So why am I in Bulgaria?

Three years ago my path crossed with an amazing young lady, who although had been living in the UK for 25 years was Bulgarian. A lover of the outdoors, mountains and free living we quickly gelled. Summer arrived, a time when Galia and her Daughter up sticks to Sofia (Bulgaria’s Capital) to spend six weeks with her Father. I dropped them at airport while I stayed in UK to work. Two weeks passed and we started to miss each other, In a late night conversation Galia said “Come and see my Mountains”. A bit surprised I said OK and within a week I was on a plane and soon camping in the sunning Rila Seven Lakes. My love for Bulgarian was set. The countries beauty, lifestyle, people and cost of living was in my blood.

Over the next two years, many visits and recommendation from a mountain guide we drove in to Govedartsi, a mountain village, one and a half hours south of Sofia and fell in love with the place instantly, big enough so have atmosphere but higher than the summit of UK’s Snowdon mountain with mountains all around. After house hunting for a few days an offer was made hopefully on a forever home.

Life had other plans for Galia and in the Summer of 2023 Cancer took her and I lost my soulmate, lover, mountain guide and friend.

Hard decisions to make, what next for me. Well it has to be Bulgaria, the country is in my soul and after a very hard first visit on my own, the choice was clear. Now working towards residency and trying to learn the language.

Please raise your glass to Galia, an amazing spirit who’s candle burnt out far too soon.