BDZ Blues or Travelling with the Bulgarian State Railway Agency - Part One

The only Bulgarian railway system. The original abbreviation is БДЖ for Български Държавни Железници.

I use those often for a few reasons. And truth be told, I like the scenery I am able to see while travelling by train across my home country. But I've made photos very occasionally. One thing bothers me a lot and it is quality of the photos. I don't think I can have sharp images even if I pull some window down. And you never know if it will ever go back up. Or if some unfriendly person wouldn't blame you for the cold you're letting in while trying to take a snap for fun.

This time I had a change of heart, though. My newly developed blogging habits gave me new ways to think about the story I want to share.

It's not about the quality of the photographs, right? Quality is for sissies. It's all about the feel of it.

And I felt I really need to start this series. There are so many amazing locations just outside the windows of the train. It gives me a tour of about six hours every time I take the trip from the capital to my home town or back.

Well, I felt this need yesterday just after I had passed the most beautiful part of the mountains already. Sofia is surrounded by mountains. And this train, travelling through the mid South of Bulgaria pases hrough Verila mountain, between Rila and Sredna Gora before continuing through the Thracian Region.

So this is a half tour... The beginning of a series.

Of me sharing my BDZ experience with you.

Part One

I Begins near the town of Pazardzhik.

Industrial complexes and structures of various kind lay working abandoned or semi-abandoned along the railway, especially near towns.It's only logical - trains bring the supplies and carry the production. Well, used to, mostly.

Or sometimes still do.

This is us saying our good bye to the mountains to the south west.

The name of the station the town near which bears a different name. And there's still some pretty smelly industry going on around. Always smells... bad there. Unpretty.

The remaining part of an aqueduct at the west entrance of Plovdiv. I almost missed it this time.

This is relatively new. I mean the writings on the wall. It was monday but it still felt good.

_The kind of art that decorated institutions during the Socialist regime. We call it 'Sots' art.

Some more of it. I don't know exactly what kind of an institution that was... A school or something that had to do with education, anyway, is my best guess.

Plovdiv is the second or now maybe third largest settlement in Bulgaria. It's the center of the Bulgarian part of Thrace. It is ancient and its former name was connected to Philip of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great. I have also spent the first months of my life there, my parents being in college... different colleges there.

It is a warm place and it has good atmosphere about it. I will be making stories about it, too. Soon. Now, time to wave good bye to Plovidv, too.

Time to say Hello to the mountains on the north. Those would be the Balkans.

We're near Belozem now. A place where many storks come in the spring.

The Samara Flag monument above Stara Zagora. Named after Samara, Russia. It was a symbol during the Liberation War between Russian-Bulgaian forces and the Ottoman Empire. The original was Nun art. The monument is obviously Sots art.

The gheto at the entrance of Nova Zagora.

The stacks of concrete bars near Yambol. Always reminding me of tasty gingerbread and hazelnut flour thingies from Swiss.

Ruins would generally make a lot of people sad or angry. I just gape at the cinematographic potential lying around. I want to make something out of every building near every train station. So much goodies. I think I need to stat researching which of those are really abandoned and where a crazy photo crew could get in. I've wasted a few opportunities already but that does not mean I can't get many more than that.

Finally at my home town Station. Karnobat.

I know I was able to show you only a small part of it all but the best thing is... It is just the beginning. I started it and I will continue. On future trips. Especially if you like it. I know I do.

Bulgarian Railways - providing infinite resources for photo scavengers since... I don't know... 681 AD?

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, people! Take care and stay inspired, creative and awesome!

Yours,

Manol