Vidin

After weeks of traveling in these Balkan countries and then hearing again the stories of the abandoned farms I started to laugh.  Today we are visiting the first town that is actually right on the river.  As we walked around I thought of the World War I song about Paris and made it “How You Gonna Keep Them Down on the Farm after They’ve Seen Vidin!”

We did make a slower start to the day because we decided to not go on the included tour to Belogradchik and not have another day of three hours on a bus for about an hour of touring.  And the touring would be the remains of a fortress built into the rocks and climbing those rocks.  Turns out to be a good choice as several of the younger people on board said later that it was interesting but they actually had to climb up on all fours!  Elva and I are beyond that.  

Belogradchik is unique.

There were packs of street dogs.  They all seemed healthy and happy as they ran zigging and zagging across streets and through parks.  This one seemed to be waiting at our dock, though, for boat people to feed it!

 Pretty patio dining for the local hotel.

I might would have maybe done it.  That is pretty ambiguous!   I was glad that Carol, Elva, and I choose to enjoy what is so nice on a river trip.  Walk off, walk around, see what interests you and return to the comfort of the ship.  We made our way up to a very pretty cathedral.  There were several women there this Friday morning.  Two were seeming to prepare for weekend services.  Others were going from icon to icon that were approachable.  Here they would cross themselves the several times that Orthodox believers do.  Then kiss the picture.  The kiss was always on the lower right side.  I think this must be the custom and in most of the icons this is where the feet of the saint would be.

We are in a very small, Eastern European town in Bulgaria.  Lots of construction going on but we found our way to the Orthodox church.

Here again is a painting wearing a cloak of silver and gold.  The churches always had the money and therefore the art.

Elva and Carol admiring the Icons and the whole ambiance of the local church.

 We made a brief detour through a shopping mall where a lot of people were going but it really only had a few stores and no read exit and I had thought it might be a pass through.  We went back out and around to the pedestrian street which was pretty nice for walking.  Out on the regular sidewalks there were a lot of missing stones and also broken concrete.  We followed part of it past several playgrounds and lots of grandparents pushing strollers.  Mostly grand dads who were also on the phone.  Actually, most everyone was talking and walking at the same time.  We did try to speak to a few people but no one seemed to understand English or at least didn’t want to.

Cute carts for this grocer.

The large grey building, the tallest thing around, higher than the church steeples or bell towers, is an old government office building.

Jewish memorial

We came to an old city gate and passed a newly being built museum of art with some nice statues outside.  Some looked like they were waiting to be placed inside.  The city has a lot of parks but we wanted the one that runs alongside the river.  The long park leads to the fort which is a very intact Roman structure and to the façade of a church.  The large trees provided nice shade and the walking was easy with lots of benches to sit along the way.

Elva wanted to go back to the boat so she and I didn’t make it all the way to the fort.  While we walked back along the edge of the Danube, Carol went on and later showed us great photos.  Along our return we passed signs that had some info in English.  The story of the turnover of the town from original population to when they defended against the Ottoman Empire to the Roman invasion was most interesting.  It reminded us that the Balkan countries really were instrumental in preventing a complete onslaught of Europe by the ‘heathen hoards.’ Vidin seems to have a long history like much of Eastern Europe.  It passed from conqueror to conqueror but did put its foot down against the Ottoman Empire.

They love Easter over here!

Danube defenses.

 

Elva loves anything archeological!

I have posted these here because I took pictures of all the English signs.  Maybe you can read and follow along.

Back side of the pizza and hot dog place in the earlier picture!

Note the little boat that acts as our pathway to the Viking Embla.  Elva and I will be having lunch on that front deck very shortly

Trash removal system is very 'high tech!'

Onboard we met Allan and Mary who had gone to a cooking lesson in a private home.  They made the same cheese and phyllo treat that we had sampled in Tarnova yesterday.  Banista can be made either sweet or savory and is basically feta cheese, eggs, baking soda or soda water, and then whatever you want to add, if anything.  Spinach leaves seem popular or maybe blueberries.  It is baked, cut into squares, and served warm when possible or cold and taken for lunches.

Lunch on deck was delicious.  I chose the bar-b-que ribs, as did all of our friends.  Allan took less ribs but enjoyed a burger which was being grilled right out by us and not from the kitchen.  Wine flowed, for me Coke Light, and we all compared notes on our mornings.  Allan and Mary went for a walk about while Norma Jean and Mike had done that in the morning but now were heading to the second shift cooking class.

The afternoon passed quickly and some lovely children came on board to entertain with folk dances and singing.  Most interesting was that Myhkala and Katerina told us about their lives as teen agers in Bulgaria.  They were very smart and well-spoken and open.  The person in charge of the program said they could speak as they wished but she definitely guided the talk.  They have high hopes and Myhkala plans to go to Boston College.  I believe she will need a scholarship as salaries here net about 450 Euros a month for each of her parents.  She will probably get it and having worked for Viking recommendation may help.

Katerina in black and the effervescent Myhkala with the mic!

Interesting way to play the drum.  A think stick kept an triple beat on the bottom side while the true beat was on the normal side.

Lots of uvulating and trilling went on during these dances.  Sort of Celtic in style.  Hopping feet and stiff arms.

We have by now established a hold on the interior part of the AquaVit Terrace.  Outside is a little too chilly and breezy at dinner time.  We are up to eight at dinner now.  The round tables for four can be pulled together.  It is nice as we can have a lighter dinner but also order off the dining room menu.  There are two dedicated waiters, Anthony and Dimi who race up and down the stairs to the kitchen for us.  Dinner is faster, quieter, and more enjoyable for us.  We may get a little rowdy for the few other people there but we are having fun. We ended up laughing and joking so much we missed most of the evening musical entertainment.  But all most of us have been on these trips before so no great loss.