“Travels to a Different Time” : 31July1973: Slanchev Byrag and Sofia, Bulgaria: Naked Long Hair in Bulgarian Bathhouse: Woken up by Bean Shaved Bulgarian Drill Sargant: Is Greasy Goulash in My Future?  : My Brilliant Career as a Black Marketeer

Time to split from the pathetic Black Sea back to Sofia so up at 6 a.m. and started with a lift from a Bulgarian guy in a blue car who also picked up two girl hitchhikers. He dropped us off at Tarnovo and bought us a pastry. I let the girls go ahead so itContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 31July1973: Slanchev Byrag and Sofia, Bulgaria: Naked Long Hair in Bulgarian Bathhouse: Woken up by Bean Shaved Bulgarian Drill Sargant: Is Greasy Goulash in My Future?  : My Brilliant Career as a Black Marketeer”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 27/28 July 1973: Sofia, Plodiv, Slanchev Bryag Bulgaria: Bulgarians in Track Suits: Bulgarian Black Sea Coast a Dud!

Up early and after a meagre breakfast and took a tram as far as I could towards the main highway but I still had a 3 km walk to make it there. Why is everyone staring at me? Have I forgot to zip up my fly? Perhaps I should join the local circus as aContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 27/28 July 1973: Sofia, Plodiv, Slanchev Bryag Bulgaria: Bulgarians in Track Suits: Bulgarian Black Sea Coast a Dud!”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 26July1973: Sofia, Bulgaria: Dodging the Haircut Police and the Unknown Green Soft Drink

Today was my first full day in Sofia so I took the tram into the city centre and had breakfast of a slab of bread and some strange green soft drink without a label. The green Blob Juice seems to be the only soft drink in Bulgaria. The architecture in the city centre was beautifulContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 26July1973: Sofia, Bulgaria: Dodging the Haircut Police and the Unknown Green Soft Drink”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 25July73: Two Plane Crashes Augments Anxiety: Taking My Chances with Balkan Airways: I am a Martian Who has Landed in Bulgaria

Today is a big travelling day with Bulgarian airline Balkan Airways flying from Athens to Sofia in Bulgaria. Two very recent crashes are in the news. One a Pan Am crash and the other an Ozark Airlines crash in St. Louis. Woke up at 8 a.m. and could have slept in but that would haveContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 25July73: Two Plane Crashes Augments Anxiety: Taking My Chances with Balkan Airways: I am a Martian Who has Landed in Bulgaria”

“Travels to a Different Time” ; 23July1973: Paros and Glyfada, Greece: A Cauldron of Emotions and the Dutchie Gets Pissed! Will Curiosity Kill the Cat?

Well our last full day in Greece for 1973. A great morning swim and most likely my last in such beautiful waters as I head behind the Iron Curtain. After our morning swim a hot shower then breakfast of oranges, rusks and honey. We left for the docks at 11:30 and Michael the Dutchie wasContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” ; 23July1973: Paros and Glyfada, Greece: A Cauldron of Emotions and the Dutchie Gets Pissed! Will Curiosity Kill the Cat?”

“Travels to a Different Time”: 22July1973: Paros, Greece: Roosters, Rotten Peaches and a Changing Greece: Hitchcock Movie in an Open-Air Cinema

This morning it was not only screaming mothers but roosters crowing that awoke us. I went to the market to buy some oranges and peaches for breakfast. I bought three oranges for 30 cents and the vendor said he had “fine fine” peaches. They were badly bruised. He must take me for a chump. UsingContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time”: 22July1973: Paros, Greece: Roosters, Rotten Peaches and a Changing Greece: Hitchcock Movie in an Open-Air Cinema”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 19July1973: Paros, Greece: Screaming Kids and Mothers Wake us Up Again!

In Greece I have been woken up by motorbikes, church bells, flies and donkeys braying. But on this island it is screaming mothers and children. Up early to catch a bus to what we have heard is a charming little village. The 9:00 bus never materialized so we had a lemonade and coconut cake forContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 19July1973: Paros, Greece: Screaming Kids and Mothers Wake us Up Again!”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 17July1973: Ios and Paros Greece: Our New Dutch Connection: The Magic of a Frisbee

On the bus to the boat to take us to the island of Paros we met two Dutchies Michael and Susan. We sat down as the sun was rising to have some Delphi apricot juice. We got along with the Dutchies by the time we were all herded on the boat. After a stop onContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 17July1973: Ios and Paros Greece: Our New Dutch Connection: The Magic of a Frisbee”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 12July1973: Ios, Greece: Watching Sunsets with the Freaks: Watching Sunsets with the Freaks

Up early to watch the sunrise on the coast below the village. Spectacular! Picked up some breakfast supplies and headed to a supposedly fantastic beach. We had to take a bus then a put putt boat. What a beach. Crystal clear waters and beautiful sand. No speargun fishing this year. Came home for a siestaContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 12July1973: Ios, Greece: Watching Sunsets with the Freaks: Watching Sunsets with the Freaks”

“Travels to A Different Time” : 11July1973: Piraeus and Ios: Overweight Greek Brats and Hippies: Who is Mom Sleeping With?

Up at 6 a.m. somewhat spaced out by grungy bus travel, transatlantic crossings and a late-night movie I shouldn’t have watched in Bangor the night before our flight. All we could find to eat was a package of cookies. There was mass confusion on the docks with shouting and arguments. There is nothing like travelContinue reading ““Travels to A Different Time” : 11July1973: Piraeus and Ios: Overweight Greek Brats and Hippies: Who is Mom Sleeping With?”