What is banitsa?

Series: Slavka’s filo pastries

My bready banica

My friend Slavka makes the best use of filo (or phyllo) pastry sheets in Toronto. This thread features a few of her recipes. But before that, let’s set the stage. Continue reading “What is banitsa?”

2. Jet lag: from Toronto to Ottawa

Storyline: Road Trip with Milan 2018

This storyline was supposed to be finished in 2018, however, the year was full of travels: spring, summer and fall, gatherings in between, Continue reading “2. Jet lag: from Toronto to Ottawa”

Sofia – Part 1

Storyline: Bulgaria with Alex

It is 39°C in the mountains and hotter in the city. Some occasional clouds ease our hike and make it tolerable. Continue reading “Sofia – Part 1”

Veliko Tarnovo

Storyline: Bulgaria with Alex

We dance to the rhythm of the English song a Bulgarian restaurant entertainer sings. It is almost dark and the beauty of this city is on full display with the flickering lights of its houses perched over the steep hills chiselled by the river Yantra. Continue reading “Veliko Tarnovo”

Bulgaria – Alex’s first impression

Storyline: Bulgaria with Alex

Rila, Musala the highest peak in Bulgaria

Although born in England and brought by his parents to Canada at the age of 14, Alex’s first time crossing the Ocean back to Europe wasn’t to his homeland, but to mine. Continue reading “Bulgaria – Alex’s first impression”

Last stop – Paris

Storyline: Virtual Itinerary

Charles De Gaulle was the airport from which we would have flown back to Toronto on May 5th this year. We love Paris. Continue reading “Last stop – Paris”

Florence & Pisa, Italy 2016

Storyline: Virtual Itinerary

Florence! The home of Renaissance art and architecture, and the capital of Tuscany. With famous gourmet cuisine, this medieval city on the banks of Arno River captivated our hearts with its charming narrow cobbled streets, fresco-decorated churches and basilicas, marble statues and vibrant night life. Continue reading “Florence & Pisa, Italy 2016”

Padua, Verona & Ferrara, Italy 2016

Storyline: Virtual Itinerary

After overcrowded Venice it was refreshing to spent a week in charming Padua. It was much cheaper there, and we could do day trips to other cities nearby. Continue reading “Padua, Verona & Ferrara, Italy 2016”

Venice, May 2016

Storyline: Virtual Itinerary

As with most of our trips at the time, this was a spontaneous decision. Air Canada Rouge had just opened a new destination to Venice and the price was really good. Continue reading “Venice, May 2016”

Anne, Milan & Mutti, Italy

Storyline: Virtual Itinerary

Happy Birthday Anne!

We’ll start this storyline with our visit to Milan and Mutti in 2016. Continue reading “Anne, Milan & Mutti, Italy”

Gods, Giants, Dwarfs, Valkyries

For opera lovers, we’d like to share a 15 minutes video version of our two hour tour of the Magura Cave accompanied by excerpts from Wagner’s “Ring Cycle”, a production of Sofia Opera. Continue reading “Gods, Giants, Dwarfs, Valkyries”

Sydney

Storyline: Home to home westward

Fri, May 3

Arriving at Sydney airport late in the afternoon, it was very easy to find our way to Hornsby, some 40 min by train from the city centre. Continue reading “Sydney”

Colourful sights in Chiang Rai

Storyline: Home to home westward

A Black House Museum, a White Temple and a Blue Temple. There is a connection between these three and it is exactly in this order. Continue reading “Colourful sights in Chiang Rai”

Penang: street art, street food and clan jetties

Storyline: Home to home westward

While street art these days is in every city, it plays huge role in this part of the world. Continue reading “Penang: street art, street food and clan jetties”

Sunset in Ruse and the dark side of politics

Storyline: Vidin to Ruse Bulgaria via Romania by train Jul – Aug, 2017

The dark side of politics

While waiting in a filthy bus station in Bucharest Alex said – I want to be in Favorit (this is our go-to hotel in Sofia). Continue reading “Sunset in Ruse and the dark side of politics”

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