Bulgaria

The Kindness of Strangers in Bulgaria 🇧🇬 (and as a rule)

*Written by Andrew’s uncle, Bryan, derived from a detailed phone conversation.

One of the more surprising experiences of Andrew’s journey so far happened in a small, unnamed town in Bulgaria.

Ironically, Bulgaria (and that region in general) was one of the areas Andrew had been cautioned about before his trip. But what he experienced there turned out to be one of the most special of his first month on the road.

Shortly after arriving, Andrew struck up a conversation with an expat named Frank, a Dutch national just a few years older than him. What started as a casual beer quickly turned into something more. Despite coming from different backgrounds and knowing each other briefly, the two found themselves deeply aligned in how they think about life.

As the evening progressed, Frank invited Andrew back to his home to share a meal with him and his girlfriend.

It’s the kind of invitation many would hesitate to accept—but Andrew trusted his instincts. He felt immediately that these were good people.

Frank and his girlfriend welcomed Andrew not just as a guest, but as family. They gave him the best room in the house (apparently a converted shipping container built by Frank)—where he had what he described as the best sleep of his entire trip. They prepared thoughtful, homemade meals from scratch: fermented cabbage, handmade sausages, traditional Bulgarian dishes crafted with care and pride.

Andrew stayed for two nights. And when it was time to leave, he didn’t want to.

The next day, after a long ride, he found himself camping alone on the side of the road, reflecting on what had just happened. He kept coming back to one question:

Why were they so kind?

There wasn’t a clear answer—just a feeling. Sometimes, people simply recognize something good in one another. And they respond to it.

While Andrew has met many kind people along the way, this experience stood apart. It was a reminder of how genuine and generous people can be—even in a world that can be full of hatred and conflict.

He’s convinced Frank and his girlfriend will be lifelong friends.

Andrew and I discussed how this experience and others might influence him later in life amd how valuable it is to accrue them early.

At 24, Andrew has the privilege of gathering unique moments that many don’t encounter until much later—if at all.

I guess this is one of the somewhat unexpected outcomes of his tour.