'll go south along the coast down to Beirut and then turn east again back to Syria and Damascus. I'm looking forward to arrive in Tripoli tonight and hopefully I'll find a way to get to Cedars tomorrow or on monday. Take a swim in the sea in the morning and then do some skiing in the afternoon, that would be great.
I'm still surprised by the friendlyness in this country, it's really great. You really should go to Syria, all of you!
Keep up!
Outisde of Lattakia there's a couple of cool tourist sights and we did spend the day together exploring some of them. We started with the old "Saladins castle" half an hour away from the town. The castle it self is mostly ruins nowadays, but the location and the view of the surroundings where amazing! Also quite funny to just climb around in old ruins when the sun is shining.
After the climbing excercises we really felt it was about time to head back towards the sea, and so we did. Minibus for another 20 minutes in the other direction from the town took us to a beach, a beach with almost black sand! Jennie, Fred (and all the locals) thought it was a bit to windy for a swim, but that couldn't stop me. It wasn't very hot, but compared to the lakes in Sweden it was acceptable and I really enjoyed it. Life is good to me!
After a break at a restaurant in Lattakia (where we were invited to the kitchen to choose between the different fishes they had caught today) I took the bus down to Tartus and they moved on towards Hama. But we were about to meat again.
Tartus isn't a very big town and when it comes to hotels aren't the selection very big, especially not for budget hotels. The result of this was that I ended up in some kind of luxury hotel for one night. Not really what I was looking for, but sometimes it's really nice to just relax in a big, soft bed and enjoy a large breakfast.
After thtat breakfast I caught another minibus and went to the cool (and well restored) "Crac des Chevalliers", probably one of the best playgrounds in the world. Huge walls, towers and a big castle, everything very well restored, it was truly an exciting day-trip. And I got to see Jennie and Fred again, as a bonus.
Hitchhiked back to Tartus and now I'm about to move on to the next country, Lebanon. I'm not done with Syria yet, but I'll go south along the coast down to Beirut and then turn east again back to Syria and Damascus. I'm looking forward to arrive in Tripoli tonight and hopefully I'll find a way to get to Cedars tomorrow or on monday. Take a swim in the sea in the morning and then do some skiing in the afternoon, that would be great.
I'm still surprised by the friendlyness in this country, it's really great. You really should go to Syria, all of you!
Keep up!
torsdag 18 mars 2010
Hello Syria!
Wonderful time in Turkey! Many new friends, lovely food, exciting experiences, stunning nature and on and on... But everything comes to an end and now it's over and out from Turkey, for this time.
Shared a taxi with a couple of guys to the Syrian border and after some two hours and a well guarded border i arrived in Aleppo, Syria two days ago. I had no idea where to go or what to do, but not more than five minutes past before at least three-four people had stopped and wanted to help me. The hospitality and friendlyness in this town is really amazing, I've never experienced anything like this before. Free dinner and free wine the two nights I've been here and people all over who really wants to help you if you're looking confused, tired or anything. Great!
Running out of time now. Train to Lattakia in one hour, but I'll try to upload some photos and write some more over there.
I'm alive and happy!
Keep up!
Shared a taxi with a couple of guys to the Syrian border and after some two hours and a well guarded border i arrived in Aleppo, Syria two days ago. I had no idea where to go or what to do, but not more than five minutes past before at least three-four people had stopped and wanted to help me. The hospitality and friendlyness in this town is really amazing, I've never experienced anything like this before. Free dinner and free wine the two nights I've been here and people all over who really wants to help you if you're looking confused, tired or anything. Great!
Running out of time now. Train to Lattakia in one hour, but I'll try to upload some photos and write some more over there.
I'm alive and happy!
Keep up!
lördag 13 mars 2010
Man on the moon?
Another night bus! This time it was moving down the roads towards Goreme, Cappadocia. Hard time sleaping when they turn the lights on every hour or so, but I really do appreciate the great systems of buses running all around Turkey. Of course I would prefer trains, but when that system is not very well developed it's much better with hell of a lot of buses than a situation where everyone is going in their own cars. And the prices are affordable aswell, at least for me.
One day in Cappadocia, and that was just what I needed. Get out of the busy towns and just enjoying the countryside for a while. It's still kind of busy with a lot of tourists doing around with tour buses, but nothing compared to Istanbul or Antalya. I realize that I've been in big town for close to the whole of my trip so far. There's a lot of things to see and do, aswell as more new people I can talk to, but sometimes you just need that relaxing atmosphere that only smaller town and the countryside can provide.
I did a stupid thing today. Something that everyone says "No, please don't do it" about, but I had to. I rented a Scooter and drove around these magical landscape for some six hours. Bought some olives here, some nuts there and ended up on a cliff with a goo book for two hours during the sunset. A really good day so far. The last thing the guy who I rented the bike from said to me made me a bit scared though: "...and drive carefully, there's no insurance!"
Well, at times, it can even be enjoyable to be crazy!
Soon about to head towards Syria. I like it! Coming up, coming up!
One day in Cappadocia, and that was just what I needed. Get out of the busy towns and just enjoying the countryside for a while. It's still kind of busy with a lot of tourists doing around with tour buses, but nothing compared to Istanbul or Antalya. I realize that I've been in big town for close to the whole of my trip so far. There's a lot of things to see and do, aswell as more new people I can talk to, but sometimes you just need that relaxing atmosphere that only smaller town and the countryside can provide.
I did a stupid thing today. Something that everyone says "No, please don't do it" about, but I had to. I rented a Scooter and drove around these magical landscape for some six hours. Bought some olives here, some nuts there and ended up on a cliff with a goo book for two hours during the sunset. A really good day so far. The last thing the guy who I rented the bike from said to me made me a bit scared though: "...and drive carefully, there's no insurance!"
Well, at times, it can even be enjoyable to be crazy!
Soon about to head towards Syria. I like it! Coming up, coming up!
fredag 12 mars 2010
The sun ıs shınıng!
Yesterday mornıng I saıd "Hello Antalya!"
(Stıll some problems wıth uploadıng photos, the computer wants to upload the whole folder...)
Went off the bus early ın the mornıng, the sun was shınıng and everythıng suddenly felt totally perfect! I found a very good hostel quıte soon and two hours later my frıends from Istanbul dıd arrıve aswell. The rest of the day were... an experıence! The three gırls whıch I met ın Istanbul are here to work for a couple of months and they have some frıends ın town. One of these frıends ıs rıch, very rıch, and that was actually good for me aswell.
We started the day at a cafe wıth a beautıful vıew over the Gulf of Antalya. Some Efes, a lot of nuts, a shınıng sun and some 25 degrees ın the aır. Clear, blue water below and I were happy. The cafe was a quıte fancy one so I started to get a bıt worrıed about the bıll when they ordered the fourth beer for me (about 1 pm somethıng), but ıt showed up that I dıdn't have to worry at all, because I dıdn't have to pay! After a whıle we moved on to a restaurant a couple of mınutes outsıde of the town and spent some hours eatıng one of the bıggest dınners ın my whole lıfe, wow... Back ınto the car and on the road agaın.
After a short stop at a beach cafe ın one of the prıvate beaches around the town we went on to an apartment where bottles of Rakı were empted. It seemed though that the plates wıth strawberrıes, kıwıs, bananas, oranges, nuts and chıps were never about to be empty. I don't thınk I've ever felt so spoılt before as I dıd today. To steal a quote from my frıends from Istanbul (whıch they use for me very often): "Lıfe ıs good to you!"
Another sunny day today and I'm soon about to enjoy ıt! Take a long walk along the beaches and just keep on admıre thıs beautıful town, beacuse tonıght I have to leave ıt. Another nıght bus heads towards Cappadocıa tonıght and I'm maybe even more excıted about that. If you've never heard of Cappadocıa before? Do some searchıng and you'll probably understand why I'm excıted. I thınk I'll rent a bıke or somethıng and just feel free!
These are the days my frıends. I wısh they'll never end.
Keep up!
(Pıctures are comıng as soon as possıble and thıngs mıght change around thıs blog quıte soon, stay updated!)
(Stıll some problems wıth uploadıng photos, the computer wants to upload the whole folder...)
Went off the bus early ın the mornıng, the sun was shınıng and everythıng suddenly felt totally perfect! I found a very good hostel quıte soon and two hours later my frıends from Istanbul dıd arrıve aswell. The rest of the day were... an experıence! The three gırls whıch I met ın Istanbul are here to work for a couple of months and they have some frıends ın town. One of these frıends ıs rıch, very rıch, and that was actually good for me aswell.
We started the day at a cafe wıth a beautıful vıew over the Gulf of Antalya. Some Efes, a lot of nuts, a shınıng sun and some 25 degrees ın the aır. Clear, blue water below and I were happy. The cafe was a quıte fancy one so I started to get a bıt worrıed about the bıll when they ordered the fourth beer for me (about 1 pm somethıng), but ıt showed up that I dıdn't have to worry at all, because I dıdn't have to pay! After a whıle we moved on to a restaurant a couple of mınutes outsıde of the town and spent some hours eatıng one of the bıggest dınners ın my whole lıfe, wow... Back ınto the car and on the road agaın.
After a short stop at a beach cafe ın one of the prıvate beaches around the town we went on to an apartment where bottles of Rakı were empted. It seemed though that the plates wıth strawberrıes, kıwıs, bananas, oranges, nuts and chıps were never about to be empty. I don't thınk I've ever felt so spoılt before as I dıd today. To steal a quote from my frıends from Istanbul (whıch they use for me very often): "Lıfe ıs good to you!"
Another sunny day today and I'm soon about to enjoy ıt! Take a long walk along the beaches and just keep on admıre thıs beautıful town, beacuse tonıght I have to leave ıt. Another nıght bus heads towards Cappadocıa tonıght and I'm maybe even more excıted about that. If you've never heard of Cappadocıa before? Do some searchıng and you'll probably understand why I'm excıted. I thınk I'll rent a bıke or somethıng and just feel free!
These are the days my frıends. I wısh they'll never end.
Keep up!
(Pıctures are comıng as soon as possıble and thıngs mıght change around thıs blog quıte soon, stay updated!)
onsdag 10 mars 2010
Changed plans
Still in Istanbul, leaving for Antalya tonight instead. There were some problems with boyfriends and things for one of the girls I'm going with, so the plans were changed. No big problem for me, Istanbul is a truly amazing city, and we had a really great night yesterday! We ended up in a small bar in a small street with a troubadour playing some old turkish songs. Because of my length and my blond hair they he realized that I wasn't from Turkey and started asking a lot of things. After a while he forced me to come up on the stage and sing a "Swedish folk song" and I couldn't resist. Although a bit confused, hard time figuring out what to sing, but it ended in happiness. Went up on stage, grabbed the microphone and were ready!
"Viii ser hur solen stiger over Rasunda!"
"Vi ser hur Hovets is ar blank och klar!"
The opening of the Swedish football season is in just a couple of days from now and I'm a bit sad that I'll miss it, but it's just to do the best of the situation!
Do I have to tell you that the beer was free the rest of the night?
You spend your life waiting for a moment that just don't come. Don't waste your time.
"Viii ser hur solen stiger over Rasunda!"
"Vi ser hur Hovets is ar blank och klar!"
The opening of the Swedish football season is in just a couple of days from now and I'm a bit sad that I'll miss it, but it's just to do the best of the situation!
Do I have to tell you that the beer was free the rest of the night?
You spend your life waiting for a moment that just don't come. Don't waste your time.
tisdag 9 mars 2010
Coming up: New continent!
Back in front of a computer again, but having a hard time with deciding what to write today. I left Bulgaria and arrived in Istanbul two days ago, but I think I'll move on again tonight already. The weather ain't very good over here, and at the same time I'm really looking forward to Asia. When I look out over the sea I can see that continent on the other side, and I just want to reach out and touch it, catch it!
I hooked up with my new friend Iven, which I met in Sofia, again here in Istanbul and we're walking the streets together. A lot of nuts, turkish coffee and olives are going down, and also one or two beers sometimes. I really do like the atmosphere in this huge town, actually I think I could stay for a couple of months, but not this time. There is a bus leaving from here with the destination Antalya tonight and I'll catch that one. In Antalya I'm looking forward to a blue sky and some 20 degrees, exactly what I need.
Not that much of inspiration right now, but I'm happy and alive, just for your information!
The future needs a big kiss.
Peace.
I hooked up with my new friend Iven, which I met in Sofia, again here in Istanbul and we're walking the streets together. A lot of nuts, turkish coffee and olives are going down, and also one or two beers sometimes. I really do like the atmosphere in this huge town, actually I think I could stay for a couple of months, but not this time. There is a bus leaving from here with the destination Antalya tonight and I'll catch that one. In Antalya I'm looking forward to a blue sky and some 20 degrees, exactly what I need.
Not that much of inspiration right now, but I'm happy and alive, just for your information!
The future needs a big kiss.
Peace.
lördag 6 mars 2010
Where the streets have no name
Sometimes I do want to run.
Sometimes I do want to hide.
I'm trying to tear down the walls that hold me inside.
It might be nice to reach out and touch the flame.
But the most important is, that I've spent the last two days in Dobrostan, where the streets have no name.
Yesterday evening I took a little walk in the village (it's not very big, 49 inhabitants) and I just had to sing! The happiness had to come out in some way so I pretended I was Bono in the thick fog in the mountains and just danced, danced, danced in the rain!
I left Sofia this Thursday after a couple of very nice days. Me and my new friend Iven went to the amazing Rila monastery in the mountains outside of Sofia and had a really good day. The same evening we enjoyed the company of a group of Bulgarians in the bar at Art hostel. It actually ended up with a scheduled date for me. 23rd of August (my 25th birthday), outside of the Opera house in Sydney. I'll be there!
I left Sofia by car with "Naso" (my swedish-speaking friend from the train) and his friend "Rosen" and after two hours we arrived in a small town called Asenovgrad. After that the funny part started for real. 25 minutes later and 1.000 metres higher above the sea level we arrived in a small village called Dobrostan ("the good town) and I was amazed.
The air is so clean.
The view is so great.
The sound is silence.
Were invited for a Bulgarian lunch at the house of Nasos parents. That includes a lot of home-grown food from their garden in many different ways, and of course a couple of glasses of Rakia. Since I'm not a raw vegan (yet) as Naso and the others in his house, Nasos mother thought it would be better for me if I had lunch with them. It was sometimes hard with the language, but they spoke to me with their hospitality and that's more than enough for me.
After that we walked to the house where Naso lives with his brother, his brothers girlfriend and the lovely dog "Roro", and we spend some five or six hours drinking tea from one of the best producers in Taiwan. Just laying there on the floor, drinking tea, talking and doing absolutely nothing, I felt alive.
The coming day were quite similar to the one before. Nasos brother showed me around in the big garden where they "produce" all their food. They are trying to make this process as natural as possible and I've learned a lot of interesting things about plants, nature and the connection between all of it. They were all very interested in my time in the "Globala Gymnasiet" (upper secondary school in Stockholm) and we made some kind of interview for the newspaper of a Bulgarian vegetarian association about my time in this school and what it gave me.
Two wonderful days in the mountains, but now it's about time to move on again. Back on the train and tomorrow I'll wake up in Istanbul. It's very hard to write down what I've experienced and what I feel, it's just to much right now, in a good way... but I hope that this is better than nothing. And here are some pictures:
Dobrostan - Which actually means "the good town"
The house I stayed in
The spring is in town
Nasos father rolling cigarettes. Menthol cigarettes with home-grown mint
The old bus that took me down again
Sometimes I do want to hide.
I'm trying to tear down the walls that hold me inside.
It might be nice to reach out and touch the flame.
But the most important is, that I've spent the last two days in Dobrostan, where the streets have no name.
Yesterday evening I took a little walk in the village (it's not very big, 49 inhabitants) and I just had to sing! The happiness had to come out in some way so I pretended I was Bono in the thick fog in the mountains and just danced, danced, danced in the rain!
I left Sofia this Thursday after a couple of very nice days. Me and my new friend Iven went to the amazing Rila monastery in the mountains outside of Sofia and had a really good day. The same evening we enjoyed the company of a group of Bulgarians in the bar at Art hostel. It actually ended up with a scheduled date for me. 23rd of August (my 25th birthday), outside of the Opera house in Sydney. I'll be there!
I left Sofia by car with "Naso" (my swedish-speaking friend from the train) and his friend "Rosen" and after two hours we arrived in a small town called Asenovgrad. After that the funny part started for real. 25 minutes later and 1.000 metres higher above the sea level we arrived in a small village called Dobrostan ("the good town) and I was amazed.
The air is so clean.
The view is so great.
The sound is silence.
Were invited for a Bulgarian lunch at the house of Nasos parents. That includes a lot of home-grown food from their garden in many different ways, and of course a couple of glasses of Rakia. Since I'm not a raw vegan (yet) as Naso and the others in his house, Nasos mother thought it would be better for me if I had lunch with them. It was sometimes hard with the language, but they spoke to me with their hospitality and that's more than enough for me.
After that we walked to the house where Naso lives with his brother, his brothers girlfriend and the lovely dog "Roro", and we spend some five or six hours drinking tea from one of the best producers in Taiwan. Just laying there on the floor, drinking tea, talking and doing absolutely nothing, I felt alive.
The coming day were quite similar to the one before. Nasos brother showed me around in the big garden where they "produce" all their food. They are trying to make this process as natural as possible and I've learned a lot of interesting things about plants, nature and the connection between all of it. They were all very interested in my time in the "Globala Gymnasiet" (upper secondary school in Stockholm) and we made some kind of interview for the newspaper of a Bulgarian vegetarian association about my time in this school and what it gave me.
Two wonderful days in the mountains, but now it's about time to move on again. Back on the train and tomorrow I'll wake up in Istanbul. It's very hard to write down what I've experienced and what I feel, it's just to much right now, in a good way... but I hope that this is better than nothing. And here are some pictures:
Dobrostan - Which actually means "the good town"
The house I stayed in
The spring is in town
Nasos father rolling cigarettes. Menthol cigarettes with home-grown mint
The old bus that took me down again
måndag 1 mars 2010
I'm feeling lucky
Had another of those journeys with night trains this night. Departured from Belgrade late in the night (after being served great Serbian food at the hostel I stayed in, thank you!) and was heading towards Sofia, Bulgaria. Felt asleep after a while, but woke up again sooner than I hoped. The heat on the trains in eastern Europe is a bit... weird.
A bit angry about the fact that I wouldn't sleep for this night either, but I started talking to a guy sitting opposite to me and things didn't end up to bad. It showed up he lived in Sweden for nine years and now had moved back to Bulgaria to work with an independent/self-sufficient yard in the bulgarian mountains, straight vegan of course! He asked me if I would like to go their and visit them for a day or two and that wasn't a very hard question for me.
Although everything ain't sunshine and blue skies. It's raining outside and I have to stay in Sofia at least until thursday morning before we are heading to the yard, but well, I won't complain that much. Think I'll take a day-trip to the Rila monastery tomorrow and then maybe do some skiing in the Vitosha mountain on wednesday, not very bad. Might be that I stay in Sofia on of these days, as many times before I'm not really sure about it.
It actually do feels that "someone up there" likes me a lot. Was a bit boored when I left Belgrade, but now things are perfect again!
Hope you all are having a good time, wherever you are!
Big hug!
A bit angry about the fact that I wouldn't sleep for this night either, but I started talking to a guy sitting opposite to me and things didn't end up to bad. It showed up he lived in Sweden for nine years and now had moved back to Bulgaria to work with an independent/self-sufficient yard in the bulgarian mountains, straight vegan of course! He asked me if I would like to go their and visit them for a day or two and that wasn't a very hard question for me.
Although everything ain't sunshine and blue skies. It's raining outside and I have to stay in Sofia at least until thursday morning before we are heading to the yard, but well, I won't complain that much. Think I'll take a day-trip to the Rila monastery tomorrow and then maybe do some skiing in the Vitosha mountain on wednesday, not very bad. Might be that I stay in Sofia on of these days, as many times before I'm not really sure about it.
It actually do feels that "someone up there" likes me a lot. Was a bit boored when I left Belgrade, but now things are perfect again!
Hope you all are having a good time, wherever you are!
Big hug!
Some pictures from the first two and a half weeks
Me and river Rhein
Nice and sunny in Milano
Guiseppe Meazza
Uncle Georges and my american friends in Venice
Bath in Budapest
Football in Belgrade
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