Real snow fell yesterday and settled on the roads. Cold though it was, it was beautiful. I started off the day at the Red Flat Musuem. This is a normal house from communist times and tells the story of ordinary people. The biggest takeaway for me was that life was comfortable despite there being a lack of choice and limited supplies. It was particularly interesting how the government needed tourism to balance the books but didn't want it because it would taint the ideology of the country as people would mix with foreigners AKA the enemy.
I also DID a number of churches and there are a large number. I noticed that in contrast to Istanbul, taking selfies / we-fies and photography in general is less obtrusive. The Russian Church, in particular, was dark and magnificent. It is circular inside and people seemed to just walk round in circles.
Hagia Sofia - the church after which the city was named because it was built of the highest point has many similarities to the one in Istanbul. It has been rebuilt a number of times for starters. Under the church, you can see the excavations and many tombs dating back to Roman times. The church itself is beautiful for its simplicity. Quite a treasure for sure.
The Art Gallery offered an afternoon of warmth. The modernist paintings enthralled but the old stuff seemed like they were second rate Dutch masters and slightly second class Bulgarian copies of other styles. My favourite painting - The Fitter - a life size picture of a worker in overalls. His very being told of struggle and tiredness. You, Marms would have liked it because it was mostly black and white. Besides the museum was warm.
After that, I fought the elements and walked home through the backstreets. I have found it really easy to orientate myself in this wonderful little place that is so full of offbeat humour.
And so to steel myself for the cold and another day of exploration... off into the cold..
Love and hugs ( I need them more than you now!)
Love
A
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