Bulgarian Independence day: Part 2 The Church

Part 2

After lunch, which included a shot of Rakia obviously. We high tailed it back to the center of town where Kmiet awaited us. On our way there, Dan made a very true comment about Bulgarian and Polish drinking culture. "There are only two occasions on which you can drink," Dan remarked "When it's your birthday and when it's not." Some people obviously take that statement too much to heart, but wine and Rakia flow like water in Tsarevets, especially during dinners and proper occasions. We headed into Kmiet's office which was up a flight of stairs in the central building.

Bulgarian Independence day: Part 1 - Celebrations

Part 1

March 3^rd was an important day in the year 1878. It was the day a peace treaty was signed between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. It allowed the reestablishment of the country of Bulgaria, which had been occupied for nearly 500 years by the Ottomans. To this day many Bulgarians have an almost genetic distrust of Turks, this is especially true for the dying generation who lived under the communist government. Skipping ahead 137 years we arrive to today, March 3^rd 2015. On this day I was finally able to take part in the celebrations of Bulgarian independence from Ottoman hold.