Bulgarian Training Camp
We were back in London for almost 12 hours when Caleb and I were off again . . . to Bulgaria! It’s a good thing we washed clothes before leaving the states – we didn’t have to do too much unpacking just to repack.
Caleb’s gymnastics coach, Evgeni, is originally from Bulgaria. He was able to get in contact with previous coaches and friends there to allow his team from London to come ‘train’ there for a week. The boys were excited to have a change of scenery and be on an adventure together.
Leaving Heathrow Airport
What a difference in temperature when we arrived in Sofia, Bulgaria! We had come from chilly, rainy London and in Sofia it was HOT! We got checked into our hotel . . .
Rotasar Hotel
and went to check out the gym the boys would use for training during the week.
Walking up to the Training Gym
As soon as we walked up to the Training Gym, Evgeni’s face fell. You could tell that he was not expecting his old gym to be run down and unkempt. He hadn’t been for 15 years and a lot changes in that time-frame. Despite it’s look, this gym is still used by a number of gymnasts.
The inside wasn’t much better, but the boys immediately shed their shoes and tried out the equipment.
Looking on as Boys Test out Gym
As the parents watched the boys test things out, we couldn’t help noticing the overall state of the gym. We were already grateful for what the boys have in London to train in . . . and the money in which the country has to support these sports, etc.
Wall at the Training Gym
As we walked back to the hotel from the Training Gym, you could feel an overall sense of shock and disappointment within the parents and coaches. In my own mind (I will be honest) I thought, “This is going to be a really LONG week!” But, I have to say, the boys remained positive and excited for the new place to train and the fact that they had their own training times with no other teams to share with. So, we took our cue from the boys and made the best of our week and really enjoyed it.
The boys trained twice a day most days so between training sessions, we were able to work out a deal with a neighboring hotel with a pool, to allow the boys to swim for a set amount each day.
It was a great down-time for the boys to cool off, relax, and unwind.
They enjoyed the extra bonus of the large chess set when they were taking a swim break.
Our swim/chess trips became a routine after each training session. Then at night, they would top it off with some hot chocolate.
Caleb enjoying Hot Chocolate
One day we did break them from the pool and took them bowling instead.
Caleb Bowling
During training sessions the parents toured Sofia, hung out at the hotel or pool, or watched training sessions. There was never a lack of things to do . . . and it was great to get to know each other.
Wednesday: I went with a couple parents into Sofia to scope things out. In all honesty, our expectations weren’t set too high.
Sponge Vendor
Eagle Bridge Entering Sofia
Once we got into the city centre, we located a tourism office and got information about everything we should try to see. It was very helpful and gave us a direction, instead of just wandering around. Since we were already in the city and had a little bit of time before the boys were done with practice, we decided to check out the closest place of interest – Alexander-Nevski Cathedral.
Alexander-Nevski Cathedral
We wandered around, not seeing any tourists going in, so weren’t sure if it was open for tourists. We almost left to go see another church across the way when we noticed the front door and some people coming and going. As we were entering the building, I saw a man with a white shirt and tie AND a black name tag. It caught me off guard as I knew who he must be (a missionary for our church) but this wasn’t where I expected him. I stopped to ask him about church services on Sunday (as there was no info online) and I think he was shocked. It turns out he and his wife were there with two other senior missionary couples just for the day. They are all serving in the Ukraine Mission and were in Sofia getting their visas renewed. They were getting ready to go over to the mission office, took my e-mail address, and promised to find out the church information for me. They were good to their word and I was so grateful for the small blessing it was to run into them as we both toured around a foreign city.
My Miracle Missionaries
After my long visit with the missionaries, it was time to head back to meet the boys so we tried out the bus system, rather than walking all the way back.
Our Trolley Bus
We felt we did a good job scoping out the city and getting a feel for what we wanted to do the rest of the week.
Thursday: We took more parents along with us, promising them some great Sofia sights.
Touring Sofia
They weren’t sure of our promise, as our first major site were these painters suspended from the roof by cables and sitting on plastic chair tops! They must have different safety laws in Bulgaria than they do in England and the states!
Bulgarian Painters
Then we spied a horse and cart alongside the other modern transportation in the city. It stuck out just a little bit.
Horse & Cart
Once we got into the centre of the city, we were able to really get in a number of the big Sofia sites.
St. Sofia Church (AKA Hagia Sofia)
We ran into a rather large outdoor antique market. Many vendors sold some souvenir items or pieces of art, but most were selling antique war items or other weapons.
Antique Market
I did notice that most of Sofia’s sites were churches. Overall, the country seemed to be very religious.
One of the other traits we noticed about Sofia was it’s focus on the arts. For as many old decayed buildings as they have, there are just as many that are kept up and beautiful. Many are art museums, universities, churches, or even the National Theatre.
National Theatre Fountain
We were making good time, so we continued on our tour and found the Presidency, where the president’s offices are. Inside the courtyard stands St. George’s Rotunda, the oldest building in Sofia.
Outside of the Presidency are guards, slightly reminiscent of Royal Guards. However, these poor guys were dressed in wool uniforms in 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit (32-38 degrees Celsius). No wonder they switch guards every hour!
Parents with Presidency Guards
We had a full morning of touring, but with our new knowledge of the bus system and the city, we were still able to get back before the boys.
Returning from Morning Workout
Friday: Evgeni had planned a team trip out to one of the monasteries, Rila Monastery. We left bright and early in the morning on a hired coach, expecting to be there in 1 1/2 hours. It took twice that long! Thank goodness for the boys’ electronic games! I spent the time getting caught up on some reading. However, the trip was well worth it!
Heathrow Team outside Monastery
The view was beautiful – just what you envision a monastery location to be!
Team in front of Chapel
The boys enjoyed wandering around, seeing the different sections of the monastery. I was surprised how respectful they all were inside the chapel, the intelligent comments they made about how the light came through the windows, and the beautiful paintings throughout. They each lit a candle inside in memory of someone.
Dylan, Michael, and Caleb
As we walked around the complex, everything was hand-painted in detail! I wonder how often they have to touch up and repaint these beautiful landscapes!
Hand-painted Exterior
On the other side of the monastery is a little village. I’m sure it survives mostly on tourism, as there were a great deal of visitors. We tried some tasty donuts, where they put a sauce on top and sprinkled them with sugar. They were surprisingly and deliciously un-sweet.
Donuts, Round 1
Then Evgeni came around to tell us we needed to try ‘real’ Bulgarian donuts. So we waited in the long queue to experience this delicacy. They reminded me of Elephant Ears from state fairs in the states. However, these are eaten with plain yogurt and were very good.
Donuts, Round 2
After lunch, Evgeni took us on a hike behind the monastery. From what he said this trail was in memory of the one the monastery was built for.
Trail Head
It was really a beautiful hike and gave us a different view of Bulgaria, however, it would have been great to know we would be hiking. Only a couple of us were wearing appropriate footwear.
Hiking up the Trail
View from Hike
When we got to the top, there was, what looked like, a little chapel with a trail alongside it. Evgeni told us we were going to go into a ‘cave chapel.’ So, we all blindly followed.
Trail to ‘Cave Chapel’
But, indeed we were going up into a cave that appeared to be pitch-black.
Into Cave’s Mouth
As you entered the cave’s mouth, there were little pieces of paper tucked into the rock’s crevices. This is where people left their ‘sins’ behind them as they went into the chapel.
Sins
Inside ‘Cave Chapel’
Then you crawl through the tiny exit and you realize it is all very symbolic of being ‘born again.’
Exiting ‘Cave Chapel’
As you leave the ‘cave chapel’ and travel up the hill a little further, there is another sacred area where you then leave your ‘hopes and wishes.’
Hopes & Wishes
We all thought that sounded really fun so we left behind our own mementos of hopes and wishes.
Leaving My Hopes & Wishes
Saturday: Of all the days of our Bulgaria trip, I think this was the one the boys were looking forward to the most – the day we could visit and train at the new National Gym.
We got to show the boys how the Sofia bus system worked, but, as Londoners, they weren’t too impressed.
Riding the Bus in Sofia
The outside of the gym was already a step up from the old National Gym the boys had been using for training.
Bulgarian National Gym
I think our expectations were a bit low seeing the old gym, but this gym was immaculate . . and the gymnasts training had the boys in awe from first-sight!
WOW!
There were many young gymnasts who board and train at the National Gym, then there are the older ones who are married and just come to train. It was fun for the boys to meet a couple of the guys from the last Bulgarian Olympic team. They are both hoping to go again next year in London.
Heathrow Team with Bulgarian Olympians
One of the Olympians, Jordan Jovtchev, has been to the Olympics 5 times and has hit the ripe old age of 38 this year. In Beijing he was the silver medalist in the rings. From what I read online, Jovtchev lived in the states for quite a long time coaching in Houston, before returning to Bulgaria in 2007. As we watched him train, it was truly amazing! Caleb and I spent that evening just watching past YouTube videos of Jovtchev online.
Jovtchev & Caleb
After the boys finished their training at the National Gym, we went on a team tour of Sofia.
Bulgaria Square
It was really nice to be able to show the boys a little of the city, since they had only seen the gym and hotel . . . and whatever fell between the two.
Former Communist Party House
As luck would have it, as we got to the Presidency, it was the ‘changing of the guards.’ It was definitely more accessible than trying to see anything at Buckingham Palace! The boys all whipped out their cameras to catch the guards up close.
Changing of the Guards
Then they braved getting even closer . .
Standing ‘on Guard’
As we made our way back to the hotel, we pointed out other little important sights, but I think the changing of the guards was the hit of the afternoon!
National Library
One of MANY War Memorials
Sunday: For me, Sunday had been my worst fear, trying to find the church and if anyone spoke English. Because I had met my ‘Miracle Missionaries’ earlier in the week, I wasn’t too fearful. Aside from that, I felt I knew the city pretty well and could navigate the buses. Even more thankfully, one of Caleb’s friends and his mom asked if they could come along with us. There is always strength in numbers!
We did pretty well, with map in hand, until we discovered that the road signs off the city centre no longer were in Bulgarian AND English – only Bulgarian. For some reason, our map just had English. So, we ended up counting intersections and guessing at a few, but we finally found the recognizable sign!
Caleb & Becca at Church
As we walked in, I heard a missionary speaking English on a phone call. When he was done, I asked him if they did English translation. He happily got the headsets and translated for us during Sacrament meeting. It was just a little branch, with one speaker for the 45 minute meeting. Both missionaries were American, though. One from Sacramento, CA and the other from Denver, CO. Because we had friends with us, we just stayed for Sacrament meeting, but it was a great missionary experience for both Caleb and me.
Caleb & Michael after Church
When we returned from church, everyone wanted to know how church was and had a lot of questions. I’m glad that I got out of my comfort zone and went to church. It was a good experience for all of us!
Monday: Our last full day in Sofia, so I went around the city with two of the other parents to tick off the last sites. We also were on a search for tourist shops, as we hadn’t seen any the whole week!
We thought for sure the Market Hall would have something, but it was full of food. The food did look amazing and it was a great lunch location for those who work in the city.
Inside of Market Hall
The last item on our tourist map was the Mineral Baths Building. It is no longer being used as public baths, but it is yet another amazingly beautiful building.
After this last trek, we did find a few tourist shops – all the same shops in one area UNDERGROUND! It was quite surprising as you would think they would space them out around the city and help promote Bulgarian tourism. We began worrying we wouldn’t find anything to bring back with us. But, no fear, all the boys got Bulgarian wristbands and Caleb added a new key chain to his collection.
During the afternoon, I went to the boys’ last training session to see how things were going. A number of the boys had already left to return to London as they were starting school, but the remaining boys had a great last workout. I was surprised how sad the boys were to leave the gym. They said they loved having the gym to themselves and not getting kicked off apparatus for the girls’ teams or the acrobatic groups. Poor boys always seem to get the last pickings!
One Last Talk at Training Gym
The next morning we were off to the airport. Our transportation to the airport ditched us so Evgeni’s dad took all our luggage in his car while we all took the bus.
Luggage on its way to the Airport
I think we were all ready to go home – it was the perfect length of time for us to see the city, enjoy the culture, and find our way around.
Sofia Airport
This will be a trip the boys remember for a long time. They were really good the entire time and never tired of spending 24/7 with each other. Who knows where the next team gymnastics trip will take us . .
You are so amazing and so is Caleb! What an incredible opportunity this has been for your family and I can’t wait to one day be watching Caleb at the Olympics!
Such an incredible experience! One you and Caleb will not soon forget. So cool!