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Friday, January 3, 2025

A Visit to Tirnova

A Strange Entrance


As I entered the town of Tirnova, I felt like I was walking onto a stage set during a performance. The scene was filled with dark-skinned peasants dressed in colorful clothes, and my grey suit didn’t fit in with the bright colors around me. I felt out of place among the people in the market.


A Bumpy Ride


I had a cheerful driver who was dressed in red fabric wrapped around his waist, making him look even more like a “dumpling.” I was in a bumpy, rickety carriage that bounced over the cobblestones. It felt like a game of cup-and-ball, where I was the ball. Although I never fell out, I was shaken more in a short two-mile ride than some people are in a train crash.


When we reached a dark and old inn, my driver asked for 1 shilling and 3 pennies for the ride. I gave him 1 shilling and 8 pennies, and he bowed deeply in thanks Ancient Bulgaria Tour.


The Inn Experience


At the inn, I sat on a wobbly chair—everything in Tirnova seems uneven. I ordered half a pint of good wine, which cost 3 pennies, and a small glass of local brandy for my friend, which cost just 1 penny. The landlord was a serious man, and he led us upstairs to a room. The stairs were crooked, and the door to the room refused to close properly.


Inside, the bed had four legs, but it never stood on all four at once. It wobbled constantly, trying (and failing) to stand on only two.


Water Troubles


I asked for water to wash off the dirt from my long journey. They brought me a pint, but that wasn’t enough. So, I ordered four pails of water. When they arrived, two of the pails leaked, and the water spilled into the restaurant below. It wasn’t the best experience, but it added to the charm of Tirnova’s rustic, old-world atmosphere.

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