Sharon's Blog: Ruse, Bulgaria

We arrive at Ruse 90 minutes after leaving Bucharest and cross the Danube River on the longest steel bridge in Europe known as the friendship bridge. It symbolizes warm relations between the two countries.

We hail a taxi to our hotel clearly determining the fare. After a long four minute ride, the driver refuses to accept the 5 euro agreed fare and starts yelling in Bulgarian that the fare is 10 euro. I watch David’s hesitation before I see him throw the 5 euro bill on the front seat and triumphantly walk away. The first thing David does in the hotel is to determine the usual fare and discovers it to be 2 euros. Welcome to Bulgaria.

Our hotel sits on the shores of the Danube with a magnificent vista of the city and the barges on the river. There is a charming, peaceful garden restaurant and a roof top formal gourmet dining room with a 360 degree view.

After our usual Scrabble game in the garden restaurant, we enjoy wine, dinner, and tip for $15.00. Welcome to Bulgaria!

Ruse(pronounced roo seh)is a delightful, peaceful, beautiful town. This country, like Romania, is one of contrasts. Ringing a beautiful square with kiosks and walkways, outdoor cafes, and small boutiques, are dilapidated buildings, broken sidewalks, overgrown weeds and trees, and litter.

We stop for lunch and have a "lovers' spat" only to realize that we are actually eating at a restaurant called "The Happy Grill". Our souls heal, and we move on to enjoy the day.

We see an art gallery and are drawn in by haunting images of Tarot card figures hanging. The Ruse artist, Ivan Ivanov, is sitting in the corner puffing on his pipe. The place is mystical as the images stare at us.

Once again we bump into our history. We learn there is a synagogue here in Ruse and seek it out. With much frustration, we are unable to get directions or any comprehension of our request. Finally, David asks me for paper and pen and draws a Star of David that he shows to the next person. Eureka! The woman's face lights up in recognition and points us on our way. In 1941, 50,000 Jews inhabited Bulgaria. Even though Bulgaria joined the Nazi regime, it defied the command for deportation. Today,about 5,000 Jews live here as a mass immigration to Israel occurred at the end of WWII.

Today's dessert is attending a "Spectacular Dance Performance" in a magnificiently appointed public concert hall. For two hours, we are enthralled by twenty five talented, colorful, dancers. Welcome to Bulgaria!