Maria was sitting on one of the blue benches, two heavy bags and a plant in a pot sitting obediently next to her. As she watched the busses and passengers, I wondered how much history her eyes had seen. When I approached her, she turned to me in a daze, as if I had just woken her up from a dream. And then, she looked at me with the warmest eyes I had seen in a long time.

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Maria had lived in Blagoevgrad all her life. She had travelled to other cities in Bulgaria and abroad, but she always found herself coming back.

 

"My mother used to say that the young tree will grow wherever you plant it. Its roots will grow into the ground, it will adapt. With the years, it becomes more difficult. Other cities and countries have their own beauty. But this is where I have grown, this is my place."

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As we were talking about our home country, Maria was pleasantly surprised to find out that I am part of the Bulgarian traditional dance club, Samodiva.

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"I watched the Samodiva show this week with my family. It brightened up our day. We thought that Bulgarian tradition was forgotten by the young. We were happy to see that folklore is still alive."

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Even though Maria is extremely attached to her birthplace, she is a free spirit. 

 

"The most valuable thing in life is freedom. The ability to be independent, to have your own opinion. But you have to pay a price for it. You have to do it alone."

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Achieving the sense of freedom and independence came with a price.

 

"You will have many friends when everything is fine. It's during the hard times when the ones who truly care will help you out and stay by your side. Others may leave."

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After almost an hour of pleasant conversation, Maria's bus arrived. When I asked her to take a photo of her, she was hesitant, saying she was too old for pictures. From my experience, this is a belief that many other elderly people share. In the end, she still agreed.

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I wish she could see the youthful glow in her eyes.

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