That is an understatement. It's been snowing since last Wednesday.
Today, I ventured into the storm because I had to put money on my travel card (I pay once a month to use the metro, buses and trams in Sofia.). As I was crossing the street near my office, a woman walked up to me with snow in her hair and her umbrella causing her difficulty.
"Angliski?" she asked in a desperate voice.
"Da." I was so surprised that I answered her in Bulgarian. I realize that a Bulgarian would not ask me if I spoke English before they asked me directions. They would just ask (and that's what all of them have done in the past...including the Italian lady, but that's a different story.).
"Do you know where I can get the bus to the monument with the bells?" She asked me. "I think is one-one-one or one-one-three."
When I finally figured out that she was speaking Engish and I could answer her in English and not in Bulgarian, I pointed up the street. "The bus stop you need is on that other street. The 5 and the three-zero-six are the only buses on this street."
"The bus stop is next to an indoor market. Do you know where that is?" I recognized the desperation and the feeling of confusion in her voice.
"Yes, that's it! I'm going in that direction. I can walk with you there, if you'd like." I offered.
As we tramped through the snow and splashed through the slush, I asked her where she was from. It turns out that she was from Spain. A few months ago I totally could have given her directions in Spanish. Today I think I told her that she spoke a little Spanish (I meant to say that I speak a little Spanish, but those stinking verb endings trip me up all the time!).
After I dropped her off at the bus stop, I went to fill my travel card. Wouldn't you know it, I tried to speak to the nice Bulgarian transportation lady in Spanish! It's funny that I left the office expecting to speak only in Bulgarian and instead I spoke in three different languages!