Belgrade, Serbia to Byala, Bulgaria
The time in Byala is always pure enjoyment. It is not a kind of feverish excitement but a blissful relaxed state that comes from being surrounded by beauty and nature.
The biggest part of it is of course the sea. I can see it from anywhere in my apartment and hear it day and night. A sudden storm would change the sea’s soft murmur to roar. Then, gradually, the sound of waves crashing on the beach dims and the sea is again mesmerizing glitter.
The bursts of activity when I am productive interchange with lazy periods. I can be working – translating and interpreting remotely non-stop for a few days. Then, as if someone flips the switch, I get no calls or emails. I spend mornings on the beach and evenings watching YouTube movies until it gets crazy again.
Regardless of my schedule, time flies effortlessly, Days become weeks, weeks become months. The world is far away, although I am in the heart of Europe.
There are no known cases of COVID-19 in Byala. Masks are required in stores but Bulgarians are slack about wearing them. A mask often hangs on the neck or covers the chin only to show that the mask is there. Nobody wears a mask outside.
This year, Byala is quieter than usual because of the travel restrictions. Russians who own a lot of apartments here were banned from coming. Many other Europeans decided not visit facing a 14-day quarantine in their home countries upon return from Bulgaria. So it is mostly the locals and people with residence permits. Half of the shops and restaurants did not open this season. The other half that did open is hardly profitable.
Sometimes, I go for a stroll through the vineyards. About 30 minutes of walking from my apartment, there is a beach popular with campers called White River. Contrary to the situation in Byala, White River Beach is packed this year, especially on weekends when Bulgarians from all over country flock to the sea.
I will be in Byala all September and part of October but I already hate the day when I have to leave this blessed place.
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It’s very nice to have a place of resort in this crazy world:) But from November to April Black Sea is not so friendly and it is better to be elsewhere. I lived in and near Odessa on the Black Sea coast for 8 years, and the children were always ill with bronchitis and faringitis in off-season time. It’s mainly the strong wind from the sea that the locals call “bora”, constant rains and stowrms, and the fungus that grows on the outer walls of houses facing the sea and spoils the fresh bread already on the next day. So, you have now the best season – enjoy it! And when it is time to go, hopefully, the situation will improve in the USA.
Oksana, I agree with you 100%! The season will end in October and it will be the time for me to go.
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