Title: Unconventional New Year’s Eve: Mother and 9-Year-Old Son Start 2025 aboard Train to Bulgaria‘s Black Sea Coast
In a unique twist on typical New Year’s Eve celebrations, Bulgarian mother Gabrielle Iliева and her 9-year-old son chose to embark on a train journey from Sofia to Varna as the clock struck midnight, ushering in 2025. While others lit fires on city squares or converged in restaurants, this duo found their celebration in the rhythmic clack of railway tracks.
"Living alone with my son makes it challenging to organize big gatherings during holidays. A night in front of the TV also lacks appeal. Experiences, however, are what truly matter," Ilieva shared with bTV News. To make their train trip extra special, they packed food, drinks, and festive decorations.
At the last moment, Ilieva had a revelation: "It struck me that little details like decorative lights could create a magical atmosphere." She prepared a traditional New Year’s Eve banitsa with coins inside for good luck. The train’s warmth was such that they had to open the windows for ventilation.
They were not alone in their adventure; other families with children joined them on the platform. This was not their first time greeting the new year on a train. Four years ago, when her son was just 5, they traveled from Varna to Sofia on New Year’s Eve.
This year, Ilieva decided it was more important to start the year with a journey rather than ending it that way. Upon arrival, they enjoyed the first day of 2025 on Varna’s sun-kissed beach.
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