Today, as we cursed the multiple inches of snow that continue to fall on this dismal second day of spring in Sofia (FYI - my students tell me: "It hasn't snowed during March in Sofia for 6 or 7 years"), John and I were discussing our upcoming trips back to the states.  We compiled a list of must eat foods.  Below is my work in progress version.  This "foodie" is excited...hope you guys have appetites because eating is priority numero uno!

In no particular order:

Cape Cod^® salt & vinegar potato chips

NY PIZZA
Mexican
Sloppy Joes

Wraps
Pulled pork

Pecan Pie
Spring rolls
Cheese scrambled egg on a hard roll
Filet mignon on the grill
Steak sandwiches
Carvel ice cream

Turkey Hill mint chip
Onion rings
Cinnamon buns and anything else at the bakery

Cannolis

Turkey sandwiches (some with cheese, lettuce, tomato, honey mustard on wheat; others with cranberry sauce and stuffing on a hard roll)
BLT on bagels
Turkey Reuben
Tuna on bagel
Burgers on the grill

Dirty water hot dogs
Sweet potato fries
Italian food
Black beans in many varieties
Chili con queso
Meatball sub
Baked beans
BBQ Ribs
Spinach-artichoke dip
Eggplant parmagiano

Bitwrathploob

Meet my new friend - a buck-toothed rope-armed troll-haired pantsless wood bear named
BITWRATHPLOOB

To quote my friend John, who introduced us, bitwrathploob is "web 2.0"
He has a facebook account, a website and blog, gmail, and a flickr page. Seriously...he's more tech savvy than most people I know. Check him out...maybe you can be his friend too. He has some great stories to tell and he loves to travel!

This is NOT a joke!

A friend sent me this link to an article...as hard as it is to believe, this is for real folks! This is taking place only about 2 hours away from Sofia.  Check it out:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1160669/On-market-Teenage-Gypsy-girls-glam-annual-bride-sale

Athens

In honor of Bulgarian Liberation Day (March 3) the government decided that March 2 would be a holiday too so that we could all enjoy a 4 day weekend - woohoo!  Of course that meant I was off on a trip, even though we only had 2 weeks notice.  Fortunately, we were able to get flights and a hotel in Athens, and even a rental car to drive the 3 hours out to Delphi.  (No, the oracle did not give me any predictions...I'm hoping that no news is good news!)

In spite of what other people told me about Athens being polluted, dirty, chaotic, I loved the place.  Perhaps it's coming from Sofia...my perspective is a little different.  It is a HUGE city, sprawling and walkable at the same time, but no matter how urban it is, how can you argue with the awesomeness of the Acropolis at night?

I have stories to tell...sketchy parts of the neighborhood and men in dark corners, our friendly coffee dude, the crazy flight that took us via Bucharest to get to Athens (and you all know how I LOVE to go north to go south!) and the crazy spitting gypsy woman.  All of those should wait till I see you in person.  For now, enjoy the photos.  And here is a link to the rest, which are on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35621582@N05/sets/72157614767416187/

Doni the coffee guy we befriended from Coco Cafe.  If you're in Athens, do stop in!

I found gelato...

this was the second night...notice my scoops getting bigger!

From the small town next to Delphi...all the Greeks were flying kites for Ash Monday.

The Oracle...Delphi...Temple of Athena

Wilbur the pig we saw on the highway in Delphi

Me on stage at Delphi

Stadium at Delphi

Temple of Apollo at Delphi

Delphi

Olympic Stadium

Athenien Busquers

The famous caged elevator at our hotel...many French scenes are shot in this hotel.

Dionysus Theatre...the unrestored version...the background music in the video below was playing while we sat and enjoyed the view.

Lycabettus Hill...over 900 ft high...we hiked up it to see the city and the Acropolis from above at sunset

Acropolis...Parthenon

Renovated Theatre Dionysus

Sunset and views from Lycabettus Hill

The bridge and lake in the National Gardens

The carnival celebration in the National Gardens...see the video below...HILARIOUS!

Temple in the National Gardens

Views climbing up to the Acropolis

Imagine our surprise upon our arrival to learn EVERY archeological site in the city was closed due to a strike. Fortunately, they all reopened the second day we were there.

Monastiraki Square

Views of the Acropolis

For Amalia

This was one of the prominent hotels across from the National Gardens on Amalias Street. 

More pictures from Athens and Delphi to follow...