I was also the smart kid. It went well together with the responsible bit. I got attention and praise for it, and the adults left me alone. As long as I kept my grades up, I could do whatever I wanted, and my parents would never know if I didn’t tell them. Thank God there were no drugs in communist Bulgaria back then. No gangs. No guns. Not many ways to get in real trouble.

I still have a scar on my right knee from falling off my bike and cutting it on a piece of glass. I could barely walk, but I managed to hide it, despite it bleeding profusely. I knew I wasn’t gonna be in trouble if I didn’t ask for help.

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Our first week in Sicily successfully concluded, and Lulu and I headed down the Southern Coast toward Agrigento. Our first stop, Mondello Beach, so Lulu can run off leash and dig a hole in the sand.

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It is said that Sicilians feel things intensely and quickly. The island demonstrated it as soon as Lulu and I arrived in Palermo, the capital. Just as we were headed out of Arrivals, an intense hailstorm came out of nowhere, covering the ground with pea-sized icy beads, and in the time it took me to pull out my phone to check the weather, it was all done, gone, and the sun came out to melt it. None of my fellow arrivals seemed surprised, perturbed, or at all phased out. They just waited by the sliding doors like they were waiting at a red traffic light.

Change must be in their DNA like nowhere else. Right from my apartment balcony, I can’t stop looking at it. The Royal Palace stands majestic, sunlit, and clearly put together over centuries. John Julius Norwich once described it as “an architectural hotch-potch which fails to impose any overriding personality.” But I think this is its very personality. What else can you expect from a place that had its beginnings in the 8^th century BCE, and was added on, upgraded, re-decorated, and rebuilt many times since?

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This is a bonus post for my paid subscribers. I appreciate your support!!!

This story goes back to November 1, 1755, a few months before the United States Declaration of Independence was signed. The two events have nothing to do with each other but provide a context of time and suggest that what has been may suddenly shatter.

It was All Saints Day in Portugal, and all the respectable, God-loving town's people of Lisbon went to church to hear the Lord's wisdom before heading over to watch heretics denounce themselves in front of the inquisitors on the public square or be subjected to the death penalty or imprisonment for life and risk their property being confiscated.

Sadly, denouncing oneself was insufficient. To rejoin the Church and avoid punishment, the accused had to denounce other heretics they knew of. They, in turn, had a 30-day grace period to come forward, denounce themselves (and others), or else. Salvation was promised to the sincerely faithful and devout.

Meanwhile, in the oldest neighborhood of Lisbon, Alfama, founded by the Moors in the 8^th century, society's rejects conducted their daily affairs trying to survive. Prostitutes sang Fado, mournful, melancholic, lamenting their fate. Thieves looked for pockets to pick and someone to swindle. Drunk sailors staggered and tripped over the cobblestones in the narrow streets. The fisherman went about their morning routines, dragging nets and readying their boats.

Jews tried to blend into the walls to avoid harassment. Ridiculed as "New Christians" because King Manuel converted them by decree in 1497, they felt less than welcome anywhere else, especially after the massacre of 1506 when between 500 – 4000 of them died. The "faithful" blamed them for the drought and plague sweeping through the country at the time.

As Lisbon's “Real" Christians” gathered under the gilded domes, dressed up and jubilant, the earth suddenly roared a deep, menacing sound they had never heard. The church bells around town rang themselves while birds, armies of mice, and all manner of critters flew, squeaked, squealed, and rushed out of the city. Then, violent shaking and rumble under their feet threw them around like limp dolls. Church domes caved in. Stained glass windows exploded in countless shards, tearing cloth and digging into flesh.

Those who survived ran outside to see the city catch on fire. Huge flames devoured everything in their way. Thousands ran to the river, trying to escape the inferno. There, they witnessed what they could only see as a miracle. The water receded, and the river dried up. "Just like Moses parted the Red Sea," they thought. God was saving them. So, thousands rushed into the riverbed, trying to get to the other side.

They hadn’t gotten more than a few meters when a wall of water taller than the tallest building, moving at hundreds of kilometers per hour, slammed into them.

Whatever and whoever was spared by the earthquake and the fire, and survived both, was finished off by the tsunami.

To this day, no one knows exactly how many people perished, but the number is estimated at around 70,000 people, a quarter of Lisbon's population. This was the strongest earthquake Europe has ever known and unsurpassed yet – 8.5 on the Richter scale.

Lisbon was reduced to rubble, ashes, and mud in minutes. Except for Alfama, where the poor and rejected lived. The entire neighborhood was spared without damage, even though the waves and shakes caused damage all the way to Algeria.

The king never returned to the city. He lived the rest of his life and died in a tent in the countryside. By today's standards, he probably had severe PTSD. The rest of the "real Christians" were left soul-searching and trying to understand why they were the subjects of God's wrath.

It took a year to clear the debris and many more years to rebuild the city. But rebuild they did, and grand it is. It's also better engineered in case of future disasters, which it has subsequently survived.

Little did Portugal know that the most chaotic times still lie ahead. A once vast and sprawling empire, draining the New World of resources to gild its churches and provide a decadent life for its royals, the rich, and the clergy, it found itself in political turmoil, including the king's assassination in 1908, and culminating with a dictatorship in 1928, which lasted until 1974.

Just 50 years ago, people had no freedom. Women were "free" to go anywhere they pleased as long as they had written permission from their fathers, husbands, or brothers responsible for them. They were relegated to the social roles of caring for the home serving the husband and the family. The regime curtailed women's civic rights and limited their economic and reproductive rights.

Espousing an ultranationalist philosophy, the regime systematically indoctrinated the population with ideas of Portuguese greatness and superiority and imposed isolationism on the economy. Political censorship controlled all spheres of life – from the press and cultural events to education and people's daily lives. Moral policing repressed dissent.

When people crossed censorship red lines, they faced an array of repressive measures, like fines, suspensions, administrative control, the forced closure of journals, printing companies, publishers, and cultural associations, the seizure of books and magazines, and detention and/or imprisonment for questioning or contradicting the regime.

It all came crashing down on April 25, 1974, when military officers put an end to the regime, as people took to the streets in what became known as the Carnations Revolution. Since then, Portugal has led the world in providing equal rights, not just to women. For example, they were the first in the world to legalize gay marriage.

Compared to its empire days, Portugal, now the size of Indiana, lives in the shadow of kings, a massive slave trade, and colonial exploitation. Even though Portugal shrank in size since it was founded in 1143, it grew up to be a good, conscientious neighbor within the European Union family with a centrist government and a society allergic to political extremes.

One thought I've had since learning all this is, "Empires and dictatorships don't change. They fall."

Portugal has had 640 years more than the United States to learn this…

And in case you're wondering, I am staying in Alfama. It was a very lucky coincidence that's given me a lot to think about as I navigate the narrow, uneven streets. Walking in the footsteps of God's spared people - prostitutes, thieves, and Jews, I wonder about all these walls have seen since the Moores built them in the 8^th century.

Who sat under my roof on All Saints Day 1755? What were they thinking when they lit their candles? Or perhaps this used to be a pub full of drunken sailors listening to Fado and lamenting their miserable lives, wishing they were dead.

• Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. What will you do on the day of reckoning when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches? — Isaiah 10:1-3

It seems to me that today’s Christians in the US are no different than the “Real Christians” of Lisbon who expected blessings while engaging and even supporting the Inquisition. I wonder what Black Swan event awaits our nation and where I should be at the time if I want to survive.

All of the pictures and videos of the last few days are on the Google cloud. Click HERE.

Enjoy your day :)

Refer a friend

I am not sure how I didn’t notice it on the way in, but I am glad I didn’t miss it. You can read about him by following the link above. But as I looked at the various simple belongings of a very consequential man, I wondered: How can one person do so much in one lifetime?

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But first… Because, it's the holiday season, and that's what everyone else is doing…

Life Intelligence is supported by the kindness of readers and friends. I'd love to make more friends so, I am offering a 25% off the regular subscription FOREVER!

The discount should pop up as soon as you click the link. Let me know if you have a problem.

Save more – 30% for "group subscriptions" of 2 or more. X-Mass gifts anyone? Want your friends to be life-intelligent AND check off a present for someone? Here's the link for that: https://www.vpetrova.com/f8a9e297

Wanna get paid-subscriber status FOR FREE? Yes, you can. Use the Referal Program to earn 1, 3, or 6 months of Life Intelligence for free. Yeah. That's good. I just LOWERED the number of referrals you need to get access.

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For every person you refer to Life Intelligence who signs up as a subscriber using your unique referral link or post you've shared with them, you'll be closer to paid access for free.

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There are no limits - the more readers you refer, the more rewards you can collect! PAID subscribers earning free months will see them tagged to the end of your current subscription. So, pull out your address book and start referring.

And on to the rest of the post

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I didn’t know traveling with a dog is real work. I just hopped over to Antalya, Turkey, by myself, and it felt like a walk in the park. One backpack, one small purse, good walking shoes, one cheap ticket for economy light, and an hour and a half later, I was on the Bay of Antalya sipping fresh-squeezed orange juice and munching on baklava. No worries. No headaches.

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I wonder if you know today is a very special day… if you are an Alice in Wonderland fan. It’s National Mad Hatter Day. You’re welcome. “Do you have any idea why a raven is like a writing desk?”

If your friendships feel dry, stale, routine, and maybe even boring, consider reviving them with a tea party. Play some games for no other reason but to hang out and do something fun and different. I’ve been watching people on the beaches here play cards for hours, toss balls of various sizes, enjoying a variety of games. Refreshingly, hardly anyone pulls out a phone. Instead, people stroll, nap, read books, and chit-chat for hours. Some splash in the water, competing with the ten-year-olds for the silliest way to jump over a wave.

I tried to lay down and soak some rays, but Lulu found the periphery of my towel as the most enticing place to dig holes. I finally gave up shaking the sand off the towel and just lay there while the little excavator worked her back legs in my direction. I figured sand doesn’t hurt. She had fun. So did the nearby people watching the whole thing. I was glad to be of service…

We were in a place called Sunny Beach. And sunny it was. This time of year, they put away the beach umbrellas and lounge chairs they rent out to tourists, packing them close enough for strangers to become good friends, sharing snacks, and putting sunblock on each other’s backs. I learned that renting beach umbrellas and lounge chairs is a huge business in the summer. People pay as much to stay on the beach during the day as they pay for a hotel room at night. No, don’t tell me it’s insane. I know it.

Sunny Beach felt like a slice of paradise without the tourists and all the tourist trappings and noises. For some reason, I remember Hawaii in the 90s, when I lived there, and half of California hadn’t yet moved to the islands. It was like that. Peaceful, sunny, pleasant.

The reason we came to Sunny Beach, other than the beach, was the Old Town of Nesseber. Here are some pictures. See if you can figure out why I wanted to do it. Click on the link.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FtRjQs7tBevYFUd87

🌺In other news:

Last Wednesday, I wrote more about anxiety – what I thought is the easiest, most effective way to stop it when it takes over. So, this week, I’ll write about what I promised last week – how to interrupt politely and effectively. Wednesday’s posts are for paid subscribers only. So, if you want to know this and more cools stuff, for $8/month or $80/year, you can 😊

👇Hit this button 👇

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Two new videos came out on YouTube. Are you watching YouTube? Just curious who is. And if you are, feel free to shoot me some feedback. I feel like I am getting better, but, ya now… I’m too close to the project to be objective.

How victim mentality affects relationships:

9 reasons why trauma worsens burnout:

🌺 Weekly Intention Prompt

Cultivating Curiosity in Daily Routines

“I will approach a mundane daily task with childlike curiosity, noticing new details and sensations I may usually overlook.”

🌺Here's your shareable TIP of the day. Share it 😉

Hope you enjoyed the Sunday edition of Life Intelligence.

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Remember to Subscribe! I get very excited when an email arrives and informs me I have a new paid subscriber. I run over and tell Lulu.

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V.

Emperor Diocletian built the fortress in 46 AD. I wonder if the walls remember the stories of all those who walked the city streets back then. When the wind blows through the cracks, my imagination hears conversations in a tongue I don't recognize.

There's the old basilica, the guards' barracks, the city market, an amphitheater laid out in the opening under the blue sky. Asphalt covers the ancient pavement, but not everywhere. How many generations is this by now? I can't do the math. I'm distracted by my dog chasing a kitten. The kitten climbs a tree as if it graduated from The Squirrel Academy.

Now, the town is known for its 22 mineral springs. I should say, "again," because the Romans knew about them and built themselves a Thermea, a Day SPA, taking advantage of the healing and relaxing mineral water. Now, SPA hotels boost the local economy and it shows.

I find it interesting that I've never been here before. My life is so different from how it used to be when I lived in Bulgaria. I would've never imagined that someday, I would return as a foreign tourist. My life is also completely different from just a few months ago. The entire world has changed simultaneously. Meanwhile, these ancient walls stand as a reminder of what we will leave behind – shadows, stories, and a rock somewhere.

Enjoy the pictures at the end.

In other news…

The YouTube adventure continues. It turns out this stuff is WAY harder than I expected. My brain hurts from learning all the stuff I need to know. But one of the things I learned today is that Chris Williamson, the (now) famous Modern Wisdom podcaster, started with literally zero views for the first six months, but he kept plugging away at it.

My videos get, on average, about 30-40 views. So, those of you watching them, please know I totally, fully, absolutely appreciate you. LOL.

Here's what came out this week:

• The Honest Truth about being single and 3 things to consider to help you decide for yourself.

• More about being single plus 4 qualities to look for in a partner (if you want a good one)

• How to reduce stress and lose weight, the easy and fun way.

OK, I'll stick to psychology stuff from here onward. I am working on something about emotional abuse and how to recognize it. Also, another one on toxic relationships.

I am open to suggestions anytime. I am also considering an entirely different channel focusing on yoga stuff. No, not yoga practices. For that, there's My Vimeo library. I was thinking about yoga philosophy and modern-day life. "I have a concept."

Coming out on Wednesday

On Wednesday, my paid subscribers will read about anxiety, what causes it, what is normal and what is not, and more.

Remember, I've lowered the annual subscription to $60 from $80!!! Now is the time to become a paid subscriber or upgrade if you are on a monthly plan at $8/month. My paid subscribers keep me going. They are the equivalent of a vote of confidence and approval! I appreciate you all.

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🌺 Your weekly intention prompt:

Exploring Inner Contradictions

"This week, I will pay attention to the moments when my actions contradict my beliefs. I will explore why these contradictions arise without judgment."

Here's your sharable TIP of the day. Share it.

Here, as promised, are pictures from the adventure so far.

THIS LINK takes you to all the pictures and videos from the Roman Ruins, the Roman Thermea, a Roman family thumb, and more from the town of Hisarya so far https://photos.app.goo.gl/qTd7kNHj1cFDTkR2A

We also happened upon a village celebration with lots of Bulgarian folklore! They danced and sang. They also enacted a battle from back when Bulgaria was under Ottoman rule. When the guns started shooting, Lulu freaked out, and we had to leave, so sorry, but no pictures from the battle. Check out THIS LINK: https://photos.app.goo.gl/NFM4sNF413ukbVwv5

And here's me drinking from a doggie bowl #worthit… https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZB4pqE3DhEBV9end7

Hope you enjoyed the Sunday edition of Life Intelligence.

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V

Bulgaria prides itself on ancient history. Most of it exists in ruins. But this one place still lives and breathes the mountain air and stories of rebels and poets. Lulu ran in the ghost steps of Indzhe Voyvoda, a fierce leader (voivoda) of an armed band of outlaws (haiduti) in the 17th century when Bulgaria still suffered under Ottoman Empire rule.

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