First impressions, Sofia: A clean, white airport, empty at 11 p.m. except for my light from Paris. At passport control, there were four lines for citizens of Bulgaria, just one for "All Passports."
Many shiny, large buildings and billboards feature the prefix "Euro--"
In an underground arcade by the hotel, scraggly-looking dogs each have their own doorway, where they peacefully nap.
There's a McDonalds. At the 24-hour grocery store, they have:
- Dannon yogurt (Ari will be happy)
- Grape Leaves, Olives, Stuffed Peppers, Ajvar (I will be happy)
The hotel doesn't spend the money to air condition the lobby. Along with the many not-quite-complete buidlings, and a general dustiness and disorder, this seems to me (addled from little sleep) symptom of poverty. But it might just be ecologically sound:)
