tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6917869568126976232023-11-16T19:40:06.489+02:00излазthe blog of stefan ralchevAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-26509727092064162392017-08-24T16:59:00.000+03:002017-08-26T14:15:17.550+03:00One year later: Sketches of Europe's Northwest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Precisely one year ago I embarked upon one of the most exciting trips in my life. I called it "Sketches of Europe's Northwest" and published something between a photostory and a diary on Facebook, in the context of Brexit. At long last I found the time to compile all Facebook posts and Instagram pictures from the trip in one place and I'm offering them here. It was an unforgettable experience. Maybe it is even better that I am putting this together now, one year later, because it gave me the chance to go over these moments again. Captions are </i>above <i>each</i> <i>image. Click on image for larger version. Enjoy!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Travelling to Paris, France from Sofia International Airport.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>19 August 2016 · Sofia</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am off to Paris, Belfast, Bristol and Cornwall on a ten-day trip which I am dubbing #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest. I am going to cross from the hot, dry, yellow, azure, summery Southeast of the continent to the lush, green, grey, humid and refreshing Northwest. Two diametrically opposed but complementary faces of our cherished common European space - now rattled by a perfect storm of internal and external challenges.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The issue of Brexit cannot but be my silent companion along the way. After all, it is one of the secret reasons for which I chose to head northwest in the midst of an exuberant Balkan summer. Does Paris actually care about Brexit; is it simply gloating or it can’t wait to assume financial powers from London? What about the future of the Good Friday Agreement for Northern Ireland? Do unionists in the country regret voting to remain in the EU, now that there is renewed talk of a united island by nationalists? The Southwest of England: Bristol, home of some of my favourite musicians, massively elected to Remain (62%); nearby Cornwall saw a 56% Leave vote. Why so?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Apart from just exploring novel and long-yearned corners of Auld Europe, the restless type that I am, it is the simple, human answers to the above questions that I will be looking for, in word and in image. Stay tuned!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmh3iulajRay_S-SsvGkJiILnc3R9W2xbH_A6r_fNeSQppE8_T5n2qv5zD2Vgf2Z6Nr6BILnCpfLh4L85aBPDRoRO-I1bhhiMlHPy3GKDOgZKgWAY8OkMKIgnLxHDpD8q7P6BiKeJR0Se/s1600/Sofia-Paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="475" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmh3iulajRay_S-SsvGkJiILnc3R9W2xbH_A6r_fNeSQppE8_T5n2qv5zD2Vgf2Z6Nr6BILnCpfLh4L85aBPDRoRO-I1bhhiMlHPy3GKDOgZKgWAY8OkMKIgnLxHDpD8q7P6BiKeJR0Se/s320/Sofia-Paris.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Checked in to Paris, France.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">19 August 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Добро утро, Благоевград! </b>[Good morning, Blagoevgrad! - an allusion to an old joke among Blagoevgrad people that their city is nothing less than Paris]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Le Marais, Paris</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">20 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Roofs of #LeMarais I.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #Paris #France</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Le Marais, Paris.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">20 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Roofs of #LeMarais II.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #Paris #France</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2C_0iqc2KiHHayg5lzmnqoqWina_Z8VAFJ-3ZZI9AIlR-rSo8xDbrbE9gD5CvKN59xyCcg6DVLqxOvACwuduJue2D1KgMjYJu42c5sKTVjlyD4krSJPy7Az5LX4W4J_qZm7SGjNI2w_Z/s1600/roofs+le+marais+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1080" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2C_0iqc2KiHHayg5lzmnqoqWina_Z8VAFJ-3ZZI9AIlR-rSo8xDbrbE9gD5CvKN59xyCcg6DVLqxOvACwuduJue2D1KgMjYJu42c5sKTVjlyD4krSJPy7Az5LX4W4J_qZm7SGjNI2w_Z/s320/roofs+le+marais+II.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">20 August 2016 · Paris, France<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>The living room of a Le Marais student flat on
Saturday morning :D</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Centre Pompidou.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">20 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Roofs of #LeMarais III.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #Paris #France</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWygJ3pxrs7MruV4XzqiEpqQWR6s_rN-E-sPXW6jzfr1QVHHX2Jf11O3JOEgH9GBDSvoc1v5ii2SCRvnudL64_f5C1r7yEb-ZKUCT91CUfrRa3h53vbSXvjgLES2A36YI0ulV1qYzA2uWA/s1600/roofs+le+marais+III.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1080" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWygJ3pxrs7MruV4XzqiEpqQWR6s_rN-E-sPXW6jzfr1QVHHX2Jf11O3JOEgH9GBDSvoc1v5ii2SCRvnudL64_f5C1r7yEb-ZKUCT91CUfrRa3h53vbSXvjgLES2A36YI0ulV1qYzA2uWA/s320/roofs+le+marais+III.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Centre Pompidou.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">20 August 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Roofs of #LeMarais IV.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest
#Pompidou #Paris #France</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Centre Pompidou.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">20 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Neighbours. </b>#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #Pompidou #Serbia #Italy #Paris #France</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Le Tir Bouchon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">20 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The corkscrew.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #LeMarais #Paris #France</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chez Georges.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">20 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The invitation.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #ChezGeorges #wine #StGermain #Paris #France</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtQZi_sH7YNmUT0xdLsGyJomUcyl0KLUIfcTIhsXeOwq7YaayCGY_DuT3HRduSOEfqGQQu17nEXWRrjgAKzD21wJzA7Me6e4GnMJ-sn50aSKjaU0Mydoy8Md8K6XkIxupF1sXQG2PCnHg/s1600/st+germain+wine+bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtQZi_sH7YNmUT0xdLsGyJomUcyl0KLUIfcTIhsXeOwq7YaayCGY_DuT3HRduSOEfqGQQu17nEXWRrjgAKzD21wJzA7Me6e4GnMJ-sn50aSKjaU0Mydoy8Md8K6XkIxupF1sXQG2PCnHg/s320/st+germain+wine+bar.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Le Consulat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">20 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>No #France without the frog legs.</b> Snails went yesterday. #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #Paris #Monmartre</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sacre Coeur.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">21 August 2016</span></span><br />
<b style="font-family: inherit;">View from #SacreCoeur.</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #Prisma #redhead #Monmartre #Paris #France</span><br />
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Monmartre.<br />
21 August 2016<br />
<b>The invitation II.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #Monmartre #Paris #France<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Trocadero - Eiffel Tower - Paris.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">21 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The symbol.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #Prisma #Mondrian #Paris #France</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4idHj5LK0aJIvXspEQ29bFtrTf0joVWc4QMq7RzdhqeZRlDLe1rTCu2bvobmXDoD9XklsORRyYoptcVusof_qWCRW-w9tv-s4y8xFW7Ih1y8o4krfpibLMjpr6Sy7Ht5DBa64UQMViZv/s1600/eiffel+mondrian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4idHj5LK0aJIvXspEQ29bFtrTf0joVWc4QMq7RzdhqeZRlDLe1rTCu2bvobmXDoD9XklsORRyYoptcVusof_qWCRW-w9tv-s4y8xFW7Ih1y8o4krfpibLMjpr6Sy7Ht5DBa64UQMViZv/s320/eiffel+mondrian.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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Seine River.<br />
21 August 2016<br />
<b>Exchange.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #Seine #Paris #France<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFF6Rw6co6Q_WP9275aHybNWaPiBuYB46WQOwZ9yHpPHy8qTxPljd_oQaA84142Q0Q1vxtgoK94LQQBzL_3LKACCksY7NyfqWlmDIr8ThiHpZdhxmR27M7h0LlXDQ4foUw0zE6nyLzezyO/s1600/exchange+seine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="1080" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFF6Rw6co6Q_WP9275aHybNWaPiBuYB46WQOwZ9yHpPHy8qTxPljd_oQaA84142Q0Q1vxtgoK94LQQBzL_3LKACCksY7NyfqWlmDIr8ThiHpZdhxmR27M7h0LlXDQ4foUw0zE6nyLzezyO/s320/exchange+seine.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seine River, Paris Fance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">21 August 2016</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Toward the north bank.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest
#Seine #Paris #France</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC5n3pif53YNCN2fDkgoOy6axP-_2uWt1OoHdRwTFtyeT6NtnCjF7IR0-RC7-z6rgf2TlwCUVl1Molw4k5DE3gJhMX095qQ3mH2SfTpI0GOTKymKcSaZ7NvnH-wEwXMix0Jk3adpTE7Kg/s1600/toward+north+seine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="1080" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC5n3pif53YNCN2fDkgoOy6axP-_2uWt1OoHdRwTFtyeT6NtnCjF7IR0-RC7-z6rgf2TlwCUVl1Molw4k5DE3gJhMX095qQ3mH2SfTpI0GOTKymKcSaZ7NvnH-wEwXMix0Jk3adpTE7Kg/s320/toward+north+seine.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pont Neuf, Paris.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">21 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Islanders. </b>#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #Seine #Isledecité #Paris #France</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7U-eWBd0SFga8dTd2cq40zJfgkft22WC7dOVUJgIw9a4fK2o_tkgL3TVPWx8xsuueUtczctrrsEPwSC977QZ-VU7V1XmPjriM4_NF2b-4e2CL476XhVZu9rq1J09-2nWVhFNl6pQITQGt/s1600/islanders+seine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="1080" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7U-eWBd0SFga8dTd2cq40zJfgkft22WC7dOVUJgIw9a4fK2o_tkgL3TVPWx8xsuueUtczctrrsEPwSC977QZ-VU7V1XmPjriM4_NF2b-4e2CL476XhVZu9rq1J09-2nWVhFNl6pQITQGt/s320/islanders+seine.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Arc De Triomphe, Champs Elysees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">21 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The #Defense. Awaiting new powers from London.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #Paris #France</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgsSS66ofPp-qGISsNbQ_PKyyj0W1DpMOpYJ6EqTujvHbSvcxjB4fqcme88p-GYsN8bipQp9TSeKTqE84_S1trIDFAjP2J8dubz4A7QV4Vlmz6HNbN8F_Cm6v_8Z-rYA1vbnp-XqsvKbh/s1600/la+defense+in+distance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgsSS66ofPp-qGISsNbQ_PKyyj0W1DpMOpYJ6EqTujvHbSvcxjB4fqcme88p-GYsN8bipQp9TSeKTqE84_S1trIDFAjP2J8dubz4A7QV4Vlmz6HNbN8F_Cm6v_8Z-rYA1vbnp-XqsvKbh/s320/la+defense+in+distance.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Place Concorde.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">21 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The ship's wheel.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #Concorde #Paris #France</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-HJeTXZB8a1sKhevdNep3Pblh6srNRf4GOvzTPTIhwRgaRVQjUdVVQGHpTCSzWC9EtyLNW_q3GB99XyRu6g8-W4_raUZ9rCvUz3uZpuNJaH283YXJGQD2nUcZrNPVfP7m_KHse0Nl8js/s1600/concorde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-HJeTXZB8a1sKhevdNep3Pblh6srNRf4GOvzTPTIhwRgaRVQjUdVVQGHpTCSzWC9EtyLNW_q3GB99XyRu6g8-W4_raUZ9rCvUz3uZpuNJaH283YXJGQD2nUcZrNPVfP7m_KHse0Nl8js/s320/concorde.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rue Montorgueil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">22 August 2016 · <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Paris</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This is what wine can look like in a #</span><st1:country-region style="font-size: 12pt;" w:st="on">Thai street</st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> food joint in #</span><st1:country-region style="font-size: 12pt;" w:st="on">Paris</st1:country-region></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #LeMarais #</span><st1:country-region style="font-size: 12pt;" w:st="on">France</st1:country-region></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunPNt6cliI0MQsQhnO2q-Y2cBcd-g4nTjPyF334RZ6DiEsO4yPge9LkDGAhSQGvOGkVX6UQbJ0xsmbCRjO5AWXlhTap_bkQNw3FdZPRelPD9qZTf37JXXDC5RBb-kleHlvMFY57o4KKL-/s1600/thai+wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="960" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunPNt6cliI0MQsQhnO2q-Y2cBcd-g4nTjPyF334RZ6DiEsO4yPge9LkDGAhSQGvOGkVX6UQbJ0xsmbCRjO5AWXlhTap_bkQNw3FdZPRelPD9qZTf37JXXDC5RBb-kleHlvMFY57o4KKL-/s320/thai+wine.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">22 August 2016 · Paris, France · </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Charming Saint Denis street in #LeMarais</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSQ-obdCHj2x_jBH44hy3mXrkSwhPvuNOcqbAH-Yw9EDoPxRo4PO2F9iVo-HsYNSzpJDDevlJfOpPG3HviAJ4lLrKtJvNj7EJ9x7AY2H8CgxIj2X6J7ld7IsueipW5SlOJrztA6VSe9mG/s1600/st+denis+str.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSQ-obdCHj2x_jBH44hy3mXrkSwhPvuNOcqbAH-Yw9EDoPxRo4PO2F9iVo-HsYNSzpJDDevlJfOpPG3HviAJ4lLrKtJvNj7EJ9x7AY2H8CgxIj2X6J7ld7IsueipW5SlOJrztA6VSe9mG/s320/st+denis+str.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Marche D'Aligre.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">22 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Never enough.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #cheese #Paris #France</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimC2_wvGoWA7hiJsqZ56o4XhVpkw327-lKOA32g3l_hg2AY3jyfVtO9Hzscb9Mu87RIdRFDZFNYFZPRZ3xwj0VQpJqRrEZ7zbccZaiY7EJbWdpOXGlWq-DkueNJ0v4ELr9NBcXsZWgQk47/s1600/cheeses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimC2_wvGoWA7hiJsqZ56o4XhVpkw327-lKOA32g3l_hg2AY3jyfVtO9Hzscb9Mu87RIdRFDZFNYFZPRZ3xwj0VQpJqRrEZ7zbccZaiY7EJbWdpOXGlWq-DkueNJ0v4ELr9NBcXsZWgQk47/s320/cheeses.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Le Baron Rouge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">22 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Wall of splendour.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #wine #LeBaronRouge #Paris #France</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoGuXBQrfsKLJj3M-q28V69U3rkLDTRqyWnNlXTm2Kah8crdCJh6BqcUUCm1Lo4vYo-D9eZdc0MeiPsyLntu_TvG9b9R7Fhbaw3doD-HrHCftGCo4TcykJ8sEqELVFg9w222nky2fBIv6/s1600/le+baron+rouge+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoGuXBQrfsKLJj3M-q28V69U3rkLDTRqyWnNlXTm2Kah8crdCJh6BqcUUCm1Lo4vYo-D9eZdc0MeiPsyLntu_TvG9b9R7Fhbaw3doD-HrHCftGCo4TcykJ8sEqELVFg9w222nky2fBIv6/s320/le+baron+rouge+wall.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jardins Du Château De Versailles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">22 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Circles.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #Vesailles #France</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaCQo3AEhhyphenhyphen86XyWTc5iUTUJO8r5_5VcJk03J-3fzNnRakJ7lW98DfCyqJezh9iwKbVzlSFdX9M86KjaEhmIETE7Agr-Vjnrp1K2iqthbWR5U8q2sZj60MSu_cL9DuF0lko7RB680sbbR/s1600/versailles+circles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaCQo3AEhhyphenhyphen86XyWTc5iUTUJO8r5_5VcJk03J-3fzNnRakJ7lW98DfCyqJezh9iwKbVzlSFdX9M86KjaEhmIETE7Agr-Vjnrp1K2iqthbWR5U8q2sZj60MSu_cL9DuF0lko7RB680sbbR/s320/versailles+circles.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jardins Du Château De Versailles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">22 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Triangles.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #Vesailles #France</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGWTnXXCPGgi8InLgmKEePHqmapabo3bDyv0WE9J2a6yHhATQ4R5IFcMeNzHYXHfwMHZTNI_pe1DZUvYJyWwTwyxhEOXSMC7_njrL82TAcUEF6Fk8x7mitYcINRO-sIlYAMpWxKui9Cfk/s1600/versailles+triangles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1080" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGWTnXXCPGgi8InLgmKEePHqmapabo3bDyv0WE9J2a6yHhATQ4R5IFcMeNzHYXHfwMHZTNI_pe1DZUvYJyWwTwyxhEOXSMC7_njrL82TAcUEF6Fk8x7mitYcINRO-sIlYAMpWxKui9Cfk/s320/versailles+triangles.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Versailles, France.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">22 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The #Sunday street. </b>#Versailles #France </span>#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFM8U0qXV5gPKwkmuZWyf-lMVxMHD3Nq3Xq8N9qvMLGk75wv6VUHMg9zrXjxnNJIFZIPlEzWB6NY9-4QJ_Z1T2Ra8Oxhf-6qTvxMKbJPhbTW3eVDSGOLHz5xv86Ka3Cs7zZ00dQtcIxi4_/s1600/versailles+street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1080" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFM8U0qXV5gPKwkmuZWyf-lMVxMHD3Nq3Xq8N9qvMLGk75wv6VUHMg9zrXjxnNJIFZIPlEzWB6NY9-4QJ_Z1T2Ra8Oxhf-6qTvxMKbJPhbTW3eVDSGOLHz5xv86Ka3Cs7zZ00dQtcIxi4_/s320/versailles+street.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rue Des Lombards 75004 Paris.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">23 August 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Павето. </b>#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #Paris #France</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3m4bWAt9gtab9C0-m8jHoXm_l736_DF-qZtFVaNMOf6h6ilnPW2cH4CXtHmIBFiQjLZMzw26OeI6Viugp8itlAmBi7nTK069et0HkTc-T8qP439y4WDqqhPvChJchpqnY5RrlpIXN6RR_/s1600/paveto+paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="1080" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3m4bWAt9gtab9C0-m8jHoXm_l736_DF-qZtFVaNMOf6h6ilnPW2cH4CXtHmIBFiQjLZMzw26OeI6Viugp8itlAmBi7nTK069et0HkTc-T8qP439y4WDqqhPvChJchpqnY5RrlpIXN6RR_/s320/paveto+paris.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">N2 Extreme Gelato Paris.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">23 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>THE #icecream in #Paris.</b> #N2 #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #LeMarais #France #Australia</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgGsMNFlkhgxjFeTZTGs48F1N4vOi_Mcgf8jaHkHTMp1g85HrY3fP3ai-RD9fJmYqm7c8LuVoWkQK17iAhPZcDHBE5nKykqsJmiMN-PzvtBzgWXNTfShMA6eS22mwOMPo5_Ds9olgAZtm/s1600/n2+icecream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1080" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlgGsMNFlkhgxjFeTZTGs48F1N4vOi_Mcgf8jaHkHTMp1g85HrY3fP3ai-RD9fJmYqm7c8LuVoWkQK17iAhPZcDHBE5nKykqsJmiMN-PzvtBzgWXNTfShMA6eS22mwOMPo5_Ds9olgAZtm/s320/n2+icecream.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ô Chateau.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">23 August 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Still life.</b> #</span><st1:country-region style="font-size: 12pt;" w:st="on">Paris</st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
#wine #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #</span><st1:country-region style="font-size: 12pt;" w:st="on">France</st1:country-region></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4t63DcbGJNYGgqlSLMkNy-sqITXNjT75FRJXCoZ0rbjmwbp-jBJr9Bc8GmoM_bMK-n4p03ivLYFHA4R4d6591Yx4f8XgQ8eHQgpN3l6S7SMJ3y0i00_sS-JtmP_4vGFHgBrfb32vrupcj/s1600/hat+and+glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4t63DcbGJNYGgqlSLMkNy-sqITXNjT75FRJXCoZ0rbjmwbp-jBJr9Bc8GmoM_bMK-n4p03ivLYFHA4R4d6591Yx4f8XgQ8eHQgpN3l6S7SMJ3y0i00_sS-JtmP_4vGFHgBrfb32vrupcj/s320/hat+and+glass.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Esplanade de La Défense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">23 August 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:country-region style="font-size: 12pt;" w:st="on"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Bike & Arc.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #LaDefense
#Paris #France</span></st1:country-region></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Paris La Défense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">23 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Coffee break. </b>#LaDefense #Paris
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #France</span></span></st1:country-region></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErsHjTpPRhyphenhyphen-MZax5SbBZyvSYvUjhJW7CYG_iXkNv0idLCTSFMR3it45Yl-Woj5_AN3voUI-INqkFvB0PGY2atvIAxMOEC4xTZFBJosHRCDVQCjVa19fG8S7Rc8HOF15YUrHmd9NMMARh/s1600/defense+coffeebreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErsHjTpPRhyphenhyphen-MZax5SbBZyvSYvUjhJW7CYG_iXkNv0idLCTSFMR3it45Yl-Woj5_AN3voUI-INqkFvB0PGY2atvIAxMOEC4xTZFBJosHRCDVQCjVa19fG8S7Rc8HOF15YUrHmd9NMMARh/s320/defense+coffeebreak.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Travelling to Belfast, United Kingdom from Paris Aéroport -
Charles de Gaulle (CDG).<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>23 August 2016 · Roissy-En-France, France</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Off to the capital of Northern Ireland, the next stop in my
trip across Northwestern Europe.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Paris: The city is in a bland, even lethargic August
holiday mood. The first time I was here was in an October, and it was much
livelier. The weekend and especially Sunday saw empty streets and closed shops.
A wine shop dealer told me it was not unusual for August (of course the
tourists around the hotspots were abundant). Yet the city was powerful and
rewarding as always. We found exactly the spots we needed, from cosy hidden
streets to wine bars to open markets.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As for Brexit, my secret obsession, the little
impression I have is Parisians don't really care; this was my first hypothesis
at the outset. They are so absent-minded and neglige at this time of the year
that I suspect it's not only Brexit they don't care about. Our student hosts at
the airbnb flat watched the Olympics and drank till late taking about much more
exciting things. The bars, unlike those in Britain and the U.S., are not a
place for random discussions with strangers. Parisians adore eating and having
fun out, but keep strictly to themselves. I wouldn't dream of spoiling this
sacred mood. Can't wait now for my first pint on the Green Island.</span></span></st1:country-region></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvVWzijRh6_I-RsUwxdpFZGvj829kagF7EIgS-wmcwOgjOS1YbspC9F9LtLeLZmvThCvGErSxLxt6aiLYa-5G6PJoV8MFGNA4DoJjIthPYmbZj7TxCob08xMzXQS-V8OHwEYfX_Kfc0uZ/s1600/Paris-Belfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="475" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvVWzijRh6_I-RsUwxdpFZGvj829kagF7EIgS-wmcwOgjOS1YbspC9F9LtLeLZmvThCvGErSxLxt6aiLYa-5G6PJoV8MFGNA4DoJjIthPYmbZj7TxCob08xMzXQS-V8OHwEYfX_Kfc0uZ/s320/Paris-Belfast.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Donegall Place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">24 August 2016 at 18:12 · <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:country-region style="font-size: 12pt;" w:st="on"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Loverly Belfast.</span></span></b></st1:country-region></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguN-2C6zoW4QDzXHARL16OM8PD-UzzDi05LUmfmBWtO-evjw4ZpVR8XPR5y6kvcoltVsHnJH1cKefIVY0zP3wWyX8e1tLBkUG5sOx-cJtNsC32GhBSntLLbRt2WuR3vQ4LcTgjMAKNbPLw/s1600/loverly+belfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguN-2C6zoW4QDzXHARL16OM8PD-UzzDi05LUmfmBWtO-evjw4ZpVR8XPR5y6kvcoltVsHnJH1cKefIVY0zP3wWyX8e1tLBkUG5sOx-cJtNsC32GhBSntLLbRt2WuR3vQ4LcTgjMAKNbPLw/s320/loverly+belfast.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Belfast, United Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">25 August 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:country-region style="font-size: 12pt;" w:st="on"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Red & Brown.</b> #Belfast #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest
#NorthernIreland</span></st1:country-region></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIzR6jAEtrPFei-t8RVSUsZ5sg4MslHGNfWtfG0h1qLRssJq1V3-XhwojklS7Un94L2FPPjMybGDEvjRZdgtvFNWcoNOxl55irBiam-gze7kujfHsZ8ABNweYQe3I5Gy3Q7AEuMcFAvWK/s1600/belfast+redbrick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIzR6jAEtrPFei-t8RVSUsZ5sg4MslHGNfWtfG0h1qLRssJq1V3-XhwojklS7Un94L2FPPjMybGDEvjRZdgtvFNWcoNOxl55irBiam-gze7kujfHsZ8ABNweYQe3I5Gy3Q7AEuMcFAvWK/s320/belfast+redbrick.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<st1:country-region style="font-size: 12pt;" w:st="on"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">Belfast, United Kingdom</span></st1:country-region></div>
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<st1:country-region style="font-size: 12pt;" w:st="on"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">25 August 2016</span></st1:country-region></div>
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<st1:country-region style="font-size: 12pt;" w:st="on"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Europe in our minds: #Europa hotel & Cafe
Continental. </b>#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #<st1:country-region w:st="on">Belfast</st1:country-region>
#NorthernIreland</span></st1:country-region></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPUdekfZ3NTPRtKLcxxN_Iv4Y6GOVjhIJbNvN9sM9zV5K3hwG6KVkF7L0NCmJRtELgbMtEHqJesUyWQCQI-U4AcpSzgj7q3dPd-CYVLfUM-KLOJiYAwgJfg3CKIa-Q00cuPSwbWtXTBWY/s1600/hotel+europa+belfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPUdekfZ3NTPRtKLcxxN_Iv4Y6GOVjhIJbNvN9sM9zV5K3hwG6KVkF7L0NCmJRtELgbMtEHqJesUyWQCQI-U4AcpSzgj7q3dPd-CYVLfUM-KLOJiYAwgJfg3CKIa-Q00cuPSwbWtXTBWY/s320/hotel+europa+belfast.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Titanic Memorial, Belfast City Hall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">25 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>#Titanic.</b> #Belfast #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest
#NorthernIreland</span></span></st1:country-region></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOraQXRxCswwPtAImq0rv0zbuHvCFKi4lGNpIi1GISIwrCEKttesmAukBhsJKLtGfIvhqQ7WN_vSxHs5K3AvDT3T39-3s3q-znlpKgDeSXOhMAh3CCxXhh3FIT4iAPJkite5UOlXxj7369/s1600/belfast+titanic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOraQXRxCswwPtAImq0rv0zbuHvCFKi4lGNpIi1GISIwrCEKttesmAukBhsJKLtGfIvhqQ7WN_vSxHs5K3AvDT3T39-3s3q-znlpKgDeSXOhMAh3CCxXhh3FIT4iAPJkite5UOlXxj7369/s320/belfast+titanic.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Harlem Belfast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">25 August 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Irish #breakfast I.</b> #Belfast #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest
#NorthernIreland</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Harlem Belfast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">25 August 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><b>The Irish #breakfast II. </b>#Belfast
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #craftbeer #Hilden #NorthernIreland</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oLG0epfSc3RG1_r-L0xyJJ-tWGZz8wF-8MqBN0i_vvKQtA65nTt_v4C5kVwsPNzdjMX1BLhT2W1vyNNxo8q8prxWdJK8Cr_WDnN6BmLLHNmUc8D9cWWojl0RCAVraLPFX55rbuwva3BB/s1600/belfast+irish+breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oLG0epfSc3RG1_r-L0xyJJ-tWGZz8wF-8MqBN0i_vvKQtA65nTt_v4C5kVwsPNzdjMX1BLhT2W1vyNNxo8q8prxWdJK8Cr_WDnN6BmLLHNmUc8D9cWWojl0RCAVraLPFX55rbuwva3BB/s320/belfast+irish+breakfast.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cathedral Quarter, Belfast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">25 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Streetpub.</b> #DukeOfYork #Belfast
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #NorthernIreland</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6bnsBarxSU7EHxdXcd03cEP9-ca0-Dkf1eufew63zf86SEz_k-jfwXlXl2FGtXI75r1P473G-ckagWG6rdCkURR3MrHrdVZ3SqZTLqiQYN3XxE1xevKHQ9RNnnkRBe1vD4NI4IwtXNni/s1600/belfast+street+pub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6bnsBarxSU7EHxdXcd03cEP9-ca0-Dkf1eufew63zf86SEz_k-jfwXlXl2FGtXI75r1P473G-ckagWG6rdCkURR3MrHrdVZ3SqZTLqiQYN3XxE1xevKHQ9RNnnkRBe1vD4NI4IwtXNni/s320/belfast+street+pub.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Peace Wall, Belfast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">25 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>The "Peace" wall dividing West #<st1:country-region w:st="on">Belfast</st1:country-region> into southern Nationalist/Catholic &
northern Loyalist/Protestant areas. The former is around #FallsRoad, the latter
around #ShankillRoad</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #NorthernIreland</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckL_MPzM75lJqSJJSlLWMLyx3JDR4ywDcY1XpykTseq_ul39Pmywl859Y7HVlvv2OVqf5dMb5WvpFarXvIrj7Au-_dY0hpmy9_T739zgVknbhyphenhyphen5hJCWeFEASsA7z4nI9ulrG4J8P-NfdB/s1600/peace+wall+belfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckL_MPzM75lJqSJJSlLWMLyx3JDR4ywDcY1XpykTseq_ul39Pmywl859Y7HVlvv2OVqf5dMb5WvpFarXvIrj7Au-_dY0hpmy9_T739zgVknbhyphenhyphen5hJCWeFEASsA7z4nI9ulrG4J8P-NfdB/s320/peace+wall+belfast.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Falls Road, Belfast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">25 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>The Nationalists I.</b> #murals #Belfast
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #NorthernIreland #Ireland #FallsRoad</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTj_xd1GPOfkUQ1ZIanDEsxCUI5-3yPtfqUnNvuIBu9M9c2IdMS0qm6NCySlOTS_gJwTCkj-0n5tiJcm2r-V5aQllVQGVpqp8Hcl7850I4cycc_bLeTFF9xc20qnbnI60eiT-_1FHyh_Xj/s1600/belfast+falls+road+0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTj_xd1GPOfkUQ1ZIanDEsxCUI5-3yPtfqUnNvuIBu9M9c2IdMS0qm6NCySlOTS_gJwTCkj-0n5tiJcm2r-V5aQllVQGVpqp8Hcl7850I4cycc_bLeTFF9xc20qnbnI60eiT-_1FHyh_Xj/s320/belfast+falls+road+0.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Falls Road, Belfast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">25 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>The Nationalists II. </b>#murals #Belfast #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest
#NorthernIreland #Ireland #FallsRoad</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYB_dEq3KD4ktdMJV5aIJbJ69bRtIgJqBcYyU35w50jDoSJ7OcbTJp12ElaMEr01mu8EgCwkO8k0A95MdjIELa1jQimlRVBBbZX2Rw26fHIJiAUcMpn2jciXLELHm1iu6A818AnIU9IxC/s1600/belfast+falls+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYB_dEq3KD4ktdMJV5aIJbJ69bRtIgJqBcYyU35w50jDoSJ7OcbTJp12ElaMEr01mu8EgCwkO8k0A95MdjIELa1jQimlRVBBbZX2Rw26fHIJiAUcMpn2jciXLELHm1iu6A818AnIU9IxC/s320/belfast+falls+road.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Falls Road, Belfast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">25 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>The Nationalists III. A touch of #socialism and
#Basque solidarity.</b> #murals #Belfast #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest
#NorthernIreland #Ireland #FallsRoad</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71hBv3XMjMZSr6QbcpRh_xqNrHnQTgHyRHm_sO1Vw5jLU9xOENQk2Sbswz2oIbV4RM-hPKV2hs18BRheQueHor8Jx8p3GmlU_9lDzGjJJTZ8oSljMsSCKInToS7XQ21-y1iu3UvisIYFm/s1600/belfast+nationalists+III.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71hBv3XMjMZSr6QbcpRh_xqNrHnQTgHyRHm_sO1Vw5jLU9xOENQk2Sbswz2oIbV4RM-hPKV2hs18BRheQueHor8Jx8p3GmlU_9lDzGjJJTZ8oSljMsSCKInToS7XQ21-y1iu3UvisIYFm/s320/belfast+nationalists+III.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Shankill, Belfast, United Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">25 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>The Unionists I.</b> #murals #Belfast
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #NorthernIreland #ShankillRoad</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaofOlMgmc562DycmM2cuL24qz_dY_yiSRi2HMix3oolo8OvJG8oF-Gkk60zng8SpV8ISbwFTD0fgWRvUTtiv1g84xCIN7a2qsdLT8cYC9ChHOTiTKQx-24kkZu2EBGMBp54HWtxGeKSTL/s1600/belfast+unionists+I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaofOlMgmc562DycmM2cuL24qz_dY_yiSRi2HMix3oolo8OvJG8oF-Gkk60zng8SpV8ISbwFTD0fgWRvUTtiv1g84xCIN7a2qsdLT8cYC9ChHOTiTKQx-24kkZu2EBGMBp54HWtxGeKSTL/s320/belfast+unionists+I.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Shankill, Belfast, United Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">25 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>The Unionists II. </b>#murals #Belfast
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #NorthernIreland #ShankillRoad</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jNDeq-jNa0evXhlciQXeI6_vjIvEQ180ObS6IrOPC5jeaWVaatGxmK1NW7bHiKGgGIMBI0OIUIhOBX64DQ9IeRB4ip2-Na3_rtHHdf-s8n9eYlYSG7h-AFHW9dEH3dw1MeDC0xfk81UQ/s1600/belfast+unionists+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jNDeq-jNa0evXhlciQXeI6_vjIvEQ180ObS6IrOPC5jeaWVaatGxmK1NW7bHiKGgGIMBI0OIUIhOBX64DQ9IeRB4ip2-Na3_rtHHdf-s8n9eYlYSG7h-AFHW9dEH3dw1MeDC0xfk81UQ/s320/belfast+unionists+II.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Shankill, Belfast, United Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">25 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>The Unionists III.</b> #murals #Belfast #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest
#NorthernIreland #ShankillRoad</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBvgdsYr9syN-3_qjjMam44oIx4nFpqE7yavn8wn8N4hm-S1Ga5sh1rVGMCNGuiwGsrDJCexVR7zRoYqgr3JiO0nJ97NVHLH_BWvzjr8L7QbUsBjlMqtLS6Z4LLrJ1uomj4_x4zyWLT1Z/s1600/belfast+unionists+III.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBvgdsYr9syN-3_qjjMam44oIx4nFpqE7yavn8wn8N4hm-S1Ga5sh1rVGMCNGuiwGsrDJCexVR7zRoYqgr3JiO0nJ97NVHLH_BWvzjr8L7QbUsBjlMqtLS6Z4LLrJ1uomj4_x4zyWLT1Z/s320/belfast+unionists+III.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Belfast, United Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">25 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Eternal #Balkans.</b> #Belfast #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest
#NorthernIreland</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlAhXu-D2TJJJhdoG2hRKq2uZ-3GogTNndObIoTOv5j3GU4XeXF-EFm-oO3SsuCSAnFo9cTnrcpGCcV7pXkcfbwTH-e2Hip0BDmdl27lb47vW6sLnyF5pocspLzz_OMTtQbf2YDogHy99/s1600/belfast+balkantours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlAhXu-D2TJJJhdoG2hRKq2uZ-3GogTNndObIoTOv5j3GU4XeXF-EFm-oO3SsuCSAnFo9cTnrcpGCcV7pXkcfbwTH-e2Hip0BDmdl27lb47vW6sLnyF5pocspLzz_OMTtQbf2YDogHy99/s320/belfast+balkantours.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Travelling to Bristol, United Kingdom from Belfast
International Airport.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>25 August 2016 · Belfast, United Kingdom</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"All of the North voted to stay," said the lady at
the Sinn Fein office (and memorabilia shop) in Falls Rd, where the Republican,
Catholic residents of West Belfast live. She meant "all of Northern
Ireland," and was not quite right because seven out of 18 constituencies
here voted to Leave the EU. But 11 voted to Remain, or 55.8% of total ballots
cast, with places like West and South Belfast electing by around 70% to stay.
And it was not only the nationalists who voted that way - a large part of the
unionists of Belfast did the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A bloke at a pub in the Cathedral Quarter told me the 1.5
million people of Northern Ireland, or Ulster (as unionists call it) feel like
hostages to 54-million England about almost every decision. So it was with the
EU referendum too, when the English Midlands had their suffocating say. He also
said the Irish here were not into politics very much but could feel the
positives of EU membership: much of the development and refurbishment taking
place across Belfast was powered by European money, he said, and I could see
construction sites everywhere. I also read in the local press that Northern
Irish farmers feel particularly vulnerable after the Brexit vote (in the same
paper there was a piece quoting amazing figures, which we Eastern European
societies must only admire and try to emulate: 400 Irish emigrants are
returning to their home island every week!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Belfast is a lovely, honest and intriguing city, especially
for those from the Balkans like myself who know the political and social
divisions of Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia. The streets and quarters have a
special feel to them, the pubs are fascinating and welcoming and the people are
amiable and open. (Please don't go to the Titanic museum, though!)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">I'm off now to England's Southwest for another intake
of this gorgeous United Kingdom.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDIdAKg_8CEpGjS3On8XMNgj90-C7QzykSoDlITCE6piBFD1Um_KEyuTcZLPWQFSkYbRcTarT5lcm63AN3VOaU1JAHYjGNyLxptECQmYaCQ5BXBngcbyizfJHXpk6mp3BtwDq0EYEDMAz/s1600/Belfast-Bristol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="473" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDIdAKg_8CEpGjS3On8XMNgj90-C7QzykSoDlITCE6piBFD1Um_KEyuTcZLPWQFSkYbRcTarT5lcm63AN3VOaU1JAHYjGNyLxptECQmYaCQ5BXBngcbyizfJHXpk6mp3BtwDq0EYEDMAz/s320/Belfast-Bristol.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bristol, United Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">26 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Terraces. I was told Europe's steepest street is here
in #<st1:country-region w:st="on">Bristol</st1:country-region> not in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Sarajevo</st1:country-region>.</b> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #england</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAouEEb_TCVL4OtruUMj2O2Md0QRD6U6OSSDKMm6v0sMY27uaaTfnap3AJshO8HnPOC8mBuLxAL7tGHf6phwELVhlpu2Y7ADspTf1p6iGaJV4FT7GbYeadF_gke_8_3-kuMZK_7E7VwJpG/s1600/bristol+terraces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAouEEb_TCVL4OtruUMj2O2Md0QRD6U6OSSDKMm6v0sMY27uaaTfnap3AJshO8HnPOC8mBuLxAL7tGHf6phwELVhlpu2Y7ADspTf1p6iGaJV4FT7GbYeadF_gke_8_3-kuMZK_7E7VwJpG/s320/bristol+terraces.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Devon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">26 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>On the train to #Cornwall. </b>#Devon
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #Sharps #ale #beer</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJ-D5xAQOWRcnlfgxgihpWiTiv5BTC5tEzmE4DQLZKsoTHKbvYBTEUylRsELfwguEZGGHdSvJb9fJsifzoXMH1h9mbzxMnU4pj6i0QS3M4_PDfRANTvqv7kynwYKIoj8KO2fXQ8SK3gME/s1600/train+devon+beer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJ-D5xAQOWRcnlfgxgihpWiTiv5BTC5tEzmE4DQLZKsoTHKbvYBTEUylRsELfwguEZGGHdSvJb9fJsifzoXMH1h9mbzxMnU4pj6i0QS3M4_PDfRANTvqv7kynwYKIoj8KO2fXQ8SK3gME/s320/train+devon+beer.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cornwall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">26 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Welcome to the Shire. </b>#Cornwall #England #UK
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptGmOaRedi3IGddtmX7vY37HWhbClqnOHX23lfOio4r1gOolaciWK0jjD0gUlGBXrlZPmPWMQM_L2fEbX6hUxZAvSPyPLAVKrfIFa-juqXRoVmqsElvU7B3aGGbYVAK8MIwkhN04fH07Y/s1600/cornwall+the+shire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="1080" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhptGmOaRedi3IGddtmX7vY37HWhbClqnOHX23lfOio4r1gOolaciWK0jjD0gUlGBXrlZPmPWMQM_L2fEbX6hUxZAvSPyPLAVKrfIFa-juqXRoVmqsElvU7B3aGGbYVAK8MIwkhN04fH07Y/s320/cornwall+the+shire.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gyllyngvase Beach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">27 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>"It's a lovely day, isn't it?"</b> #Gyllyngvase
#beach #Falmouth #Cornwall #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #England #UK</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianz27iQUUVGMkWt4gVjGYNZ-njy52MP5OyqH_shgkQ_J9tQarb021fbJiRwZKdXYaItqQ5OOaZGidb7Q7KcfvohihGXygaO-VwuB_Sg_vCRqaP-vUGF5TjPCcizCLKcKt_LFj6GsjbE9S/s1600/falmouth+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="1080" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianz27iQUUVGMkWt4gVjGYNZ-njy52MP5OyqH_shgkQ_J9tQarb021fbJiRwZKdXYaItqQ5OOaZGidb7Q7KcfvohihGXygaO-VwuB_Sg_vCRqaP-vUGF5TjPCcizCLKcKt_LFj6GsjbE9S/s320/falmouth+beach.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Falmouth, Cornwall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">27 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Festive.</b> #Falmouth #Cornwall
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #England #UK</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzABX-GnFAcsPHlUrz83WeQ0rkQjQUJtaW3FIYBcgikLKZsnGzkwlckXGdgCsdUgw-a_YGTXOYIEguj3Nxlp6K2aJ0EgIW8VK6sP1XLwIfteFEodUf5hsXrj3jB4TkQoruXdTPGqo2xL9/s1600/falmouth+festive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzABX-GnFAcsPHlUrz83WeQ0rkQjQUJtaW3FIYBcgikLKZsnGzkwlckXGdgCsdUgw-a_YGTXOYIEguj3Nxlp6K2aJ0EgIW8VK6sP1XLwIfteFEodUf5hsXrj3jB4TkQoruXdTPGqo2xL9/s320/falmouth+festive.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Falmouth Harbour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">27 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Harbour I. </b>#Falmouth #Cornwall
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #England #UK</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFk87gOFqEGjfuKACa4XPynMPwJBt_afdErFLUpsJJQTMXTCspNFB2tYvpfAvISFQwd-p6ogaMPgdEiu5gNlSMThyphenhyphenX6GmVNZKFCBqIJS2eKR1C5EvMIaxhNIhMj0qwVB-ZtzP2UeVoc13e/s1600/falmouth+harbour+I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="1080" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFk87gOFqEGjfuKACa4XPynMPwJBt_afdErFLUpsJJQTMXTCspNFB2tYvpfAvISFQwd-p6ogaMPgdEiu5gNlSMThyphenhyphenX6GmVNZKFCBqIJS2eKR1C5EvMIaxhNIhMj0qwVB-ZtzP2UeVoc13e/s320/falmouth+harbour+I.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Falmouth Harbour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">27 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Harbour II.</b> #Falmouth #Cornwall #England
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #UK</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJp45nxuwDwPh5GsMBhOk44mTrLiJ4Th-e3goWM5_bqjpNkAdAsd5jBIAaK9Snd8zk8GleGb_WkXWhGYWit0vmiMdRgfZyQAwilMHHAdY9EEEox6HieAJCGaxMcGhlN8433b2QfeUNT2t/s1600/falmouth+harbour+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="960" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJp45nxuwDwPh5GsMBhOk44mTrLiJ4Th-e3goWM5_bqjpNkAdAsd5jBIAaK9Snd8zk8GleGb_WkXWhGYWit0vmiMdRgfZyQAwilMHHAdY9EEEox6HieAJCGaxMcGhlN8433b2QfeUNT2t/s320/falmouth+harbour+II.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Falmouth</st1:country-region>
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Harbour</st1:country-region></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">27 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Harbour III.</b> #<st1:country-region w:st="on">Falmouth</st1:country-region>
#<st1:country-region w:st="on">Cornwall</st1:country-region>
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #<st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region>
#UK</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3oZWDbjBkTNU3fSJfKNYKFYFXZDHky_nV-Czjm151H6ptPko4Vf-tlHqYvqMVFy_1hGZp7dBwzItQZrvZoCeuhNqo_bvCWc3hRdQG5KHofyCi-f-arOiADOKNPGfiDbjpCQ5m0_ZrSTn/s1600/cornwall+harbour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="960" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3oZWDbjBkTNU3fSJfKNYKFYFXZDHky_nV-Czjm151H6ptPko4Vf-tlHqYvqMVFy_1hGZp7dBwzItQZrvZoCeuhNqo_bvCWc3hRdQG5KHofyCi-f-arOiADOKNPGfiDbjpCQ5m0_ZrSTn/s320/cornwall+harbour.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Wheelhouse Crab and Oyster bar!.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">27 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Cornish lures.</b> #Falmouth #Cornwall
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #England #UK</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypZA0_ip_4oh7qX2Lv_ylBI0lFMHAWfW_prtM-K4vErucV57MDHBasFEhtQZQTM2c-3xyazGVVvXI6Grdwz34gpv7pFVo4WTfeH-hEuIR5gZkjoAUMzJ4CSGJRvKEqmhBRVZ1ih_ko88F/s1600/cornish+lures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypZA0_ip_4oh7qX2Lv_ylBI0lFMHAWfW_prtM-K4vErucV57MDHBasFEhtQZQTM2c-3xyazGVVvXI6Grdwz34gpv7pFVo4WTfeH-hEuIR5gZkjoAUMzJ4CSGJRvKEqmhBRVZ1ih_ko88F/s320/cornish+lures.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The 'Front.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">27 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Cornish power. </b>#TheFront #Cornwall #ale
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #England #UK</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUdOmK8LYURuNmVmOKJULDR-Nu-IK0gWEH0daCm998VIfmGGgLa-3-hCpf7NHHPHNEw3wUdHsHo8taddQtJbwPCNkN84k71UK4iIRL4iUSMb0B9LRvJcj3x3e4NvzekVybnqyTNPnil1Y/s1600/cornish+power.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUdOmK8LYURuNmVmOKJULDR-Nu-IK0gWEH0daCm998VIfmGGgLa-3-hCpf7NHHPHNEw3wUdHsHo8taddQtJbwPCNkN84k71UK4iIRL4iUSMb0B9LRvJcj3x3e4NvzekVybnqyTNPnil1Y/s320/cornish+power.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Falmouth, Cornwall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">27 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>The gatherers. </b>#<st1:country-region w:st="on">Falmouth</st1:country-region>
#<st1:country-region w:st="on">Cornwall</st1:country-region> #<st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region> #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #UK</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KHPY9uM0ljHAppfzQvzfgH07L9UBu0ilrKBdBH3AVoeChAqmQjYf7iV0q0F_ERBVaSVBfarbPyeQ5JCPKgicF07oME6-2HRD_CGePoKist5MTe9GPLrcuiZeE3bbNEsedSrHZI0X3GlD/s1600/falmouth+castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KHPY9uM0ljHAppfzQvzfgH07L9UBu0ilrKBdBH3AVoeChAqmQjYf7iV0q0F_ERBVaSVBfarbPyeQ5JCPKgicF07oME6-2HRD_CGePoKist5MTe9GPLrcuiZeE3bbNEsedSrHZI0X3GlD/s320/falmouth+castle.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gyllyngvase Beach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">27 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>The conversation.</b> #Falmouth #Cornwall
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #England #UK</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5A43_ilb6G0U_bfSqrw3XsRQfghQJ51UVGPeta9DpqjqwfTfOhL_M9pJR26QtNWJTKv7XaObeAKIwlBlPawILjueAMEx99SDv28z7ZXRE1D4NRjihSVzuub31M8h-68n8AJmUxlKCjrux/s1600/falmouth+evening+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5A43_ilb6G0U_bfSqrw3XsRQfghQJ51UVGPeta9DpqjqwfTfOhL_M9pJR26QtNWJTKv7XaObeAKIwlBlPawILjueAMEx99SDv28z7ZXRE1D4NRjihSVzuub31M8h-68n8AJmUxlKCjrux/s320/falmouth+evening+beach.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The 'Front.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">28 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Real #ale.</b> #CAMRA #Cornwall #England #UK
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYng9akgGMRFWaNccjVg_9jXVbPANEsUPHw0xQgsLPHQ2Xen0a3TVwnYop6x6iprJhoLj2JH6AYxr0hG3m5baen2e1DjOjtp3a1k75u70fVzsTE7uzt9nzYMfKW2hmpLU3eui4IIJpYJCq/s1600/falmouth+real+ale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYng9akgGMRFWaNccjVg_9jXVbPANEsUPHw0xQgsLPHQ2Xen0a3TVwnYop6x6iprJhoLj2JH6AYxr0hG3m5baen2e1DjOjtp3a1k75u70fVzsTE7uzt9nzYMfKW2hmpLU3eui4IIJpYJCq/s320/falmouth+real+ale.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">River Fal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">28 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Toward the castle. </b>#RiverFal #Cornwall
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #Falmouth #England #UK</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3w5ZZiU-WFBXBFY4C4gLTHObX20PU3nU-A27mEemx7lhhbBvjgnsPPZlr3GF73bD4EijMh-ZNHf0qRndO14QjY801aoeLu-Jr9HJTuIdfQ5fKmOEds-6n-uMfZG1nL17souXYS8OgmlMm/s1600/falmouth+bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="1080" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3w5ZZiU-WFBXBFY4C4gLTHObX20PU3nU-A27mEemx7lhhbBvjgnsPPZlr3GF73bD4EijMh-ZNHf0qRndO14QjY801aoeLu-Jr9HJTuIdfQ5fKmOEds-6n-uMfZG1nL17souXYS8OgmlMm/s320/falmouth+bay.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">St Mawes Harbour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">28 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Destination.</b> #StMawes #Cornwall
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #England #UK</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NhapZ8ohDxqIhR8zNa7f4hQwpvWzeDRDcI_uW2c8gY-AdJtTVRjtCclTjaMDSkqoPqbhSsyVha4BkuNTNb0A8gf3ORYbGzqE1E_P0Yq_ekG4sqkYI1zkZcR2gUtPgdXQYdAsmUsf3dAm/s1600/st+mawes+destination.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NhapZ8ohDxqIhR8zNa7f4hQwpvWzeDRDcI_uW2c8gY-AdJtTVRjtCclTjaMDSkqoPqbhSsyVha4BkuNTNb0A8gf3ORYbGzqE1E_P0Yq_ekG4sqkYI1zkZcR2gUtPgdXQYdAsmUsf3dAm/s320/st+mawes+destination.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Saint Mawes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">28 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Hobbiton-on-Sea.</b> #StMawes #Cornwall
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #England #UK</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKwZ5iQOYFG0ynFl3LhkmYrBW6Bzz5aKFyvYTTbtE8npGFSXGI7VYIqFUwQFC0vZf_OwXKgxLEHsHytONS3C_m7RJQxJSEwCYMPNHJarPRtUHqHSoe09sriZbS6yqNoGMMLQcNjcJzT3Y/s1600/st+mawes+hobbiton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="1080" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKwZ5iQOYFG0ynFl3LhkmYrBW6Bzz5aKFyvYTTbtE8npGFSXGI7VYIqFUwQFC0vZf_OwXKgxLEHsHytONS3C_m7RJQxJSEwCYMPNHJarPRtUHqHSoe09sriZbS6yqNoGMMLQcNjcJzT3Y/s320/st+mawes+hobbiton.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Idle Rocks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">28 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Cornish nibbles. </b>#StMawes #Cornwall
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #England #UK #crab #IdleRocks</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_Dh6PTYF5XWCyhv1anwyg9DAaicVmmjiJV2AtCsUBsprAlVmIPw302qITVab_B3rQ19G91PEQcFKyWc_t0hWClCP9t09euHPhkrbWlvgc1tPnjCTxloPRPYoKYCxG0WgzvnjUnuTECFi/s1600/st+mawes+crab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_Dh6PTYF5XWCyhv1anwyg9DAaicVmmjiJV2AtCsUBsprAlVmIPw302qITVab_B3rQ19G91PEQcFKyWc_t0hWClCP9t09euHPhkrbWlvgc1tPnjCTxloPRPYoKYCxG0WgzvnjUnuTECFi/s320/st+mawes+crab.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">St Mawes Harbour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">28 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Retro.</b> #StMawes #Cornwall #SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest
#Shell #England #UK</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz3Sms6u_4mSqJHh-bhEeLVOzQBCkmNk3a9gv3yioHzGvYZPejk2mKCYvBLSvTsfHWfgxVeDRty2Ttn6xOzzTfAo5Z2w691Q4CMusweTXbdcs3wMajWCgJHro3h4FVexPKmqswiGF29dS/s1600/st+mawes+retro+boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1080" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikz3Sms6u_4mSqJHh-bhEeLVOzQBCkmNk3a9gv3yioHzGvYZPejk2mKCYvBLSvTsfHWfgxVeDRty2Ttn6xOzzTfAo5Z2w691Q4CMusweTXbdcs3wMajWCgJHro3h4FVexPKmqswiGF29dS/s320/st+mawes+retro+boat.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Saint Mawes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">28 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>The beach.</b> #StMawes #Cornwall
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #England #UK</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjao1AD-hg5bs03IDKF75RHarCl1ysHjVuq7f-x98eR5YGhVYCLgVovZ3y9AjDGisbzTFoL-Y-lVsV4Vhd74J1I415E-P-FiTjPzagqOxEUxAlv2Vld6emMbWllNvZpW1wJ18aKrLmiFZdp/s1600/st+mawes+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjao1AD-hg5bs03IDKF75RHarCl1ysHjVuq7f-x98eR5YGhVYCLgVovZ3y9AjDGisbzTFoL-Y-lVsV4Vhd74J1I415E-P-FiTjPzagqOxEUxAlv2Vld6emMbWllNvZpW1wJ18aKrLmiFZdp/s320/st+mawes+beach.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">St Mawes Castle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">28 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Watchtower.</b> #StMawes #Cornwall
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #England #UK</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuIO7Fp8Cvrpw8QvYKWPEpErRHyjpfbTl6CI67U0Sc3Rp_UggxtdLHApCawnZU1gf7Ol1NK0WHyOLlV7KE8DesvQJZeCeqcGEXaofeySoxsO-wsKhXPRU8KeK5iamMFpVPLH5B0etszGD/s1600/st+mawes+watchtower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1080" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuIO7Fp8Cvrpw8QvYKWPEpErRHyjpfbTl6CI67U0Sc3Rp_UggxtdLHApCawnZU1gf7Ol1NK0WHyOLlV7KE8DesvQJZeCeqcGEXaofeySoxsO-wsKhXPRU8KeK5iamMFpVPLH5B0etszGD/s320/st+mawes+watchtower.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">St Mawes Harbour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">28 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>The fishing team.</b> #StMawes #Cornwall
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #England #UK</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwoMsTaqQrVbue4d5GXUU0BEUp1VOc5KBSlkd4HifihYu__vwBEzlOca3QM9M_956qq8g_T5jg20chWRZcbS8G5_E_uFxOBtWalmzv-87Elq8R4MLg4kceeC6Z2s664gObCUgy3HNUmMa/s1600/st+mawes+fishermen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwoMsTaqQrVbue4d5GXUU0BEUp1VOc5KBSlkd4HifihYu__vwBEzlOca3QM9M_956qq8g_T5jg20chWRZcbS8G5_E_uFxOBtWalmzv-87Elq8R4MLg4kceeC6Z2s664gObCUgy3HNUmMa/s320/st+mawes+fishermen.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Saint Mawes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">28 August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>A break.</b> #StMawes #Cornwall
#SketchesOfEuropesNorthwest #England #UK</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSn7di9a1mQwFehvPCPQWh3UDpA_S8WglOJ4jO9bvPGQENag2Si57bnqCed6r2ynyDTH9WKui0hKYlVMTfHDPKloEXO7UnFbAJsESp6QaFglOgAOUREbb2AeuOzdaJXD8igr7ho20ylEcA/s1600/st+mawes+seafood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1080" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSn7di9a1mQwFehvPCPQWh3UDpA_S8WglOJ4jO9bvPGQENag2Si57bnqCed6r2ynyDTH9WKui0hKYlVMTfHDPKloEXO7UnFbAJsESp6QaFglOgAOUREbb2AeuOzdaJXD8igr7ho20ylEcA/s320/st+mawes+seafood.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Travelling to Sofia, Bulgaria from Bristol Airport.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>28 August 2016 · Bristol, United Kingdom</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On my way back home after a thrilling Cornwall and a short
Bristol experience. I will never forget the honest, overwhelming joy that
exuded from every single person on the crowded Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth,
Cornwall, on that warm and sunny Friday in late August. I finally realised,
after years of exchange with the English and months of living in London or just
roaming the English cities, what really makes them happy: a beautiful summer
day on the beach, the English beach. I cannot but admire these honest human
feelings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had yearned to visit the English countryside for years,
and Cornwall was my prize. Amazing beaches and hilly land with ups and downs,
charming thatched houses as if taken from a Tolkien story, really friendly
people, the best cider I have tried (sorry, Ireland!), strong ales and
delicious food - especially the Cornish crab and pasties. Most of the tourists,
say 99%, were English. It was a German and a French group that we encountered
and us that made the difference. I really hoped to hear the Cornish language at
play but our airbnb hosts said it was not generally used and could be heard
only in club gatherings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bristol is a place to which I must devote a separate trip. I
fell for it but we only spent one night and then two hours on our way back. Not
enough, not even close.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We talked politics of course. It struck me how pro-European
Falmouth, the town which was our base, was. Our hosts were art people with
leftist inclinations: we certainly didn't agree on Corbyn's idea of Labour but
we did agree on Europe. They said Falmouth voted to Remain. I saw an EU flag
waving in front of an old semi-detached in the town centre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My conclusion after this entire trip is that more and more
people in our western societies are falling hostages to the primitive,
irrational thinking of those that are angry. I don't think Britain is happy
about the outcome of the referendum vote. Even small communities like Falmouth,
Cornwall, have been explicit about their political preferences in a sea of
declared pessimists. It is ironic that we in Bulgaria have been hostages of a
similar, angry mass for a decade and a half now. Why is this repeating in
established democracies? Do the majorities of the 20th and early 21st
centuries, most of them middle class and working people, now perceive
themselves as disenfranchised minorities? I am inclined to think so vis-a-vis
the Brexit vote and the Trump phenomenon. I think political parties in the West
must reform and redraw their priorities urgently. Otherwise they will just
remain idle respondents to a major societal change. I don't think Corbyn,
Podemos or AfD are the answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Dear Sofia, I'm coming home.</span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-73739253451609250992016-11-20T15:55:00.001+02:002016-11-26T13:43:20.582+02:00DiVino.Taste 2016: The "post-truth"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So it finally came - the sixth issue of the biggest and most admired exhibition of Bulgarian wines: DiVino.Taste. It is almost over now (due to end on Sunday) but I am eager to share impressions and recommendations from my Saturday afternoon visit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbFlGcIrRhamEUP1SpotIGJ_iXPPlPx1AJrNVowuDweLrTZ4ZA0ijneHoCOtendY_8me_Bw-9Pi8Su1XP3Hoi6xTBgihWEtBjsDC8tWv0d1k8GHddphKiviw-_4exaHH8A6tlNXJZ-qoI/s1600/20161119_120510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbFlGcIrRhamEUP1SpotIGJ_iXPPlPx1AJrNVowuDweLrTZ4ZA0ijneHoCOtendY_8me_Bw-9Pi8Su1XP3Hoi6xTBgihWEtBjsDC8tWv0d1k8GHddphKiviw-_4exaHH8A6tlNXJZ-qoI/s320/20161119_120510.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had a vague plan in my mind on how to approach this year's tasting, given the overwhelming number of wineries and wines to be shown (73 wineries, some 500 wines in total): go for favourite regions - Northwest, Struma Valley, Danube Plain; then go for favourite wineries in the remaining regions - Thracian Lowlands, Sakar, Black Sea. White wines and rosés first, reds on the second tour. Yes but the organisation of the stands was a bit messy, though regions had specific colours assigned to them, so I dived into stand No. 1 and went all the way through 72, skipping wineries (about one-third of them) which did not interest me.<br />
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Several conclusions (specific wines listed at the end):<br />
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<a name='more'></a>1) Което си е, си е (Non-translatable Bulgarian for 'Whatever's a quality thing, remains a quality thing'). These wineries impressed again with their stuff and I am convinced they always will. They deserve international attention and I hope they get it after this year's DiVino.Taste. Some of them have it already. Cross-regionally: Rossidi (amazing unoaked Chard and orange wine, Pinot Noir and Rubin); Edoardo Miroglio (fantastic <i>metodo classico</i> bubbly - blanc de blancs and rosé, Pinot Noir, Cab Franc, Rubin and Mavrud); Villa Melnik (the Melnik 55, the Merlot); Santa Sarah; Midalidare; Minkov Brothers; Burgozone; Salla.<br />
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2) A second wave of revival of Bulgarian autochtonous varieties which even amazed <i>me</i>: I tried three types of Misket from Staro Oryahovo winery solely: Alexandria, Vrachanski and Varnenski. The Vrachanski ruled (I am no maniac about aromatic whites but I love my Gewurztraminer, and these expressions of Misket which quite a few wineries are newly into, had my admiration). The Rubins are so refreshingly tannic that I joked with the producers, Is it the Nebbiolo that has the say here, the Syrah intentionally muffled, or what? (Rubin is a 1940s Bulgarian experiment: a cross between Nebbiolo and Syrah).<br />
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3) The newcomers that simply RULE: Staro Oryahovo, Tzarev Brod, Uva Nestum, Four Friends, Zelanos. Some of them are not quite newcomers; I have the pleasure to have made acquaintance with them at my favourite wine bar. Still, save the names.<br />
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4) The Rieslings. I am so proud of the Rieslings Bulgarian wineries are now making - especially the ones in the Danube Plain region. The Cab Francs too.<br />
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5) The elegance. Bulgarian wineries continue responding to the general market trend: the informed public is sick and tired of the fruit bombs that once were. Keep on, boys and girls!<br />
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The wines which got me thinking (chronologically, as in the tasting notebook):<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Chateau de Val Dunav White Wine 2015 (roasted jalapeño, oak)</li>
<li>Gulbanis Kaylashki Misket 2016; Moscato Bianco 2015 (very much like the Piedmontese one from Asti); Syrah 2013 (very rustic and straightforward)</li>
<li>Vinex Slavyantsi Leva Misket 2015; Leva Pinot Noir 2015</li>
<li>Minkov Bros Le Photographe Rheinriesling 2013 (hints of petroleum already)</li>
<li>Zelanos Rosé 2016 (apples); Sauvignon Blanc 2016; Pinot Gris 2014 (white cherry); Misket 2014 (wet stone); Rosé Pinot Noir 2015</li>
<li>Tohun Sauvignon Blanc 2015 (reminds of the beautiful Slovenian Sauv Blancs from the Alpes' slopes)</li>
<li>Staro Oryahovo Misket of Alexandria 2015; Vrachanski Misket 2015; Varnenski Misket 2015</li>
<li>Santa Sarah One Good Year Rubin Privat 2015 (spicy and the best balance in wine I've come across lately)</li>
<li>Varna Winery Pinot Gris 2015</li>
<li>Salla Sauvignon Blanc 2015 (my Slovenian fetish again); Vrachanski Misket 2016; Pinot Noir 2013 (one of the two best Bulgarian Pinots currently on the market; Borovitza's a separate tier); Cabernet Franc 2013</li>
<li>Tzarev Brod Pinot Noir Reserve 2012 (the other best Pinot); Riesling 2014</li>
<li>Chateau Copsa Rose Valley Misket 2015</li>
<li>Korten Merlot 2015; Syrah 2015 (smoky South African style)</li>
<li>Domain Marash Lenea Sauvignon Blanc (the most acidic Bulgarian wine I've tried - must be good with tomato, oily and sea foods); Lenea Rosé Cab Sauv & Syrah & Petit Verdot 2015 (strawberries and minerality)</li>
<li>Better Half Rosé 2015 (mineral and cheesy)</li>
<li>Alexandra Estate Pure White Cuvée 2015; Mourvedre & Syrah & Viognier 2015(?)</li>
<li>Edoardo Miroglio Brut Blanc de Blancs 2011 (the real <i>metodo classico</i>, just like Ferrari or Franciacorta); Brut Rosé 2011; Pinot Noir Reserve 2013; Elenovo Mavrud; Elenovo Rubin</li>
<li>Rossidi Chardonnay Egg-Fermented 2016 (think Chablis); Orange 2016 (speechless...); Rubin 2014</li>
<li>Midalidare Riesling 2012 (huge petroleum, freshness); Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon 2015; Grand Vintage Cabernet Franc 2013 (the best expression of the variety made by a Bulgarian producer - the green peppers are very well balanced)</li>
<li>Four Friends Black Shadow White 2016; Morgentau Riesling 2015 (petroleum already and white stone fruit); Zitara Cabernet Franc 2015</li>
<li>Dragomir Reserve Rubin 2013</li>
<li>Rupel Tamianka 2015; Marselan 2015</li>
<li>Uva Nestum Rosé 2015 (smoke and peanuts); Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot 2013 (smoke); Rubin & Merlot 2013</li>
<li>Logodaj Hypnose Reserva 100% Merlot Single Vineyard 2012</li>
<li>Via Verde Expressions Misket & Muskat 2015 (great body)</li>
<li>Villa Melnik AplauZ Melnik 55 Reserve 2015; AplauZ Merlot Premium Reserve 2013</li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-77766187447573253872016-10-20T13:11:00.001+03:002016-11-26T13:45:13.610+02:00IRIS publishes second of its kind study on human security threats in Bulgaria<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My organisation, the Institute for Regional and International Studies (<a href="http://www.iris-bg.org/">IRIS</a>), has published today a second of its kind study on human security threats in Bulgaria. It is authored by IRIS′s expert and Sofia University professor Stoycho P. Stoychev and is part of the efforts of the Citizens′ Network for Human Security (<b><a href="http://cn4hs.org/">cn4hs</a></b>) for the Balkans and Turkey as part of a project supported by the European Commission. I am author of the introductions in Bulgarian and the English summaries.</div>
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This year′s study comprises two parts: a novel, qualitative research component on prostitution and the sexual services market in Bulgaria and the existing threats to human security of the people involved in it, focusing among other things on the changes that have occurred after a similar such study conducted in 2010; and a quantitative research component on the impact which the so-called controlled vote phenomenon in Bulgaria has on human security, building upon a qualitative study on the issue which IRIS’s team implemented in the first phase of the current project (2014).</div>
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Please take a look at the <a href="http://www.iris-bg.org/menu.php?i_id=468">announcement</a> on the official IRIS website and find there links to the comprehensive texts in Bulgarian and the English summaries.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-23543945860911344582016-04-28T14:37:00.000+03:002016-04-28T14:39:12.445+03:00Protests and Plenums: Bosnia's Civic Awakening and Youth Participation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7wfIhufPhAwi6YRHIzQ6escxnZqjSghWNmMwZyjUXl4OPIf4-0vl4KdAUDLZulieF-nT80h8fhyphenhypheneDaIsw71h42hlkvRD6hcM8b-Wp9bV53owgr8m9lYwtM2x2G6_wzOCvHBVfBEJZfOK/s1600/Bosnian_social_protests_Tuzla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7wfIhufPhAwi6YRHIzQ6escxnZqjSghWNmMwZyjUXl4OPIf4-0vl4KdAUDLZulieF-nT80h8fhyphenhypheneDaIsw71h42hlkvRD6hcM8b-Wp9bV53owgr8m9lYwtM2x2G6_wzOCvHBVfBEJZfOK/s320/Bosnian_social_protests_Tuzla.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image: Wikimedia Commons (http://ow.ly/4nbV6q) </span></div>
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My paper on Bosnia's civil movements in 2012-14, the unique form of direct democracy that ensued - the plenums - and the role of the young in all that is available <a href="http://www.iris-bg.org/fls/Ralchev-Bosnia_Youth_Participation-Oct_2015.pdf">here</a>. It was written for the book <i>Good Governance and Youth, </i>ed. Dr Melanie Sully, published by the Institute for Go-Governance in Vienna.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-70036550089521607992016-04-07T18:06:00.000+03:002016-04-07T21:04:39.885+03:00The 4 shames of the Dutch referendum on Ukraine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Netherlands on Wednesday voted in a consultative (but nevertheless significant and potentially disruptive) referendum on whether the European Union should ratify the Association Agreement with Ukraine. Turnout was 32%, and 64% of those who cast a ballot voted against the Ukraine deal. I have just four points on that:<br />
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1) It's not a shame that a 20% radicalised anti-European minority (of those having the right to vote) voted the way it did. It's their right. It's a shame a 80% majority was silent and sleepwalked through this important referendum, letting a weird coalition of populists, radicals and animal rights activists to beat them.<br />
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2) It's a shame that the same Association Agreement, for which the 130 of Euromaidan gave their lives in 2013-14, was crossed out with such a maddening levity by the Dutch, founders of the EU and among the greatest proponents of its values.<br />
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3) It's a shame that few people in the Netherlands on Wednesday remembered the Malaysian flight MH17 airplane crash over Ukraine on 17 July 2014 which sent hundreds of their kin to their deaths. The Russian BUK missile had been aimed back then, symbolically, at the same EU choice of Ukraine which the Dutch rejected lightheartedly yesterday.<br />
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4) And it's a shame that a trade-loving nation as the Netherlands, with a huge tradition of encouraging and exploiting free commerce with the rest of the world for centuries on end, voted against what is essentially a trade and cooperation deal with another European nation.<br />
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It's a shame.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-25562143711286272012015-12-09T20:01:00.000+02:002015-12-09T23:32:34.926+02:00След бламирането на конституционната реформа на Хр. Иванов<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Кунева и Лукарски мълчат като риби, гербаджийте и Патриотичният фронт нагло се подсмиват, а Първановите руски мекерета отявлено триумфират. ДПС нямат някакво специално поведение, а БСП не знаят какво да кажат. Това видях досега, към 20.00 ч.на 9 декември 2015 г., след провала на "историческия компромис" за съдебната власт.<br />
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Да, все още няма реакция на ДБГ след бламирането на реформата на Христо Иванов, както и на СДС и на другите сили в Реформаторския блок (РБ) - освен въпросната оставка на правосъдния министър и безапелационните изявления на Радан Кънев и Гроздан Караджов (ДСБ) за прекратяване на подкрепата им за правителството "Борисов II".<br />
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За РБ ми е мисълта. Всъщност аз и партията на Кунева сме толкова различни (въпреки че съм гласувал за нея в рамките на Блока в моя избирателен район в името на солидарността), че най-естественото нещо е те да си останат във властта да проветряват на Бойко подмишниците пред Европа, Кунева като истински евробюрократ да е на власт, ама нищо да не зависи от нея, а аз и Радан и Гроздан и нормалните хора в тоя град и държава да сме опозиция. Това още от stunner-a Мая Манолова - омбудсман. Лично мнение, не ангажирам никого. Просто ме е яд на тия процеси, които се забелязваха от лятото, ранното.<br />
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За мен като избирател на РБ - ако ДБГ, СДС и останалите партии от Блока не вземат решение за излизане от управлението - вече не е важно тази формация да оцелява. Въпреки огромния потенциал, който имаше. В крайна сметка принципите са по-важни от черупката. Съдържанието е по-важно от формата.<br />
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Поздравления за Христо Иванов и благодарности за свършеното от него. Благодарности и на Реформаторския блок за това, че известно време все пак олицетворяваше нещо като надежда за българската политика и общество. Нещо, родено в гражданското общество - автентичното.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-72090210743392004272015-11-07T17:12:00.001+02:002015-11-08T18:09:06.536+02:00Невъзможната лекота на Бургундия<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Morey-Saint-Denis</i></div>
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Боже, кога за последно пих Бургундия? Декември месец в Ню Йорк, когато Пифа извади Gevrey-Chambertin от 1999. Мокри чорапи и мед. A godsent. Това сега тук пред мен е Gevrey-Chambertin на Philippe Leclerc, 1er Cru les Combeaux Moines, 2011. Flashback, flashback. Мозъкът щрака, щрака. Не се бърка този аромат, тази мекост, тази топлота надолу по гърлото. Наоколо е чудо на чудесата. Леката и невъзможна, приказна Бургундия, е тук пред мен. Есенна, жълто-оранжево-кафява, мъглива, слънчева, аристоркратична, дъбова, плесенясала, подземна, лазурна, чиста, скъпа, отворена, твоя.<br />
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Gevrey-Chambertin. Nuits-Saint-Georges. Vosne-Romanee. Savigny-les-Beaune. Имена на селца като от приказка. Всяко дава и вино с контролиран географски произход с марка – името на селцето. Митични, магически за любителя на вино, както Сен Мориц и Шамони за скиорите или Монте Карло и Лас Вегас за любителите на хазартните игри. Да, виното е тръпка и мания, пристрастяваш се – към вселената, която то носи със себе си. А Бургундия и нейните селца, лозя, разделени от каменни зидове, хората ѝ – тя е върховния източник и цел на тази мания. Аз вече в това съм убеден, след този сюблимен есенен уикенд в чутовното пространство между Дижон и Бон, наречено Кот д'Ор – северната и най-великолепна част на Бургундия.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>За непристрастените: Бургундия е втория по значимост винен регион на Франция след Бордо (макар че според мен, заради мащабите и популярността си, Бордо остава terra incognita и по тази причина – на заден план). Намира се в централна източна Франция и от север на юг се простира от Дижон почти до Лион. Но сърцето ѝ са четирийсетте километра от Дижон до град Бон (Beaune), които включват подрегионите Кот д’Ор (Cote d’Or) и Бон (Beaune). Основните сортове са пино ноар и шардоне – те оттук са произлезли; затова като стане дума за червена бургундия, това е пино ноар, а за бяла – това е шардоне. Има и по-редки сортове като червения гаме (Gamay) или белия алиготе (Aligote), но те не са от значение.<br />
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<i>Savigny-les-Beaune</i></div>
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Бургундия е уникална във винения свят с това, че лозята са адски надробени – много собственици на малки парцели – и всяко лозе си има своя характер и дава уникално вино. Няма chateaux като в Бордо – големи имения с много хектари лозя – а има domaines: малки изби, които най-често имат лозя в конкретното село и правят вино само от тях. Някои изби имат лозя в повече села, т.е. в повече АОС-та (Appellation d’Origine Controlee). Има и по-едри търговци, т.нар. negociants, които изкупуват грозде от различни производители и предоставят по-достъпни вина. Но най-често производителите са дребни, а вината скъпи.<br />
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Бургундия е скъпа. Невъзможна направо. Вината се класифицират в четири категории (тук ще говоря само за червената бургундия, пино ноар, шардонето така и не ме грабна, със своя дъб и масленост, нещо не толкова привлекателно за бяло вино според мен). Основната категория е Bourgogne – регион Бургундия, това са вина от лозя принципно на изток от главния път Дижон-Бон (конкретно в Кот д’Ор). Тези лозя са по правило хоризонтално разположени, с по-бавно оттичане на водата при валеж. Вината Burgogne са между €12-20. Следва категория Villages, или „селата”: по-стръмни лозя с по-приятно изложение към слънцето. Вината варират между €15-25. Третата степен е Premier Cru – лозя на запад от пътя Дижон-Бон, разположени на хълмовете, гледащи на изток-югоизток; вината са от €30 до €60, като има естествено и много по-скъпи. Много любими мои са премиер крютата от Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits-Saint-Georges и Savigny-les-Beaune.<br />
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<i>The Domaine de la Romanee-Conti vineyard</i></div>
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И разбира се върхът – Grand Cru, уникални по разположение стръмни лозя с бързо оттичане на водата и специфични почвени характеристики, по правило стари насаждения. На тези цените са космически: няма под €60, а знаменити реколти на пазара стигат до хиляди евро за бутилка. Примери: Romanee-Conti, La Tache, Richebourg, Echezeaux. Но... ако посещаваш избите като нас с любознателна и любопителна цел, дегустацията е безплатна и на повечето места ти се дават от скъпите вина. На едно място, Domaine Rion във Вон-Романе, дори ни предложиха терин с трюфели тяхно производство, които се съхраняваха в малки бурканчета с коняк (едно бурканче 80 гр. - €36; ку щьеш).<br />
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Бургундците са много топли и приветливи хора. Те са и любознателни – на някои места винарите не се свеняха да ни разпитват за България и нашите вина, както и за други места по света, където сме били. Всички знаят английски и се радват да ви отделят време. Аз бях очарован, защото предварителният ми сърч в гугъл ме беше подготвил за начумерени, претрупани с работа френски винари, неговорещи английски, които нямат време за туристи. Нищо подобно. Светли и усмихнати обожатели на виното и професията си. Но и ние посетихме Бургундия в сравнително ненатоварен сезон – след гроздобера. Тази година той е бил по-рано заради горещото лято – началото и средата на септември. По принцип октомври месец всичко е прибрано, като се берат ръчно само перфектните гроздове в точно определения момент; останалото се оставя на лозата (което пък ми позволи да си набера и хапна няколко чепки истински бургундски пино ноар от лозето до сградата на Domaine de la Romanee-Conti; какъв мирис само!). Иначе научихме, че тази година (2015) реколтата е с уникално качество заради жегата и сушата, но за сметка на това малка като количество (очаквайте космически цени за червената бургундия от 2015, която ще излезе на пазара след 2-3 години). Слаба година е била 2013, а добри години напоследък са 2005 и 2009.<br />
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<i>Pierre Bouree Fils, Gevrey-Chambertin</i></div>
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<i>Philippe Leclerc, Gevrey-Chambertin</i></div>
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Кои изби посетихме? Важно е да се планира предварително, защото избите са много и като отидеш там, просто ще бъдеш overwhelmed. Правиш си предварителен гугъл и си избираш няколко в ключовите места – аз избрах изби във всяко от селата, които изброих по-горе: Жьоври-Шамбертен, Вон-Романе, Нюи-Сан-Жорж, Савини-льо-Бон, както и в самия Бон и в едно село на юг от него, Помар (Pommard), известно с минералните си почви. После пишеш имейл до избите кога е удобно да ги посетиш и те отговарят същия ден. На повечето места просто ни дадоха работното си време и ни казаха да заповядаме, а в две си имахме и уговорен час. Ето ги:<br />
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<b>Domaine Rion, Vosne-Romanee</b><br />
<b>Pierre Bouree Fils, Gevrey-Chambertin</b><br />
<b>Philippe Leclerc, Gevrey-Chambertin</b><br />
<b>Domaine Michel Lahaye, Pommard</b><br />
<b>Domaine Lejeune, Pommard</b><br />
<b>Moillard-Grivot, Nuits-Saint-Georges</b><br />
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<i>Pommard</i></div>
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Задължително трябва да се влезе с кола по малките пътища сред лозята, оградени на места с каменни зидове. Много красиви села са Вон-Романе и Савини-льо Бон. Във Вон-Романе отиди до легендарните лозя DRC, La Tache и Richebourg.<br />
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За хапване – пробвай La Ciboulette в Бон или Le Morgan в Савини-льо-Бон. Подготви се за работно време от сорта на 12-14 ч. и 19-22 ч.: ако огладнееш по друго време, просто забрави. Французите са маниаци на тема ресторанти: пести и се стиска цял месец за щяло и нещяло, за да може да излиза с френдовете по ресторанти. Затова и са скъпички. Под €40 -50 на човек за хубаво хапване с вино няма как.<br />
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<i>Philippe Leclerc, Gevrey-Chambertin</i></div>
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<i>Moillard-Grivot, Nuits-Saint-Georges</i></div>
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Най-важното: подготви се за магията на сорта пино ноар. Това не е тежко, мощно, плодово вино, каквото българите по принцип обичат и ако не е такова, автоматично го заклеймяват като разредено или кисело или не знам си какво. Пино ноар е висшия пилотаж в света на червеното вино, изтънчена елегантност, дълбочина, баланс, минералност, дълъг послевкус – нещо неповторимо. Бургундското пино пък е creme de la creme. Когато попитах мосю Бернар от Пиер Буре Фис в Жьоври-Шамбертен какво мисли за орегонското пино, което ми направи силно впечатление миналата зима в Ню Йорк, той ме погледна дълбокомислено и каза: „Имат още да учат”.<br />
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Имам и аз да уча. Но след един есенен уикенд в Бургундия с милите ми приятели Ники и Дени, някак си се чувствам по-мъдър. По-щастлив.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-53767358267500717192015-07-09T11:45:00.000+03:002015-12-06T19:07:39.805+02:00Новият дуализъм на Сърбия: повече прагматизъм?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Мой <a href="http://www.iris-bg.org/fls/Ralchev_-_Noviqt_dualizym_na_Syrbiq_-_iuli15.pdf" target="_blank">коментар</a> за актуалните обществени и политически процеси в Сърбия е достъпен на сайта на <a href="http://www.iris-bg.org/" target="_blank">ИРМИ</a>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-65177648188309999282015-06-11T16:34:00.000+03:002015-06-11T16:34:18.284+03:00Elusive Identity: Duality and Missed Opportunities in Bulgarian Foreign Policy in the Black Sea Region<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Sofia Platform has published the <a href="http://sofiaplatform.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/unrewarding-crossroads.pdf" target="_blank">collection</a> of policy papers,
<i>Unrewarding Crossroads? The Black Sea Region amidst the
European Union and Russia (</i>eds. Anahit
Shirinyan and Louisa Slavkova). My contribution, entitled "Elusive Identity: Duality and Missed Opportunities in Bulgarian Foreign Policy in the Black Sea Region", is available <a href="http://sofiaplatform.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Elusive_Identity_Duality_and_Missed_Opportunities_in_Bulgarian_Foreign_Policy_in_the_Black_Sea_Region.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-2783401445058161232015-06-10T18:04:00.000+03:002015-06-11T00:28:20.464+03:00To Gotham and Back Again: Един трип до Ню Йорк (и Бостън)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Не бях планирал ходене до Ню Йорк. Но то се случи след спонтанна уговорка с Петар Гошев, стар софийски другар, един летен ден на септември в София да разцепим The Big Apple за Нова година. За съжаление на мен и на Гошев, на него не му дадоха виза (държавата САЩ си има свои разбирания за туристи и потенциални емигранти), но аз отидох - за петнайсетина дни, от средата на Коледа до началото на януари, на гости на приятели. Това е един софийски разказ за Ню Йорк. С него искам да ви накарам да отворите съответните уебстраници, да запазите самолетни билети и да посветите една-две седмици от живота си на този град. По възможност с отскачане до Бостън.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gotham е имагинерния град от филмите за Батман, но нюйоркчани обичат да наричат града си така. Според мен звучи добре, макар че градът далеч не е така noir. Но я има тази непредвиденост и наситеност във всяко нещо, екстремностите на черно и бяло; синьо и зелено; на вятър и слънце и сняг; на пари и бедност; Среден Манхатън (Midtown Manhattan) vs. Бушуик (Bushwick) в Бруклин; джаз за двайсетина човека в Уест Вилидж (West Village) и електронно парти за пет хиляди в склад на Нюйоркската полиция (NYPD) в Уилямсбърг (Williamsburg); най-добрите барове и ресторанти в света и най-лошите хотдози ever. Gotham. Или просто Ню Йорк Сити.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Отидох за ден и половина и до Бостън, Нова Англия. Нямам много впечатления, но според мен си струва пак да отида. Уважих кампусите на най-добрите университети в света, истински омари и отлични комбинации между ирландско уиски и местен ейл. Бостън е само на четири часа с автобус от Ню Йорк.</span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Първи впечатления: the stoop</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Моят дом в Ню Йорк беше Бруклин (един от петте boroughs, или градски района; останалите са Манхатън, Куинс, Бронкс и Статън Айлънд, Staten Island). Първо отседнах на гости за една седмица при състудента от LSE Шеймъс в Бедфорд-Стайвесънт, или Бед-Стай (Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bed-Stuy). Човекът живее в типична, стара бруклинска къща със stoop – това са ония възходящи стълбища към врата на първия етаж, които сме гледали по филмите.</span><br />
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Естествено в къщата живееха още около 8-9 човека, всички под наем – италианци, израелци, американци от Минесота и Охайо и т.н. На мен ми беше предоставен дивана в кухнята на приземния етаж. В Ню Йорк е трудно да живееш сам – ужасно е скъпо. Чувах цени от сорта на $4,500 за апартамент с две спални в Долен Манхатън (Lower Manhattan). Шеймъс плаща по-малко, разбира се. В Бруклин все още е по-евтино, но го има така наречения процес на gentrification: млади бели хора с редовна работа се пренасочват към по принцип по-бедни квартали на Бруклин като Бед-Стай, за да избегнат безподобните цени на Манхатън, но по този начин вдигат търсенето (и наемите) и изтласкват местните по-бедни, най-често чернокожи общности в Бруклин. Така например Уилямсбърг в Бруклин в момента се е превърнал в доста елитно място за живот, един вид е „на мода”. „Бед-Стай е новия Уилямсбърг,” ми каза Парис, софийско приятелче американец, с когото се засякохме за няколко дена в Ню Йорк. Поне моите впечатления за Бед-Стай бяха: около 90% афроамериканци от средната и по-ниска класа и около 10% блуждаещи бели младежи, излизащи от метрото на път за вкъщи, но всички бяха нехайни за другата група. Аз естествено сигурно съм спадал към вторите и, снимайки по квартала the stoops, срещнах разбиране сред местните обитатели. Снизхождение по-скоро. Както и да е, the stoop е нещото, което е типично за Бруклин и не спря да ме впечатлява през цялото време. В Харлем също намерих.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">След Нова година се преместих при Ема Хрустич и съпруга й Тишо </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">в Уилямсбърг. Ема е приятелка</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> от студентските години в Американския унивесритет в Благоевград. Различен Бруклин. Повече клубове, ресторанти, забавления, по-малко влакове над главата ти, по-уредено. Но the stoop беше и тук!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">В Ню Йорк проведох доста време и с моите съученици от Първа английска гимназия Саши, Пифа и Боби Славията. Има невероятно задружно общество от нашата гимназия в града и малко съжалих, че чак сега отидох на посещение. Партито си тече, а заедно бяхме и в няколко велики ресторанта и клуба. Почувствах истинската топлота на българската емиграция. На хората им пука за България, четат много и се опитват да проумеят по кой начин могат да помогнат, но се сблъскват със стена. Това е една друга, много обширна тема.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Гледах да посветя максимум време на обиколки: Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Bushwick, Lower East Side Manhattan, SoHo, Midtown, East Village, West Village, Chelsea, Upper West Side, Harlem, а после дори Queens и Astoria и Jackson Heights.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Културен шок</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">България</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Още с влизането на американска земя бях леко втрещен. Какво знаем ние за американците: не са много наясно за Европа, ядат много fast food, с наднормено тегло са и живеят в своя балон. На входа на Америка, граничния контрол на летище JFK, служителят взе паспорта ми и го поразгледа задълбочено. Не знам дали знаете, но на новите български паспорти има разни графични орнаменти на всяка страница – букви от кирилицата и глаголицата, разни герои и светци и т.н. Американският граничен полицай се загледа в тях и ми сподели, след класическото подпитване защо идвам в Америка и колко ще остана, че ние, България, сме велика култура и по нашите земи са се случвали велики неща. Спомена Спартак, траките и войните с Византия. Виното. Шок. Пожела ми приятно изкарване в Голямата ябълка. Изведнъж се пробудих от летаргията си, естествен резултат от 10 часа полет през Амстердам.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">В самия Ню Йорк почти всички хора, с които се запознах, знаеха за България, къде се намира и по някой и друг факт за нея. Един човек на Юниън скуеър (Union Square), който ме спря да ме помоли за цигара, веднага ме разпозна като европеец и разказа няколко случки, които е имал в Пловдив и Бургас. В Бостън собственичката на едно от най-познатите заведения за омари, „Лаещият краб” (The Barking Crab), ми каза, че е карала ски на Пампорово неотдавна и пак би отишла. Не че фактът, че съм от България има значение – аз дори избягвах да го споменавам. Просто нюйоркчани и бостънци знаят доста дори за малка страна като нашата, противно на нашия стереотип. Първи мит – разбит.</span></div>
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<i>Джус</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">На мода в Ню Йорк беше още нещо, което рязко разграничава американците от стереотипа за тях, поне в моите очи. В почти всеки квартален магазин, Бруклин, Манхатън, Куинс – без значение, на излизане е разположена голяма машина за фрешове, но не само за плодове, а главно за кореноплодни зеленчуци. Плащаш на касата $4 за един juice, дават ти касовата бележка, отиваш при машината, представяш бележката и там един служител те пита какво да бъде. Най-честата комбинация за ръгане в мелачката е цвекло, къдраво зеле (kale), моркови, корен от джинджифил и два резена ананас за сладост. Дава ти се една пластмасова чаша като за бира с капак и сламка - прясно изстискан лют сок, който е невероятно освежаващ. Половината минувачи по улиците ходеха с джус в ръка. Огромните чаши кафе си ги имаше, от онова кофти, разреденото кафе, но хората си пиеха и джус. Пифа ми каза, че във вътрешността на страната не е така – там си обичат големите порции и класическите американски храни и не знаят много за Европа. Може и да е така, но аз бях в Ню Йорк и това видях.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Отвореност</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Много силно впечатление ми направи отвореността и свободната комуникация между непознати в Ню Йорк. Абсолютно нормално е на бара, в метрото или на опашката за музея да се завърже непринуден разговор. Институцията, наречена бар (разбирай бар-плота за покупка на напитки в заведението), е нещо, което в България почти липсва и като физическо пространство, и като абстрактно понятие за обмен на идеи и симпатии с непознати съграждани/ки. Моето впечатление е, че при нас ако си по-настоятелен в такъв тип публични комуникации или ще те вземат за натрапник, или за хахо. Но в нюйоркски бар няма нищо по-нормално от разговор между непознати по актуални градски или конкретни ситуационни теми. Баровете (бар-плотовете) са широки, просторни, на тях може да се похапне, а в ресторантите на тях изчакваш с питие да дойдат партньорите ти за обяд или вечеря. Почти винаги става страхотен разговор с бармана, дали за видовете питиета или за растящата популярност на европейския футбол в Америка. Темерути, природно нацупени или надувки сме в такъв случай ние по софийските барове? Зависи къде си, предполагам.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQm36hvfdC3JoBfqeoB8fAr3gdSN9rzGjfLphMje5ETsBLa96pigZDTxUMztpja-7aOejhxBqocN4n7CYUrsExCrjFbqRYcrZki4HQr4pTjmIOSrnJJMBUgugKKiJN05U1_w4fITyaWz61/s1600/20141231_144335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQm36hvfdC3JoBfqeoB8fAr3gdSN9rzGjfLphMje5ETsBLa96pigZDTxUMztpja-7aOejhxBqocN4n7CYUrsExCrjFbqRYcrZki4HQr4pTjmIOSrnJJMBUgugKKiJN05U1_w4fITyaWz61/s320/20141231_144335.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<i>Работа</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Друг шок за мен беше степента на важност за всеки на работата му/й и ролята на амбицията и на себедоказването в американското общество. Знаем за тези неща от телевизията, статиите, които четем, и от наши приятели, които са там. Но друго е да го видиш със собствените си очи. В Ню Йорк е съвсем нормално да оставаш after hours и да работиш дори в почивния си ден. Хората бързат за работа, защото от сърце им се работи, и се тюхкат искрено, когато има забавяне в метрото и ги кара да закъсняват. В този огромен град придвижването е неимоверно бързо – няма разстояние, дори между различни boroughs (например между Куинс и Манхатън или между Бронкс и Бруклин, да не говорим между Бруклин и Манхатън), което да надхвърля 40-50 минути с метро. Може би изключение е ако се идва с (безплатния!) ферибот от Статън Айлънд. Живял съм в Лондон и макар че го обичам, него и лудия му Underground, нюйоркския subway е далеч по-удобен и евтин транспорт. Няма зони като в Лондон, един билет за навсякъде, и повече от час под земята няма как да прекараш, а The Big Apple е по-голям от Лондон. Според мен това е някакси свързано с идеята на американците да не губят време в път, неработейки. Та за тази нагласа за работата ми беше думата. Дори Шеймъс и Ема, моите домакини, нямаше как да отсъстват от работа повече от един ден, за да ми посветят време. А според мен и не искаха. Шеймъс си отработи с извънредни часове след работа свободния ден, който взе заради мен, а след Нова година директно си ме отсвири и не се видяхме до вечерта преди заминаването ми. А работата му е научна, в изследователски център на Нюйоркския университет (NYU), не е някаква прекомерно натоварена и отговорна работа на „Уол стрийт“. Ема проведе пред мен едночасово телефонно интервю с клиент от вкъщи в свободния си ден и чак след него можахме да тръгнем за Музея на модерното изкуство (МоМА). Но тя е консултант все пак – благодарен съм и на това. Ние в Европа и по-специално на Балканите имаме по-лежерно отношение към работата. Затова и производителността на труда тук е по-ниска, и БВП-то по-бавно расте. Но, наистина, готови ли сме да изтъргуваме по-разкрепостения подход към живота за американската мечта и заслуженото с бачкане и акъл реално богатство? По-скоро не.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJGkSy_CdZi_OBAmBGI-3o1UGUYFmsdflJlDfTrpvPMxivgCXraUJc-yIyikrvfKfH4UWNtsZRJiNDMR7M0yKyLc9cqF8BJx7bl9SW1NXeuQMgu8XUcnMMBm_WyX5YnxdqcDDYBZqXlRj/s1600/20141228_152218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJGkSy_CdZi_OBAmBGI-3o1UGUYFmsdflJlDfTrpvPMxivgCXraUJc-yIyikrvfKfH4UWNtsZRJiNDMR7M0yKyLc9cqF8BJx7bl9SW1NXeuQMgu8XUcnMMBm_WyX5YnxdqcDDYBZqXlRj/s320/20141228_152218.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<i>Бакшишите</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Не само в такситата. Навсякъде в Ню Йорк, а и цяла Америка, това е начин на живот. За един европеец е малко стряскащо, а за един източноевропеец като мен – и малко не по джоба. В Ню Йорк приетият tip е 20%. Дори и да плащаш с кредитна карта, дава ти се предварителна касова бележка, на която изрично написваш сумата за бакшиш. След като напуснеш заведението, персоналът въвежда съответната обща сума в ПОС терминала. Разбира се, за определени услуги не очакват бакшиш – такива, при които не се изисква усилие от обслужващия, например в магазин на самообслужване и дори на сергия за сандвичи. Но в барове и ресторанти няма как – а и не е редно, защото персоналът е на минимална заплата ($8.75 на час в момента, имаше стачки за повишаването й след като се прибрах оттам) и де факто се храни от бакшишите. Това пък вдига цената за нас, клиентите. Например една пинта (568 мл) бира – голяма тоест – струва около $7 на по-достъпните места. Като добавиш бакшиша, става $8.40. Повече от един pint of ale в Лондон дори! Повече от наливната „Каменица“ на Летище „София“ дори!</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Нова година</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Нова година в The Big Apple беше нещо емоционално. Не съм вече тинейджъра или двайсетинагодишия дангалак, който едва чака да дойде 31 декември, за да изхарчи посъбраните десетки левове за Jim Beam или Jack Daniels и да се разбере с другите софийски дришльовци къде ще е партито до сутринта. Или помъдрелия трийсетинагодишен пътешественик, очакващ с нетърпение да превземе Белград, Нови Сад или пиринските хижи за Нова година. Но тръпката ми за Нова година в Ню Йорк пак се появи. Не за Таймс скуеър (Times Square) и тълпите туристи, а просто за една нощ в този град, която по принцип за нас, източноевропейците, е по-специална. Защото за нюйоркчани не е – ако щете ми вярвайте. За тях е просто повод за парти до късно, защото 1 януари не е работен ден. Едната от практиките за Нова е да се ходи на големи електронни партита в Бруклин – в някой изоставен или неизползван склад (warehouse), каквито има много. Организаторите започват да събират пари отрано, правят страница на събитието, канят диджеи и постоянно актуализират как се развива организацията – придобивката на множество лицензи, брой на закупилите билети, промяна в lineup-а и т.н. Понякога обаче стават и фалове – властите не предоставят някой лиценз и партито се проваля (естествено парите се връщат). Затова самото място на склада се пази в тайна до самата новогодишна вечер.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTJuUqhdJBlf2yULZV9sHcAhx0Z2crJyAq6aWhLeYLUa2MLsnUWXvpVJ-1ebWRBe49AseQwSEBh87Uimbnn7N-9mGYIsoSRQbh-PFrYynmHomuMTlC4kRzoIPN7FmldLnE6h_38wbyTPo/s1600/20141231_234553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTJuUqhdJBlf2yULZV9sHcAhx0Z2crJyAq6aWhLeYLUa2MLsnUWXvpVJ-1ebWRBe49AseQwSEBh87Uimbnn7N-9mGYIsoSRQbh-PFrYynmHomuMTlC4kRzoIPN7FmldLnE6h_38wbyTPo/s320/20141231_234553.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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Ние естествено бяхме планирали отдавна да ходим на warehouse party. При нас фал имаше – до осем вечерта нямаше нито гък за локацията и накрая пуснаха инфо, че един лиценз не е придобит и партито се проваля. Бяхме се набутали с по $70, но както и да е. Трябваше да намерим друго парти! Това съвсем не беше трудно, защото веднага си харесахме едно в друг, по-голям склад, дори с по-хубава музика, но малко по-скъпо ($98). Струваше си. Складът беше на NYPD (!), за 5-6 хиляди човека, в Уилямсбърг, Бруклин – на брега на Ийст ривър (East River), с перфектна гледка към Долен Манхатън и Мидтаун. Нова година ли? Влязохме точно в 23.30 след огромна опашка и беше още празно. В полунощ се чу непретенциозен, едва доловим вик Yeeeeaaah! от малка част от купонясващите. Погледнах към Манхатън – нямаше дори фойерверки над небостъргачите. Но за сметка на това към 1-2 сутринта залите (складът се състоеше от две огромни зали с различна музика) се напълниха, но само доколкото отделните хора можеха да танцуват свободно, без да се блъскат един друг. Визуалните изпълнения на сцената, саундът (по-тежък хаус, техно и транс), хората наоколо – почувствах се неразделна част от пулсиращото нощно сърце на Ню Йорк. “I'm New York, maaaan! I'm New York!”, крещях на Парис по телефона по едно време... Той не успя да дойде заради семейни планове.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A New Yorker</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Какво трябва да направите задължително в Ню Йорк, за да можете и вие да извикате като мен, да „станете Ню Йорк”? Абсолютно каквото сами си решите. Звучи банално, но дори само да излезете по Пето авеню или Бродуей сред туристите, да вдишате малко от въздуха на Сентрал парк, да се забиете в задръстването в някой манхатънски автобус, за да се стоплите, да хапнете в индийските или босненските ресторанти в Куинс или в Корейския квартал (Koreatown) до Емпайър стейт билдинг или да решите да лекувате махмурлук с класически брънч в Бруклин – ще го усетите. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1gxvSS5owMbARnyI1aoxHBjni6ppYjDPJXqK_2uor2IINpBl7_feMtWvilLX9ju7NX3MYGe8hk1L2OX-FYPMIBRBWzHrCDEFBoMCYi9LrQOuKVfqkrj0lXVhfVKND25gC3Ulp81B9VZU/s1600/20150105_145446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1gxvSS5owMbARnyI1aoxHBjni6ppYjDPJXqK_2uor2IINpBl7_feMtWvilLX9ju7NX3MYGe8hk1L2OX-FYPMIBRBWzHrCDEFBoMCYi9LrQOuKVfqkrj0lXVhfVKND25gC3Ulp81B9VZU/s320/20150105_145446.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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Аз си имах моя собствена рецепта, която дни на рисърч преди заминаването и моите местни приятели ми помогнаха да подготвя. И Парис, и Боби Славията споменаха, че ми се възхищават как за две седмици съм успял да осъществя такава интензивна и многообразна програма. Ето какво според мен не е за изпускане.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Музеите</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Въпреки че в Лондон, моят си метрополис, всички музеи (без недоразумението „Мадам Тюсо“) са безплатни, мисля, че Ню Йорк бие британската столица откъм мащаб и интензитет на предлаганото. Тук трябва да отбележа, че преценката ми касае изключително изобразителното изкуство и най-вече картините, не типичните музейни експонати като антики, препарирани животни, и т.н. Някак не ми е по сърце да разглеждам такива древни и скъпи за местните култури вещи, конфискувани от империите в различни епохи и домъкнати в сегашните им столици. Бил съм в Британския музей в Лондон с идеята да прекарам цял ден, но не издържах. В Ню Йорк обаче направих едно изключение – заврях се в отделението с рицарски доспехи и средновековни (и по-модерни) оръжия на Музея „Метрополитън” (Metropolitan Museum of Art) и не излязох с часове.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3uj4nfe9QL2f4UNM8zCFwHIBeuhnecZtApLKASE1Xw-AxPffgDX5wU-9_FlWkq-L-2lCJ_rc9SbZY00qiUiN7RiML6CgzPlgo3bsDLUttuKrS38UGjwYsaHoqTQfJ0QTKluxIopakQti/s1600/20150102_110332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3uj4nfe9QL2f4UNM8zCFwHIBeuhnecZtApLKASE1Xw-AxPffgDX5wU-9_FlWkq-L-2lCJ_rc9SbZY00qiUiN7RiML6CgzPlgo3bsDLUttuKrS38UGjwYsaHoqTQfJ0QTKluxIopakQti/s320/20150102_110332.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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Но картините... Картините, които видях ме изпълниха изцяло. Не съм някакъв вманиачен поклонник на високото изкуство и не разбирам много, но знам, че обичам импресионизма като цяло и представители на местните художници в страната, която посещавам. В Ню Йорк разгледах колекциите на „Метрополитън”, Музея на модерното изкуство (Museum of Modern Art, MoMA), музея „Гугенхайм” (The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum), а в Бостън – Музея на изящните изкуства (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston). Като сменях полета в Амстердам, имах време да посетя и Музея на Ван Гог (Van Gogh Museum). Не е моментът сега да тръгна да изреждам всички художници, които ми направиха впечатление – трябва лично да посетите музеите, но само ще кажа, че шедьовър като Starry Night на Ван Гог е в Ню Йорк (МоМА). По-малка е, отколкото човек си представя.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Empire State Building и The Circle Line</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Звучи банално, но Емпайър стейт е знаков елемент от културата и живота на Ню Йорк и просто трябва да се посети. Аз се качих до по-ниската обсерватория – на 86-ия етаж (320 м). Има и на 102-ия ( 381 м). След около час редене на опашка (защото станах по-рано и бях там към 9 сутринта, иначе времето се удвоява и утроява) ни прекараха през множество коридори и асансьори, музея на сградата и накрая ни пуснаха на площадката за наблюдение на 86-ия етаж – има 360-градусов поглед върху Мидтаун, Сентрал парк на север, реката Хъдзън и Ню Джърси на запад, Даунтаун/Финансовия район с One World Trade Center на юг, Ийст ривър и Бруклин на изток-югоизток, сградите на „Крайслер” и Обединените нации на изток-североизток. Велико! Като изключим вледеняващия януарски нюйоркски вятър хиляда фута над авенюта, улици, барове, ресторанти и забързани нюйоркчани еееей чак там, долу...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OcdPQmyzqO1q3Q3eMcbcdatI-LJytmRxtAmppZAs76vqGhFhxYe908whhtxKvdzhgzjLOZtL_krvke7xYFE5iOsWXkTXYZvrZCdQonG1HA8JM-n2tCm1prvEKnssxv8d4AObgmvUpfR_/s1600/20150105_115950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OcdPQmyzqO1q3Q3eMcbcdatI-LJytmRxtAmppZAs76vqGhFhxYe908whhtxKvdzhgzjLOZtL_krvke7xYFE5iOsWXkTXYZvrZCdQonG1HA8JM-n2tCm1prvEKnssxv8d4AObgmvUpfR_/s320/20150105_115950.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmGe1N-JrriyKgDSChGmAJj-YC5zY0FncmwGXQ9cRji4n2gzDe8ENAu9HkWP-EpKB6uAw5cU5SvQCbYkQNSBr48derbk1jep8qk6rvTOE7bTpAgUGKd7V-dNwpH2lJjmSI49czI9kfX9F/s1600/20150105_115508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmGe1N-JrriyKgDSChGmAJj-YC5zY0FncmwGXQ9cRji4n2gzDe8ENAu9HkWP-EpKB6uAw5cU5SvQCbYkQNSBr48derbk1jep8qk6rvTOE7bTpAgUGKd7V-dNwpH2lJjmSI49czI9kfX9F/s320/20150105_115508.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Circle Line е обиколка с корабче около целия остров Манхатън. Тръгва се от кея на Западна 42-ра улица в квартал „Кухнята на Ада” (Hell’s Kitchen) – западния Мидтаун. Има няколко варианта за обиколки, някои по-къси и само в южната част на Манхатън и острова със Статуята на свободата, но аз избрах пълната обиколка за два часа и половина. Нямаше как да пропусна и това туристическо забавление, бидейки запален по фотографията от малък. Откриват се уникални гледки към финансовия район с уникалните си небостъргачи, Статуята на свободата, Бруклин, Бруклинския, Манхатънския и моста „Куинсборо” (Queensborough Bridge) над Ийст ривър и моста „Джордж Вашингтон” над Хъдзън ривър, сградата на ООН, Крайслер билдинг, Харлем, Бронкс, кварталите Washington Heights и Morningside Heights, Джърси Сити. Вятърът отново не ме пожали, но вътре в затвореното помещение на корабчето имаше бар и чудесно калифорнийско червено вино, та често прибягвах и до тази опция с цел спешно стопляне. Но пък снимките станаха велики.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1q-0cggYdw5ehhB2BXrWKUcXoVC42TuOJYWTPhK07C8V-d37Mctu-5fJWvqCQi7j0shKsPvZ-8YshGA4EUE1aMkJr8IuRseWMo3fQwXzTCo6_3MMD-HtOYDCUkbcliXwC01Ixe28avsm/s1600/20150105_152047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1q-0cggYdw5ehhB2BXrWKUcXoVC42TuOJYWTPhK07C8V-d37Mctu-5fJWvqCQi7j0shKsPvZ-8YshGA4EUE1aMkJr8IuRseWMo3fQwXzTCo6_3MMD-HtOYDCUkbcliXwC01Ixe28avsm/s320/20150105_152047.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Всичките тези пет туристически атракции (трите музея, Емпайър Стейт и The Circle Line) са по принцип скъпи, струват по около $30-40 всяко. Но аз си купих онлайн още преди заминаването т.нар. New York City Pass, който срещу $109 ми даде възможност да посетя и петте. Освен, че пестите пари, не се редите и на опашки за билети, а само на опашки за влизане. Може и да избирате кои точно пет атракции да посетите от един по-дълъг списък, включващ също обсерваторията Top of the Rock, Природонаучния музей и др. Така че препоръчвам.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnhaw8S5RLOyZP5GXisgg32tEY6Bubsn9StsP75PULbgq7F-I5e-G5He1LD2mM6kcIL6Bbw_wKMEwwsoEGxuA44OHAzP3OZYuKFkWaL17333FB0ozhBD-LDbcfw6uKrx8Bgd-rvOYfLu2/s1600/20150105_161335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnhaw8S5RLOyZP5GXisgg32tEY6Bubsn9StsP75PULbgq7F-I5e-G5He1LD2mM6kcIL6Bbw_wKMEwwsoEGxuA44OHAzP3OZYuKFkWaL17333FB0ozhBD-LDbcfw6uKrx8Bgd-rvOYfLu2/s320/20150105_161335.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<i>The subway и такситата</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Метрото е неразделна част от живота на Готам – на местни и туристи, на бели, черни, азиатци, музиканти, просещи, юпита, хипстъри, пънкари, хипари, рапери, бизнесмени, студенти. Хората обичат да поспиват, докато се возят, да използват всеки един момент на покой. Макар че това чудо трудно може да се нарече спокойно. Работи нон-стоп, не като в Лондон до полунощ, и почти винаги е пълно. Не е скъпо, излиза около $2 еднократен билет, но аз ползвах едноседмична неограничена карта за $30. Метролиниите са главно по направлението север-юг в Манхатън и изток-запад в Бруклин. За другото има автобуси и таксита. Задължително трябва да се хване и такси. Ние взехме от Челси в Манхатън до Уилямсбърг в Бруклин една вечер, беше около десетина километра курс, за $34. За готамските стандарти не е много.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpW-q27UG8jsb8mP9iWTg0dPwsuOQhng0ADNu6TJiyL0f8hj1VeYRDp8CKfkZ6-z5FRfYl9rYbbdSWUNaU7c3ijn0hncj6iQJYPHJGu1zTNl-_oyoedmFwz1Z99-Ynz1ziiBa22hEO94M/s1600/20141226_213820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpW-q27UG8jsb8mP9iWTg0dPwsuOQhng0ADNu6TJiyL0f8hj1VeYRDp8CKfkZ6-z5FRfYl9rYbbdSWUNaU7c3ijn0hncj6iQJYPHJGu1zTNl-_oyoedmFwz1Z99-Ynz1ziiBa22hEO94M/s320/20141226_213820.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Food and Wine</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ню Йорк е всепризнатата гурме столица на света, дори парижани и лондончани са съгласни. С моя афинитет към доброто вино и автентичната, местна кухня, нямаше как да не се посветя задълбочено на този аспект на града. И Пифа и Саши, и Боби Славията, и Ема Хрустич, а дори и Шеймъс отвеяния вегетарианец ме запознаха с по няколко задължителни елемента от кулинарния живот на Готам. Още с кацането ми с Шеймъс ядохме перуански бургери в Бушуик, Бруклин, (veggie за него), а на другия ден се редихме на едночасова опашка да пробваме от легендарната пица Grimaldi’s под Бруклинския мост; бургерът беше супер, но честно да ви кажа, пицата не си струваше – малко безвкусна, а и нямаха лиценз за аклохол и не можахме по една чаша вино да изпием, срамота. Но всичко останало откъм храна, вино и крафт бира в Ню Йорк просто беше закон. Последната ми вечер Шеймъс ни заведе на далеч по-добра пица в East Village в Манхатън – стара, традиционна рецепта от Неаполски емигранти в Luzzo’s. Със Славията ядохме пастърма (pastrami) и телешко филе (brisket) в неповторимия Katz Delicatessen в Долен източен Манхатън (Lower East Side), където е заснет филма „Когато Хари срещна Сали” с Били Кристал и Мег Райън.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUdQdAy4Ih4sz1Ew1xFEpJbFYcL3sElAFXMA-bmteIQdawygOdbUKQvrtvTVkZxOSWbaaThPh1t5ermj51ckf4YXRchJN3wpziX6oj4EoBgLEfR33MB_WIq0ZurMaYURe3_U4DX8bZEEV/s1600/20141228_132802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUdQdAy4Ih4sz1Ew1xFEpJbFYcL3sElAFXMA-bmteIQdawygOdbUKQvrtvTVkZxOSWbaaThPh1t5ermj51ckf4YXRchJN3wpziX6oj4EoBgLEfR33MB_WIq0ZurMaYURe3_U4DX8bZEEV/s320/20141228_132802.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToWlQkrjOIK_pccGNqf5Vl4v3eOe1lMymlMPdm2NF_midx32Zj8wwOwfcCgU1kg8s9GAXzDu2l0ZcoFdGhSL1Mb7Dmv_nGh4PSKy1rKcwLLKMCX4Wos9TGtnEEXzuKAvO0kcxfZZyBj78/s1600/20141228_133237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToWlQkrjOIK_pccGNqf5Vl4v3eOe1lMymlMPdm2NF_midx32Zj8wwOwfcCgU1kg8s9GAXzDu2l0ZcoFdGhSL1Mb7Dmv_nGh4PSKy1rKcwLLKMCX4Wos9TGtnEEXzuKAvO0kcxfZZyBj78/s320/20141228_133237.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhun03qW7JOAwzwB_cJGtJ61ZAG1kDMxa_TBm5hkUMZITekrk_OYrEwulA5jt2cDVvE2zx6hq8zag-SCtFu_l-Zpn3veH9lV2MG34cSJsq-qiwJ1OoeRwccS-_NjzHzk9mVYUBjZulgyN2k/s1600/20141228_141413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhun03qW7JOAwzwB_cJGtJ61ZAG1kDMxa_TBm5hkUMZITekrk_OYrEwulA5jt2cDVvE2zx6hq8zag-SCtFu_l-Zpn3veH9lV2MG34cSJsq-qiwJ1OoeRwccS-_NjzHzk9mVYUBjZulgyN2k/s320/20141228_141413.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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Той ме заведе и в невероятното за барбекю място Blue Smoke във Финансовия район на юг, където ядох говежди ребра (spare rib), престояли половин ден в яма за опушване. Пифа и Саши ме заведоха на чудни италиански ресторантчета в Lower East Side и на Бродуей. Пифа е маниак на тема вино като мен и благодарение на него успях да изпитам на живо две уникални неща: първо една бургундия от 1992 от Жеври-Шамбертен, съпроводена от чуден орегонски пино ноар и сира от Калифорния; и второ, политиката на уважаваните ресторанти по цивилизования свят, като например L’Apicio, в който консумирахме въпросните вина, наречена BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle). Носиш си собствено вино, което е специално за теб, но което го няма във винената листа на ресторанта – заплаща се скромен corkage fee (такса за декантиране и използването на чаши) и задължително се предлага на сомелиера или собственика на ресторанта да опита. Пифа донесе и трите бутилки, отворихме ги едновременно, декантираха ни ги, и си пийвахме от по три чаши всеки. Ами така де, защо да ги бавим?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ема Хрустич ме заведе на обяд в Корейския квартал, близо до Емпайър Стейт. Поръчахме си нудли, нещо като пелмени, рамен и bibimbаp – ястие в глинен съд с ориз, зеленчуци и месо. В Бруклин с нея и Тишо бяхме в уникалния немско-американски ресторант за барбекю Fette Sau. А понеже и тя разбира от вино, пробвахме вина от щата Ню Йорк (от региона на Northern Fork на Лонг Айлънд и от Finger Lakes в горната част на щата) – страшни ризлинг, каберне фран и мерло – във вино бара Brooklyn Oenology и в заведението за дегустация на Brooklyn Winery. Искахме да посетим и Brooklyn Brewery, но опашката беше огромна и валеше. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ct-kQvD-Rt8lRqpXLcFg7RCYkzRcpzsYfsp6UsW6jE26Ln-KA2o5ZnQViLEbT_9tNhawkFQ4tF6UwjzoynBnxlOHrEGyjQBz8sC0KKdVcXh47_JzSvapGSgRuojsBlh4rYMNXGKs9ooF/s1600/20150103_175811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ct-kQvD-Rt8lRqpXLcFg7RCYkzRcpzsYfsp6UsW6jE26Ln-KA2o5ZnQViLEbT_9tNhawkFQ4tF6UwjzoynBnxlOHrEGyjQBz8sC0KKdVcXh47_JzSvapGSgRuojsBlh4rYMNXGKs9ooF/s320/20150103_175811.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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Емоционалната кулминация за мен, но леко комичен избор за истински нюйоркчани като Ема и Тишо, беше посещението на ресторанта на Антъни Бурдейн (лудия пътешестващ готвач от „Дискавъри” и Food Network) – Les Halles в Мидтаун. Книгата му Kitchen Confidential ми е любима и просто нямаше как да не отида и да не пробвам един класически hanger steak с орегонски пино ноар. Легенда!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQeFm_rgSuPxctWFoapOj55q2VLsUnF22HPzl1qe-lPgvThGclBAFclW-GIsDz5mfbofUDHcD9IG_712vogB_hwz0_c8g4UE3OY-q8p0vi0H3EDH1ZOShoz_CcbMd6WvHpDQj7PQ8ADbY/s1600/20150105_180051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQeFm_rgSuPxctWFoapOj55q2VLsUnF22HPzl1qe-lPgvThGclBAFclW-GIsDz5mfbofUDHcD9IG_712vogB_hwz0_c8g4UE3OY-q8p0vi0H3EDH1ZOShoz_CcbMd6WvHpDQj7PQ8ADbY/s320/20150105_180051.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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Ресторантите, храната и виното на Ню Йорк са един отделен свят. Освен него, аз опознах и света на американската крафт бира – по-малко комерсиална бира, произведена от малки пивоварни от цялата страна, главно в стилове като India Pale Ale, wheat beer, rye beer и други. Според мен крафт бирата тепърва ще нахлува в България – тя вече е почнала с нови бири като софийското „Диво пиво” и варненския „Гларус”. Но е все още скъпо да се внасят уникалните американски крафтове у нас и определено изпускаме много. Много ме е яд, че не дадоха виза на Петар Гошев за това пътешествие, защото той е запален по тези блага и щеше много да се наслаждава на предлаганото. Аз пробвах ейлове и други вариации от пивоварните Brooklyn, Yuengling, Shipyard, Dogfish Head, Ballast Point, Unita, Sierra Nevada, Anchor и Rogue.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmCcuoUrXfF5uDDAVMk4EGnsVOe-OJrry_9Q0oMHHSktToLapgsCUnHnDZd95aFMHhdm7XNyLSoY0phyphenhyphenRCZWwYUGb0x_0zjBYN_YnZlBZsN7MRVZIUQA8QqeTanXDk6xwznTSjUCwGhKw/s1600/20141227_094644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmCcuoUrXfF5uDDAVMk4EGnsVOe-OJrry_9Q0oMHHSktToLapgsCUnHnDZd95aFMHhdm7XNyLSoY0phyphenhyphenRCZWwYUGb0x_0zjBYN_YnZlBZsN7MRVZIUQA8QqeTanXDk6xwznTSjUCwGhKw/s320/20141227_094644.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Джаз</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Музикалната ми мисия, освен лудото новогодишно електронно парти, включваше и една обиколка по джаз клубовете на Уест Вилидж и Харлем. Бяхме почти всички от бандата – Шеймъс, Ема, Тишо. Джазът в Ню Йорк се чувства особено комфортно в Уест Вилидж, Greenwich Village, западен южен Манхатън, който е осеян с легендарни и скъпи, но и по-непретенциозни клубове. Има по няколко сесии на вечер, като бендът и клиентите обикновено се сменят с привършването на сесията и клубът де факто отваря за нов концерт. Има опашки пред клубовете, докато тече сесията, а след това за следващата хора се пускат, докато се напълни. Ние бяхме в два клуба във Вилиджа – 55 Bar и Fat Cat. Първият беше малък и спретнат, едвам влязохме, а бендът се състоеше от виртуозни басист и барабанист и едра афроамериканка с китара и страхотен глас. Сръбвахме тихо бърбън и слушахме в захлас както музиката, така и пледоариите на мацката между тях, тип stand-up comedian. Brilliant. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlg2sUlvCqm0_oFbpiYqf1LNhRPF-sn42v495wcvfiG3mXaBY2xFgSefM4xVbyElidTGCwRo3Rt2ob3ZhfYn5xSBwNfjjXQYB49koCeKlPaLZHjam4IGn2y_VDqeTmEAbgcjcs3UicOgH/s1600/20150103_221327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlg2sUlvCqm0_oFbpiYqf1LNhRPF-sn42v495wcvfiG3mXaBY2xFgSefM4xVbyElidTGCwRo3Rt2ob3ZhfYn5xSBwNfjjXQYB49koCeKlPaLZHjam4IGn2y_VDqeTmEAbgcjcs3UicOgH/s320/20150103_221327.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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Вторият беше съвсем близо до първия, но по-масов, с повече млади хора, билярдни маси и дълги барове. Тук музикантите бяха old school бели джазмени, които явно свиреха, за да не останат в забвение, но въпреки това с небивала сериозност и кеф. Поздравихме ги от сърце. Третият джаз клуб беше в Upper West Side. Доста попътувахме и повървяхме, докато го намерим, но си струваше – Smoke Jazz Club на Бродуей. Класен, елегантен клуб, с класическите малки маси с бели покривки и лампиони, предлагащ храна, питиета, каквото си поискаш. Имаше контрабас, пиано, сакс и вокал и макар че дойдохме късно, уцелихме доста добри изпълнения. След което си хванахме вездесъщото метро за Бруклин, в два през нощта.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0zUKK55lxeUsfW3CtcGgVpQOadphLb46XkUg2lkjiX3QXqo4wv4ecrg-SO1byNGu1r7QWMectBsvUPryPdTpm8LlOn2k6RQ29N50x5TY0QlFF3khjz8q-tdlbmPQIpMaxTxIrrqEOimN/s1600/20150104_023531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0zUKK55lxeUsfW3CtcGgVpQOadphLb46XkUg2lkjiX3QXqo4wv4ecrg-SO1byNGu1r7QWMectBsvUPryPdTpm8LlOn2k6RQ29N50x5TY0QlFF3khjz8q-tdlbmPQIpMaxTxIrrqEOimN/s320/20150104_023531.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Columbia University, Harlem, Chelsea, the High Line, the McKittrick Hotel</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Още няколко изключително интересни места в Ню Йорк, които посетих, бяха университета Колумбия, квартала Челси с неговия издигнат пешеходен парк – the High Line и Chelsea Market, и небивалото алтернативно театрално представление Sleep No More по „Макбет”, провеждащо се в цяла една сграда-декор в Челси, наречена McKittrick Hotel.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCsoHAx-t5ZD8AFH-H3WusW7r8mwF2ExqyTgF0MuHyk14UmOI9tkj6CMBG4oxhMBMk5p0_f4VGgdzDiYoClBtOhvUOR-ADGtM_mCidFTQR76uHArM-fg_9QToqjZTUMnoH07kEFRIPmv4/s1600/20141230_134119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCsoHAx-t5ZD8AFH-H3WusW7r8mwF2ExqyTgF0MuHyk14UmOI9tkj6CMBG4oxhMBMk5p0_f4VGgdzDiYoClBtOhvUOR-ADGtM_mCidFTQR76uHArM-fg_9QToqjZTUMnoH07kEFRIPmv4/s320/20141230_134119.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPivuUhhkpSeNOHhlRouXe6UeqkL2olf0XfcGiOwhFa3MmEq_rLS5OBqSQYxfVTb8yDdBrWNVCXyRdiBOW25mPGNGeHsBhv8Dqz_rQP534_w_6xOByyxSE5JgqM4rR1oj-qF9_Q1PjQJy/s1600/20141230_140254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPivuUhhkpSeNOHhlRouXe6UeqkL2olf0XfcGiOwhFa3MmEq_rLS5OBqSQYxfVTb8yDdBrWNVCXyRdiBOW25mPGNGeHsBhv8Dqz_rQP534_w_6xOByyxSE5JgqM4rR1oj-qF9_Q1PjQJy/s320/20141230_140254.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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Винаги съм искал да посетя университетите от Бръшляновата лига (Ivy League) – като гимназист, за да уча, а после просто така, за да се сблъскам лице в лице с традицията на най-добрите учебни заведения в света. Така логично до Колумбийския университет един декемврийски ден ме заведе Парис, който го е завършил. Бяха в коледна ваканция, разбира се, но можахме да влезем да се поразходим по коридорите, учебните зали, целия кампус. Тук е най-доброто училище за журналистика в Щатите (Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism), което и раздава известните ежегодни награди „Пулицър”. Хапнахме по един огромен студентски сандвич и се отправихме към близкия Харлем, квартал, предимно населен от чернокожи. Уникално място! Както споменах, и тук има от великите стълбища stoops, за разлика от останалата част на Манхатън, но просто и атмосферата се промени изведнъж, улиците станаха по-широки, минувачите по-незабързани, лежерни. Влязохме в типично заведение за soul food – традиционна, тежка храна на афроамериканците с традиции още във времето на робството, включваща извратени нещица, предимно пържени, като свински бузи, говежди опашки, мариновани свински крака и т.н. Нямахме сили да опитаме след студентските сандвичи, и може би по-добре.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIA0y7l4Jh5RoU_jIMnHKHC0Fxo9to_77OXOaSz2UvdodR_nWAV8VwF_Wzew9Strv0B9FMyZZo2C63wd-INZxfuctVNuJY6_4GPhIbpLAHyIBAi0gxuw8sfXuKouF7DQI_da9-9mRxhTbr/s1600/20141230_150539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIA0y7l4Jh5RoU_jIMnHKHC0Fxo9to_77OXOaSz2UvdodR_nWAV8VwF_Wzew9Strv0B9FMyZZo2C63wd-INZxfuctVNuJY6_4GPhIbpLAHyIBAi0gxuw8sfXuKouF7DQI_da9-9mRxhTbr/s320/20141230_150539.jpg" width="179" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bP7aa5NwfUPbJ0-8MSjHmW0yYGlupsT4IfBC4_DTpmIXNwx5ZiLRvxOfs-mhNoGqQcfPc8v6Muz7qwkVs2aHNxlruPwy2ovmxzbWNTPLTdO9ZCLKsrbK27KVrvoJbK6z8cwh1yKeOtGr/s1600/20141230_150726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bP7aa5NwfUPbJ0-8MSjHmW0yYGlupsT4IfBC4_DTpmIXNwx5ZiLRvxOfs-mhNoGqQcfPc8v6Muz7qwkVs2aHNxlruPwy2ovmxzbWNTPLTdO9ZCLKsrbK27KVrvoJbK6z8cwh1yKeOtGr/s320/20141230_150726.jpg" width="179" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Челси е приятно арт кварталче в югозападната част на Манхатън. Струва си да се обходи заради парка the High Line и уникалния закрит пазар Chelsea Market. The High Line се простира на 2.3 км от 14-та до 34-та улица и представлява реновирана бивша повдигната жп линия. Има готини гледки на изток към Мидтаун и високите му сгради и на запад към река Хъдзън и Джърси. В Chelsea Market, съвкупност от секси магазинчета, ресторанти и барове, може да се пие спокойно бира или вино на "открито", по улиците на затворения пазар, което е забранено по принцип в САЩ и глобите са солени. Купих си за София мерло от щата Ню Йорк и пино ноар от Орегон – у нас ги няма. Купих и подправки като семена от резене и пушен испански червен пипер, които в София не съм намирал. Пих крафт бира от буркан, за който ми взеха депозит $2. А като дойде Ема Хрустич, ядохме превъзходен набор от стриди от Масачузетс, Мейн, Калифорния, Орегон и Канада, по девет на човек, с мускадет от долината на Лоара. Гъзета.</span></div>
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Култова дейност в Готам е да се отиде на мюзикъл или обикновено театрално представление на Бродуей. Нямах нерви и време за това, но Ема организира за Тишо и за мене нещо още по-вълнуващо: посещение на лудото, алтернативно представление Sleep No More, чиято сцена е цяла, огромна къща в Челси, кръстена Хотел „МакКитрик”. Не знам как успя да намери билети и колко струваха, но това за мен беше непредвидимо и неповтроимо преживяване. Представете си как на влизане ви дават една маска и ви пускат по седемте етажа на сградата да търсите актьорите заедно с другите зрители – и те с маски. Актьорите са без. Всяка стая от огромния „хотел” е сцена. Декорите са старинни, депресиращи и мрачни. Актьорите тичат от етаж на етаж, а полуделите зрители с маските се втурват след тях, за да не изтърват нещо от действието. Можеш да си избереш различни сцени, но накрая някакси те насочват до заключителната трагична сцена в голяма зала. Както казах, пиесата е по „Макбет”. От време на време можеше да напускаш „сцената” и да пийваш по бърбън в специално помещение на фона на джаз на живо, от което аз се възползвах. Ново и уникално изживяване за мен, обрисуващо неповторимостта и прогресивността на Ню Йорк и неговите шантави жители.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Бях решил, че предвид двете ми седмици в Америка, ще е добре да посетя и друг град по източното крайбрежие. Чудех се дали да е Вашингтон, Филаделфия или Бостън. Но Бостън от само себе си спечели, благодарение на стереотипа, живеещ в мен, че е по-европейски (и защо ли?); на Цецо, приятел от Американския унверситет, който е живял там и ми препоръча много добри неща за правене; и на факта, че учителят ми по Английски Бе от гимназията и настоящ колега, занимаващ се с анализи на постсъветското пространство, Джош Кучера прави магистратура в Харвард и ми предложи да съм му гостенин за една вечер и да ме разведе по университета.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EqHu45lrnJ6Ky0MncHwDBRLTTsJHsEPtEUUtzf0rFOBC-0pDHIalpi6IjuJM7RYO_Rf2wIF94FrjqIYSfYMDMLSetjP4VlUb5RKp4S-b9QO47aB23xCWfyMixOe96bvYY-ABQdLuFD2j/s1600/20150106_140754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EqHu45lrnJ6Ky0MncHwDBRLTTsJHsEPtEUUtzf0rFOBC-0pDHIalpi6IjuJM7RYO_Rf2wIF94FrjqIYSfYMDMLSetjP4VlUb5RKp4S-b9QO47aB23xCWfyMixOe96bvYY-ABQdLuFD2j/s320/20150106_140754.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Не знам колко европейски е Бостън, но макар и миниатюрен и скромен в сравнение с Голямата ябълка (и много по-подреден!), на мен много ми допадна. Харвард се води в Кембридж, различен от Бостън град, но де факто квартал на града. Направихме си страшна ледена разходка по университета, вторият такъв от Бръшляновата лига, който посетих: Harvard Law School, The Yard, Kennedy School of Global and International Affairs и един типичен студентски бар, Grendel’s Den, където изпихме по няколко бърбъна.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyztEe5kecnxr6cDdAhBIymblBlXhzehHN9buB-ZcX_SKCrmWO2bytqfysZ0jm0tncBejycEnajUUJ9t4-nmeRXEn6egtPpoABsXxU5VJzPoiN9eVAcBT4saVgKN67CTU7iL96oAbsdGr/s1600/20150106_155426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyztEe5kecnxr6cDdAhBIymblBlXhzehHN9buB-ZcX_SKCrmWO2bytqfysZ0jm0tncBejycEnajUUJ9t4-nmeRXEn6egtPpoABsXxU5VJzPoiN9eVAcBT4saVgKN67CTU7iL96oAbsdGr/s320/20150106_155426.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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После отидохме до Чайна таун да хапнем типични сечуански вкусотии като мапу тофу и свински чревца в ужасно лют сос. После аз разцъках по баровете, а Джош се прибра да учи. На другия ден си казахме чао и аз посетих Масачузетския технологичен институт (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT), третото училище от Бръшляновата лига в списъка ми. MIT е може би най-добрия университет за точни науки в света. Много приветлив кампус, с раздвижени сгради и зали, разположен близо до реката Чарлз. След MIT отидох в Музея на изящните изкуства да се постопля и да се посветя, освен на импресионистите, и на великолепни местни художници от Нова Англия, запечатали революционния дух на Америка от 18-19 век. С последвалото ми посещение на заведението за сандвичи с омари (lobster rolls) на пристанището, James Hook’s Lobsters, програмата ми в Бостън приключи и се качих обратно на Грейхаунда за Готам.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WZnj8gVKmagpHyjjDU4MJK86_IkClTe_29eYXuw4sDKTREN9LjSY6VsqKhx7j-pnYA1XsxeNWZRVLXqNdWUBqtzekufgEvAHyGOxt07D1766wI_04APTsjisG5FszI34Smcxl9Z1e-I3/s1600/20150107_152110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WZnj8gVKmagpHyjjDU4MJK86_IkClTe_29eYXuw4sDKTREN9LjSY6VsqKhx7j-pnYA1XsxeNWZRVLXqNdWUBqtzekufgEvAHyGOxt07D1766wI_04APTsjisG5FszI34Smcxl9Z1e-I3/s320/20150107_152110.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Това беше. Нямам повече сили да пиша и искам само едно нещо да кажа: като пуснат директния полет до Ню Йорк тази година, както се говореше, пак ще отида. Веднага.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-8964727512702965932015-05-18T11:43:00.002+03:002015-12-06T19:22:55.944+02:00Homo Civicus (Re)Born: The 2012-14 Protest Movements in Bulgaria and Good Governance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVoA9yhINJyAXBIA4JS0rV3MkavA4SxZiKTXV1t5_-sc01x__rYag0vJJughzz_ECn13Ll-HrqzKnwQESufOVjZolyxEDDt9n5RJeOVCcvKxhUqHoodkqwYTI1Ye4YHUBwZROgQhN54vn/s1600/Bulgarian_Protest_against_Oresharski_Cabinet+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVoA9yhINJyAXBIA4JS0rV3MkavA4SxZiKTXV1t5_-sc01x__rYag0vJJughzz_ECn13Ll-HrqzKnwQESufOVjZolyxEDDt9n5RJeOVCcvKxhUqHoodkqwYTI1Ye4YHUBwZROgQhN54vn/s320/Bulgarian_Protest_against_Oresharski_Cabinet+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">"Bulgarian Protest against Oresharski Cabinet" by AlexaHR.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">With Phone CameraPreviously published: No where.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons</span></div>
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My paper on Bulgaria's 2012-14 protest movements and their impact on good governance is available <a href="http://www.iris-bg.org/fls/Ralchev_-_Protests_and_Good_Governance_in_Bulgaria.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. It's part of the book Governance and Participation, ed. Dr Melanie Sully, on recent developments in the Black Sea region, published by the Institute for Go-Governance in Vienna.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-44208927212882526842015-03-08T15:00:00.000+02:002015-03-08T20:00:50.433+02:00A Syrah from the North<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuWr7GgviCFpHTszGDJD9W30GjO5Yi6Vk0IKGgbM1kJiaQd-MIqJNH-mZhb3x6royCAU_sovSK18jnoVMMNdGV8XsvCJplZ0ztrI_4MvhYmNqBR1SVuuBS4Z8QYkrMf8bh9Iue9O_T__r/s1600/20150308_140247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuWr7GgviCFpHTszGDJD9W30GjO5Yi6Vk0IKGgbM1kJiaQd-MIqJNH-mZhb3x6royCAU_sovSK18jnoVMMNdGV8XsvCJplZ0ztrI_4MvhYmNqBR1SVuuBS4Z8QYkrMf8bh9Iue9O_T__r/s1600/20150308_140247.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now, Syrah made a famous debut in Bulgaria in the late 2000s when the first vines planted five or so years before by newly founded small wineries bore fruit. These vines have mostly been in the Southeast Thracian Valley region - Sakar mountain, Haskovo, Sliven, Yambol, etc. The debut was famous because Syrah and Bulgaria turned out to be in a love affair, with wines coming out of the Thracian Valley conquering palates domestically and kicking butt in international blind tasting competitions. Syrah came to Bulgaria earlier in fact: in the 1940s, here an unthought-of fusion was made between the French Northern Rhone grape of Syrah and the Italian king grape Nebbiolo of Piedmont to produce Rubin - a Bulgarian-invented variety which is still grown and produces fabulous wines. But we got to know Syrah for its own merits on Bulgarian soil only recently, with the advent of the new millennium.<br />
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The Thracian Valley Syrahs of Katarzhyna, Minkov Brothers and Santa Sarah are famous. But what I had today, and excuse me for the long overture, is simply amazing. This Syrah comes from the North - from the Danube Plain. Our wines from this region are typically more cold-climate, light- to medium-bodied and fresh. A typical example is Gamza. But this Chateau Burgozone Syrah justifies all my spontaneous love lately for the versatility of Bulgaria's Northwest: this is a must-try, quite big Syrah for Bulgarian wine lovers who are already acquainted with the Thracian Valley treasures but want something different. Chateau Burgozone is situated on the banks of the Danube some 200 km north of Sofia.<br />
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I let this Chateau Burgozone 2011 Syrah PGI Danube Plain breathe for 45 minutes. The nose is plum and ripe mulberry and raisins. On the palate the mulberry is reinforced, within a general black fruit background. What is striking is the clearly discernible smokiness - leather, tobacco - and bayleaf. The classic Syrah spiciness here has a different dimension. This even reminds me of the smoky South African Syrahs/Shirazes. At the same time, the balance is amazing - the freshness is just about right to make this wine perfect for any Balkan meal.<br />
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Recommend.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-47386153907992406362014-10-03T22:10:00.004+03:002014-10-03T22:10:47.500+03:00Предизборно: Листа на Реформаторския блок за 25-и МИР София<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Листата с кратко био за всеки кандидат можете да свалите <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd8i9j779hrgtdw/%D0%A0%D0%B5%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%20%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%BA%20-%20%D0%9B%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%2025-%D0%B8%20%D0%9C%D0%98%D0%A0%20-%20%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BA%D0%BE.ppt?dl=0" target="_blank">тук</a>. 25-и многомандатен избирателен район - София включва районите Люлин, Банкя, Овча купел, Красна поляна, Илинден, Надежда, Връбница и Нови Искър.<div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-36769709921044754252014-05-28T13:21:00.000+03:002014-05-28T14:51:53.476+03:00EP 2014 elections in Bulgaria: A hint at normality?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Bulgaria’s Central Election Commission is yet to announce the official final results of the European Parliament (EP) election held on 25 May, 2014, but it has processed all protocols from the precincts with counted 100% of the ballots. This was the third EP campaign in Bulgaria after the one following EU entry in 2007 and then the regular one in 2009. Turnout was traditionally low (some 35%) and somewhere on the average in Europe.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>The results show a clear win for the centre-right GERB party, from the EPP family, with 30.4% of the vote and 6 of the 17 Bulgarian MEP mandates; a collapse of the co-ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party, from the PES family, with 18.9% and 4 seats; and a powerful performance of the co-ruling ethnic Turkish-dominated DPS, of the ALDE family, with 17.3% and 4 mandates. The election also affirmed the place of two new formations on the nationally significant political scene, which do not have yet representation in the Assembly: the populist (and backed by specific business interests) coalition led by the Bulgaria without Censorship party (10.7%, 2 seats) and the Reformist Bloc – a centre-right pro-reform political union of small parties which failed to pass the 4% threshold at the last national poll a year ago (also members of the EPP family) – 6.4%, 1 seat.<br />
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In technical terms, the election was controversial and marred by violations: allegations were made and proofs made available before and on election day about instances of ‘controlled vote’ – a phenomenon gaining formidable proportions in Bulgaria ever since the local elections in 2007 – including vote-buying and coercion to vote in a certain way by power-brokers (corporate bosses, community leaders in ethnic Turkish-controlled regions and in compact Roma neighbourhoods, loan sharks, etc.). The most notorious case was a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLGujJRFBM4" target="_blank">video</a> footage taken secretly some days before the poll at a company meeting of privately-held Bobov Dol Mines in Southwest Bulgaria, where miners were ordered by the company mid-management to vote for the Bulgarian Socialist Party. A <a href="http://www.iris-bg.org/index/events/itemid/352" target="_blank">study</a> carried out by the Institute for Regional and International Studies in Sofia showed such practices were common in private and state-owned firms alike, especially in poorer regions. The absolute, feudal control of DPS in Turkish- and Muslim-dominated regions was evident again but has been known for decades, with mavericks deprived of career prospects and put to outright isolation by the community. And the massive vote-buying carried out by the new Bulgaria without Censorship party, in the form of paying for tens of thousands of formal party observers across the country, plus its extremely intruding and obviously expensive media campaign, contribute to the idea that this European election was not as free and fair as a vote in a EU country is supposed to be.<br />
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One reason for this may be the perceived high national significance of the election as viewed by political parties ahead of the poll. The controlled vote mentioned above has been most pervasive at national and especially local elections, not European. But this Sunday’s vote was regarded by most players as an event with domestic implications rather than European. The political situation in Bulgaria after the May 2013 early election has been very unstable, with trust in the BSP-DPS government, supported by the populist/xenophobic Ataka in parliament, unprecedentedly low. Many parties did not pass the national assembly threshold last year, leaving a million active citizens unrepresented in parliament and openly discontent. Mass protests marked the entire 2013. Political parties saw in Sunday’s EP vote an opportunity to re-position themselves in this volatile situation: the co-ruling parties to reaffirm they are still strong, and the opposition parties to demonstrate a new strength and capability to challenge. And indeed, the huge majority of the political messages were nationally oriented, targeting domestic issues and trying to strike a local chord with the populace.<br />
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But why then, given all that, the European Parliament election in Bulgaria was a hint at normality and, in fact, inspired some optimism among certain observers? Firstly, the anti-EU, xenophobic, far-right, neo-fascist and populist elements of the political spectrum, so worryingly present in Western Europe, were totally ousted in Bulgaria. The two largest parties representing these sentiments in society – parliamentary Ataka and regional NFSB – won around 3% of the vote each, with the threshold for winning an MEP mandate being 5.9%. This shows that the xenophobic and extremist attitudes in Bulgarian society are not organic – they are rather an expression of a protest vote or a reaction to some perceived failure of the powers that be, with support fluctuating according to the circumstances. Another interesting aspect of this development, closely linked with Ataka specifically, is that the anti-Western and pro-Russian component of the ‘nationalist’ vote obtained no support. Many Western media reported in the months before the EP vote that Bulgaria was split between a European/Western commitment and a nostalgic infatuation with Russia, newly resurgent under Putin and land-grabbing in its neighbourhood. Ataka, a self-defined ‘nationalist’ party, was the loudest promoter of Russia and ‘Orthodox’ values in the campaign, apparently bolstered financially by Putin and his propaganda apparatus. The Sunday election results and Ataka’s performance thus also show that Bulgarians were not fooled by the nostalgic pro-Russian rants and have never questioned their belonging to Europe and the Western system of values.<br />
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Secondly, the election corroborated what has been obvious over the last year of political volatility but given a blind eye by those in power: Bulgarian citizens do not have trust in the government and gave a clear sign the current governing configuration must be ended. The parties officially backing the cabinet, BSP and DPS, jointly got fewer votes than the parties calling for an early election, GERB and the Reformist Bloc. If we add to the latter the votes for the populist Bulgaria without Censorship party, which, despite being a hidden ‘status quo’ power, has explicitly and loudly held it is for an early vote (and thus collected anti-‘status quo’ votes), the equation becomes too tilted in favour of change. This is important because ahead of the vote the Bulgarian public was bombarded with extremely biased public opinion surveys, conducted by unprofessional sociological agencies (allegedly connected with the ruling establishment), which claimed that BSP was definitely in the lead, and that in the span of a whole month before the poll. Only a couple of agencies published polls which were close to the real picture; respect due to Alpha Research and Exacta Research Group. Now that the official election results are out, there should be no doubt about what the public sentiments in Bulgaria are and that the need for early election and political stabilisation and normalisation is imminent.<br />
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Thirdly, the first actual use of preferential voting in a Bulgarian election took place and should be applauded. Bulgaria had preferential voting in its first EP election back in 2007, but then the usage of the option did not make much sense (the percentage threshold for votes for a preferred candidate to move up the list was high) and logically not used widely. With the last electoral code adopted by parliament earlier this year, the threshold was dropped to 5% of the votes for a certain candidate. As a result, shifts in the party lists took place in two of the formations which won MEP mandates: the Reformist Bloc’s leader Meglena Kuneva, former (and the first) European Commissioner for Bulgaria, was replaced by the second in the list Svetoslav Malinov (an MEP in the outgoing parliament); and, more strikingly, the BSP and PES leader, Sergei Stanishev, lost in the preferential vote to the 15th in the list Momchil Nekov, a young and famously unknown party activist with otherwise minimal chances of success. While the BSP development may be attributed to technicalities and uninformed voters (Nekov’s number was 15, just as the number for BSP in the party list was 15; it's possible voters crossed out both numbers ‘just in case’), a true majoritarian competition took place in the Reformist Bloc list. This is definitely healthy for the political system in Bulgaria, where voter disaffection has been growing and a bigger say for the citizens, via a majoritarian element, could be a great incentive for participation. And preferential voting may be the better option than a mixed system with first-past-the-post elements in the constituencies, as political parties should remain strong in an immature Eastern European democracy as Bulgaria. An experiment with 31 FPTP constituencies was introduced for the 2009 general election but it produced such an unpredicted result and created such a mess in parliamentary procedure afterwards that all parties, winners and opposition alike, regretted it afterwards.<br />
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And fourthly, a new ‘island of normality’ in terms of political discourse could be recognised in this campaign in one of the new political actors already mentioned – the Reformist Bloc. Bulgaria has been the stage of several populist waves since reform and European integration processes began in earnest in 1997. In 2001, the former king Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha came back from Spain, formed a party, won a landslide victory, ousting the relatively successful right-centre government of the UDF, and became a prime minister; he promised a miracle for the economy in 800 days, and people believed him. Then in 2005 Ataka emerged, offering a far-right and xenophobic version of the ‘saviour’ model; thankfully, it did not become so powerful as to win a majority, but nevertheless remained a factor in parliament. And in 2007 and 2009 the GERB party, the current winner and most popular formation, won the EP and general elections, mostly because of its leader and not on any ideology: the charismatic macho man and former fireman and karate champion Boyko Borissov. These populist waves were the result of common dissatisfaction of the people with politics and search for something new or exotic that would miraculously raise living standards and create jobs and prosperity. They also pushed true political discourse, based on ideas and beliefs, to the margins. The Reformist Bloc brought back some of this genuine discourse in its EP 2014 campaign. It was maybe the only party that had Europe-centred messages and did not fall victim entirely to the national debate: those included consistent positions on EU enlargement, common policy towards Ukraine and Russia, a European energy union, etc. And the won mandate of the party and the 150,000 votes behind it certainly can be regarded as a hint at normality. What they have to do now is build on it and expand this breathing space until the early parliamentary election, bound to happen sooner or later.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-73028055595665162262014-01-20T10:49:00.002+02:002014-01-20T10:50:09.291+02:00"The Frenzy"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A great take on EU migration and the Bulgaria/Romania worker invasion scare by Foreign Policy's Harriet Salem, with me quoted, too. Read it <a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/01/17/the_frenzy_europe_immigrants" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-60521634024708807862013-12-24T09:30:00.000+02:002013-12-24T09:30:01.955+02:00Christmas line-up: check!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSPZ7GwY1_jZo2kYdyPD13M_WhUHe4QUYNoGjyDNBFOyS3pe3CrMSNTXqxECWYYtNPpHSkYdmPiNFhrqzBg4ZUftbXm5cOM2tgn_qDDQfcH5A0EJf6fK72pK_qHtd310AhxQJoDxg0hv1/s1600/20131224_090916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSPZ7GwY1_jZo2kYdyPD13M_WhUHe4QUYNoGjyDNBFOyS3pe3CrMSNTXqxECWYYtNPpHSkYdmPiNFhrqzBg4ZUftbXm5cOM2tgn_qDDQfcH5A0EJf6fK72pK_qHtd310AhxQJoDxg0hv1/s320/20131224_090916.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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From left to right: 2012 Minkov Brothers Le Photographe Syrah (Gold Medal winner in blind tasting at Alliances du Monde 2013), Thracian Valley, Bulgaria; 2009 Chateau Ste Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington State, U.S.; 2007 Domaine Duclaux, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhone, France; 2007 Ruschi Noceti La Costa Rosso, Tuscany, Italy; 2008 Stellenzicht Golden Triangle Pinotage, Stellenbosch, South Africa. Yum yum!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-77784410881296518312013-12-13T15:44:00.001+02:002013-12-15T22:09:57.588+02:00Reflections on Ukraine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I attended on Thursday a public <a href="http://www.cls-sofia.org/en/events/ukraine-s-struggle-for-europe-206.html" target="_blank">discussion</a> in Sofia entitled, “Ukraine's Struggle for Europe: Mapping Ukraine’s Choices before the Protests and after Vilnius.” It was held at the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria and organised by the <a href="http://www.cls-sofia.org/en/" target="_blank">Centre for Liberal Strategies</a> (CLS). The key speaker was Mr Valentyn Gladkykh, a young political scientist who is currently Chief Adviser of Verkhovna Rada's Secretariat; the other two panellists were Ognyan Minchev of <a href="http://www.iris-bg.org/" target="_blank">IRIS</a>, the policy institute I work at, and Lithuania’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, H.E. Darius Gaidys, representing the EU Presidency. Moderation was provided by CLS’s Antoinette Primatarova.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyTtiggOhrfYHkd5SB0WNoNP2w5hGaBOlgsyowrtalSxubcMV0y2Os1v-oLNFWhZaJpdGQAJPeNTypILNqvh0DOA46zKnmNRC91Hb1u0moHhcrIr9K0r8xqURL5ObTjV5bKoKDmV_ZEZk/s1600/Euromaidan_Kyiv_1-12-13_by_Gnatoush_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyTtiggOhrfYHkd5SB0WNoNP2w5hGaBOlgsyowrtalSxubcMV0y2Os1v-oLNFWhZaJpdGQAJPeNTypILNqvh0DOA46zKnmNRC91Hb1u0moHhcrIr9K0r8xqURL5ObTjV5bKoKDmV_ZEZk/s320/Euromaidan_Kyiv_1-12-13_by_Gnatoush_005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo by Nessa Gnatoush, Wikimedia Commons / Flickr (</i></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>bit.ly/18Gm4lx)</i></span></div>
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This was a very useful event which got its due attention, judging by the people present, but it also helped some ideas I had about Ukraine, the EU, Russia, and the Euromaidan protests crystallise. Here are some thoughts:<br />
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1) Ukraine is far from a country simply and bluntly divided into a pro-EU west and pro-Russian east. We in the EU like to think: you see, Ukraine’s west has this Polish and Austro-Hungarian heritage, cities like Lviv are truly European, and the east – the east is the Donbas industrial area, with Dnipropetrovsk the true embodiment of a Soviet city; the east is where the Russian speakers live, and it is heart-and-mind Russian. True, some rough line of distinction exists, but it's a distinction of voting preferences having its roots back in the Orange Revolution of 2004. There isn’t a single region in Ukraine where Russians are a majority except in Crimea, the peninsula in the far south. In other words, the division is electoral; it has to do with Yanukovych’s Party of Regions on one side and the ‘Orangists’ on the other. Or maybe <i>was</i> is the correct word: Gladkykh, at the Sofia event, said many people who voted for Yanukovych in the last parliamentary election, especially those in the east, are very disappointed with him now. On the other hand, Ukraine <i>is</i> facing a choice: Minchev said it is the choice many European nations made after 1848 – the choice of sovereignty and nation-building over the imperial model existing until then. The problem with the ex-Soviet countries is that nation-building was inhibited – frozen – during the USSR years and now, when this logical process has started to take place, Russia is trying to block it by virtue of the imperial perception of its own development. The Euromaidan protests are not so much pro-EU protests as they are action of support of the sovereignty and independence of the Ukrainian nation, a vision which somehow collides with what Yanukovych does and what Putin imagines Ukraine should do.<br />
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2) Yanukovych has taken over Ukraine to such an extent that this has started backfiring. He is in charge of the Presidency, obviously, and controls the cabinet of ministers, and his Party of Regions has a majority in the Verkhovna Rada and at local level. Thus a Lukashenko-type personality-centred regime has started budding, and whenever something goes wrong whether in Kyiv or in some distant town, east or west, Yanukovych is automatically to blame. He has come to be the personification, and reason behind, all good and bad in Ukrainian social and political life, and as of late there are not many good things to boast about.<br />
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3) Yanukovych will not cede power easily because he is afraid of prosecution. And he is right to be. He knows best what happened to Yulia Tymoshenko, and his sins, in the eyes of the Ukrainian public, are much greater than hers. One other reason for him to cling as long as possible to government is related to the EU. Closer ties with the bloc and even partial adoption by Ukraine of its values and norms would imply hard times for people like Yanukovych, who grew immensely rich since he came to power. His son became one of the wealthiest people in Ukraine. All this will have to be accounted for in a more transparent and EU-associated Ukraine, and he and his family may easily get a ban to travel to the EU. That's why he has bet on procrastinating and playing both the EU and Russia for the sake of the status quo's preservation.<br />
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4) For the future of Yanukovych and Ukraine, a decisive role is to be played by the oligarchs. Gladkykh said in Sofia that Ukraine’s political and economic elite are afraid of association with the EU because they simply don’t know how to deal with the Europeans – business-wise and culturally. They know how to do business with the Russians – they feel at home with them, but they are at a loss when having to abide by rules and meet standards as the EU and its investors expect. But this, while it may be true, is not the entire truth. Russian oligarchs are more powerful than their Ukrainian counterparts, and a Ukraine joining Russia’s Customs Union will result in Ukrainian tycoons being pushed out of business or having to pay a very high price to stay. Competition with the Russian oligarchs is not a very healthy business, either. Indeed, as a number of international media publications <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25323964" target="_blank">contend</a>, Ukraine’s oligarchs are steadily <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-11/ukraine-billionaires-desert-yanukovych-after-eu-accord-reversal.html" target="_blank">shifting</a> sides: they are withdrawing their support for Yanukovych for the sake of a European Ukraine with an access to the biggest single market in the world.<br />
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5) The EU and its foreign policy have been awoken to new life because of the Ukrainian fiasco (the failure to sign the AA and the consequent Euromaidan protests). Major EU figures, both from the Brussels institutions and from key member states, have shown their support for Euromaidan by mingling with the protesters and by officially warning Ukrainian authorities to stop police repression. Such a thing is unprecedented. Never did Cathy Ashton go to Gezi Park, for example, to support the legitimate demands of Istanbul protesters, despite Turkey being an official EU candidate country; and never did she join Sofia’s #DANSwithMe popular anti-government action against corruption and lack of transparency, going on in the Bulgarian capital for more than 180 days. And Bulgaria is an EU member. One conclusion from the above is that you have to be both intrinsically European (which Turkey isn't) and big / important enough (which Bulgaria isn't) to be worthy of being the object of the fledgling common EU (foreign) policy. Ukraine is both.<br />
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6) The similarities between Bulgaria and Ukraine vis-à-vis the protest movements of 2013 and the governments’ reaction to them are striking. It’s like I am watching a replay of what has been happening in Sofia since June, only it’s in Kyiv and it’s December now. We are witnessing pro-European protests (read values, freedom, transparency, accountability, sovereignty of the citizen) versus retrograde, corrupt governments clinging to power as if this is their last chance to prey on state resources. The techniques of those in power in tackling the protests are identical – organisation of parallel, ‘counter-protests’ supporting the government (the ‘divide and rule’ tactic); police repression and harassment of protesting citizens at their homes; media manipulations and outright, disgraceful smearing campaigns; etc., etc. However, there is one essential difference between the two countries: while in Bulgaria the oligarchs backing the government and controlling huge bits of the economy play on Russia’s team because of coincidence of interests (corrupt, unpredictable Bulgaria, part of a twilight zone on the EU’s periphery where Russia can sell its energy resources and buy assets at discount prices), in Ukraine the oligarchs are increasingly pro-EU: they have come to realise the single market will be good for their business, and they want to continue to be able to visit their expensive properties in London or the French Riviera. Doesn't speak very well of Bulgaria, er?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-35706449330377081612013-11-14T13:20:00.001+02:002013-11-14T21:06:34.960+02:00New policy brief: "U-turns and Ways forward: Armenia, the EU and Russia beyond Vilnius"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Take a look <a href="http://iris-bg.org/files/iris-shirinyan&ralchev-Armenia-EU-Russia-Beyond-Vilnius-nov13.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> at my fresh policy brief, co-authored with Anahit Shirinyan and entitled "U-turns and Ways forward: Armenia, the EU and Russia beyond Vilnius." It was published on the website of the Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS).</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-13065427798514776272013-10-09T22:15:00.000+03:002014-01-05T04:49:53.475+02:00Tasting the glass<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I hate to write about a company but I can’t escape it here. I went to an <a href="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/d59d1c138cf51734c878bb83f/files/Riedel_09_10_2013.pdf" target="_blank">event</a> organised by Riedel, the glassware maker, in Sofia’s Grand Hotel on this pleasant October Wednesday. What captured my attention in the promotion email was that by signing in for the tasting at the price of 15 levs (€7.50) I’d get attractive discounts for buying three of my favourite wines from a favourite wine retailer. It’s Burgundy, Washington State and Australia, geographically. The wines which Riedel chose were: Joseph Drouhin Santenay 2009; Chateau Ste Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2009; Yalumba Patchwork Shiraz 2010.<br />
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But this thing grew to something bigger than the wine. I admit I never expected the shape of the glass can have such a profound effect on the sensual perception of the drinker. Maybe there is also the marketing and the psychological tricks, but I definitely believe Riedel has a point. No wonder their glasses cost a fortune (€85 for the set of three used in this tasting, regular price; sold at discount at the event for €30). These people made their glasses as the wine itself would want them to be made, as they like to boast. Mr Riedel had that idea back in 1973 and tested it among the most renowned wine producers in Italy. It was them who chose the form of glassware for their own wine. And it’s not only wine. Riedel has glassware adjusted to enhance any imaginable drink, even Bulgarian rakia. But enough about the company, let’s shift to the event.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhKK8AmQtbgRtiXunIjsaAlQcgHrYyBDfBYp_ak4mgOTQP4xb2F7UGOxWof32fejdHTdww_bvdsTvHNUAR9nKZ2YqrQFnUvZblVLXU_EUbyi9h7lHgZh5kiqqGr17aLKVh7M2n_VYK1KE/s1600/20131009_183107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhKK8AmQtbgRtiXunIjsaAlQcgHrYyBDfBYp_ak4mgOTQP4xb2F7UGOxWof32fejdHTdww_bvdsTvHNUAR9nKZ2YqrQFnUvZblVLXU_EUbyi9h7lHgZh5kiqqGr17aLKVh7M2n_VYK1KE/s320/20131009_183107.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Glass 1 - Pinot Noir; 2 - Syrah; 3 - Cabernet Sauvignon</span></i><br />
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<a name='more'></a>We were offered three classic Riedel tasting glasses – for Pinot Noir, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines I mentioned above were poured in plastic in front of every glass. We also had three bars of Lindt chocolate for the tasting – this was meant to show us how the different glasses have their effect on food pairing. The presenter – an Italian sommelier from Chianti – asked us to pour each wine from the plastic into every Riedel glass in a carefully planned sequence, the latter repeated with the chocolate pairing.<br />
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It really made a difference. The Burgundy expressed all its elegance and balance in the Pinot Noir glass, too much alcohol in the Syrah glass and lack of character in the Cab glass. The Shiraz made me frown with alcohol and spice in the Pinot glass, was too volatile and lacking character in the Cab glass, and perfectly expressive with pepper, vanilla and less intrusive alcohol in the Syrah glass. The Cab impressed with classic Columbia valley character and balance – acidity and oaked caramel, licorice maybe? – in the Cab glass but showed some unpleasant alcohol and vanilla extremities in the other two glasses. It is amazing. It has to do, as the Chianti guy explained, with the way the liquid enters your mouth and spreads over the different taste areas of the tongue. But it is clearly the case – the wines tasted differently from the different glasses.<br />
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Then comes the chocolate. Not only do those Riedel glasses make your wine taste differently: they also make your wine-and-food pairing a deeper experience. We had a bar of white Lindt, one of a spicy brown Lindt and one of 70% cacao dark choc Lindt. We tried every bar with every wine in every glass. And the combos were really most expressive with the respective recommended wine glasses. I don’t know, I felt I was being fooled or something. The Chianti guy told us Riedel had worked with Lindt for a long time now. Have they concocted some scam so that this specific chocolate tastes good with only this wine drunk from that glass? It must be a grand scam in any case.<br />
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I've always known that mechanics has its say in wine tasting, expressed in the shape of glassware. We all know certain red wine glasses, white wine glasses and carbonated wine glasses. But I didn’t expect it made such a great difference. My suspicion, and problem, now is that I may start scrutinising every wine glass I lay my hands on when drinking wine. Not a good prospect. But after all, it’s the juice that matters most, and this universal truth will I hardly abandon.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-51184671842852760242013-10-04T00:11:00.001+03:002013-10-04T00:17:35.402+03:00A meet with the Prokupac<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8vBIZyVxKG02BapNYO7stswHpnCsibA8VCiiTlRxpq5B4mLftErLAVhpS_CGLf8VaNanjlIk5u4f8CpafSNwL7NBKcTiPf0yOnjPwXjH8SoWwRoVSXwn4M1xrOKuKeLdP6fQ50zj2uJF/s1600/20131003_215645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8vBIZyVxKG02BapNYO7stswHpnCsibA8VCiiTlRxpq5B4mLftErLAVhpS_CGLf8VaNanjlIk5u4f8CpafSNwL7NBKcTiPf0yOnjPwXjH8SoWwRoVSXwn4M1xrOKuKeLdP6fQ50zj2uJF/s320/20131003_215645.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Time has come for my serious meet with Prokupac. It is a native Serbian red variety mostly grown in the central part of the country. In Bulgaria, we never associate Serbia with wine, and when we do we think white: Smederevka or Karlovački Rizling at the Exit Fest in Novi Sad, or Krstač for those spending more time in the country, for that matter.</div>
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I tried a number of Prokupac wines in my Serbia travels over the last year. I was impressed by the combination of vigour, elegance and rusticity. Of course, it's different when you're home and the wine you chose to buy is all now at your disposal for a serious scrutiny.</div>
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I am trying the 2011 Prokupac by Vinarija Ivanović, Aleksandrovac, 14%. I bought the wine in Belgrade in May of this year but
waited for the autumn to settle over the Balkans in order to try it in the more
appropriate of atmospheres. This is medium to
light bodied and quite the choice for September or even August, if we have to
fall for those season/wine considerations. But it's 6 degrees centigrade in
Sofia now, and the juice is just perfect. It displays wild plum, raspberry and
redcurrant on the nose, and a bit of oak. I decanted it and waited for only half-hour
for this, but for a 2011 Prokupac I think it's okay. On the palate the acidity is pleasing; it's again the redcurrant.
What makes this special is the saltiness and the coffee nuance in the
aftertaste. Rustic, red Balkan openness on a powerful display.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-55455113995611868562013-09-03T22:18:00.001+03:002013-09-04T01:26:43.599+03:00A less known Piedmontese red<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of the bottles I brought from my Po Valley quest in Italy is now on the table. I never imagined Piedmont had such an abundance of autochthonic grapes. Barbera, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo from the reds and Arneis and Moscato from the whites are somewhat well known. But this Freisa was a nice surprise. It was recommended to me by an old Turin lady who caught me trying wines in a Turin wine shop and felt obliged to suggest some less known vernacular beauties.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37C975OWyssy9ql4Omw1uk0UH2eMVd2mxpVK7B5svDEqz9uUyYiZ7BeTfC99vcfoRzN9ZEidzfeMP92EheErvFR0eZi0GxjZ3aCGMrehGQW7MHQPBUGTZfbkQC_IbcC1_YqFsdnV_xH_c/s1600/20130903_211936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37C975OWyssy9ql4Omw1uk0UH2eMVd2mxpVK7B5svDEqz9uUyYiZ7BeTfC99vcfoRzN9ZEidzfeMP92EheErvFR0eZi0GxjZ3aCGMrehGQW7MHQPBUGTZfbkQC_IbcC1_YqFsdnV_xH_c/s320/20130903_211936.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Freisa wine is light-bodied, a bit carbonated at times and generally produced around Turin, in Monferrato and Langhe. This one is <b>Balbiano Freisa di Chieri Secco Vivace 2011</b>, DOP (Denominazione di Origine Protetta), €8.50. Secco means dry, so obviously Freisa has sweeter expressions, and vivace is lively - they're hinting at bubbles. It's from Turin region: Azienda Vitivinicola Balbiano is based in Andezeno, near Turin. Plum and redcurrant and forest fruit on the nose, a bit rustic, reminds of a young Tuscan Sangiovese. On entry it's light, a little frizzante/bubbly, the plum is what I feel at once, with redcurrant and morello cherry around. Low tannins and typical Apennine acidity. I like it. I think this is a great wine for the summer to enjoy with salty Italian antipasti such as prosciutto and the hard cheeses (Parmigiano Reggiano etc.).</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-57976142301862164182013-08-25T19:32:00.000+03:002013-08-26T08:34:19.762+03:00Moments of a Po Valley quest, with wine notes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The truth is I don’t want to write a travel story. I want to write about sporadic moments that left a mark in my mind and heart in this quest of the Po Valley, and beyond, that I made. Many of us have visited Italy and have their own personal experiences in that country. My thing will be honestly brief, random, un-touristy, oenocentric and accompanied by images. Italy is never something so fabulous to discover; but I realise now I love Italy so much that in the end here I am in front of the laptop on a Sunday, one week after I came back to Sofia, writing about it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiocrK2Ch1scL9_rlnj-5UAGOLeoMIMgv3MrRCfI6A92Njw0IXeei8QSMqEYgUGNyYfC38wKVLf4d98HfWUM5TLj2D2NmsrOENimEY1hWXcrye2Z_7PbFQuwVMX58Vc-wBwBPL467hz9sb/s1600/po1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiocrK2Ch1scL9_rlnj-5UAGOLeoMIMgv3MrRCfI6A92Njw0IXeei8QSMqEYgUGNyYfC38wKVLf4d98HfWUM5TLj2D2NmsrOENimEY1hWXcrye2Z_7PbFQuwVMX58Vc-wBwBPL467hz9sb/s320/po1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo: <a href="http://olive-drab.com/">http://olive-drab.com</a></span><br />
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Why the Po Valley, or the Padan Plain, the vast lowlands in the north of the country along the Fiume (River) Po, linking the Western Alps and the Adriatic? This area, including the regions (from east to west) of Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, Piedmont and tiny parts of Tuscany and Liguria, is notorious for its industrial development, often branded as the motor of Italian economy. It is. But it is also home of the best Italian wines and cuisine, and the industry is conveniently away from the living space of people, even away from the traveller’s eye in a, say, Turin-Milan train. The natural beauties are everywhere. It’s the Alps, the Apennines, the plain, the Po, the maize crops, the vineyards that make the landscape. And the beautiful cities make it complete.<br />
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So why the Po Valley? First, because I never fully explored Italy’s north and its wines; second, because I was to meet some college friends; third, because I did my master’s studies in Bologna precisely ten years ago and I needed this trip at some point to see how ‘grown up’ I was; and last but not least, because Italy as an idea and a congregation of emotions and experiences is for me one of the best places to visit. Blame me for my bias. Following is a collection of momentary impressions from the Po Valley, in a chronological order, which I thought were worth ‘putting on paper.’<br />
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<a name='more'></a><b>The Red Lady</b><br />
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Bologna Rossa welcomes me in the 40s Celsius. The famously red buildings seem brownish to me now. Maybe that’s the sign I am looking for, ten years later. That’s how I am older. Or maybe it’s just August and everything’s more subdued, even the colours. Memories make my hot days sweeter – student buddies, Piazza Maggiore, the colonnades/archways… Ancient loves.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Bologna. <i>My photo</i></span><br />
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It’s here I meet Bate Ekso, my AUBG roommate, and his girlfriend, for a true un-touristy Italian experience. A surprisingly normal number of tourists, most of whom come from France, Spain, Germany. Very few Americans, unlike Florence and Rome. A few Russians and even a Bulgarian college crew touring Italy. We try the food specialties of Emilia-Romagna, the region whose capital Bologna is, and some of its wines. We stroll along the colonnades of a University founded in 1088, the oldest in Europe. I for the first time notice that however many waters and beers I drink, I don’t go to the toilet until evening. It’s so hot that the body utilises every liquid you grant it.<br />
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<b>The trains</b><br />
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Trenitalia, the national railway company, is one of my best friends along the Po. Air conditioning, sometimes sockets to charge your phone, cleanliness, interesting passengers… And it’s not expensive. An average 100 km trip with the lower-price Interregionale or Regionale would cost you slightly more than the same trip in Bulgaria.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7p0Rs4FK0bZfSWs0DIaNkO4fp-dYHmQLxKsbey13vEcjPhyphenhyphenfsbJPkBhcdn11cDimpxUk1ZuHL4CfGsjdUtJy39Rn9EqP-oX6wLDsgSRBmzJg7TV5rLL1JXKJVtp6NSE9C19WZ2PZRElZ/s1600/20130810_114812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7p0Rs4FK0bZfSWs0DIaNkO4fp-dYHmQLxKsbey13vEcjPhyphenhyphenfsbJPkBhcdn11cDimpxUk1ZuHL4CfGsjdUtJy39Rn9EqP-oX6wLDsgSRBmzJg7TV5rLL1JXKJVtp6NSE9C19WZ2PZRElZ/s320/20130810_114812.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Corniglia Station. <i>My photo</i></span><br />
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<b>The Cinque Terre</b><br />
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Thanks to Bate Ekso, I plan my trip to include this marvellous bit of the Ligurian coast too. No need to share much. It is a UNESCO Heritage site, and it is the most touristy place I tread on in northern Italy. These five villages used to be fishermen’s and pirates’ settlements, first totally independent, then under the dominion of the Genoa Republic, only accessible by water.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Manarola. <i>My photo</i></span><br />
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After the rail line was built in the 1870s, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso are accessible to the world. You must see this. The feel of the Ligurian salt when I dive in a small bay surrounded by rocks in Manarola is enlightening.<br />
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<b>The Museo Cinema Nazionale</b><br />
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Turin welcomes me with its Sunday calmness, a friendly harbour of composure, aristocracy and delight after the Cinque Terre thrill. The Po is greyish-green in the middle of August. The Museo is magnificent.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQH01iwebgjIP1HxyJMI9Ni2ckpZejCIz0AunuAe8Dg02r6_QxPi6vHC1skw1v4sfxnaAC5PgXZKor7xsG68xDJ4u2N3ZOPMBQ9PIzlZisfX2bJc9JS6fgQEgLVmwUQcFNc3JUHqSDWTb/s1600/20130811_190543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQH01iwebgjIP1HxyJMI9Ni2ckpZejCIz0AunuAe8Dg02r6_QxPi6vHC1skw1v4sfxnaAC5PgXZKor7xsG68xDJ4u2N3ZOPMBQ9PIzlZisfX2bJc9JS6fgQEgLVmwUQcFNc3JUHqSDWTb/s320/20130811_190543.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Scorsese and the Rolling Stones, Rome 2003, a photo exhibited in the Museo. <i>My photo</i></span><br />
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There is a Scorsese exhibition, which I take the time to view all along the spiral up to the top of the building, but at the sidelines I see everything since the art of film began. Eye anatomy, perception, old cameras, cartoons, classic movie posters, galleries of glory… Two hours in this realm and it closes, no working hours on Monday, but my hunger for it doesn’t seem to subside.<br />
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<b>The wines</b> (chronologically)<br />
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Now this goes into past tense, and detail. I tried these all along the Po, with some accents in Asti in Piedmont.<br />
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<i>Vermentino di Sardegna DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata)</i>. I tried a couple of representatives (this is a white from the island of Sardinia, for those unacquainted), the first one in Bologna. Hard to remember the names of the specific wines, as I didn’t take notes then, but the volcanic and acidic characteristics of this famous Vermentino were all around. Imagine fresh, salty sea breeze with the scent of ready-to-burn coal. It’s amazing how wines from the islands get under your skin. Very different from those on the Continent. This Sardinian Vermentino rules.<br />
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<i>Bianco di Scandiano spumante DOC, Emilia-Romagna</i>. Fresh and very light, sweetish white wine. My experience of it was in Piazza Maggiore in Bologna, by the glass, getting relaxed after a long walk in the summer heat. Don’t buy it for special occasions.<br />
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<i>Cinque Terre DOC.</i> I tried this blend in Corniglia and Riomaggiore. Not something remarkable, but the Ligurian version of Vermentino (the above mentioned Sardinia grape), the main ingredient here, makes it unsurprisingly good for seafood and basil-flavoured meals. Classic rule: pair local with local. Acidity is prominent as in all Italian wines, but regard this as vino della casa. Some of these wines may be a bit carbonated.<br />
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<i>2010 Cantine Sant’ Agata Altea Barbera d’Asti Superiore, DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita), Piedmont</i>. The typical Barbera acidity is slightly overwhelmed by the smoky flavour of the oak (it is Superiore, meaning it stayed in barrel for some months) and the cherry fruit of this wine. It’s an Asti. This is a type of Barbera you cannot try in Bulgaria.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TAdqiGDyTaJTLX3NQlMvYZ31ZpaKE2vqlbkeYsMdOdo_TwT1wN5_5EXRJKC1Sh5eDorAcDheaoiHPg1SftW2H4wfWNmPvriiHOiu1FJegAwWSS8Fk0oa3lgyow7TqpfPgGNNr67ccMEn/s1600/20130812_130039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TAdqiGDyTaJTLX3NQlMvYZ31ZpaKE2vqlbkeYsMdOdo_TwT1wN5_5EXRJKC1Sh5eDorAcDheaoiHPg1SftW2H4wfWNmPvriiHOiu1FJegAwWSS8Fk0oa3lgyow7TqpfPgGNNr67ccMEn/s320/20130812_130039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The first Barbera. <i>My photo</i></span><br />
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<i>2009 Erede di Chiappone Armando Ru Barbera d’Asti Nizza, DOCG</i>. Much fruitier than the previous Barbera, it shows morello cherry, a bit of rustic Italian age, acidic naturally. I had never tried the Nizza Barbera. It’s worth it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnQOErwREvCK7LzY6MEVizADD0kLHoT1tBugQGu_lg4WPm3vXLCXDdkhLHzwN80lb43GaiOYnzpTg7tWOHJe4hYDdYFwe-l8JmTh0lOc_yf15deir6cBcYVt4Y6Uh1lRw3nsf_i59JBae/s1600/20130812_131719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnQOErwREvCK7LzY6MEVizADD0kLHoT1tBugQGu_lg4WPm3vXLCXDdkhLHzwN80lb43GaiOYnzpTg7tWOHJe4hYDdYFwe-l8JmTh0lOc_yf15deir6cBcYVt4Y6Uh1lRw3nsf_i59JBae/s320/20130812_131719.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Barbera Nizza. <i>My photo</i></span><br />
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<i>2012 Gomba Boschetti Gallucio Dolcetto d’Alba, DOC</i>. Dolcetto was my personal discovery in Piedmont. This red wine (and variety) became popular very recently, but its freshness is perfect for the summer. This one had morello cherry, smoked bacon and such a freshness; has to be consumed a bit cooler. Great wine for the summer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6XRs233mZCtunCTDB7jbenQlMOIHxb22YSjXYGhce-Q0tDL_YCDN1Ajzxhe59vNrbaay4UASjTPxgzrTANCSRsGWqdhLadgGyTO8dsV6p5mjeAy5p05UG5EPk17rZfxXU5fJ6C8Erdh2/s1600/20130812_133012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6XRs233mZCtunCTDB7jbenQlMOIHxb22YSjXYGhce-Q0tDL_YCDN1Ajzxhe59vNrbaay4UASjTPxgzrTANCSRsGWqdhLadgGyTO8dsV6p5mjeAy5p05UG5EPk17rZfxXU5fJ6C8Erdh2/s320/20130812_133012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Dolcetto. <i>My photo</i></span><br />
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<i>2012 Cantine Sant’ Agata ‘Na Vota Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato, DOCG</i>. Now, I didn’t even think Piedmont had a red wine tasting of violets. The Ruche was truly new to me, and the Muscat-based white wines can envy this Piedmontese reddy. A bit sweetish, drunk young, it is great for game and blue cheeses.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCdroqIaTA-lq6UKJiNzGcBY2uxRlgXj_ArziutONCq20OeNpHtiPya2JcxXFl4Mqw1e_hCvN9EZ3ka5U8768lHTp-7zHPw61y6lC2Ovyy89KF0315OlmvZB_ZsTFVJl59x1eRWwWKQL_/s1600/20130812_134631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCdroqIaTA-lq6UKJiNzGcBY2uxRlgXj_ArziutONCq20OeNpHtiPya2JcxXFl4Mqw1e_hCvN9EZ3ka5U8768lHTp-7zHPw61y6lC2Ovyy89KF0315OlmvZB_ZsTFVJl59x1eRWwWKQL_/s320/20130812_134631.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Ruche. <i>My photo</i></span><br />
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<i>2011 Gomba Boschetti Albie Nebbiolo d’Alba, DOC</i>. The young bro of Barolo, Alba’s Nebbiolo struck me as a distinctive representative of Piedmont. Very earthy, plummy, deep, acidic, even some coffee felt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVjIVUuoyFemATwppjMYEDdNiyuy2giAWW77eLrVTRRh1Y3IwuzsZUCIPnmWDRfvDL_dAti0SjEXFw0Sp3j5ftibXA2WbEGuX4ftSXSPPF7DxfFnBg-kWIISEbRrWqx7K3rgo5dI82TIX/s1600/20130812_140552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVjIVUuoyFemATwppjMYEDdNiyuy2giAWW77eLrVTRRh1Y3IwuzsZUCIPnmWDRfvDL_dAti0SjEXFw0Sp3j5ftibXA2WbEGuX4ftSXSPPF7DxfFnBg-kWIISEbRrWqx7K3rgo5dI82TIX/s320/20130812_140552.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Nebbiolo. <i>My photo</i></span><br />
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<i>2008 La Fenice Famiglia Cavallero Barolo, DOCG</i>. A young Barolo (one should try the ones 2005 and back), this one still has the thing. It must be developed. But I had deep black fruit, great acidity to it, a bit of burned wood at the end. Very long finish. Great with the Piedmontese Testun cheese. A wine for meditation, as a Piedmontese said. I hope one day when I’m rich I will try older Barolos.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJEASNehnNdSblWInU6sX-R6frYHwzmymulGEKyFjSkQY5AacEQWZsl0zgVO2I-MDIgi6V8leh5N6_ZCOay0YhqFwRDpkLO6T1ukYoLJT5rwzsWY-jxKf3xg46uzoAGU00Tm5oP87LvLs/s1600/20130812_142333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJEASNehnNdSblWInU6sX-R6frYHwzmymulGEKyFjSkQY5AacEQWZsl0zgVO2I-MDIgi6V8leh5N6_ZCOay0YhqFwRDpkLO6T1ukYoLJT5rwzsWY-jxKf3xg46uzoAGU00Tm5oP87LvLs/s320/20130812_142333.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">And the Barolo. <i>My photo</i></span><br />
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<i><b>The end</b></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-45171390336910772942013-07-26T23:00:00.002+03:002013-07-26T23:00:39.117+03:00"A Bulgarian Spring? Entrenched Protests Challenge Eastern Europe’s Status Quo"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Time Magazine with a piece on Bulgaria and me quoted. In the quote, I mean the Belene nuclear power plant project: <a href="http://world.time.com/2013/07/26/a-bulgarian-spring-entrenched-protests-challenge-eastern-europes-status-quo/#ixzz2aAUVMGUL" target="_blank">A Bulgarian Spring? Entrenched Protests Challenge Eastern Europe’s Status Quo</a> #ДАНСwithMe</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-76618415127571593442013-07-25T11:42:00.002+03:002013-07-25T11:45:55.897+03:00"Хронология на едно насилие над протеста"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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По-добре, отколкото аз самият бих могъл да разкажа. Чудесна хронология от Крис Георгиев (Twitter @chrisgeorgiev) на Ден 40 на #ДАНСwithMe със снимки, видеа и туитове от мястото на събитието вижте <a href="http://chrisgeorgiev.com/2013/07/%D1%85%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%BE-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B4-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%81/" target="_blank">тук</a>. Снимката долу е моя.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14382200526251940679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-691786956812697623.post-52400060153405352532013-07-13T16:52:00.002+03:002013-07-13T20:41:36.672+03:00Те искат едно / They want one thing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px;">San Francisco</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>14 юли worldwide (see <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/208806839272933/" target="_blank">link</a>)</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Мюнхен</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Нека покажем подкрепата си за протестите в България отново! Беше страхотно преживяване! Благодаря ви много, че дойдохте :)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Имаме официално разрешение за Карлсплатц в неделя. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">1.Организаторите на протеста в различните градове обсъждахме да направим едно общо видео с послания и да го изпратим до медиите в България. За тази цел ни трябва камера и статив. Нашият фотоапарат прави HDвидео и в краен случай можем да го използваме, но ни трябва статив!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">2.Проблемът с тока също все още не е решен. От KVR ми предложиха да си наемем генератор :О Най-лесният вариант ще е ако някой има от големите касетофони. Два комплекта батерии ще свършат работа?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Франкфурт</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Нека да се съберем в знак на съпричастност с протестите в България! #ДАНСwithme Frankfurt!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">В неделя /14.07./, 30 дни след началото на антиправителствените протести, ни предстои #ДАНСwithme FFM 3. Сборният пункт отново е пред ЕЦБ, като в 17:30 започваме шествие към Römer. Предвидено е там да можем да поставим "Kommunikationsstand" за раздаване на flyer-и etc.</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Щутгарт</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Нека да се съберем в знак на съпричастност с протестите в България ! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Lasst uns in Eintracht zusammen kommen, um die Protestbewegung in Bulgarien zu unterstützen!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">#ДАНСwithme Stuttgart</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Тъй като на Schlossplatz и Marktplatz започват скоро различни фестивали, общината ни предложи друго място. Улицата е успоредна на Königstraße. Срещата ни в неделя е : An der Ecke Büchsen-/ Kronprinzstraße !!!</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Хамбург</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Am Sonntag, den 14.07. zwischen 13.00 und 14.00 Uhr findet zum dritten Mal #Hamburg ist ДАНСing with you! - diesmal am Biedermannplatz 1 - statt. Mit einem traditionellen Choro-Tanz wird diesmal das Ereignis belebt und dem Motto endlich angepasst.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Diesen Sonntag wollen wir dem Protest eine neue Form geben: manche lesen, andere malen und wir wollen beten! Denn was gibt es stärkeres als unser Wunsch nach höherer Moral in der Politik an die höchste Macht zu richten!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">За трети път тази неделя ще се състои #Hamburg ist ДАНСing with you! Часът и мястото на срещата този път са отново променени: 13.00 ч., Бийдерманплац 1. Нека този път с поне едно хоро одухотворим мотото ни!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Тази неделя ни се иска да дадем и нова форма на нашия протест - някои четат, други рисуват, а ние ще отправим молитва. Защото какво е по-силно от това да изпратим желанието си за по-висок морал в политиката на най-висшата сила!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Карлсруе</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Мирен протест в подкрепа на демократичните промени в България!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Вече цял месец сънародниците ни се борят срещу пируващата мафия в България.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Нека изразим подкрепата си с креативни идеи и висок дух!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Събитието е част от глобалния ден на протести ДАНСwith me in one day over the world.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">https://www.facebook.com/groups/212771788876590/</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Peaceful demonstration supporting the democratic processes in Bulgaria!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">For one month alreadу, the people are protesting against the filthy goverment and the triumphant Mafia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Let us express our support with creativte ideas and high spirits!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">This event is a part of the global day of protests ДАНСwithme Global, supporting the protests in Bulgaria!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">https://www.facebook.com/groups/212771788876590/</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Манхайм</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Манхайм подкрепя #ДАНСwithme!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">#ДАНСwithme Deutschland</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Магдебург</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Здравейте,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Магдебург is #ДАНСwithme World в Неделя, 14.07.2013 на Домплатц пред главния вход срещу улица Брайтервег.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Колкото повече, толкова повече!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Очакваме виии!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">От Сан Франциско до София, цял цвят ще подкрепи протестиращите в България! Подкрепете и вие глобалният протест в Неделя!!!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">https://www.facebook.com/events/208806839272933/</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Париж</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Здравейте, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">като част от обединения протест ДАНСwithme Global Ви предлагаме да се съберем отново тази неделя, 14ти юли, от 16:00 до 20:00ч. в подкрепа на протестите, които продължават вече близо месец в България и по света!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Мястото на срещата този път е различно, предложено от Префектурата с оглед на акциите по случай националния празник на Франция и то е Place Igor Stravinsky до Centre Pompidou!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Фонтаните, доброто настроение и бирата са от нас, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">фойерверките от Френските власти,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">а оргиналните, позитивни и креативни лозунги под наслов </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">- Какво искаме ЗА България - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">са от Вас, нейните граждани, където и да сме по света!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Venez nombreux, доведете и приятел или поне ги информирайте за събитието!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Брюксел</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Нека всички се присъединим в Глобалния мирен протест и излезем тази неделя, 14ти юли 2013 г., в 15.00 часа, на Place du Luxembourg до Европарламента.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Нека заедно отхвърлим границите, които ни разделят, където и да сме.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Нека отново покажем, че и ние в Bruxelles се интересуваме от съдбата на България и не искаме да ни управляват олигарси и мафиоти, които ни третират като "лумпени".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Амстердам</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Част от обединения протест ДАНСwith me in one day over the world</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Осло</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Втори протест на българите в Норвегия в подкрепа на протестите в България срещу правителството на Пламен Орешарски, властта на олигарсите и за повече граждански контрол в политиката.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Нека и ние да дадем своя принос в започналия процес на осъзнаване на българското общество, който ще принуди политиците да започнат да се съобразяват с интересите на народа, а не на мафията.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Това правителство вече доказа с действията си, че не е готово да направи такава промяна и да води открита политика, съобразена с исканията на гражданите. Затова ние искаме неговата незабавна ОСТАВКА. Всяко следващо правителство ще бъде мерено със същия аршин до момента, в който политиците започнат да ни чуват. Всеки ден ще е така до победата!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Този път протестът ще бъде в неделя, тъй като датата е избрана за глобален протест на българите по света. Мястото остава непроменено - пред българското посолство в Осло. Вземете със себе си позитивизма и доброто настроение от предишния протест + още някой приятел и съмишленик :)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">http://bnt.bg/bg/news/view/104202/ploshtadyt_kolko_oshte</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Лондон</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Ние сме българите, в Англия, които подкрепяме нашите сънародници и протестите срещу правителството на Пламен Орешарски !</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Протестираме пред българското посолство в Лондон всяка неделя с плакати и знамена, с песни и креативни идеи, с разум и надежда за България!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Ние ще сме с вас винаги !!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Мадрид</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Ще има глобален протест, нека се включим и от Мадрид.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Протестът в неделя, ще е част от ДАНСwithme globally https://www.facebook.com/events/208806839272933/. Демонстрацията предвижда включвания на 15 централни градове по света между които са Ню Йорк, Сан Франциско, Лондон, Франкфурт , Мюнхен, Виена, Берлин, Брюксел и Cидни.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Глобалният протест e много вероятно да се излъчи по централни емисии по bTV, Нова Телевизия и БНТ, затова нека покажем колkо сме единни и как подкрепяме всички протестиращи българи по света, като всеки един от нас по възможност намери време и дойде на протеста.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Неделя, 14 юли, 12:00 часа, пред БГ посолството в Мадрид</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Торонто</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">МИРЕН ПРОТЕСТ в ПОДКРЕПА на ПРОТЕСТИРАЩИТЕ в БЪЛГАРИЯ</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">ПЕТИЦИЯ ЗА ПРЕМАХВАНЕ ПРАГА ЗА НЕЗАВИСИМИТЕ КАНДИДАТ-ДЕПУТАТИ</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">http://www.peticiq.com/novi-izbori-bez-prag-za-nezavisimite</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Спите ли, #лумпени :) Кой ще пише новия изборен кодекс последно? Ние или те? Линк за юристи, програмисти и лумпенентусиасти:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">https://github.com/yurukov/Izboren-kodeks/blob/master/README.md</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Монреал</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">Sunday, 14 July 2013</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Time12:00 until 13:30 in EDT</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Виена</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">Протестите в Родината не заглъхват, напротив народното недоволство нараства ден след ден ! Нека покажем, че се гордеем с нашата силна нация! Нека покажем на сънародниците ни, че оценяваме и се възхищаваме от това , което правят те в България и за нас !!! </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Сидни</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">Символичен протест за подкрепа на демократичните промени в България и премахване на мафията от държавното управление!</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Ню Йорк</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">Cкъпи българи,</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">Нека се съберем, за да изразим подкрепатa си към нашите сънародници в България, които безотказно се борят срещу олигархията във властта. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Протестът e мирен и не е в услуга на една или друга политическа партия.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">Място на протеста:</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">- Неделя, 14 юли, 17:00- 20:00ч. - Brooklyn Bridge</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Mястото на срещата ще бъде в Cadman Plaza Park пред Brooklyn War Memorial срещу игрището. Cadman Plaza Park се намира в Brooklyn, в близост до Brooklyn Bridge. В самия парк има спирка на метрата А и С.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Протестът ще започне от парка, ще премине през Brooklyn Bridge, което би трябвало да отнеме около 30-40 миннути, и ще завърши пред City Hall в Манхатън.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">===============================</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">Dear Bulgarians,</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">Let’s gather to show solidarity for our compatriots in Bulgaria, who relentlessly protest against oligarchy in power </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">This protest is peaceful and does not favor any political party!</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">Date and place of the protest:</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">Sunday, July 14th</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">from 5:00-7:30pm PM </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Brooklyn Bridge, New York, NY</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Сан Франциско</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">Призовавам тук в тази група да обединим усилия и да покажем пълната си подкрепа към това, което се случва в България!!!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Нека накараме света да обърне внимание на протестите в цялата страна!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Ние, българите от Сан Франциско Залив искаме да поканим всички българи от района да се присъединят към нас и заедно да изразим своята подкрепа към нашите сънародници в България, протестиращи срещу престъпното управление на тройната коалиция БСП-ДПС-АТАКА. Искаме незабавна оставка на правителството на Орешарски.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Лос Анджелес</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">Тази неделя има глобален ден на протести на българи по цял свят. Нека да се включим и в Лос Анджелес!</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Вашингтон</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">Приятели и българи от Вашингтон и околностите,</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;">Този уикeнд става 1 месец от началото на масовия протест в София. Ако имате време и желание, нека се съберем неделя следобед пред посолството за нищо повече от една групова снимка в подкрепа и солидарност с хилядите протестиращи в София всеки ден. Трудно е да се конкурираме с искреността и оргиналността на софийските плакати, но може да опитаме. Споделете и с ваши близки и познати във Facebook и заповядайте пред посолството около 12 часа неделя следобед (12 p.m.). </span></span></div>
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