We are the 7 July 2017 I am leaving the vibrant overcrowded London city behind. Wishing for the best, leaving behind me landscapes I already know by heart …

After a road trip on the South of France, way too much coffee, a journey to London, I am finally boarding. The heat on the Terminal is totally stifling. The 25kg backpack I’m carrying is introducing me as a stranger… The plane crowd is various…The first Bulgarian words I hear are mysterious … A kind of meaningless poetry yet… The crowd was unreadable; the looks are deep, warm.… The crowd is unspeakably grounded; calm all is going on a slow movement.

Landing in Bulgaria at 3 am, the Airport is cold silent empty. I as much exhausted as hopeful. Waiting for the morning sun to take a bus and achieve the journey…

First step a metro ride in a vintage wagon as I am reaching Sofia center I am immediately captivated by the light reflection on the buildings. All seems so luminous, sharply bright. For a moment I felt wandering in an urban fairytale… A harmonious mix of old and modern styles is appearing without displeasing contrast.. Bulgaria seems on a first approach simple; instinctive … A tranquil power is emerging of the places … Hours wondering through the unknown…

 “When we arrive in a new city, we’re only seeing street in perspective, Never ending lines of meaningless buildings. Everything’s unknown, blank. That’s it; and later we will have known these buildings; we will have walked on these streets. We will have come across these perspectives; we will have lived this city. This street: We will have walked in here ten, twenty, a thousand times […] “

I start to be familiar with some words on the Bus going to Kazanlak also known as the Roses Valley: “DobreÏ”  “Blagodaria” “Merci”“Zdravei kak si”. We are going by greener areas, little villages etc…

When you also have been travelling to city as Luxemburg you realize that it feels good to put conspicuous consumption away ….It feels good to say goodbye to the wish to appear and impress with belongings. Bye-bye unnecessary pride and disdain. Bulgaria seems to let the people “Be what they are” .This country stays misunderstood or unfamiliar to a lot of Europeans but many of us should take notice …

Everything is unknown to me, while obvious for the inhabitants here any words any signpost any ways are already known …I can’t realize I am so far away from my landmarks, still feeling safe and welcome.