Mt. Vitosha

I know I'm delinquent on the Berlin and Prague posts...I promise, they're coming.  I have over 600 pictures to sort through for those...cut me some slack!  In the meantime, yesterday John, Magda, Adam, Alek, Jess, and I went up Mt. Vitosha.  This 2290 meter (7513 ft) mountain, is the most visited and 4th highest peak in Bulgaria, and just happens to be right in our backyard. We can walk there from campus and hike up...of course we drove and rode the gondola (I may be running and doing power yoga these days, but let's not be ridiculous...I'm still me!)

Enjoy the views of Sofia and Mladost on our way up, as well as the mountain and of course, food!

the gondola station at Simenovo - notice all the construction debris...they are building more resorts here for ski season

village of Simeonovo

Sofia

Mt. Vitosha

this is what we saw when we got off the gondola at the final stop

Cherni Vrah (Black Peak) - the highest peak (yup, that's still snow on May 31)

John and Aleksander

Jess, me and our shopska salad

John holding Adam

me holding Alek

Adam, Jess, Alek, Magda

Prague videos

It seems everywhere you go in Prague, Dixieland jazz is wafting through the air.  This band was playing on the Charles Bridge as we crossed.

Just by chance, we were passing by the astrological clock in Old Town Square as the crowd was gathered to watch the chiming of the hour.  Watch closely to see the saints and sinners do their dance.

Timing is everything...

For our last holiday of the year, as Bulgaria celebrated Cyril and Methodius Day in honor of the two saints who introduced both Catholicism and the Cyrillic alphabet, Cat and I decided we would head north, way north, to Berlin.  Not only is this an exciting year, as it marks the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down, we were lucky enough to be in town on the 60th anniversary of the formation of the Federal Republic of Germany.  In honor of this, there was a big celebration and festival held on Saturday, 23 May, at the Brandenburg Gate. 

A little bit of America in Germany...

Baden Baden

When Geoffrey first described Baden Baden to me, he said it was true hedonism...a land of beautiful food, beautiful wine, beautiful scenery and beautiful naked people...he was right about it all.  It was my pleasure to relax in such a luxurious land for 6 days.

Out to dinner at La Provence

Lovely, lazy, delicious German breakfast at 3pm!

Lest you think it was all lounging about, below are some photos of our hike through the edge of the Black Forest up to the Alte Schloss.  Cora's friends, Rike and Thorsten joined us.   Check out those views!

the arrow is pointing to G&C's house!

Post hike, we meandered down enjoying some child-like play along the way...eventually ending up going via the neue schloss and back into town

In addition to beautiful views, castles, forest, fields, and swings, of course, there was amazing food:  carpaccio, filet mignon, chicken wings,  apple strudel, wiener schnitzel, German meatloaf, flammenkuchen and so much more...

Daily coffee at our favorite outdoor cafe:

No trip to Baden Baden is complete without a trip to the baths.  I've now been to baths in Bulgaria, Budapest, and Baden Baden...unequivocally, BB is the best.  I can't wait to go back...anyone want to join?