Snapshots from My European Tour of Self-Discovery: 2011

Thursday, June 9, 2011

I want to write this before my memory erases. This information I'm sharing is based on talking with Bulgarians in face to face conversations about the history of their countries. People to thank include Cvetan, Todor, Elitsa, Elena, Varyia and others along the way. So here's what I remember:
Bulgaria was founded around 608. There were three main groups at that time, including the Slavs and Thracians. The Thracians were part of a horse cult; so obsessed with horses were they that they are believed to have had sex on them, but, also, their legs became bowed inwards as a result of their constant traveling.

The First Bulgarian Kingdom flourished until about 1032 when the Romans established the Byzantine Empire which lasted for about 200 years. The Second Bulgarian Kingdom survived until around 1393 when the Turks set up the Ottoman Empire - or Turkish Slavery - which lasted for about 500 years.

Under Turkish rule, Bulgarians had to give over significant portions of their food and had few rights; they were essentially indentured servants. The Turks also buried the Bulgarians' churches under the dirt.

While the April Uprising of 1876 failed, it caught the attention of the Russians. It was suggested that this was a political maneuver to create a sphere of influence. Whatever the rationale, the result was that Bulgarians liberation in 1878, but they didn't adopt communism until after World War II.

During WW2 Bulgarians originally sided with the Germans. On hearing that the Russians sided with the Allies, the Bulgarians changed their position. Then, following the war, Bulgarians adopted communism which ended, I think, about 20 years ago.

Bulgaria is still a country in transition. Just 10 years ago graffiti started to appear on the walls. Ideologies have also shifted. Younger generations fear that Bulgarians are more easily influenced today; the current culture of excess is believed to stem from the limitations associated with communism.

During communism, too, the motto "Strong in mind, strong in body" was important; since then physical fitness has diminished in importance, with people on two sides: those who obsess over physical fitness, and those who don't. McDonald's is believed to be a major influence on the latter.

From what I could see firsthand, having traveled to over 25 places in Bulgaria, history is very important to Bulgarians. Talking with Bulgarians about their history was very exciting for me; it piqued my interest to track the fortresses and to learn more.

I will add more photos to this post later, as well as additional details based on my notes. But I definitely encourage you to visit Bulgaria. You can also find my videos (mostly of the fortresses) on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/VanessaRaney