Day 112
Location 20: Sofia, Bulgaria
Feb. 20, 2023
A daytime stroll through Sofia offers—unlike most European cities—a magnificent view of mountains on the horizon.
It also offers—like most European cities—the popular to-go Japanese eatery Wok to Walk.
Wow, this city has everything.
Story Time. One afternoon during my freshman year of college, while chatting with a girl from my improv comedy group—before you call me a "loser" I'll beat you to the punch: "wow what a loser". There, I've taken your power away.
Anyway, I was chatting with a girl from my improv club and The Notebook came up in conversation. Miranda didn't know it, but I had a small crush on her. Without ulterior motive, I chimed in that I'd never seen the lengendary romantic film, which prompted Miranda to invite me over to her apartment for a watch party of two next week on Valentine's Day. The Notebook? Valentine's Day?? Ryan Gosling?!? It was clear to everyone that my crush on her was reciprocated.
Clear to everyone except me.
Her invitation was a brick wall in the desert painted to look like a tunnel, and I was an overambitious coyote running at full speed. SMACK! That's the sound of me declining her offer (as I assumed the invite was merely a gesture of friendliness) to instead watch the 2015 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest.
It was ironic to listen to announcers repeat "he shoots, he scores" as I happily missed out on the opportunity to do either from the twin-sized, bottom bunk bed of my freshman year dorm room. Never has there been a sadder sight, and yet I couldn't have been happier.
Anyway, all that is to say that tonight I watched the 2023 NBA All-Star Game from the twin-sized, bottom bunk bed of my Bulgarian hostel room. And once again, I couldn't have been happier.
