The Rhodope - An introduction

This is a short blog post to introduce a new series which I have been planning for a fair while but not got round to starting.

A map showing different dialects in Bulgaria

I want to talk about the Rhodope (the region of Bulgaria which I am moving to) and its history, culture and what makes it so special and why I love it so much.

This could be a long and ongoing thread through the blog and hopefully, when I am there, I can actually visit some of the historic sites and tell you about this experience as well.

One of the best things about Bulgaria is just how central it has been in the History of Europe and the East; its location has made it central to such climactic changes as the end of the Roman Empire and its position during the World Wars and the ensuring Cold War is also fascinating.

An example of early Russian script

From a cultural point of view Bulgaria also has a lot of influence. For example did you know that the Cyrillic script was actually invented and developed by the Bulgarian Empire. The next time you see Russian remember that the letters originated in Bulgaria.

So as I say, this is a short update, mainly as I'm struggling to write today. Now I have started this series I will hopefully start to write the rest of the entries.

So, what is this blog all about then...

Welcome to my blog.

It strikes me as I sit here typing this introduction that I have probably started this blog a little bit late; maybe by a year or so. The reason I think that is because I am going to write about my experiences whilst emigrating to Bulgaria and I started this process in February 2012.

I suppose that is one of the problems with a decision like this; it starts as a "wouldn't it be nice" and it isn't until the "oh shit it is actually happening" moment that the thought to record your experiences hits.

What I am going to do is this. I am going to write some blog posts about how I have got to where I am today (dream property purchased, tentative date for the drive over set) to catch you all up with the steps I have been through to achieve this, interspersed with which (dependent on how long this all takes) will be updates of current activities.

Clear?

As mud?

Good good, mud is good for you.

 So, to whet your appetite, below find a selection of pictures of Bulgaria to help you understand why I am moving there.

Cheers for reading