Photo: Ralph at Orthodox monastery
On another Saturday Krasi took me to the village of his grandmother in the mountains north of Sofia. To get there we took the train. As we got on the mostly empty train, Krasi looked at the scuffed seat cushion in our compartment and shaking his head said, "Those people that sit like Americans!" I asked what he meant by that. He explained that in the Hollywood movies, Americans are always sitting slouched with their feet up on furniture, and assumed that it was true.
We stopped a few kilometers short of the village in the rural, rugged, mountainous area. We visited an Eastern Orthodox monastery and then continued to the remote village. Krasi's parents also showed up and brought Krasi's daughter along. His grandmother served us all lunch. The most unusual part of the lunch was the raw pork fat that was served. I did not ask for seconds of that appetizer.
I commented to his grandmother that she must be very proud that her grandson was an actuary for a Sofia company. She said that didn't matter, she knew he was a good person, and that was most important. She was in her 80's and had lived most of her life under Communism in the remote Bulgarian village. Krasi, his daughter, and I took the late afternoon train to Sofia.
Photo: Grandmother, Krasi & daughter
Photo: Mostly abandoned monastery
Photo: Priest ringing bells
Photo: Rugged rock formations near village
Photo: Krasi on trail
Photo: View of valley & village
Photo: View of valley & village
Photo: Memorial at village
Photo: Rock formations about 100 feet high
