Coffee , Rila Lakes and Ashes

 It's Friday morning.

08.00 My phone rings. Everything hurts me. They tell me I won't be working today. There will be no formwork, concrete and meatballs in Saranzi today. Not a bad day off. But what am I going to do all weekend!? Money? Time? I sneak off to my favourite cafe In The Flow specialty coffee. I see cool friends, it's nice. I wake up gradually. I drink a cappuccino. I talk shit. I try to look adequate. I fail. Today I will be myself.

09.30ч. A man just over my age walks into the café and orders a coffee. He sits down next to me. We talk. Our mutual friend from Austria sends him to the coffee. He is American. Hi man, how are you? My English with German pronunciation is just one way.

09.45a.m . We're hanging out. It's been a long day. He's on his way. He comes from Hungary and travels to Ireland. His mother's urn is with him. Her ashes. He wants to scatter her ashes in Ireland where his family is from. He went to Sofia on the recommendation of a friend. I like his story. He invites me to be his guide. For a day. He'll pay. He wants to see some things around Sofia. I accept. If I drink another coffee I'll probably pass out on the spot, I'd better take a walk and I'll have even some euros for the weekend.

10.00. I take my backpack and we leave. He wants to see everything related to Petar Dunov in Sofia. My grandfather knew Dunov personally through his mother and I was also interested to see his grave and his meadow in the Borisova Garden. Somehow the circle always closes and every meeting has a reason. I still want to sleep. But I am alive. 

There are roses and white benches in the garden. They act soothing ! We talk about politics. Next to us is the big Russian embassy. We are talking. They listen to us. Elections are coming. No way. There must be an exchange. An American and a Bulgarian guy. Just the day before the election. Sounds maybe interesting for the russian services.

14.00. After a few hours we go home. He invites me to go the next day to Rila Lakes. Car and hotel are from him. Why not. I haven't been there for a month. And never with a man who somehow charmingly carries his mother's ashes in his backpack. It got interesting.

Saturday.

10.00ч. The plan changes on the way and we go to Rila Monastery. He wants to see it. Spirituality, mekitsi and ayran. What else? Accurate, clear and fast! Then Sapareva Banya. Geyser and Radomir-style shavarma. I don't know how to explain a Bulgarian menu in English, so in the restaurant I order brandy and the shepherd's salad. The rest will come by itself. Accurately and clearly I show him the most important of Bulgaria in abbreviated form. He likes it. Me too. No time is wasted in emotions. We talk about the live, the States, women. It's nice.

19.30. The lift to the lakes does not work. I don't feel like going up at night.  It is dark and cold. He finds a nice family hotel and off we go.

We sleep in Sapareva Banya.  Huge room, next to the river with lovely people and big breakfast.

Sunday morning

09.00h. A woman in the restaurant at breakfast explains to me that the energy of the river next to the hotel washed away the negative energy. I pretend to believe her, but I definitely look badly at fritters with jam and mackerels with sugar. We have a ways to go. I'm glad the negative energy is gone, it's nice to find the positive energy though. I drink a coffee or two. Might as well come.

11.00. We get on the lakes. 13km from Panichishte to the fifth lake and back. Some people with jeeps wanted to take us up, but we were adamant to go up ourselves. 

15.00 I am tired. I eat meatballs and fries at the Seven Rila Lakes hut. My legs do not hold me. I want to stay in the mountains. Maybe forever. There is no force to bring me down to Sofia, except one....

15.15. My guest invites me to his hotel, we'll share a room. He pays. Never mind how many people sleep inside. There is dinner, spa, sauna, breakfast, alcohol, nice waitresses. Hyatt Luxury Hotel. Right above the Vasil Levski monument. I like my life. Sometimes I sleep at the hostel, sometimes at the Hyatt, and sometimes I don't. I accept the invitation. It is rude to refuse! We check in. The room has a balcony like a small tennis court, the bathroom has two showers, the TV is like a cinema. 

17.45. We go down to the lobby. Happy hour! I wonder if I should have the avocado and shrimp salad or the pepper sticks with hummus. I act like this is really a problem. It's always been hard in my life. I take my pick of both. Just like in my own life. More is just more! I speak to the waitress. I like it. She is happy. So do I. She comes and sits with us for a while. She wants to talk Bulgarian with someone. I understand she is not even 18. She is still happy. I don't anymore! We become friends. The service is great.

7pm. I'm thinking if I go to the sauna naked and speak German will I be perceived as a foreigner. Or if I say I'm Bulgarian and just put on my bathing suit. I don't want any more dilemmas in my life. Choosing between salads at the lobby bar had worn me out enough. It was time for decisions. I haven't gone home without this in a while and it's nice to shower, with or without panties. I smile at everyone, scratch my chest, and throw myself like Bai Ganyo under the Waterfall at the spa. I press some button. Water rushes from everywhere. The woman with the rag looks at me badly. I close my eyes. I'm in the lap of luxury after all. They will see now.

23.00 I  sit on the terrace. My guest still has no plan for Ireland. 

11.15pm Suddenly gets a call from the US. His aunt, tells him where his grandfather's ashes are scattered. He didn't even suspect he was on the right way all the time....

It's Monday morning.

08.00 Breakfast on the navel of Sofia. Avocado, brioche, fresh salmon. It's hard again. My waitress is gone. For now.

10.00ч. I'm sending my guest. We have one last coffee and he has to leave. He has a mission. Someone was waiting in his backpack to return to where it had all started four generations ago.

12.00 I'm at the airport. I always like to be there. The emotions from people coming or going, the relatives who are there waiting for their children.

12.15 I do realize I haven't been home since Saturday morning. I'm waiting for a call from my guest to say all is well with his plane.

I'm thinking of going for a coffee at my friends coffee in the downtown. I'm a little scared. The backpack is with me. What if I end up in Honolulu with some Swedish girls someone sent to buy coffee from the Eagle Bridge (The Coffee is there).The Bus 84 is coming. I leave. Sometimes you just gotta go.... I haven't been to Honolulu, with Swedes either. So far.... 

Thanks for everything Dude. Hope your trip is going well further.