Sofia, Bulgaria- September 2014
She stands on the periphery of the bejeweled and famous. Arms crossed and smirking. A distinctive tiara perched on her disheveled curls.
Tattoos adorn her flesh. Back alley artist scrawls that draw blood.
They accentuate her unpolished baubles.
The flaws are deliberate and worn with pride.
Even her edges have edges.
Packs of killer dogs prowl her streets. Children sniff glue in the murky underpasses. Do not wander her streets alone after dark. She is desolation. Stay away from her.
That is what the well-groomed, popular ones say.
Those whispers of warning are dispelled by her voice. It drifts through the thick rose-perfumed cigarette haze. Ancient melodies merged with modern banality. The result is charming, hypnotic. Intensely unique.
Heat flows through her veins. The deep, thirst-quenching fire of the Earth.
And the soul-appeasing warmth of faith.
If you observe her with a sharp, but respectful gaze, she may reveal her faded elegance.
And precious, rare softness.
Many have said that she has seen better days.
No. For this fierce, resilient queen, the best is yet to come.
Oh my , oh my , this is so beautifully written .. I tried to write about her once too !
Thanks so much, Meg. I hope I did her justice. I had only a day to wander around and soak up the atmosphere.
Gorgeous photos too ! You capture her so true and enlightened ! I was only there for 4 days on my return home to America after living in small village of Gita for 5 months last year … It changed me and is where I first discovered my writers voice …I am so thankful you posted this empathic tribute to queen Sofia …
Yet, Wisdom, σοφία, is her name! 🙂
Magnificent post, both “art and copy”.
Bon week-end
Brian
Thank you kindly, Brian. Bon weekend to you, too. –Julie
So eloquent. It is so easy to see only worn, tacky sights and not the whole. As travelling is about choice I made a choice last year that took me to Bucharest and not to Sofia. There is always somewhere else.
Exactly. I had the choice of taking an organized tour up to Rila Monastery or spending the day in Sofia. The monastery is supposed to be beautiful. However, the thought of riding on a bus with other tourists, following a guide around, having the obligatory lunch, and possibly making small talk was totally uninspiring. Traveling so much has given me an aversion to “tourist sights”. I much prefer to wander around and feel the essence of a place, observe how people live.
I applaud you for this amazing masterpiece of words! So very beautiful and exquisite.
Thanks so much. 🙂
I have fallen in love with Sofia!
What a beautiful and profound tribute to a city that has thrived from antiquity. She has sheltered Alexander the Great. Constantine the Great called her “my Rome.” She courageously faced the Huns and flourished under Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. Many great men claimed her since the early days, but she has remained, as you said so eloquently, a fierce, resilient queen.
A brilliant post!
When people speak of the ancient world, it’s almost always of Greece and Rome. Not many mention Bulgaria, and I doubt most people can even find it on a map. And yet, there is so much history in that country. And a very rich and unique culture. I went to Plovdiv, too, which is one of the world’s oldest cities.
I agree that we always think of Greece and Rome because most of us were raised in grade school on these topics. Perhaps it is in the busyness of our daily routines that we forget to continue learning. I have been listening to the discussion between Bill Moyer and Joseph Campbell (you would really enjoy it). Campbell says that we must all take the Hero Journey – to expand our knowledge. In a nutshell – to avoid mediocrity. Again, thanks for the excellent post. 🙂
in a day sometimes you can catch a lot of the atmosphere of a city… you pay more attention at the details… what a beautiful portrait you made, i read it twice. beautiful photos, as always. Cris
Thank you, Cris. I hadn’t realized that, but now that you mention it, I think you are right about paying closer attention to details when time is short.
What a poetic post, each word, each photo…perfection.
Each photo has a story, just like her. Hope I go visit someday.
An Eastern Europe trip might be in your future. There’s so much to see over here and now’s the time to come.