so i finally figured out how to post pics on blogspot. here are a few pics from earlier that i have taken. unfortunatly i can only upload them one at a time, which takes forever so i cant post a lot yet. this first one is me, my host family and two of the other trainees in simitli

this is the rila monastary that we visited a couple of weeks ago. it is a very impressive building and the inside of it looks equally cool, but you are not allowed to take pictures. you will just have to go there to see it yourself (or take my work for it)

here is the courtyard and surrounding structure around the middle sanctuary. this outside building is where all the priests and monks live.

This is me and my baba (grandma) in the backyard. she showed me how to pick grapes and in the afternoons she often helps me study and practice my bulgarian.

this pic is taken from the garden up in the mountains that the family owns. up here is where the bee houses are and many different kinds of fruit trees. down below on the right side of the pic is simitli, and in the back ground is pirin mountain.

this is the back of the house where we used to eat all of our meals before it started getting colder out. there is an outdoor sink for preparing food and right now my host father is building a new outdoor kitchen just to the right of where the picture is taken. overhead is all the grapevines that provide shade and good food.