A late get out of bed in this morning the Rakia did help last night! I expected a visit at 10:00 to be taken to the village for the event on today. But the visit was at 9:00 to tell me I would be picked up at 10:00.
All jobs done by 9:30 and I even had time to vacuum and dust the place. Time was up and we were off the village with Sacho, Rosa was to meet us there with another Maria. It was very foggy and cold, quite a depressing background and this was the case for a couple of hours.
We heard the music well before we got to the village. The road through the village centre was closed by the police and crowds were lingering for the beginning of the event. I finally found out what it was. It was all about giving a blessing to the coming season for grape growing wine and rakia making. In essence it was to get rid of bad spirits, (yes a lovely pun.)
The scene is set to get rid of bad spirits, literally! The weather was foggy not the lens!
We went for a coffee in the men’s rakia drinking café where I could have stayed quite easily. They were playing cards over a few drinks, very friendly and lots of wonderful characters. We did leave as the event was soon to start.
I will not mention everyone I met I would be here all night. It is quite amazing how many people I spoke to and exchanged greetings with. The whole village was there and surrounding villages. The Major was obviously there and some big politician from Yambol, hence the big police presence and yes I did meet the policeman who visited me, I think his name is Stoyan.
We met the Alex from the village Golyam Manastir who had just got engaged to a Skalitsa teacher, he’s actually Australian and has met Sue. He thinks she is bad news and called her a ‘nutter’. He is here with a pension and is going to enjoy himself.,a typical Australian but I didn’t like the way he referred to his Bulgarian partner as "The Dragon!"
The music stopped and Alex’s woman was the compare as the event started. The introduction was followed by the actors on the stage consisting of a big guy with a big voice, four lads with pitching forks and four girls with small wine urns and dressing in white. I got a picture of one of the girls she is very beautiful and made a lovely picture.
Angelic or what?
The Grape King
After a big loud speech by the Grape King, the important politician and Mitko our Mayor made speeches followed the lighting of the fire then a dance by the young girls to Zorba the Greek music.
Lighting the fire
The speech by the Yambol politician
The dance to Zorba the Greek
From thereon we had a music festival and the mist lifted giving a sunny day. Happenings were mixed with presentations and more speeches and finally a dance where of course I joined in knowing the steps, Alex and Sacho both being ‘stick in he mud’s’ just stood there and watched. I was right next to the Yambol politician and Kera’s mum came along to hold my hand and dance with me. She is such a lovely friendly woman and appreciated my efforts to mix in with the villagers. Like I said I met so many people it is impossible to list them all, I just felt like part of the community a wonderful morning of belonging here.
During all the music and poetry, reciting etc. I was transfixed with the natural inhibitions these people have, they don’t suffer from any nerves or shyness and just do things in public. The music was fantastic and it was lovely to see young performers keeping in with the traditional music. Just look at some of these pictures, it was an exhibition of art as well as music in terms of costumes and instruments.
Music everywhere
Kera’s Grandfather the accordian player turned up from the next village as well
Sacho, Rosa, Alex, another friendly guy and another Maria who provided us with wine
And the final dance which had just started over one hundred villagers ended up doing this, me included
We couldn’t get a seat in a restaurant that had opened for the day so we went back to the original café we started the morning in and had coffee and chick peas with Sacho and Rosa then left for home.
Sacho and Rosa on their way home
We went home and I reflected on the morning, I still quite can’t take it all in and in my mind all the time was Jane missing out, Alex with his woman and the people who I met. It was a bit overwhelming for me as most things are here.
Later that evening another food delivery service from Sacho and Rosa this time a hot bean and pork meal, what can you do?
Food! Yet again!
Most of the diary is pictures today as there is too much in my mind to even think about putting into words. The day will take quite a few days to sink in. People are still trying to get me to find a Bulgarian woman. A month ago I might have considered this at some point as I thought I’d lost Jane and she was going to divorce me. I just want her here with me where she belongs, it’s not fair!
All jobs done by 9:30 and I even had time to vacuum and dust the place. Time was up and we were off the village with Sacho, Rosa was to meet us there with another Maria. It was very foggy and cold, quite a depressing background and this was the case for a couple of hours.
We heard the music well before we got to the village. The road through the village centre was closed by the police and crowds were lingering for the beginning of the event. I finally found out what it was. It was all about giving a blessing to the coming season for grape growing wine and rakia making. In essence it was to get rid of bad spirits, (yes a lovely pun.)
The scene is set to get rid of bad spirits, literally! The weather was foggy not the lens!We went for a coffee in the men’s rakia drinking café where I could have stayed quite easily. They were playing cards over a few drinks, very friendly and lots of wonderful characters. We did leave as the event was soon to start.
I will not mention everyone I met I would be here all night. It is quite amazing how many people I spoke to and exchanged greetings with. The whole village was there and surrounding villages. The Major was obviously there and some big politician from Yambol, hence the big police presence and yes I did meet the policeman who visited me, I think his name is Stoyan.
We met the Alex from the village Golyam Manastir who had just got engaged to a Skalitsa teacher, he’s actually Australian and has met Sue. He thinks she is bad news and called her a ‘nutter’. He is here with a pension and is going to enjoy himself.,a typical Australian but I didn’t like the way he referred to his Bulgarian partner as "The Dragon!"
The music stopped and Alex’s woman was the compare as the event started. The introduction was followed by the actors on the stage consisting of a big guy with a big voice, four lads with pitching forks and four girls with small wine urns and dressing in white. I got a picture of one of the girls she is very beautiful and made a lovely picture.
Angelic or what?
The Grape KingAfter a big loud speech by the Grape King, the important politician and Mitko our Mayor made speeches followed the lighting of the fire then a dance by the young girls to Zorba the Greek music.
Lighting the fire
The speech by the Yambol politician
The dance to Zorba the GreekFrom thereon we had a music festival and the mist lifted giving a sunny day. Happenings were mixed with presentations and more speeches and finally a dance where of course I joined in knowing the steps, Alex and Sacho both being ‘stick in he mud’s’ just stood there and watched. I was right next to the Yambol politician and Kera’s mum came along to hold my hand and dance with me. She is such a lovely friendly woman and appreciated my efforts to mix in with the villagers. Like I said I met so many people it is impossible to list them all, I just felt like part of the community a wonderful morning of belonging here.
During all the music and poetry, reciting etc. I was transfixed with the natural inhibitions these people have, they don’t suffer from any nerves or shyness and just do things in public. The music was fantastic and it was lovely to see young performers keeping in with the traditional music. Just look at some of these pictures, it was an exhibition of art as well as music in terms of costumes and instruments.
Music everywhere
Kera’s Grandfather the accordian player turned up from the next village as well
Sacho, Rosa, Alex, another friendly guy and another Maria who provided us with wine
And the final dance which had just started over one hundred villagers ended up doing this, me includedWe couldn’t get a seat in a restaurant that had opened for the day so we went back to the original café we started the morning in and had coffee and chick peas with Sacho and Rosa then left for home.
Sacho and Rosa on their way homeWe went home and I reflected on the morning, I still quite can’t take it all in and in my mind all the time was Jane missing out, Alex with his woman and the people who I met. It was a bit overwhelming for me as most things are here.
Later that evening another food delivery service from Sacho and Rosa this time a hot bean and pork meal, what can you do?
Food! Yet again!Most of the diary is pictures today as there is too much in my mind to even think about putting into words. The day will take quite a few days to sink in. People are still trying to get me to find a Bulgarian woman. A month ago I might have considered this at some point as I thought I’d lost Jane and she was going to divorce me. I just want her here with me where she belongs, it’s not fair!
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