Summer 2019.
After a month of clearing the couple of hundred almond, apricot and plum saplings that had sprouted up in the expansive back yard after winter, not to mention the house renovations in full swing, I noticed a difference, there was clearly something missing.
As I glanced down at my feet, I realized I could see my shoes, a bump that had been expanding over the years of good food and little exercise had vanished, a bit troubling at first yet then it dawned on my slow-witted brain (it was a hot day) I had lost weight.
Each night after work in and around the house I had a ravenous appetite, ate like a king, felt the pain of physical exercise, showered then promptly fell asleep, yet I hadn’t taken notice of the subtle yet significant change to my waistline.
A profound realization…
Not having a mirror in my makeshift bathroom hadn’t alerted me and as I stood looking down and clearly, I was seeing my toes. It was a profound realization that my daily exercise, aka house renovations, was the reason. Wow, I thought, if I keep up the work at the current pace, I’ll be skin and bone in no time, now there was something new to worry about on top of sunstroke, insect bites, cuts, and bruises.
All was going along rather well until onset of too warm days and a creeping lethargy that seemed overtake me. It was time to take a breather…Summer was in full swing, and the temperature had risen to an uncomfortable level.
The neighbours seemed to have all but disappeared for most of the day for a siesta, so I followed suit with a cold beer under the grape vines followed by afternoon nap later followed by another cold beer, a plate of cheese and cold meats.
Summer torpor sets in.
The shovel, pick and wheelbarrow sat dolefully next to the old chook house with nothing to do. Inside the house the old pedestal fan ticked, uselessly pushing hot air around the loungeroom as I dozed off. Summer in Bulgaria had quickly put an end to the ferocious work ethic that had helped my weight loss…
Off to the Black Sea.
Well, I thought, if it’s too hot to work maybe a few days away at the Black Sea may be nice, therapeutic even. So, next day caught the train into Stara Zagora, hired an old Opel wagon and set off for Sozopol and beyond.
One thing I must say is that apart from Bulgaria’s stunning scenery the food is just as enticing and considering it was too hot to walk anywhere my time seemed better spent lazing on the beach and lending my financial support to the local cafes, bars and restaurants.
It’s truly amazing how the human body reacts so quickly to fill those empty spaces where fat used to inhabit. Oh for Bulgarian food…
A food frenzy.
I justified every bite, every swill from a glass, those weeks of hard labour earning my few days of indulgence, my body needed replenishing, my soul even more so.
Abundant food and drink, cheap and ever so tasty, I found myself in a food frenzy, breakfast, lunch and dinner interspersed with snacks, by the time I was back in my hotel room a whale would have recognized another of their kind…
Cold meats and cheese for breakfast, banitza’s with coffee, mussels in white wine, moussaka, shopska salads, BBQ meats, fried mekitsi, Chicken Kavarma, Lutenitsa, countless desserts and on it went. It’s easy to be spoilt in Bulgaria particularly when including fine wines, beers and if you’re brave (I’m not) the local Rakia.
Re-charged!
After what ended up being a week of sand, surf and food in paradise it was time to head back home. Mission accomplished, I felt re-charged and ready to face the work ahead. I’d worked out a plan, early rising to get in a few hours labour to avoid the heat and do the same in the evening. But first there was one small restaurant the locals were raving about…
Read my 12 reasons for moving to Bulgaria HERE.
