Dominika’s journey diary

Sunday:

On Sunday 26. 02. 2017 me, my friend Natalia and our teachers started our trip to Bulgaria. It was my first flight, so it was an exciting experience for me. We arrived in Pleven in the evening. Our hostesses waited for us there. They made signs with our names. They were very happy, energetic and nice. My host´s name was Iliyana. Her brother drove us home and he could speak English, too. Their mother was waiting for us with dinner. We ate steak with rice and vegetables. It was delicious. They have one pet, cat called Blackey. Their apartment was modest, but they have a house in the village, too. We talked for a long time after dinner. We showed me the photos of the family and the country.

Monday

On Monday we had banica and boza for breakfast, it is a salt pie. Then we went to school, where we met other people from Erazmus+. Everybody was friendly, funny and hardworking. We presented the history, education and folklore of our counry. It was interesting. The teachers showed us their school. Then we danced traditional dances and we learned to dance other counties´ dances. It was funny and nice. Me and Natália sang a song ´´A ja taká dzivočka´´ too. Students made me happy, because they tried to sing with me. We ate their traditional meals at school. We worked together in groups. After work we went to the centre of the town together, where we split. We had for dinner musaka and tarator. Tarator was a cold soup.

Tuesday

On Thuesday Iliyana´s mother made for breakfast princess. Then we went for a trip. In the town of Lovetch we walked through the old covered bridge. We visited the church in Veliko Turnovo, and then we had lunch. In the restaurant we had a beatiful view of an old town. We walked along a street wehere you can feel the spirit, traditions and the romance of the Bulgarian revival period. Then we visited Troyan Monastery ´´The Dormition of the Mother of Gold´´. In the evening we split in the centre of the city and me, Natália, Valeria and Iliyana went to the shopping center. We laughed a lot. We had dinner at home, we ate guveche/pot with eggs, vegetables and sausage. Everybody talked after dinner.

Wednesday

Iliyana gave me martenica, this bracelet is given on the first of March and they have it all the March. We had mekici with jam and honey, it tastes like our Fanky. In school everybody gave us martenica. I had martenica on my hand, finger, neck and in my hair. Martenica is a nice bracelet and tradition. We could make it in school. I made a lot of martenica for my parents and friends. It was funny. Then we presented traditions of our countries. We visited some lessons and we played volleyball. We had lunch at school. I loved lutenica with bread or cheese. We tried goodies of each country. In the afternoon we visited the museum ´´Panorama – Pleven Epopee – 1877´´.The pictures looked very real. Another interesting event was the visit of the Wine museum situated in the picturesque park Kailuka near Pleven. In the evening me, Natália, Iliyana and Valeria went to a dance concert. It was amazing, nice and quite. Then we played billiard. It was very funny, because we danced and laughed. We ate with Alexander and Jose, they are very friendly and cute. We made a phoho with her family for memory.

Thursday

On Thursday we had for breakfast sandwiches. Then we went to trip. We visited the capital city Sofia, cathedral ´´St. Alexander Nevski´´, the building of the Parliament, Bulgarian National Bank, The Presidency, The building of the Ministry Officials, The rotunda ´´St. George´´, archeological museum. We had lunch in Sofia. When we arrived in Pleven, we said good bye to everybody from Erazmus+. It was very sad. We had beans with salad for dinner. We went back to the city after dinner, where I met our friends. They were very friendly, funny, they could speak English. We talked a lot and we played billiard, bowling and we danced. This evening was very good, amazing and so on.

Friday

On Friday morning we left for Slovakia. We had pancakes for breakfast. We said good bye with her family and then her brother drove us to the bus. I said good bye to Ilyiana and Valeria. It was very sad. “I will miss you.”

Erazmus+ has given me a lot of experience, memories, but especially friends. I´ll stay in contact with them. Thanks for everything.