EUREKA AND FORT BRAGG, CA JULY, 2016

EUREKA is the Principal City and county seat of Humboldt County in the Redwood Empire region of California. The city is located on U.S. Route 101 on the shores of Humboldt Bay, on the Pacific coast, 270 miles (430 km) north of San Francisco and 100 miles (160 km) south of the Oregon border. At the 2010 census, the population of the city was 27,191, and the population of Greater Eureka was 45,034.       Eureka is the largest coastal city between San Francisco and Portland, and the westernmost city of more than 25,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states. It is the regional center for government, health care, trade, and the arts on the North Coast north of the San Francisco Bay Area. Greater Eureka, one of California's major commercial fishing ports, is the location of the largest deep-water port between San Francisco and Coos Bay, a stretch of about 500 miles (800 km). The headquarters of both the Six Rivers National Forest and the North Coast Redwoods District of the California State Parks System are in Eureka. As entreat for hundreds of lumber mills that once existed in the area, the city played a leading role in the historic West Coast lumber trade. The entire city is a state historic landmark, which has hundreds of significant Victorian homes, including the nationally-recognized Carson Mansion, and the city has retained its original 19th-century commercial core as a nationally recognized Old Town Historic District.       We drove to Eureka for one day in the end of July 2016, from Seattle on our way to Puerto Penasco, Mexico (on the bottom of The Sea of Cortes). The distance is 580 miles (about 1,000 km). We used I-5 to the border of OR with CA and from there strait west to Crescent town on the coats. After reaching the Pacific Ocean we continued south on the coast all the way to LA using Hi way 101 and the oldest road of USA – number 1. After driving around Eureka next morning to make photos we stopped only in Fort Bragg, small country town on the way. Never in our traveling around the world we saw such beautiful houses, build 1-2 centuries ago and recently  renovated, like in Eureka. All photos we have taken there and in Fort Bragg are shown in this post-album.

20TH ANNYVERSARY BG PARTY FOR 24 OF MAY , 2016

 

     Like every year since 1996 at Lake Sammamish in Issaquah, WA were celebrated "24 of May - the Bulgarian Holiday of Slavic Alphabet and Bulgarian Culture", (the only one known in the world) organized by "Bulgarian Cultural And Heritage Center Of Seattle", lead by Elka Rouskov and Daniella Ivanova-Nyberg. Thank you both Elka and Daniella!

                 
 

 

 

 

            Slavic alphabet is created by two Bulgarian scientists Ciril and Methody one thousand years ago and accepted, together with Cristianity, later by Serbian’s, Macedonians, Russians, Ukrainians, Moldavians, Bellorussians and Mongolians ?!… (only alphabet from Russians) and known like Slavic alphabet. Later both Ciril na Methody were pronounced like ‘Saints". By the way – Bulgaria is one of the oldest modern country in the world, founded in 681 year by First Bulgarian King Isperih (south of Danube river in the land of Bisantium), and accepted Cristianity in 845 y. lead by king Boris I-st from neighbor country Bisantium. In this time Constantinople was the Cultural center if the world. But was difficult for Bulgarian people to read the Bible in Greek language and alphabet. That’s why Ciril and Methody, educated in Constantinople, created Bulgarian alphabet, on the base of the onlu 2 existed alphabet in this time – Greek and Latin. The enriched the new alphabet with adding of new single letters for the specific sounds " tch, sh, sht, iu, ia and u (double functions)". In now one other alphabets exists such kind of letters. That why all Bulgarians around the world celebrate "24 of May – Sts. Ciril and Methody Holday" last 13 centuries.

 

 

      The party really was traditional picnic with musical programs by musicians set Oratnitza from Bulgaria, clarinetist and accordionist from Chicago and M9 – 9 musicians folklore band plying folklore dance music for all participants.

I met about 10 old Bulgarian friends from Seattle and guests to their kids from Bulgaria, like "Bai Slavi – the oldest immigrant, came in 1972 (who actually is 5 years younger than me…), Alex (Sasho) - we worked together in ADIC 18-11 years ago…, another Stancho from Ballard (1995-99), who bought house later in Redmond and produce now grapes shnaps with high quality (we tested it), the organisers - Elka and Daniella, the young guy Bicky, from another parties…Another young man Vladimir (Vlado) came co great me and told me we spoke on phone some time ago (he works for Alaska Airlines) and remembered my name, opened my Web site, saw my photos and recognized me from there.
 

 

           I went especially to meet my new friends Zdravko and Raina (parents of Rumen). They came on my last Birthday together with my old friends Krasi ( we worked together in Balcankar in Sofia (1966-75)) - and Dora, his wife (parents of Nadia (wife of Rumen)). Until I waited for them met another "old" man with totally white hair George (who happened to be 17 years younger than me, born in 1954 y. lime Stanimir, the son of my sister). He traveled around the world more than me He has been some times in Brazil, Chilli, Japan, New Zealand, Haiti, but not in India, Argentina and Australia…), working like Chief cook on some containers caring sheep, based in Cyprus, Greece. His wife, daughter and son live here with their spouses and small kids. We tree old men (Zdravko, George and me spend all the time together eating and drinking (beer…). The pork stakes of Rumen was tick more than 1 inch and the baked potatoes of George were the most delicious, I have ever eaten. All my old friends met me with their friends and now I have more than 10 new BG friends. See you all on the next year 24 of May party.

 

    

    
 After all my friends went home I moved to the Lake Sammamish beach and took some nice photos. I drove home in Ballard through I-90 and I-99 around downtown of Seattle and took another photos of the downtown on sunset. All of my photos taken on this day are included in this album. I included also some photos of the organizers and Sts. Ciril and Methody, downloaded from Seattle-Bg.org on Internet.

 

5O YEARS FROM MY FIRST JOURNEY TO USA

        I came in USA for the first time in March 16, 1966, together with my Uncle Dr. Tzaniu Patrikov for 2 month to arrange the estimate of my grandfather Nick Taylor, who passed away almost one year earlier, in April 1965. He lived in USA 51 years (1914-1965) without coming back to Bulgaria.

 

           We came by air plain of Lufthansa from Sofia through Frankfurt, West Germany and New York to Saint Luis, Missouri. We were met on the airport by Mr. Theodore Tcoukaleff, friend of my grand father (and administrator of his last will) and spent 45 days in his beautiful house in Alton, Illinois. He helped us to arrange our estimate through the court.

 

      I immediately bought new car Ford Falcon Futura (with my part of inheritance) and we returned back driving it (in USA and West Europe) and crossing by Steam Ship the Atlantic Ocean, to transport the car with us from New York to Le Havre, France. We drove around Alton, Illinois, spent my 29 Birth Day on 1st of April 1966 at the joining of Mississippi and Missouri rivers, filled the car with the best books and some nice stuff of my grand father, bought some souvenirs and gifts and exchanged our airplane tickets with Steam Ship tickets.

          We had to drive from Alton, IL to New York City to take the ship. It was long driving around Saint Louis, Missouri, Chicago, IL, Detroit, Michigan, Niagara Fall City and Albany, New York state, to reach New York city for 1 week. We stopped only in Saint Louis (to see and climb The Gate to the West), Chicago (Michigan Ave & Museum of Science and Technology) and Buffalo, NY for 1-2 days every place to see the cities and Niagara Fall. In New York we climbed by speed elevator to the top of 101 floors ( highest in the world this time) Empire State Building, looked over Chrysler building and all Manhattan, drove around Manhattan and saw the beautiful United Nations Building. From New York,NY we drove to Washington, DC to obtain legal confirmation of our documents for the inheritance from Bulgarian Embassy. Bulgarian consul there was so gentle to offer us the Embassy’s black big car (Lincoln Continental) with the driver to make sight-seeing tour around thc Capital. Not so many Bulgarians visited USA this time. We wer met like relatives of diplomats. It was cherry blossom time and the weather was pleasant spring. We drove around Pentagon, The Capitol Building, Monument of Washington and Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials. We stopped near White House and touched and look through the iron fence. The president Lyndon Johnson was not in the garden this time. It was full of tourists everywhere. We drove back to New York city again through Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey and left the car for loading to our 

            Steam Ship "Unites States Liner". General characteristics:

Class and type: Ocean Liner (New York, South Hampton, GB, Havre, France; Tonnage: 53,330 GT;  Displacement: 45,400 tons (at design draft); 47,264 tons (at max. draft);  Length: 990 ft (302 m) (overall); 940 ft (287 m) (waterline); Beam: 101.5 ft (30.9 m) maximum; Draft: 31.25 ft (9.53 m) (design); 32.33 ft (9.85 m) (maximum); Depth: 75 ft (23 m); Decks: 12; Installed power: 240,000 shp (180,000 kW); 4 × Westinghouse double-reduction geared steam turbines;  8 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers operating at 925 psi (92 kg/ssm), 975°F(524C); 4 × shafts with propellers.

          United States Steam Ship maintained a 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) crossing speed on the North Atlantic in a service career that lasted 17 years. It was the fastest ship liner this time. We crossed the Ocean for less than 5 days (4 days and nights and 18 hrs).

       We started from New York on Tuesday of last week in April at noon and accosted at Le Havre Port on Sunday morning at 6 a.m. First day was most pleasant. We passed around the Statue of Liberty small Island and State Island, where were accepted and kept all immigrants from Europe for quarantine period of time in the first half of 20 century, when my grandfather came. After disappearing of the sigh of land all passengers went to the restaurants to eat and drink. Next morning we all had seasickness and now body could eat and drink anything (only tea) next 4 days. We spent our time in the cinema theatre watching western movies from 8 am till 8 pm. The gala diner was only hard-boiled eggs and tea. It was springtime and The Ocean was "boiling" all the time. The waves covered sometimes the top deck. We decided never more to cross the Ocean by ship. The last morning we awaked very hungry and without any seasickness everybody ran to the restaurant for the last breakfast. We waited for our car to be unloaded in the first French eating cheese and drinking coffee. We started again our long drive through France, Italy and Yugoslavia for 2 weeks, not missing to spend 3-4 days in Paris and Roma, Italy too. We stopped in Torino, Milano and Florence for half days, drove from Roma to Napoly to see Vesuvii Volcano and look around Venice for 1 full day. We had been in Yugoslavia the previous year 1965 and drove to Sofia non-stop. We both with my uncle were very satisfied from this long journey. We had impression, that we had been to another planet, not another continent America. So big was the difference between America and East Europe this time, 50 years ago. I was 29 years old –young man. I decided some day to came again in USA, like may grandfather without going back.

         After 24 years (in 1990) we came with my wife Margy to visit America again. My daughter Sylvia was student in Art Institute of Seattle, WA. This time we could come again many times. Bulgaria was democratic country. We went back second time to prepare our last coming with one way ticket. After 5 years more, I was already doubled my age (58 years old) we came with immigrant visa to live in USA for ever!… We bought house in Seattle, WA and started new live. It was a little late, but never is late for good things to happen in your life. After 10 years we retired and started traveling around the world. We lived in Europe, worked in Africa 2 times (3 years –me, 5 – Margy), live now in North America. Started with traveling to South America (Brazil, later – Chile &Argentina), visited Middle America – Costa Rica in 2012, went to Far East Asia (Hong Kong and Thailand ( later China, Japan and India). Last continent we hadn’t been after that was Australia. We visited it in 2007. The best country in the world. Like Europe, but wormer, with moderate (in South) and tropical climate (in North). It is in South Part of the Earth. Directions and climate are opposite. That’s why in named "Down Under") But all Christians must see the Holly Land of Israel, where in 1st Century is born , lived and died Jesus. We went there 2 years ago, combined with traveling to 22-nd Century country – Dubai. We travel regularly to Bulgaria and Europe every 3 years. For 21 years – 7 times. Me – for 50 years – 9 times, my grandfather – none! The time changed. Half century is big difference…We now spend our winter vacation in Whistler, BC, Canada every year last week of November for skiing. There is always good snow and is not so cold like in January-February. Our summer vacation we spend every other year in Mexico in April – May , when is not so hot, like in the summer months. In both countries we have time-share prepaid vacation. In Canada for 99 years!.., in Mexico – only for 30. Started in 1998 (Canada) and 2003 (Mexico). Will be inherited by our daughter, grand son and his kids and grand kids…This erything couldn’t happened, if I wouldn’t come in America 50 years ago. This changed the life of me and my family for generation to come…