Welcome statement
“Parting Words from Moristotle” (07/31/2023)
tells how to access our archives
of art, poems, stories, serials, travelogues,
essays, reviews, interviews, correspondence….
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| Detail from 18th photo |
Destiny’s lessons in disguise
By Valeria Idakieva
[Sequel to “Days 12 & 13,” published on December 24, 2018.]
When I woke up on the morning of the 14th day of my trek along the E8 European long-distance path, I felt happy because I remembered going to bed the day before and praying to the God of the E8 path to remove the pain in my kidneys and let me complete the trek, and now I felt only a slight pain.
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On under clear, blue skies
By Valeria Idakieva
[Sequel to “Days 10 & 11,” published on July 30.]
The morning after another wonderful day in the Rhodope Mountains woke me up with a clear, blue sky and gentle, soft sunshine streaming through the window. I had the usual morning cup of coffee and hit the road, filling my head with pleasant memories and my lungs with fresh air. The mountain was revealing a softer beauty now – some houses of a nearby village perching on a hill, stacks of hay, rounded slopes, trees.
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Imagination and reality
By Valeria Idakieva
[Sequel to “Days 8 & 9,” published on July 3.]
After the lazy day I had spent in Pamporovo, the clear blue sky and the fresh air the next morning urged me to continue at full speed. The grass was glistening with the morning dew, the forest was awakening with the vibrant song of myriads of bugs and birds. Every single creature was worshiping life and giving its share to the harmony that reigned over the forest.
Under the scorching sun
By Valeria Idakieva
[Sequel to “Days 4 & 5,” published on March 2.]
When I got up early in the morning and started walking, the sun was still hiding behind the grand ridges surrounding the gorge of the river I was following, and the fresh, cool air was sharpening my senses.
Leaving Rila
By Valeria Idakieva
[Sequel to “Day 1,” published on January 24.]
After a cup of coffee, I left the lodge in the morning and met the first strangers for the day.
Eastward from Borovets
By Valeria Idakieva
At the beginning of January 2017, I started thinking about doing the Bulgarian part of the European long distance path called E8*. In Bulgaria the route starts in the Rila Mountains and crosses the Rhodope Mountains, reaching the Turkish border. As usual, my preparation consisted of obtaining information and waiting for August when I could run away to the mountains. Finally August came and I was soon getting my backpack ready for the summer adventure. I could not make it light enough, but it was not the first time I’ve had this problem, and I knew I was going to get used to its weight anyway. I got on the bus and headed for Borovets – a ski resort in the Rila Mountains where my route started. The next day rose a bright blue morning with fresh, cool air, and I eagerly followed the path, which weaves along a beautiful river.
