DATE: Friday July 20,2007
ROUTE: Sofia, Bulgaria
DISTANCE: Rest Day
TIME:
CEG:
WEATHER: HOT! 100s
The weather forecast predicts continued heat. The air conditioning in our 4 star hotel is not working. Our room is on the hot south side, 5th floor. It was 92 degrees last night when we tried to sleep. With the windows open all night it was down to 79 degrees this morning. The hotel has provided fans for the hot rooms. There are no rooms available on the cool side. The management promised that it will be working soon. They are giving us a buffet dinner tonight as an apology. I would prefer a good night’s sleep in a cool room!
Alec, our Bulgarian guide, took us to see the sights of central Sofia. They included Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, and Bulgarian Orthodox churches as well as a Roman church built in the 4th Century, a mosque and a synagogue. Sofia has some interesting and beautiful buildings, but no cohesive charm or central vitality. Construction is going on everywhere. Traffic is chaotic and the air is polluted. I’d like to return in 5 years and see how the city has evolved. Bulgaria just joined the EU on June 1st and I’m sure many things will change.
I returned to the hotel at noon, had a bite to eat, and spent the next couple of hours in the cool basement garage, cleaning my bicycle and helping a little with the others.
Last evening reinforcements arrived from Italy. Stefania joined the crew bringing energy, enthusiasm, experience, and underwear for Michele. Not a moment too soon!
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