A few little anomolies

Walking around I have noticed a few strange things about Bulgaria. Nothing too drastic, but note-worthy.

They do not have obituaries. So when someone dies, they print a notebook sized sheet with the photo of the decesed, pertinent info (which I cannot read since its in Bulgaria) and post it in the areas where people might know the deceased. Therefore most trees and walls are covered with these. A little depressing to look at actually.

Everybody smokes everywhere including in non smoking areas. But I think I have touched on this one already.

There are no heaters in most homes. In fact, the city is just now starting to put gas lines in all the streets. Until now, and still in my palce, electric heaters are used, which are stupidly expensive to operate. Most have fire places but I am not so lucky. So I have been cold a lot. I wish I was furrier like Oscar!

There are thousands of street cats and dogs, and the city collects the dogs each spring and spays or neuters them. They have been known to get quite aggressive in the winter months and attack people. I only hope Oscar doesnt try to take any on. Brent got bitten by a dog on his way to school a couple of weeks ago. Not really clear what the dog wanted. Brent isnt particularly meaty looking. Good thing I wasnt walking with him that day. I am much more of a meal (no pun intended there).

A lot of people go to church. Apparently its a backlash to the communist control over exercizing your right to religious beliefs. From what I have heard, its just a place for boys to pick up girls.

Every time I go to the market to buy cauliflower, the farmer wants to load me up with three or four heads. I wasnt sure what the problem was. After all most people only have half sized fridges, including myself. Apparently no one here eats cauliflower steamed or any other way. So why would they buy a few heads at a time?? They pickle it, and that is the only way it is consumed here. With Rakia of course!

As you know this town is built on a hill. Its hard to walk up here, especially since there are stone walkways everywhere. The girls however, seem to manoever these steep hills and cobblestone roads in heels. Not just any heels, but spiky heels. I dont know how they keep from breaking their necks to be honest.

There are no dryers thought this is one of the dampest places I have lived.

I will think of more later.

As an aside, the teacher I dont get on with is in the hospital. He still hasnt got his Bulgarian identity card, and so his hospital stay is costing upwards of 200 dollars a day. My boss is super worried since its a hell of a lot of money to be spending on a teacher we would all just as well throw off the nearest cliff. So I had a suggestion which went over very well and is being considered. I siad "ONE properly placed bullet! That's all we need." :)

Hey? Who said I was nice????