Cherni Vrah

I was lucky to have the first successful hike for the year. We did two in the winter but the weather was windy and unpleasant and we got nowhere. There’s still some snow here and there, just enough to enter your shoes. The weather was very warm – t-shirt, sun screen, and winter boots type of weather.

I’m thankful I was able to do this. 15k steps, roughly 3h.

National Theatre Ivan Vazov

My daily walk got me to this iconic place in Sofia, which I frequently feature here. It’s probably the prettiest area in the city, although I see some competition forming around Doctor’s Garden and some other places. It’s dominated by tourists during the day and by young locals drinking beer during the night.

Some trivia, in case you get there:

  • There’s a dude selling expensive balloons who wears shorts from April. You see a dude selling balloons with shorts, it means the spring is here. It can be freezing cold, doesn’t matter.
  • There are older men playing chess. Some coins get exchanged, playing is not free.
  • The best place to visit within this garden, apart from the benches with this particular view, is the City Gallery. I’ve never regretted visiting it.
  • One of the best vegetarian restaurants is just behind (and to the left), called Satsanga
  • Starbucks Srebarna is good but doesn’t have a nice toilet, you’d be happier visiting one of the two McDonalds in the area

The Subway Problem – Solved

I wrote earlier about the nearby road next to the highway that had started sinking due to the new subway construction. The holes have since been filled with a mix of concrete and dirt.

I’m not sure how I feel about this. I expected them to dig deeper and address the root cause. I still worry that the whole area might sink further. But if there’s no underground water involved and it’s just the subway, the patches may eventually settle and hold.

I find your lack of faith disturbing

— Darth Vader