What the hell I was thinking?

Still Day 11: I probably got a huge energy boost from that cake because, from here, I was on. The lack of shadow and greenery didn’t bother me; the path had this ease. I enjoyed it immensely and played some music. Because the surroundings didn’t suggest a storm or a bear, I dived into my musical trance. Many people appeared, going in the same direction I came from, with a tempo that almost annoyed me. Probably for the cake. It turned out that those two huts were not that hard to access from the closest towns. People just came by car to the Arch of Freedom, and from there, they hit the road to here, drank a beer, and kept on with their lives. I went in reverse. I kept on with my life, drank a beer, and hit the road to the Arch of Freedom. While listening to one of my favorite songs —one that quickly became an anthem to this day and memory—I was jumping up and down the path like a goat. As I was giving way to the poor families who seemed like they’d never been to a mountain before, I tho...

Day 11:  I woke up from the sound of a fart, scaring me out of my uncomfortable sleep. So I rolled myself a cigarette and went smoking. It was 4 in the morning, and I was the only one awake. After the cigarette disappeared, I thought that it was too early to do anything—at least too early for my majesty. So went back inside and I lay on the bench in the kitchen, and as my soul tried to fall back asleep, as I was getting into a comfortable position and state of mind to do so, the kitchen door opened, hitting the wall. I opened my eyes, explaining directly the harsh situation of how I was left here to sleep to some stranger who wanted sugar for his tea. He just made a face and left the kitchen to me. From this point, there was no sleeping. Ten by ten, the groups started their day on top of mine, and I decided to collect myself and leave early this time and see what that was about for a change. The next hut was super close—Kozia Stena. I opened the book and researched my next move. Th...

Still Day 10: I got to the fountain, where I recharged my water supplies and rolled myself a cigarette. I didn’t see anyone around, so I powdered my nose for additional energy, and after sitting for a while, smoking a couple of cigarettes, I took my bag from the stone bench and went on my way. The road continued to be perfect—slight elevation, beautiful scenery, and me alone to enjoy it. Soon after, I saw the hut parallel to my position and started making a left turn. To get there, I had to make this turn, which turned out to be the scariest thing I did that day. I still had an hour, maybe more, to reach safety, and although I saw the building, the day was slipping away. During this hour, there were places where the path became so dangerous that my head started spinning. Given how heavy my bag was, one unfortunate step could mean I’d experience flying for a couple of seconds before it ended in my unfortunate death. Man, you just wake up and feel alive when your life is in that kind of ...

Still Day 10: Here, to be honest, after a beer, one liter of water, and soup, I felt a little out of it. Going up a mountain straight after such a quick meal with so much liquid inside you is not a particularly smart idea, but I don’t think I ever mentioned that I am smart. Anyway, immediately after I entered the forest, I was amazed once again by the sublime and ever-changing nature around me. The ground looked drained of moisture, but the scenery was thriving under the hot August sun. I firmly believe that this is the most beautiful of all the beautiful paths I’ve taken on this adventure and one of the easiest to walk through. The climbing was actually just walking, and with that slight elevation, I was able to observe and enjoy the picturesque beauty of my country—something I cannot wait to see again. The real beauty of the path to Echo Hut begins after you leave the enchanted forest. There, the trees make way for the view, and in the distance, you can see Echo Hut. Sometimes this t...

Still Day 10: For the past three years of her life, my poor grandma was chained to a bed by her strokes, unable to move or speak. The pain she endured during this time not only broke us but destroyed her. Her passing from this world showed me another scary part of life—one I hadn’t thought about until it happened. Something to look forward to, I thought as I entered the forest. There, under the shadows, after my mind took me on a journey through my recent past, it once again wandered—exploring other parts of myself as I was exploring the mountain ahead. This is the part of life that gives meaning to all of it. Death. The one peak you can’t overcome. After my grandma’s passing, the relief we experienced was unsettling. It was a very unusual feeling. I found out it was common to mourn a person long before they actually pass when they’ve been in a condition like my grandma’s. In that time, family members work through their pain, say their goodbyes, cry a lot—preparing for the inevitable....

Still Day 10: You should be careful about how you consume water in the mountains. There is a possibility of triggering an unbearable thirst that will drain all your supplies and leave you wanting more—dehydrated. Even though I was at the beginning of my journey that day, the dusty road under the scorching August mountain sun played tricks on my mind, making me revisit memories I once dreaded. Right before I started walking this path, I had a routine check-up for STDs and was absolutely healthy—a great feeling to experience after visiting your doctor. The other day, I went to the dentist, and he told me that everything was fine, which blew my mind. I mean, it was a confirmation that I was doing something right, but let’s get back on the road. Unfortunately, gay health culture in Bulgaria is not in great shape—it just isn't. I still know people who have no idea what PrEP is. Although the first lecture I attended about the gay Manna was in Bulgaria, people still don't realize how...