Month: May 2026

I’ve got more to get posted, but life is being interesting. I get to take the final for my seminary course here in a few hours, and will be tied up with that even as I am trying to finalize all the plans related to Mount Athos. I also had to pay the rest of what was due on tuition and such, so feel free to hit the tip jar.

Just an FYI, I may not be posting much while on the Mount Athos portion of the trip. I know there is some access there as one of the students in the theology course joined the weekly Q&A from there, but it was interesting for him to get and maintain signal. Between that and my concerns over being protective of my laptop (I will be walking a lot, which means a chance of a fall again), I’m thinking I’m not going to take it. Right now, viewing packing the pack with a great deal of ‘do I really need to take and carry that’ in my eye.

There is more to post, and I hope to get to it soon. Meantime, please think kind thoughts for me and the final exam. Thanks!

If you would like to help me with this trip, seminary courses, and more, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. I’ve added Cash App ($CliffPow7) and Venmo (@Clifford-Powers-5). There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. Getting hit by lightning is not fun! It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

When one travels the world, smart people learn to ask in advance about the water. There are any number of countries or locations where I would not hesitate to drink the tap water. There are any number of countries or locations where one should not use the water even to rinse your toothbrush. Those places one needs to only drink and use bottled water, and leave immediately any restaurant that brings you your bottles already opened.

I’m glad to say that Sofia is one of those places where you can drink the tap water. In fact, I talked with a local journalist who told me of a series they had done, where they tested the water in multiple locations over the course of a year, and the results showed it to be some of the best in Europe. I’ve also been told by others that Plovdiv is also good to drink, but to be careful otherwise.

I do see a lot of bottled water sold here in town, and have also been told that a lot of people use water bottles that filter or treat water when they travel outside of Sofia. Meantime, I am reusing some of my store-bought water bottles for the tap water since I am cheap and it tastes as good or better than the store-bought. Other than some spring water in Rila, the tap water is pretty much all I’ve been drinking.

I do have the prescription emergency plug pills just in case, but don’t think they will be needed for the water. Other things, perhaps, but not the water. It’s nice not having to worry about the water on a general basis.

I should also note that Bulgaria is known for it’s many mineral waters. Some are for drinking, while others are recommended for bathing to treat various issues. People have been traveling to some of these locations for a couple of thousand years now for those waters. Keep in mind one reason that the Romans made Serdika their capital for the region was for the hot springs and waters.

More soon, have a video that is uploading of the rakia tasting. My videography did improve, but still not quite where it needs to be. The host, however, is fantastic and very knowledgeable. Once it uploads, will get a post up with it embedded. The last few days have mostly been spent inside, as it was/is cold and rainy, and I’ve also been having to deal with issues including the upcoming trip to Mount Athos.

If you would like to help me with this trip, seminary courses, and more, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. I’ve added Cash App ($CliffPow7) and Venmo (@Clifford-Powers-5). There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. Getting hit by lightning is not fun! It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.