Still the same day as the post below

I just decided to change subjects (finally, eh?) and post it just to make sure it wasn't lost somehow. SO anyway, I was going to start rambling about Bulgaria, and i got lost in the brambles of my other rambles.

Great times in Sofia. Things I'm enjoying now include the sound of the pool balls at the table, the guy next to me typing hunt and peck style faster than I've ever seen it done, the accents of those speaking their different Englishes, since it seems to be the universal language at this point, the guy on the other side of me rolling a cigarette, the hordes (legions?) of pigeons outside vying with the swarms (tempest?) of cats outside for scraps that a lady throws out her window. Ruth over on the couch blogging. Having no plans. Looking forward to seeing you fine people. The unveiling of this mystery of these eastern countries (not very even)and the conversations of those who've been traveling to Turkey and Syria who say how beautiful they are, how they feel safer there than anywhere they've ever been, and basically dispelling my ignorance and broadening my horizons. Including dispelling the hype I've heard about other place forever, and more recent hype b.s. like how insanely dangerous Mexico is (lie), etc. I guess fearmongering sells newspapers, but even if I was a newspaperman, I still don't think it would be worth it to make so many people afraid of each other unnnecessarily.

We'd like to come back. To ski. To hike. To travel further. Maybe on bike. Maybe hitchhiking (yes, it's actually safe here). To see Bran castle. To see the castle at Rasnov, or wherever. To go to Varna on the Black sea. To go to the rest of Romania, which is supposed to be beautiful, poor, and kind. the people there bring you into their homes, I hear, and feed you, and refuse to take anything as payment. It's just considered normal. Sounds like the Bahamas. Sigh. I miss it!

Ruth has been compiling her blogs in a notebook, and I have been mostly taking pictures, and thought I'd tell about them when i post them, and have not been keeping notes. I hope you'll forgive us for being so lax. I promise we'll post a ton when we get home, lame as that is.

Lots of love. I think there are still some of you who need your keys for the house in the Bahamas. Forgive me for being so lame and losing track. I hope you'll have faith and know if you're reading this, and care enough about us to bother, that we care about you too, and that that place will be built for you to enjoy too. Just hang in there. We're actually moving forward, believe it or not.

your friend,

Jack