Our European Adventure May 26 - May 29

May 26 - In the morning, Craig, Rex, Emilia and I boarded a plane to Varna, Bulgaria. From there, we drove a rental car to Emilia's birth town of Dobrich and visited the orphanage where we were warmly welcomed by an almost entirely new staff.  The head nurse who has been there for 30 years did remember Emilia immediately and was able to share some more information about her time there which helped us understand Emilia's challenges even better.  We got a tour of the orphanage - something that was not permitted to us in 2011 - and learned that only 20 children remain there as permanent residents while dozens more come in for daycare and support services, including therapies.  With such reduced numbers, the room in which Emilia lived has been renovated and converted into a therapy room.  We were shown an upstairs room which, while also newly renovated, we were told most closely resembles the room where Emilia would have lived from 2009 to 2011.

This room off the main living area is for children
who need a less stimulating environment
or must be isolated for health reasons.
We were told Emilia spent a good bit of time in medical isolation
due to being sick frequently.

May 27 - With our translators in tow, we set out for a small nearby village to meet Emilia's bio grandmother, aunt, uncle and cousins.  This is the village where her bio mother grew up and where Emilia would likely have spent her childhood had it been possible for her to be raised in her Bulgarian family.  We had a very emotional few hours with the family, gathering as much information as possible, taking photos, sharing stories and, truthfully, doing a lot of crying, too.

First meeting

Emilia and her Bulgarian mom at about the same age -
they look so much alike

Walking hand in hand with her Bulgarian Baba and her forever Mama

May 28 - After a lazy, rainy morning in Dobrich, breakfast and skyping with Ella, the four of us headed to Varna.  We took the scenic route back through Albena and along the coast line past the Golden Sands and St. Konstantin and Elena Resorts.  Our Varna hotel was literally steps from the beach and we walked Sea Garden (aka Primorski Park) which runs 8 km parallel to the Black Sea shore after the skies had cleared and the sun was shining.  There are many play areas, street performers, restaurants, rides, etc. all over the park, so it was easy to spend three hours.  We even dipped our toes into the ocean - the water was freezing and the kids loved it.  They did not want to leave the beach.

May 29 - We flew back to Vienna to get some much needed rest.  Ella who had stayed behind with Oma & Co was happy to see us. We had a big family dinner - 16 of us gathered together.