Sad Eyes.

One of my more memorable experiences during these past 2 months has been a day spent with the Nomadic Thracean Кalajdzia who were camped under the bridge in Kardjali, Bulgaria.

This group of Gypsy (Romanii) seem to be held in higher regard by the Bulgarians I've spoken with, as they don't have the reputation of being thieves. They are nomadic, and survive by collecting scrap metal and recycling it into large pots suitable for cooking over open fires, or perhaps distilling homemade Rakia. They weld the pots using an open fire & wood coals heated by a foot billows pump, similar to what might be used for inflating an air mattress.

I had photographed one family a month earlier, within sight of the Greek border, and hoped to take some interesting pictures of this family producing the wares. However once I arrived and got permission to shoot, the children and mothers mobbed me to the point that most of my pictures are of the children. Although the parents were dark, and typically gypsy looking, several of the children were blond with blue eyes. This little girl seemed to be a favorite of the clan as many people wanted her picture taken.

I promised to return with prints of the better pictures for them, but a couple of days later they were gone, only the trash and fire pits remained. I will remember their openness and zest for life. They are such happy people for having such a difficult existence.