Out and About in Sofia, part 2

I dusted off my little blog, and I think it's time for an updated list of Out and About in Sofia (you can view part 1 here)! Here are my current recommendations:

One More Bar: it has a nice terrasse, and it's open day and night. Therefore you can go in the afternoon for coffee and croissant, or at night for spicy Bloody Marys or glühwein when the weather is cold! They also have really good bruschetta and salads.
http://www.facebook.com/OneMoreBar

Lavanda: it's a very cute restaurant in the same house as One More Bar, but on the second floor. The menu varies but it is always delicious.
http://www.facebook.com/lavandarestaurant

Outside Lavanda

Boom! Burgers: a personal favorite as I am a sucker for good burgers! Here you can find the best burgers in town, as well as the most decadent, creamiest, tastiest (you get it) milkshakes ever! Try the Oreo one!
http://www.facebook.com/BoomBurgersAndSteaks

Yummy! They also have homemade fries and onion rings...

Rakia Bar Raketa: Rakia is the national alcohol! This restaurant has a bit of a communist feel to it and features a menu with local specialities. What sets it appart though, is its impressive rakia selection, ranging from the regular kinds (grape, plum, etc) to more unusual kinds (rose, cherry, quince). It's definetly worth trying!
http://www.facebook.com/RaketaRakiaBar

Russian astronaut menu and (almost empty) glass of rakia

Kanaal: where the hipsters go for Belgian beer! It is a tiny spot, a few minutes away from Rakia Bar Raketa. It is especially nice to have a beer and chill out in the backyard when the weather is warm.

http://www.facebook.com/kanaal.bg

I'm not a big clubber, so I hang out mainly at bars. I would recommend to walk on Shishman street, and find refuge in a cozy bar along the way. Bilkova is a nice local spot especially in the summer, as it has a terrasse, it is unpretentious, and prices are more than reasonable. If you are looking for something fancier, the Beach Bar is also a nice location in the summer. During hot summer nights, most locals just hang out in the park by the National Theater, and bring their own drinks. It's a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and I am very much looking forward to it!

Rainy days

Today is one of those days: cold, dark, and rainy. The kind of day where all you want to do is curl up under a warm fluffy blanket, watch movies, drink warm tea, and eat comfort foods. Comfort foods include but are not limited to: soup, cupcakes, cookies, and hmm- any baked goods actually. I wish I could take a rain check on my work!

Mmm lentil soup at Supa Star

Cupcake and rain boots (getting to wear rain boots is one of the few positive things about rainy days!)

Après-ski and drinks of the week

Since I didn't post a drink of the week for last week, I will post two this week! Both are typical après-ski drinks, which I had the pleasure to enjoy a few days ago on my first ski trip ever. It was an amazing trip and the weather was very spring-like and just perfect: sunny and warm all day long! I also finally learnt how to turn (with a snowboard). Yay! I'm getting there!

Here are my drinks of choice:
1. Mulled wine! It is warm and delicious, perfect for a mid-day break. Even more comforting when the weather is actually cold.
2. Rakia. What is it, you may ask? It is the bulgarian version of the italian grappa. Rakia is a very strong alcohol but it also has a nice aroma. In some circles, it is tradition to have a small glass of rakia at the end of a ski/snowboarding day, right after your last slope. And well, traditions must be respected...

So much snow!

Drink of the week

I decided to start a weekly post that will feature the drink of the week! To inaugurate this new tradition, this week's drink is rum and tea. This has been my drink of choice this winter, perfect for warming up cold dark evenings. My best combination of rum and tea yet: spiced rum with Harney & Sons Bangkok tea- a blend of green tea with coconut, lemongrass, ginger, and vanilla. Can you say delicious?

All signs point to...

heart-shaped melted spot in the snow

heart-shaped rock in the pavement

heart-shaped leaf

 ... <3

Latest guilty pleasure

Last week, I came across wasabi flavored chips at the supermarket and decided to give them a try. Best. Chips. Ever. I absolutely love them! They are so spicy but I just can't stop eating them! And I think they would go so nicely with a beer....mmm

wasabi goodness in a chip. what's not to love?

Random things I like about Montreal

Montreal: where urban life and the wildlife can coexist peacefully. Just by moving a few blocks away from the busy downtown area, you will come across squirrels, raccoons, and skunks... they're almost considered as regular pets here ;)

Montreal does not only have a diverse fauna, it is also a very culturally diverse city. Part of the beauty of it is discovered through food! There are countless restaurants with cuisine from every part of the globe, and the best part is that you can easily find ethnic foods and specific ingredients in shops- if you want to recreate some recipes at home. But among all these tempting and exotic choices, there is one recurring choice- the timeless, satisfyingly filling, favorite 3AM snack, Quebec's national dish: the poutine! It consists of french fries in a gravy sauce, topped with curdle (fresh) cheese. Yummy! Many variations of the original recipe exist from the common chopped wiener addition, to a fancier one with lobster. Even McDonald's has adapted its local menu to include its take on the poutine. You can also refer to it as a 'pout' (read poot). Order yours in French or English, people here are bilingual!

Montreal, the city is hockey. It used to be one of the slogans for the city's team Les Canadiens or as commonly called in English: the Habs. And it's true. The team could very well be the heart and soul of the city. Especially when/if they're winning... And Montrealers do not like The Maple Leafs, Toronto's team. No worries, it's only friendly rivalry ;)

Cool fact about this city: John Lennon and Yoko Ono had their 'Bed-In' here, in the Queen Elizabeth hotel.

Hello, poutine! As my amazing friend discovered, poutine goes perfectly with tzatziki!

General fight during a Habs game

'dude, I found some good stuff over here!'

Chinatown

Turning 3-0

In a few weeks, I'll be entering my dirty thirties... For the past few months, I have been complaining about turning older, about potentially being considered a cougar by guys in their 20s, about not feeling 30 at all, and overall just being sad at the thought of not being in my 20s anymore. A lot of peers have started to feel the pressure to become 'adults', i.e. settle down and start families because they are entering a new decade. I think we should not rush important decisions based on age. Isn't 30 the new 20 anyway? ;) As the big day approaches, I have started embracing the fact that I am 'maturing', and started focusing on how to celebrate my birthday. I've always liked a good party but I feel like I should be doing something more special for this one. However the fact that the big 3-0 is on a Monday, doesn't help!

So in the past week, I have googled every variation of 'turning 30', and I was surprised to see how many things have been written on the subject. There were countless lists of '30 things to do before turning 30', random facts about turning 30, theme-party ideas, and also an Indian movie actually called 'Turning 30' (yes, I watched it). It's quite an important milestone!

Speaking of birthdays, I love this excerpt of How I Met Your Mother :) Tiaras are awesome!


p.s. This past summer, some friends and I ended up writing our own '30 things to do before turning 30'. It was the kind of list that is better left unchecked! However, I think it can be a fun thing to do if there are things you've always wanted to do but never made/had the time to do them.

Random Fun

First of all, I wanted to acknowledge the fact that I have been a terrible blogger.... I should add 'posting more often' to my list of resolutions.

Secondo: Today, I went to a Bridal Show with a friend who is getting married this year. I never thought it would be so much fun! Between sampling numerous cakes (someone had to...), having our picture taken and then printed on a bottle of water, be given a million samples ranging from magazines to orange peelers (!), and sitting in Rolls Royce's (to see how it feels)... I believe my favorites were the party bus (I want to party there all night), and the photo booth with all its fun accessories (I want one in my livingroom!).
Also, I think it is important to mention there was a 'clone maker'...You know, as in the bobble head clone Dwight from The Office has on his desk? Yes! It was amazing.

Why drive around in a limo or an antic car on your wedding day, when you can travel in style in this Wedding Tuk-Tuk

The Party Bus! Complete with a plasma TV and a dancing pole

Photobooth fun

Love is All Around

I believe in love...even love at first sight.

I believe in not settling down because you are getting older, or getting married because you've been with someone for a while and it's the next logical step. I understand some people might find the idea comforting....but what will happen the day they discover true love?
Love is a feeling that makes you come alive. That makes even the dullest daily routine not feel that bad because you know that at the end of the day you will come home to that special person, and everything will be alright. Love brings out the best in you and makes you want to become a better person.
Noone should ever settle down for less. Love is a truly magical feeling and nothing can ever compare to it.
Love is breathing happiness through every pore of your body.

Love finds a way to brighten up your day

Love can be found when you least expect it

One year mark

Pack, unpack, pack, unpack...

One year ago, on this day, was the beginning of my new life, aka my european study adventure. I remember sitting on the plane, feeling so perfectly calm, knowing I was doing the right thing. I cannot believe how fast the year went by, but on the other hand, when I think about it, so many things happened!

Between studying, travelling around, living on my own for the first time, having my fair share of bathroom malfunctions (floods, broken toilets, and the like- seemed to be a recurring theme throughout the year), packing, unpacking, making new friends from all over the world, promising to new friends to visit each other in our respective countries, and last but not least, what would life be without a little spice called love (even if it doesn't happen or end the way we would like it to)!

I believe the most important element of my experience, or any experience for that matter, are the people we meet along the way. It's the human contact that shapes and defines the moment, that makes or breaks a situation. Cheers to all these wonderful people, old and new friends, and family! And here's to many more adventures!

Jello shots on Halloween night, also known as the stage of the first bathroom malfunction

Smoking the shisha and bonding with classmates on Student Day

Sushi Night! My first sushi making experience...mmm sushi...

Walking around the city on a winter night, taking pictures, after the first semester ended

With frozen fingers and toes, while being wowed by some of the world's best snowboarders at the Arctic Challenge

Admiring the view- and the line-up- at the Eiffel Tower

Bathroom flood documented

Cheering at a rugby game in Leeds!

Taking a walk along the Thames in beautiful London...

Painted Soviet Army monument during Sofia Design Week

Cheers to the Moon! And to a nice and hot summer

Sunday Bazaar

 Today was not a lazy sunday spent lounging around the house, but rather a relaxing sunday spent at the Culture Beat Pazar (I consider shopping to be a productive activity). This bazaar was mainly featuring bulgarian designers, but was also selling some vintage pieces. My highlight was the origami jewelry made by Emiliya Skotnik. Yes, it might have something to do with my obsession with everything japanese... but also with the fact that her pieces were so cute and original. It was very difficult to choose! I love these gatherings, where we can discover local designers, and find unique treasures. So much creativity under one roof...very inspiring!

Origami earrings and rings

Interesting headpieces

Vintage cameras

Enjoying the sun

Comfy bed in case you need a break from shopping

I want...NEED...a summer bed like this one...!!!

Summer Report

The summer flew by, and for the first time in many, many years I was able to fully enjoy it (i.e. be a bum). This summer was filled with a few trips to the beach, street festivals, and many lazy days, lounging by the pool, or in cafés. I am not ready for the Fall yet!

Mojito on the beach= summer

Hibiscus flowers= summer as well ;)

Colorful cocktails and lazy days

I love the sea and the beach

This cat has been having a lazy summer as well

Relaxing atmosphere with a great view...can't get tired of this!