Wine Festival

There seems to be many different festivals every weekend here in Bulgaria.  Carol immediately keyed in on a wine festival in Brestivitza, a town about 30 minutes from here.  Using our landlady's car once again, we ventured out into the unknown.  We got to this little village and saw the little vendors setting up around the town square.  We didn't know exactly what to expect or when so we walked around a bit.  There were a few wineries with casks on the back of pick up trucks giving out samples but it was a little too early even for us.

We had heard that a procession started at the church so we wandered up there to see what was going on.  There was nothing happening so we asked a man there if there was a celebration today.  He seemed to say yes and when we asked "When?" he looked at us and said "Wait.  Just wait.  It is what we do - we wait."

We wandered a bit more and could tell things were gearing up.  Some flag bearers started walking from the church to the square with a priest behind.  The music stopped and someone made a very nice speech.  With that, the flag bearers, priest and everyone else started this processional through town.  There was a police escort which consisted of a police car with it doors open driving in front.  We paraded through town and then out to the vineyards.  There was a table set up with candles stuck in bread.  The priest said some prayers and blessings and then tossed some holy water only 5 guys behind him who represented the five families who made wine in that region.  Then the priest went into the vineyard and pruned a vine or two and sprinkled more holy water.  I am guessing that the vines now are prepared to produce the best grapes ever.

As fate would have it, during the ceremony, a guy turned to me and said in perfect English - "Beautiful day isn't it?"  When I responded he asked where I was from and we started talking.  It turns out that he is Dutch and but has lived in Bulgaria for 20 years and owns a sewing factory!  Naturally, we had lots to talk about and he ended up inviting us to the winery of one of the "Big 5" families for a bar-b-que and wine tasting.  I think we crashed the party but no one seemed to mind and we had lots to talk with him and his wife about.

Carol and I are going to see their sewing factory on Friday.  Strange things happen in this world for sure.

Nice speeches in the square.

Processional to the vineyard

The blessing of the vines.

Crashing the party.

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