Epistulae ex Ponto: Gyspy Ghetto

I live on Konstantine Velichkov, in a mezzinate. That means it has an upstairs. I have one bedroom but two bathrooms and the one downstairs has a tub. The staircase is winding and I am quite sure that I could break something very important, so I don't use it until I am fully alert and hands free. The apartment building is new but not finished. This means there are apartments that have no windows or doors but the elevator needs a fancy magnetic card to take someone up or down. It is right across the street from the gypsy ghetto. Metodi, my realtor, kept that part a secret. Had I been from Sofia, he couldn't have gotten away with that.

I couldn't care less. It's a very mixed up building with a weird little apartment that gets loads of sunlight and in a urban neighborhood. I think it is just what need to freely continue my work. In the great scheme of things, weighing gypsy vs. "proper bulgarian" in terms of harm or rudeness or any other slight, gypsies always win. I can't say that I have ever had a horrible experience in dealing with one. I just don't have that history. It might change once the weather improves and no one is so worried with just getting home, getting warm, and not slipping, falling on the ice. For now, I am super happy.

In my effort to make this blog worthy of reading, I will relay a quick story. I went to the local grocery store for the first time when I arrived. It is no Fantastico but this also means the prices aren't fantastic! This is good. I ran into this woman who had these obviously bi-racial children. She was so happy to see me and told me that her husband is Cuban and famous and runs a dance studio. She was glad that I had moved into the neighborhood and wanted me to come to the dance studio. She gave me his card with website address. PLEASE go to the site. The picture alone is hilarious. I would never be involved in something this cool/cheesy. I am so lame. But just by virtue of being me... I am so cool. Of course, I am going to this studio and signing up for dance classes. At the very least, I will have a good story to tell. And I am saying yes to any opportunities here. Because well, I often say no.

Also... a paper of mine was accepted for a conference on alterity in the ancient world. I am writing on the perception of Euxine merchants and emporia in general in Athens. In April, I get to go to Canada. It's good news but at this moment, I am sick of airports and packing and flights with recycled air. I will get into the proper spirit in enough time.

The pictures below and my general upbeat attitude reveal that I must have my computer back by now! The customs was exactly the same. Same picture of sweet puppy with a red slash over his face and the image of the ice cream cone also with slash. Ahh Bulgaria!