Ruth and i will be back home on time as planned. We checked into changing our tickets, and the punchline is that it would be $2200 each, and some change. While this is mere chickenfeed to high rollers such as ourselves, we figure we should get back and hug the dogs. Also, Ruth's bad paw is bothering her, so she's limping about (we've been hanging out with some Limeys, could you tell?)and my knee is a problem for some reason, since it started making this funny popping noise when we were in Florida. Not funny like a mean clown, but more like a sad, broken clown. So I'm limping and she's limping, it's pretty funny actually. So yeah. There's that. So we realize there's so much to see here in Bulgaria that we had no idea existed, that we realize we really will need to come back here.
Honestly, I don't feel that way about most of Europe, or most places I've been, though I'm glad to have been there, unless to visit specific people, but Bulgaria is pretty awesome for a number of reasons:
It's cheap. Very cheap. Dinner in a chinese restaurant last night was like $2.50. Teachers get paid 45 liva a week here. Like 30 dollars. So stop complaining about this "recession" already. I was sick of it when it started. We're all so spoiled it's sick. We have 100 times more than we need to eat and stay warm and comfortable, but we complain when we get down to only having 90 times more than we need to eat. Anyway, Bulgaria's strengths: it's cheap. Besides just making the feeling of panic go away that you get in say, Italy, when you order a cup of coffee and find out it's like $7.00 U.S. , you have the feeling of freedom that you acquire when you can look at a menu and know you can afford the food they're selling, and not only that, but you'll be able to do it again next time you're hungry. That's quite a nice feeling. So, feeling like that, with a little spring in your step, you look around you and you think: "I could afford to go take a bus to that mountain to hike it." Or "I'll buy a 2 liter of beer (like $1.00 U.S.) and share it. And you feel okay because the people next to you are doing the same, for you and for each other. And you're staying in a hostel that everyone is grateful for and can afford, and money kind of loses it's meaning in a way for a moment, like you can stop hoarding it and just relax. I love that feeling. Last night, Ruth and Andy (New Zealander buddy)and I went out to eat Chinese in the afternoon (it was close for us peglegs), and we hadn't eaten yet that day, so we were pretty ravenous. Andy and I each ordered something from the menu, plus some sides, and Ruth and ordered two things. Then we ordered fried bread. 13 cents each, I think, and so I ordered 3, thinking that it would be right for the three of us, and thinking it was 3 slices. Andy had already ordered 5 that I hadn't heard. It turns out they were small loaves. Eight! Plus dumplings, plus all this other. And when it came, each could have gone far enough to feed the three of us, it was really nuts. But we wrapped it up and brought it back to the hostel to give away, but everyone had free spaghetti, so there was just a huge abundance. And we gave the dumplings to the cats, because cats love Bulgarian dumplings. ANd it was really nice.
So here we are. In a former totalitarian communist state, in a hostel that had been an inn that had been seized and it's owners exiled, living some kind of socialism-lite.
To go off on a political tangent for a little, and I would like to hear your comments and thoughts, since you're reading mine and you deserve your counterpoints to my rants, but I do think there's a huge difference between communism and communism practiced by a totalitarian tyranny. That is, I think that communism is actually quite nice in some ways, and could be viable in some forms. Namely, if it was done in small groups where the people felt the social pressure to pull their weight and contribute so you don't have deadbeats, and second, if you can kick deadbeats out, distinguished of course, from those who are unable to contribute. I would contend too that those unable to produce and contribute in a capitalistic economy are only able to survive due to the vestiges of communism or socialism that occur within it. That is, disability, social security, medicare, FHA, group homes, and even libraries and any other "community" treasure are forms of socialism or communism. I'll go further and say too that (something I've been thinking for years) that I personally feel more compelled to contribute and produce when I'm actually helping someone rather than just chasing money and then hoarding it. In my case, I would rather work for free for someone I love (you) than to be paid exorbitantly. I also would rather share what I have with those I care about (again, you) than to own it myself. I could go even further and spell out all of my contentions regarding how wrong capitalism is, but I'll spare you, unless anyone reading would like to discuss it, which I'd be glad to do. I care about this subject a lot, but it's largely academic to discuss, so pretty pointless here. Anyway, let me know if you're down for a beer and a talk, and I'll offer my exhibit A by buying the first round. Bottom line is I'm calling "bullshit" on the inherent badness of the bad word of communism, and pointing out that it's not sharing that was a problem, even here. But the crushing power with which it was administered and the complete lack of justice associated with it, and the scale it was done in. As far as communist USSR goes, you couldn't pay me enough to get involved (wink) but I'd do it on a small scale with our people any day. Yeah, I trust you that much.
ANYWAY, I know I know. This is a blog of whatever, and this is not appropriate here, but it's also a blog of our lives and our thoughts, feelings, reflections, and reactions, right or wrong, and the chronicle thereof. So yeah, it's all part of the same thing. And not to point out the obvious, but those of you reading, our friends and family, are reading this because it started as a chronicle of our trip, but continued because it is a chronicle of our lives as they point toward the defining event of finally building a place that we will all share, communally, socially, but which will be bought via capitalism and sustained in that same way, probably by renting rooms sometimes when you and we are not using it. So, yeah, these thoughts and political ideas are all wrapped up in this Bahamas building.
There's a lot of other things about Bulgaria that inspire me in how we'll proceed n the Bahamas, and very specifically, about this hostel. I know I never finished talking about why we need to return to Bulgaria, but let me continue my series of digressions by mentioning a few more things I like about this crib.
Easy maintenace tile floors. Common free computers. Free pool. Events boards, info and local stuff of interest that people leave for others. Guest books, not unlike ours at Shady Rest. Thank you notes stuck around the walls and the desks. Free books (for trade, really) on the honor system. A big place for everyone to flop on together. Basically a 15x15 square with a TV, books, and dominoes and tons of pillows. A guitar hanging as a decoration from the ceiling that you can grab and play. Communal kitchen and meals, and people giving away their extras of things they've purchased. A note in the bathroom to please keep it clean for your fellow travelers, and it is. a stereo people can play music on if they like. The good manners that people employ, taking short turns on the computers (unlike me now), a basket for people to share leftover shampoo by the showers, and generally, all kinds of things that are offered and shared freely by people who all get to enjoy the wealth of the group and really no hoarding. The people working here get a place to stay, and very little more, yet they are very kind, generous, and outgoing. There's a level of consideration that's remarkable, and that you do see in hostels often, where there is a ton of diversity, outgoing warmth, humor and general spirit of conviviality. I honestly have not seen one frown, heard a grumbled remark, seen anything with anyone's name etched into it, or even anything secured against theft, except the locks to the sleeping areas, the street, and on the lockers for valuables. It's great to have so much available to so many broke people and yet none of it has to be nailed down. Could it be because it's offered so freely and everyone has use of it already, so thers' no need to try to hoard? I think they're onto something here. I think the buccaneer road place will be similiar, or hope. But man, i have to think, if strangers of all nationalities can have this much of a positive, gracious, safe, fun time together here, I can't WAIT to see how all of our family and friends are going to be when they get in the same building and cook, eat, play together. Recipe for magic. I'm so excited I can hardly take it.
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