from Gabrovo
19th-24th May 2011, I stayed at Gabrovo to join prize reception party, Bulgaria.
19th May Thursday
From Haneda to Paris, about for 13 hours flight, then I changed the plane. After 6 hours, I arrived Sofia airport in Bulgaria. It looks cloudy.
Galina were waiting for me to pick me up. She is a staff of museum. From Sofia to Gabrovo, we took about for 3 hours by car. I finally arrived at Gabrovo town.
It is almost center of Bulgaria. There were many sculptures in this town everywhere.
20th May Friday
Galina and I visited musuem first. 20th international biennial of Huomor and Satire is held tomorrow in this museum. We already able to see exhibition. It was a big exhibition. 1st floor, we can see painting's category works. 2nd floor is drawing & graphich and photograghies, 3rd floor is cartoon's one. I met director to have a short interviw. And I talked with press staff about my work or something.
Galina took me to some tourist attraction places, observatory, the church, history museum, local art gallery, etc. Then we came back to hotel to take a short rest.
It was warm today. I was thirsty, so I was drinking a beer alone. Someone call me, "are you alone? come and join us!". So I joined in thier gorup. 6 peoples were drinking and eating at the restaurant. Thay were 3 Belgians and 3 Bulgarians. They were also first meeting at this hotel. All persons were going to attend the reception party tomorrow. They were open mind and really friendly. We talked a lot, drink liquire or beers a lot, chatted and bad jokes , had big laughing. Just for only 1 hour talking, we became friends each other.
At the evening, we attended the cocktail party given by the mayor together. All concerned people and artists were there. There was a top of the hill, we could see a great view of the mountains. It was a exciting formal party. I met a few new friends and talked so much. You know I don't like party, beacuse I always feel lonely. But this time I cloud talk easily with my new friends, because they were really friendly. Then we came back to hotel, and continued to talk and drink at the restauant. Finally restaurant closed, then drink more at the lobby. Such a wonderful night for me. I like them much, and I think they also like me.
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21st May Saturday
I attend the prize-awarding ceremony. It was one of the big event of the Gabrovo festival. Mayor, director, some sponsers, had speech. Grand-prix guy was sculptor who made great work. I got a 1st prize of the Graphic and Drawing category.
Galina and I visited some places which craftman's museum, cozy church, etc. I like craftwork, so I bought many crafts, tableclothes, wood curving whistles, herb for tea, etc for the souvenir. At the evening, we watched famous Gabrovo carnival. Much peoples packed on the road side to watch a lot of playings. They were from topics of the Bulgaria or world. That were almost funny and curious. I could see Japanese one, Tsunami and Earthquake. Young girls were really pretty in there, they danced & sang together.
Actually I was looking for my friends for a while, but I couldn't. Because they already has come back to Sofia after the reception. I missed them so much. I really dissapointed why they didn't say even Good-Bye.
Galina and I took a dinner at the restaurant. I ate sausage and meat ball with beer. She ate typical Bulgarian salad with water. She said ," you are a bit strange because I was thinking Japanese people always eat fish-dish not a meat one." After dinner we took a walk aroud town. The pop concert was held at the square..
22nd May Sunday
Galina, , and I visited Tryana town next to Gabrovo. It took about a hour by car. It was famous for typical textile and architecture. At first, we went to the old school which famous Bulgarian person were from. Next, we walked along craftman street. I was interested in many kinds of craft. I bought typical design coffee cups, wood curving batterfly.
Icon-painting museum was really interesting one. It had almost 19th century's icon. I like icon , because it was not academic style one. It has not persfective, and we sometimes can find fuuny shape.
Today also very fine day. We walked around very slowly. Next we took a rest, and took Turkish strong coffee and sweets. Then walking around slowly again, and we took lunch. We ate chicken fille grill , fleshy bread and beer. They were all delicious. Actually I didn't expect to the Bulgarian dishes before coming, but it was all good taste.
I came back to hotel. It was still 5 pm, so I went to workman billage by walk again. I bought big curpet for souvenir although at first I hasitated to buy a bit.
23rd May monday
Galina bring me to Sofia airport by car. Today also very fine day. We took a rest on the way to there, had a coffee.
Anyway it is the last day for me Bulgaria. I really appriciate to all who maneged me, espetially Galina. I passed japanese souvenirs to her and driver. And I was taken a picture with them. I asked her about Lessedra international mini print competition, but she was not good at it. I think it is now judghing applying works.
I always think trip is nice. Although I have to much money for it, but I can get much experiences from it. There are good time or bad time in it. There are good friends or bad friends in it. But I think all of them are presious for me.