Christmas Eve

...and it doesn't even feel like December! To me, it seems more like mid-January. There are some Christmas lights here, but nothing like in the US. And it's not just the lights that make Christmas feel Christmas-y... It's the decorations in the store, the holiday commercials on TV, and the advent wreath at church. I'm missing the Christmas spirit that I normally am surrounded by in America; however, as my mom wisely said to me in a recent email, "this is just an unusual Christmas...and one we will all talk about some day with fond memories."


At dinner last night

The dinner show last night was interesting, although I think we were given the worst possible seat in the house. (I'm not exaggerating either, Joe agrees with me!) We couldn't see the performance floor because of a large column in front of our table, so we had to watch the live dancing and live band on a TV screen! The food was tasty though, and the atmosphere was great. Even though we couldn't see the performance from our table, I did manage to get up and take a picture...


Folklore show


We liked the traditional Bulgarian decor

We started our day today with a late breakfast and some "chill time," but we set out for our daily dose of adventure by 10:30. We went to a childrens' theater for an 11:30 showing of "Christmas Carnival" (or "Коледа Карнивал") to help fulfill one of Shannon's cross-cultural trip requirements.


Look what I remembered to get a picture of! (Can you see the car under all the dirt? It needs a bath!)

After a long lunch at Subway (they only have them in Sofia and so I try to eat there at least once every time we're in the city!), we browsed at the mall for a while. It was not nearly as busy as you would expect a shopping center to be on Christmas Eve, but it wasn't anywhere close to empty, either.


Peek-a-boo! (Looking through a statue we passed on the sidewalk)

This afternoon we finally made it to see the landmark Sofia is famous for - the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Like all the orthodox churches in Bulgaria (at least the ones we've been to, anyway), photography is prohibited inside the building. We did get pictures of the outside though!


The front entrance


Domes


Shannon outside the Nevsky

Early tomorrow morning, I'll be dropping Joe off at the Sofia International Airport for his flight back to Columbus, OH, for his brother's wedding. We're so excited that he gets to be a part of it. It will be hard to be apart, but I think the occasion is worth it.


Yours truly