The Unforgettable Thanksgiving Holiday

Aleko Konstantinov, a great Bulgarian author has said “You should get to know your country in order to love it.” My family and I spent the thanksgiving holiday traveling to the south-western part of our country, Bulgaria. We visited amazing places and shared emotional moments during a trip I will never forget.
Our first stop was in Blagoevgrad, one of the largest towns in the region. It is home of two universities, so while walking around we saw many youths going to school. The town had a beautiful walking zone with many squares with beautiful statues of important historical people. The old town was composed of many houses built during 18-19th century, and we really enjoyed walking around its stony streets. After the morning walk in Blagoevgrad, my parents and I continued driving along Struma river to our next stop.
After a narrow turn the Rupite valley appeared in front of us. This is a sacred place in our country known for the house where Vanga predicted the future and gave hope to those who needed it. The special aura of that place is explained due to the fact that the only sleeping volcano in Bulgaria, Kojuh, is right next to the valley. Now there are a temple, a beautiful park with a spring of 75°C mineral water, and a museum of Vanga. Leaving this paradise we continued our way along the river in order to reach our next place.
There it is: one of the most important places in our history, the Samuil Fortress. There in 1014 Byzantium defeated the Bulgarian army blinding 130 000 soldiers leaving for every hundred one with one eye to lead them. The Bulgarian king, Samuil, died after seeing this tragic scene. On a beautiful hill right next to the Struma river there are four columns connected with a ring showing the exact place of the fortress and a statue of Samuil. We climbed on the ring and saw the beautiful scenery around us and the hill where the south and west boundaries of the country intersect. Then we had a walk along the river passing around trees resembling interesting forms.
Afterwards we went to Sandanski where we spent the night. The following morning we traveled to Melnik, the smallest town in Bulgaria. While driving on the road to Melnik we saw the famous natural sight Melnik’s pyramids: strange but beautiful sandy mountains. Seeing them we asked ourselves how nature can create such strange forms. In the town we visited the Kordopulov house, home of one of the richest Bulgarians in the 18th century. This building combines Bulgarian, western and oriental styles of architecture. Beneath the house there was a basement where wine is preserved. Then we visited Glojene monastery, located on a hill near Melnik. We spent the afternoon walking in Sandanski’s centre.
My family and I spent a wonderful weekend together. Now I realize how unforgettable unexpected trips can be and that beauty and magnificence are in an hour or two-drive away.

Travel Guide to Paris: A City that Inspires Love

I love traveling. My two favorite places, from the cities I have visited so far, both begin with the letter “P” as in pleasant, pretty, peaceful, positive, and perfect places to be. One of them is my hometown, Pleven, and the other is … Paris.
I’ve been to France’s capital two times in my life. However, I feel it is not enough. This city is a colorful mosaic of tradition and modernity, history and future, natural and architectural sights. Paris offers amazing museums and cathedrals as Louver, Notre Dame de Paris, Sacre Coeur. One of the symbols of Paris is the Triumphal Arch that is in the center of the crossing of five major boulevards in the France’s capital. An amazing fact about Paris’s architecture is that each street has its own balcony ornamentation and in the central part of the city there are no skyscrapers. However, there are examples of modern buildings in La Defense suburb. There are also amusement places as Disney Land and Moulin Rouge. All these tourism sights offer information about French history, faith, traditions, and culture.
However, the climax of a trip in Paris is the Eiffel Tower. This architectural miracle is the most breathtaking place in the French capital. I’ve stood below the gigantic tower twice, but each time it was incredible. It’s a feeling that many writers and poets have tried to describe, but it is unique and hard to retell. The first time I was speechless, this architectural achievement makes person think that he is infinitesimal compared to that high tower. However, the tower also reveals that human mind can create miracles. Standing below the Eiffel tower was like a dream come true… The second time another wish of mine was fulfilled, I saw the Eiffel Tower at night sparkling as a Christmas tree. I could not stop taking pictures, but none of them represented the real event that I had the pleasure to experience. It is not surprising that after seeing the symbol of Paris, I couldn’t stop searching for it. Every moment I spent in Paris, I wanted to take pictures of the Tower from many angles, so that I can grasp its beauty and magnificence. Simply said I fell in love with Eiffel’s piece of art and architecture.
The river Seine runs along a city that is home of great architectural, historical, cultural, modern, and amusement places. Paris constantly changes and still preserves its own unique style, and that is why tourists love visiting the capital of France – a place that everyone can fall in love with.

Snowflakes of the Past

The brakes of the train whistled in the dark and quiet snowy night. Through the window Bojidara could see the sign “Pleven.” She was at home. That day her mother, her father, and she had gotten on the train to Pleven in order to celebrate her seventeenth birthday there. They hadn’t used the car because it had been snowing for about two days. Moreover, they had heard that their street was blocked. However, they were decisive about going back home for the important day.
The family descended from the train and stepped on the white, cold, but familiar ground. As they passed through the old train station the feeling of cold escalated. It seemed that the old edifice was the last place a man would want to be on a winter night; even the usual inhabitants of that place, the pigeons, couldn’t be seen… The ground was muddy, the stony walls were cold. Every shop had been closed with lights turned off. The wind was passing through the gates making the body shiver. However, as they passed through the exit the landscape was transformed as if with a magician’s wand.
The family was in a white, snowy fairy tale. The usual cars at the parking lot were missing, the taxis were quiet, even they were not able to offer their services to the passengers. It seemed that the snow had blocked everything. However, the family was not disappointed; they just decided to go home by foot. As they were walking, each of them looked around. The scenery was so different. The streets were white and no car was disturbing the quiet night. The street lamps were spilling light over the trees on the two sides of the main street. They weren’t the black skinny skeletons of the snowless winter anymore; they had become the white guards of the quiet night. As the family members were walking one after the other through the snowy tunnels, the white cover was crunching under their steps. Looking around they could hardly recognize the cars beneath the snow. The streets were lifeless, even in the center of the town people were not present. Only the shop windows and the lamps were lightening the night scenery. The snowflakes were glimmering like tiny diamonds spread around.
It took half an hour for the family to reach their apartment, but they did not feel the cold. The fairy tale they had entered as they reached the town made them feel warm, happy and excited. It had been a long time since the last day the town had been paralyzed by the snowy weather. But was Pleven really sleeping? In fact, it was a time for freedom of mind and emotions. People were not concerned about their work or doing their duties, they had time to stop for a while, look at the white landscape around them and think about childhood. They could live through the magic of Christmas and New Year’s Eve holidays: to be together with the family in the warm living room around the fireplace drinking tea and watching through the window the snowflakes playing around. Those were the thoughts of the family when they reached their house.
As the father turned the key and unlocked the front door, the three of them entered the hall, turned on the lights and saw the Christmas decorations that were still handing down on the walls in the rooms. They could feel the pleasant aroma of the Christmas tree that was still standing next to the window in the living room. They were at home. Tired, but relieved that they reached home, they went to bed. Dara was excited about her upcoming birthday. She had the feeling that it was only the beginning of the fairy tale.
The following morning she woke up early, enthusiastic about her birthday. She got ready and went out for her party with friends. At noon she was waiting at the central square in front of the municipality. As usual, it took them 20 minutes to gather together. After the usual warm hugs and funny greetings, the group walked to Tempo, the pizza restaurant right next to the court. After having lunch, taking pictures and looking at all the presents, the group went out for a walk in the center. They entered a café and sat on the table right next to the bar. They ordered hot chocolate, tea or coffee in order to make themselves warm. The friends talked about their memories from previous years when they were together every day. As always the memories made them laugh. All the childish mistakes made them smile at each other. After a two-hour talk it was time to go home.
As they reached the square in front of the building of the United Bulgarian Bank half of the friends said “goodbye” and she was left with those who lived in her neighborhood: Chris and Christian. The three of them passed through the Town Garden on their way home. The roller coasters were all covered with a white blanket of snow. Usually full of children, this park was quiet and calm. Some people were in a rush to finish their duties and come back to their warm homes. However, the three friends wanted to have more fun. As they were talking about the last days of their vacation, Chris took the birthday presents from Dara. While she was wondering what was going on Christian pushed her in the snow. Then he started covering her with it. They finally had succeeded to do the traditional “Snowy Bear” game. Chris also joined them. The three adolescents had turned into kids. After five minutes of play in the snow they decided to go home. While walking and laughing at what had just happened in the park they started feeling their hands getting cold. All their clothes were wet, their cheeks and fingers were red, but their smiles were still on their faces. It had been a wonderful day, another precious memory that would keep them laughing in the years to come.
The following day the family took a taxi to the train station. While they were traveling through Pleven’s streets, Dara thought of her life in her hometown, everything was calm, she was happy. She saw the snow that was melting, and thought how her childhood had passed away so fast. She could see herself doing usual but so pleasant things at familiar places in the town with her friends and relatives. All memories of her early years were there. That seemed to be too far away, but she always smiled while recalling all those moments that she kept deeply in her heart.
Suddenly the train whistled, it was time to go…away…back to reality.

The Dreams and Memories of an ACS Senior

I am walking down the lane and I see the monument with the text “American College of Sofia Founded 1860”. Five years ago I saw it for the first time in my life. Now I am a senior in the college and I have countless memories in the school. However, each time I see the stone with the engraved letters I recall this first day of school five years ago.
It was a rainy day, and my mother and I walked onto the ACS’s campus excited and nervous about the new experience that was awaiting us. I did not know anyone; everything was new, unfamiliar and even scary. After the traditional 8th grade picture, the teachers led us to an unknown place. It turned out to be the stage of the auditorium. Even though I was embarrassed, I felt proud that everyone was congratulating us on our achievement to be accepted to the college. I was full of emotions that day. I was away from my hometown, from my friends, my relatives. The school, the city, the classmates, the classes, everything was so different. However, it was interesting, exciting. I wanted to show my best, to find new friends, to take every opportunity to have fun, learn something new, and do something interesting. Day by day I got used to the life of an ACS prep. It was an adventurous year that I really enjoyed and will never forget.
Now I am a senior, another special year is ahead. I have gained experience, knowledge, self-confidence. ACS taught me not only how to be an excellent student, but also how to be a good person that respects others. Even though I am more mature now, I still enter the college each morning with the same feelings I had in eighth grade: I think how I have to show my best because I had the luck to be accepted here so I had been given the chance to learn so much. I still miss my hometown and my friends and relatives, but I know I have to do well at school in order to make them proud of me. Most of all I have to do my best because of myself, because this is my chance to receive knowledge, experience, to learn how to manage my future life. That is why I look forward to my last year at ACS just as I had expected my first year of my high-school experience.
A year from now I will pass by the engraved monument for my last time as a student in ACS. I will be on my way out and a new beginning will be waiting at the gate. I will still be willing to show my best, but I will have everything that ACS taught me to. As I turn back to see my college for the last time, a tear will drop on my cheek. Nothing will be the same again. Afterwards I will look ahead again and will smile feeling proud that I’ve learnt how to overcome difficult moments, and happy that I’ve spent a lot of precious moments with wonderful people that I will never forget.