Monday, August 2nd

oops....slept in again.....9:30am.....it's all good:-)

I got up and showered and Kevin did the same. 10:00 phone rang....it was our buddies from Edmonton....Trudy and Jeff Price. "Bus tour is full.....guy at the desk can arrange a driver to take us on a tour....interested?" Are we just driving? or getting out? Just driving? We're in! Meet ya in the lobby at 11:00......
We're ready at 10:20 and starving....arrive at the restaurant to find they closed early today.....great. Rushed back to the room and ordered one breakfast...STAT! It arrived at 10 to 11, gulp, brush teeth and down to the lobby.
Taxi was waiting and away we went. The deal was we go where we want and pay the meter only pay it in Euros not Levas....ok.....well, we had a great driver, clean car and we put Kevin in the front as he wouldn't be getting out when we got out for pics. We went for 4.5 hours and the guy was great. He and Kevin had some great chats and a few laughs and the rest of us ran in and out of some beautiful churches and a couple of malls. I really wanted to buy my youngest daughter a new keepers jersey as she plays soccer. Since Bulgaria has a national team, how hard could that be? Non existent. Oh well.......I did manage to buy a beautiful red Helly Hansen jacket for under $50! I love it....can't wait to fit into it:-)
So much construction, alot of English signs and in the malls (new and they are very proud of them), everything is north american influenced....just like home.....there is a bit of European. I cannot imagine what it must have been like here in 1989-90 when it changed from a Communist country. From what I have learned, I think it must be like allowing a child into a candy shop after never having sugar before....they'll be sick before they learn moderation.
Tour ended 4.5 hours after it started and cost 65 euros....we gave him 80 and watched him grin as it is a substantial amount but he was worth every penny.
We did learn a couple of things today. Driving on the side streets and up the mountain, it was quite bumpy. Kevin would normally be sick as his eyes bounce when this happens however there are no more bouncing eyes! He was very happy about that too. I also pointed out to him that it was over 6 hours since he had peed! Again, unheard of....usually he goes every couple of hours. And he had water and a glass of juice before we left on the tour.....positive, small but huge for him....I have noticed that he is sleeping better at night and staying up as long as the rest of us too.....so improvments have begun. Most see changes within the first couple of months so maybe as the blood starts flowing better and with some rehab, he'll be stronger. It has been really hot and sunny here every day....in the low 30s and we were out most of the afternoon. I then spent 3 frustrating hours on the blogs while he slept for about an hour. It's shark month on the tv, which we both love and Animal Planet so he was entertained while I used the Price's laptop. They arrived at our room for supper at 8:45 and another great supper with Val Kilmar in the diningroom. His real name is Antonio...."My name is Antonio....like Antonio Banderas"....nah....ya look more like Val Kilmar (spelling??) ! Huge smile...."I like him, too"....he was a great waiter......one of the friendly people of Bulgaria. The other was a little hottie on the lobby bar....loved her and she loved us......lots of pics and "come visit Canada!" She was a pet.

It's late and the Price's are leaving in the am .....5....so I'll try to update from my IPOD for tomorrow ....out last day.....