I went to a pastry-making class at a local woman’s home this morning and made banitsa. Ramona hosted a group from the ship and served us Bulgarian yogurt, which was very creamy. Banitsa is a traditional Bulgarian dish that can be sweet or savory, and people tend to serve it on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Small lucky charms are baked into the dish for family and friends in the New Year. Ramona’s recipe includes phyllo dough, eggs, white cheese, yogurt, lemon-lime soda, and butter.
We walked around the city center, and Baba Vida is a medieval stone fortress along the river. Stalls have been constructed for the Christmas Market, and an ice skating rink is ready for skating.
