Homeward Bound

This hasn't been updated in awhile. I will try and fill in the last few weeks before IST on Sunday. So let's start at the top.
This past weekend I went to visit my friend Drew in Razgrad, a city about a third of the way across the country from me. Traveling in Bulgaria is always an adventure. While waiting for the bus in Razgrad I happened to hear someone swearing fluently in English, then Spanish, behind me. Kakvoooh? I turn around to one of the most unlikely sites in all of Bulgaria, a Mexican Mormon. Now, Mormons are that uncommon, they are sprinkled about Bulgaria on mission trips. However, knowing I had a two hour bus ride ahead of me and, frankly, just plain curiosity, I struck up a conversion with him. He had met his wife when she was on a mission trip to Mexico, ended up getting married and moving back to Utah with her. So, in the Mormon church you can go on another mission trip once you are 50. So he is living in Turkey now, and took a vacation to Romania and was staying with a friend in Razgrad for the night. Crazy.
The day past with the usual haze of a 20-something birthday weekend and once again I was on the road; this time with the unhelpful addition of a horrible hangover. I arrive 30 min early for the bus to Varna only to find out that it is sold out. However, you can usually get a spot standing on the bus if you don't mind. I was in no position to argue with the idea of getting home in a speedy manor to a warm and comfy bed to ride out the remainder of this chemically induced hell. However, having most likely kneeled at the wrong statue and prayed to the wrong deity, I would be riding home on a double decker bus. My initial excitement at this fantastic novelty quickly waned when I realized that the ceiling of the bus on both floors was only a shade over 5 ft. Now I am 5'11", so that "shade" really wasn't going to cut it. And being packed like sardines in the aisles meant no chance of sitting down. Well, this is just going to be spec-freakin-tacular. Two hours standing with my head cocked to the side already feeling bright and chipper. Thankfully, the bus broke down about an hour in. Yes, after an hour I was thankful for the reprieve. And even better we broke down within walking distance of a roadside shop where I bought some water. Returning to the bus in time to see the remnants of the engine fire put out and a bus from Shuman (a city half way between razgrad and Varna) called I hopped on and proceeded to pass some time at the Shuman bus station till another bus could be rounded up to take us all on. Thankfully, they had to get two buses, which was almost perfect for everyone on the whole bus to get a seat, save three. I being a stupid, stupid gentleman gave up my seat to a rather attractive woman. Anyone who says chivalry is dead can go kick rocks. So I passed the remaining hour of the journey sitting on the step next to the bus driver. I arrived in Varna just as the train to Dalgopol was leaving. Hooray! Thankfully the next one was at 5:45. So after a quick bit of grocery shopping I make it to the train station, find a comfy bench and relax. And relax a bit too much because I fall asleep. Luckily the arrival of the train wakes me and I get back (finally) to Dalgopol, none to worse for wear. Ah, the fun adventures of a Peace Corps Volunteer never stop.