hornyphon

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This post is about a Hornyphon Prinzess in Svilengrad. It keeps me company while I’m having some very good Bulgarian food.

Another day of rest. I left the hotel and walked around for a little bit. Found an ATM and got some Bulgarian money. The exchange rate of Lev and Euro was about two to one, so it was easy to calculate. The prices seemed to be a bit higher than in Turkey. But then the Lev wasn’t in a downward spiral like the Lira.

the gamblers

When I had finally gotten some money I went to a little shop and wandered around in it forever, looking at different products. It was very similar to the shops in Turkey, except for the fact that it offered alcohol. I bought some cookies, a yogurt, and two bananas. I always have tons of bananas when I’m traveling. The banana is the fruit that feels most like a meal.

I was still fascinated by the Grand Corona Casino next to the hotel. I didn’t go in, though. Maybe I was shy because I didn’t have anything even remotely resembling a suit. Or maybe I just didn’t feel like losing my money.

Once, when I was standing around outside, I ended up talking to a guy who had just come out of the casino. He was from Turkey, and he told me that most of the other players were also from there. They came to drink and gamble and forget about their worries for a while. He said it, smiled, and went back in.

the sach

In the evening I decided to go to a restaurant. It was about fifteen minutes on foot. The walk there was dark and quiet. I didn’t know if I should feel safe or unsafe. When I reached the restaurant I didn’t know what to order. The waitress spoke a bit of English, so I asked her if she could recommend any meatless dishes. She pointed to a few items on the menu. One of them was called sach.

I want that one! I said.

“Do you want any homemade bread with that?” she asked.

And so I sat there for a while, nipping on a beer, waiting for my food. The restaurant had a Hornyphon Prinzess, a vintage radio made by the now defunct brand Austrian brand Hornyphon that was now defunct. I decided that I, too, wanted a Hornyphon. It didn’t have to be a Prinzess, just a Hornyphon.

And then, when my food arrived, and it turned out to be a clay plate with vegetables and mushrooms sizzling in it and a little loaf of bread that was still warm inside, I started warming up to the idea of walking through Bulgaria.

pictures

A fifty Lev banknote:

fifty Bulgarian Lev banknote

Restaurant in Svilengrad:

restaurant in Svilengrad

The Hornyphon Prinzess:

Hornyphon Prinzess

Family Where Life Begins Never And Love Ends:

Family Where Life Begins Never And Love Ends

Bulgarian vegetarian sach:

Bulgarian vegetarian sach

Homemade bread:

Bulgarian homemade bread

Selfie with the Grand Corona Casino:

Selfie with the Grand Corona Casino



  • Christian

    How awesome is the sign? Had me chuckling for a second there. *instert meme of angry lady shouting at white cat

    Reply

  • Robert

    Never got to Bulgaria but all the other countries around it. That radio brings back good memories. Before the web there was the radio. Spent plenty of time listening to Short Wave.
    That dinner looked so good.
    Are you gonna go through Romania?
    Please be careful…You and I are not the Casino Royale type.

    Reply

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