Za mechkite i horata

An unsuspecting traveller who enters Bulgaria by car or train may come across a peculiar spectacle at the station or border crossing. Everywhere where tourists from the 'rich West' show up they may see a shabby man who goads a bear to dance by excitedly playing his violin and by ungently pulling the chain that is attached to a ring through the animal's nose. The bear knows exactly on which command he has to lie down as a 'German tourist on the beach' or stand up like a drunkard. In addition he performs some tottering dance steps, the audience applauds and the man hears some coins clinking in his extended cap. Although animals like this are generally treated very cruelly, in this case a strange kind of tenderness and dependence can be discerned in the relationship between the bear and his owner. You might say that the bear's owner is fastened to the other side of the chain. He will always feed the bear first before eating himself and the ponderous bear just sits in the back seat of the car when they are moving to the next port of call. Although the present generation of bear tamers hopes that their children will choose a 'real' occupation, they reluctantly see how their sons prefer to follow in their parents' wandering footsteps. Considering the economic stagnancy in Bulgaria, this becomes increasingly difficult.