19 февруари 2006

About friends, babies and a cow called Milka

Today has been a long day for me, now I'm tired typing in front of my PC and wondering what to type at all. Have to clear my mind so I can find the right words. I know it is easier to write in bulgarian language, but I know that if I do that, the I will type thousand words...more than I can afford to type for a day like this one :)
Just 6 hours of sleep - not enough for me, especially when outside was sunny and it has been Sunday - a day when I should go out then staying again at my home. Nervous home. Best to do is to go to ride my bike.

[forgot I'm tired now] :)

Three important moments this day.

I was drinking my beer in front of the underground shop Na Tamno when my friend Galia came. I have not seen her for almost a month which is a lot of time especially when inside of her there is a growing baby. So the first thing I saw was that her belly was bigger than before. Obviously.
In spite that I was with my bike we took a walk so we can see each other and to chat.
To chat about babies. :)
About that every girl of my friends are going to have a baby soon.
Even when we were walking I met one of my girl's classmates, Sibel, very nice girl with her 6 monts old baby :) . I asked her who of our classmates got a baby already and she told me that about other 4-5 girls had became young mothers. Wow! “I have to go now”, I said to her, because I started to feel that I was behind the time! Hahah! :)
What else I could say? ;)

Babies are the new fashion around me! :)

Wow! I forgot to mention that I have seen Memol today! My favorite dog of one of my friends! Memol was walking near the Siana's sister. She was with her boyfriend who holded Memol. I didnt mentioned Memol at all! But when we said hello each other and then I looked at the dog and I recognized she was Memol! And I said "But this is Memol!" and Memol turned back to me and came to me so I can hug it. I love Memol, really, I dont know how and why! :) But Memol is very special dog for me! :)

With Galia we turned back to the Child Corner where my girlfriend Rossi works. She occupies the job position of “Animator” and often she plays with children and she helps them to paint ceramic figures. Very funny job! Even she allowed me to paint her piercing! Red dots on the top of her piercing’s cones. I have been pleased one more time today. Hehe! :P
When she has enough time for herself she paints a cow of the famous chocolate Milka. I help her with the colouring of the white spots. Well, about 4-5 white stains of the Milka’s body is my work! But not only the white stains! Pleased smile again? Yeah! :)
Well, I’m tired. I will not type here for today anymore. I have to go to sleep. I would like to go to sleep but now I cannot. Hope soon.

Ciao! ;)


18 февруари 2006

We Are In This Together


"We're In This Together"


I've become impossible
holding on to when
when everything seemed to matter more
the two of us
all used and beaten up
watching fate as it flow down the path we
have chose

you and me
we're in this together now
none of them can stop us now
we will make it through somehow
you and me

if the world should break in two
until the very end of me
until the very end of you

awake to the sound as they peel apart the skin
they pick and they pull
trying to get their fingers in
well they've got to kill what we've found
well they've got to hate what we fear
well they've got to make it go away
well they've got to make it disappear

the farther I fall I'm beside you
as lost as I get I will find you
the deeper the wound I'm inside you
for ever and ever I'm a part of

you and me
we're in this together now
none of them can stop us now
we will make it through somehow

you and me

if the world should break in two
until the very end of me
until the very end of you

all that we were is gone we have to hold on
all that we were is gone we have to hold on
when all our hope is gone we have to hold on
all that we were is gone but we can hold on

you and me
we're in this together now
none of them can stop us now
we will make it through somehow

you and me
even after everything
you're the queen and I'm the king
nothing else means anything


15 февруари 2006

Eros Show 2006 is coming soon in Bulgaria again!

GG Steel and Digital Rebel
GG Steel and Digital Rebel
HERE is the news article about the forthcoming Porn Fest in Sofia, Bulgaria in March, 22th to 25th.

Click here to visit the official web site of the sexiest show.

And below are some of my best photos I took at the last Eros Show in Varna in the summer 2005.


Deaa

KarinaKarina

/picture by Digital Rebel - Some Rights Reserved /

GG SteelGG Steel

/picture by Digital Rebel - Some Rights Reserved /

Ginger Devil and Don MauroGinger Devil and Don Mauro

/picture by Digital Rebel - Some Rights Reserved /

Jasmine Rouge and Ginger DevilJasmine Rouge and Ginger Devil

/picture by Digital Rebel - Some Rights Reserved /


Jasmine Rouge and Titus SteelJasmine Rouge and Titus Steel

/picture by Digital Rebel - Some Rights Reserved /



Celebration of Saint Trifon Zarezan

In Bulgaria we like drinking alcoholic drinks - whisky, vodka, wine and etc. and beer of course. Well yesterday was the day when all Bulgarians have a wine drink.

Me too with my girlfriend. :)

And there is one more speciality on that day - that all restaurants are full, no room at all.
That's why with Rosi we were walking in the cold night and we were looking for a place we can have a drink. Maybe we went about 4-5 restaurants and all they were full. I was a little bit pissed off of walking and trying to find where to stay, so we decided to go to the nearest shop and to buy a bottle of red wine [a desperate decision, huh? :))] Hmm, but on the way to the shop we got two more choices where to stay - the one was....what? full of course! :) but the second one there were some free tables and even we got the chance to choose which one to get! Can you imagine? :)

At last we found a place where we could warm ourself and drink some wine, red wine, Merlo from Targowishte,hehehe! [sounds happy] :)
And we started drinking wine for our healthy times :)

I forgot...it is a little bit funny situation, but for the Day of the beloved [aka Saint Valentine's] we made a gift for each other a box with candies [by a fluke], and because I like drinking whisky in my candies there was Teacher's whisky. Superb! Thanks again, my sweety! :) ;)


14 февруари 2006

The Famous Bulgarian Wines

History of wine making in Bulgaria
According to historic and archeological researches the territory presently occupied by the state of Bulgaria may well be the first geographical region where vines were planted and wine produced. The same area may claim property to the first vine protection decree in 2 c. AD as well as to the first prohibitionist laws implemented in history by the Bulgarian Chan Krum during his reign from 802 to 814 AD. The wine cellar may also be Bulgarian invention since Bulgarian monastic orders had first been reported to have stored wine in cool vaults deep under the ground level.

Wine making traditions have endured during the Middle Ages and the Ottoman rule in Bulgaria. After the liberation from the Ottoman yoke wine making prospered. The economic progress after the Liberation laid the foundations of Bulgarian vinology. Fine wineries evolved such as Sjarovi Brothers for example. As a whole, however, Bulgaria continued the traditions of South and East European wine making, producing light, often over oxidized wines for immediate consumption.

During the time behind the "Iron Curtain" wine making was consolidated, monopolized, and turned into a state industry. Its target market, however, was restricted to the "Eastern Block" in the framework of the UEP ( Union of Economic Partnership) of the socialist countries and standards remained low.

In the 80's Vinprom, the state owned wine company slowly opened up to western markets. Since then, and especially after the fall of the communist government Bulgarian wine has been growing in popularity and is making its own niche on Western and World markets.

Wine regions

Bulgaria can be geographically divided into five wine producing regions. Each one of those has its own distinct features and peculiarities and is somewhat different from the rest.

Northern region The Northern region spans the area between the Danube river and the Balkan mountain range from North to South and between the Dobrudzha Valley and the Yugoslav border from East to West respectively. High quality wines are produced from a number of different grapes, red as well as white. The reds are made from the local Gamza as well as from the noble Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varieties. Chardonnay, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc are the most prominent whites. This region is home to the fine wineries of Suhindol and Rousse.

Eastern Region The Eastern Region covers the territory along the Black Sea coast between the Northern border with Romania and the Southernmost point on the sea coast where Bulgaria shoulders Turkey. The wines from the Eastern region are made mostly from white grapes. Almost all renowned white grape varieties may be found along with the native Misket and Dimiat. To my personal opinion the whites from this region are a little too spicy to the Western palate, yet they are greatly appreciated by Bulgarians and East and South Europeans in general.

Sub Balkan Region The Sub Balkan Region contains the kettles at the Southern foot of the Balkan Mountain. These deep valleys produce unique micro climates. The famous in Bulgaria Sungurlare Misket comes from there as well as the excellent Sungurlare Eau deVie. White wines from different grapes are local specialty. Slavjantzi is a popular winery from this region.

Southern Region The Southern Region includes the Tracian Valley from the Balkan Range to the Greek border and boasts almost Mediterranean climatic conditions particularly good for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot production. The best Bulgarian variety grape-Mavrud grows in the Tracian Valley. Reds coming from this region are superb. Jambol and Haskovo are fine appellations.

South Western Region The South Western region covers what is popularly known as Pirin Macedonia. The Struma Valley runs along it and brings strong Mediterranean influence in terms of climate. Fine Cabernets are produced there. The appellation of Melnik is home to the Melnik variety. An aromatic and hefty wine that ages very well. Damianitza is the winery to note. Their "reserves" are extremely good and my personal favorite. Another interesting local variety is Keratzuda, a rose type produced only in the appellation of Kresna.

Wine industry

"The success story of the Eastern Block" as called by R. Joseph, the editor of Wine magazine, Bulgaria is gaining reputation as a producer of high quality affordable wines. Until 1990 the wine industry in Bulgaria was state-owned and was operated by Vinprom and exported by its subsidiary Vinimpex. In the 80's import of American and Australian know-how laid the ground for production of high quality wines in Bulgaria. Coupled with centuries old traditions and enormous natural potential this tendency bore fruit and Bulgarian wines are gaining popularity among consumers in Western Europe, United States, Canada, and even as far as China and Japan. After the fall of the totalitarian states in 1990 privatization of state owned companies and land restitution went under way in Bulgaria. At first at slow pace it is now gaining speed especially after UDF ( Union of Democratic Forces) came into power in October, 1996. Results followed suit. Land is being returned to its original owners and many wineries are privatized or ready for privatization and sale. If the process continues uninterrupted and there is no other alternative, my prediction is that Bulgarian wines will get more and more competitive on the basis of high quality and moderate prices.

The potential for wine making in Bulgaria is enormous. The climate in the northern part of the country is continental with cool winters and hot summers. It is milder to the south due to the influence of the Black sea and the Mediterranean. Local hilly terrenes create ideal micro-climates and combined with good quality soils they produce extremely suitable conditions for growing best quality grapes. Bulgaria has several well developed viticulture and enology institutes, most notably in Plovdiv the second largest city in the country.

The best wines are produced from the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties, high quality, rich, and Bordeaux-like. Local grapes include:
Gamza - the most widespread sort produces earthy, light bodied red wine good for simple fare. In Romania and Hugary it is known as Kadarka.
Mavrud - is a full bodied, spicy red that can age to more than 8 years
Melnik - grown in the southernmost part of the country makes hefty red wines that age very well
Pamid - rustic and hardly unforgettable but still good enough "commercial" for weekly drinking.

Whites are produced from renowned varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling as well as from the local: Misket, Ottonel, and Dimiat. Whites are not nearly as good as reds but they are rapidly improving and recently some very nice surprises from Rouse winery have appeared.

As still unpopular as it is, Bulgaria is the second largest exporter of bottled wine in the world, second only to France and it has four times the area, planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, of California. It appears to be the fastest growing new-comer on the market. The annual average production of wine in Bulgaria ranges between 200-220 million litres depending on the crop. In the Bulgarian wine industry, traditional classic technologies are applied, as well as refined, and modern ones borrowed from the leading wine producing countries like France.

Types of Bulgarian wine

According to the Wine Law, wines in Bulgaria fall into the following categories:
1. WINE WITHOUT DECLARED ORIGIN, but of declared variety or registered brand name. They constitute 5% of the total production of the quality wines.


2. Regional Wines, also called Country Wines. These wines possess the original properties of the grape varieties they are made from Two varietal names can be mentioned on the label. They correspond to the category VIN DE PAYS (France) and LAND WEINE (Germany). These wines constitute 18% of the total production of quality wines.

3. Wines of Declared Geographical Origin (D.G.O.) These are wines made from selected grapes originating from a particular geographical region. Origin is declared by the producer. This category constitutes 70% of the quality wines.

4. Wines Of Controlled Appellations of Origin (A.O.C) These wines are made from grapes, originating from strictly defined and controlled micro-regional vineyards with a limited maximum yield of grapes per hectare and defined minimum sugar contents. These wines constitute about 2% of the total production of quality wines.

5. "Reserve" Category This is a special category of wines aged in small oak casks with the purpose of extracting phenolic compounds from the wood, and then in larger oak casks. Reserve wines can be either of declared geographical origin, or of controlled appellation of origin.



Trifon Zarezan - Vinegrowers Day


Trifon Zarezan is celebrated in the first half of February. It is an old occupation-related custom. On this day, observed throughout the country, the vines are pruned and sprinkled with wine. Ritual songs and dances are performed around an abundant spread, involving also many wishes for a plentiful harvest. In some areas, a Vine King is chosen and he is crowned with a wreath of wine twigs. Everybody treats him with great respect, for it is believed that fertility would depend on the Kings well-being.

/photo by IMPACT PRESS GROUP/

This is a picture from the village of Topoli, Bulgaria, taken today, which shows how Bulgarian celebrate the Vinegrowers Day .


This is the beginning of the end

Today is my first post at my first blog ever, lets see what it will become after some time.
And by the way, Cheers! I know that all of you celebrate the Saint Valentine's Day, but here where I live we celebrate the Day of the Wine - Saint Trifon Zarezan! :)

So keep drinking! :)

Here is your present from me to you!