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{{Hitchgathering2011}}==Newsletter July 2011==In less than three weeks we will gather in Kara Dere at the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria.  Most likely some people have never left the road since we met in Sines last year, some already left their homes and hit the road to Bulgaria and if you haven't left already it is time to stick out your thumbs to let the road bring you to Kara Dere! This year's hitchgathering destination is a huge beautiful beach called Kara Dere with a shadow spending forest offering great camping spots and a natural water source close by. The beach is 4km far away from the village Byala, about 50km South of the city Varna and 75km North of the city Burgas. Check the [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=42.892231,27.899687&aq=&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=36.726391,90.263672&ie=UTF8&ll=42.885021,27.89712&spn=0.033206,0.088148&t=h&z=14 exact location]. ===A self-organized gathering===If you arrive first at the beach just make a sign 5/8/11 and make yourself comfortable. The gathering is based on self-organisation. Some people contribute more and some less, but everybody is asked to keep eyes and ears open to just join and ''do something'' if needed. Nobody is in charge and nobody will have an answer to every question. The program is not fixed, but some proposals have and can of course still be made. Some ideas and examples from last year include a freeshop, a lightfoot post-box, story-telling, hitchhiking language lessons, a living library, volleyball and other beach games, crafting workshops, collective cooking and so on.  This year the gathering will be a bit of a challenge for us, because we need to take care about food and water supply before hand if possible - the only shop is in the next village. But a bunch of people are going to meet already on 1 August in Varna to deal with that. If you want to help out you can find more details on the website.  If you cannot find the gathering or need some urgent help in an emergency you can contact: * Martin +359 897 68 66 27 (Bulgarian) * Boyan +359 887 40 10 41 (Bulgarian)* Jona +49157 89 138 770 (German, text only) :'''some more contacts would be great, especially of those who have a bulgarian phone number!''' ===Pre-meetings===Pre-meetings are taking place in [http://hitchgathering.org/budapest-pre-meeting Budapest (30 July)], [Categoryhttp://hitchgathering.org/sofia-pre-meeting Sofia (2 August)], [http://hitchgathering.org/vama-veche-romania-pre-meeting Vama Veche (3 August)] and wherever you are willing to organise one. Check the website for detailed information, announcements or to announce your own! Pre-meetings are great to meet others along the road and also a good way to find a hitchhiking partner. However, you can try to [[Hitchgathering/2011/Travelmate|find a partner in advance]]as well. ===You should bring===* Enough food & water (or at least water containers) to the beach to stay for a few days.* A plate, a mug, a spoon, a knives, a fork. In short: kitchen tools. * Toilet paper* Buy alcohol in advance... * Some additional cardboard could be useful* Music instruments, a flying disc, a water ball, no limits to your creativity ==Press Release #1 =General Advice===* While hitchhiking always bring enough water bottles with you. In hot temperatures, you need at least 2 to 4 liters a day. * Avoid hitchhiking in the middle of the day. Try trucks, for example, for long distance traveling during the day.* Take enough breaks! * Do not stand hitchhiking in the sun. Do not stand hitchhiking in the sun. A sunstroke is easy to get!* Take a hat, scarf or umbrella/parasol since shadow is often hard to find. Cover your skin. * Try to speak the [[Template:Phrasebook/Bulgarian|local language]]* Give 5/8/11 flyers! ===Directions===If you are hitchhiking from Varna to the South:You hit the road for Burgas and go to the city of Byala, about 50 km south of Varna. Just where the city begins, there is a gas station on the left, and some 50m after it you turn left and hit the country road through the grape vines. If you are hitchhiking from Burgas to the North:You take the road towards Varna and travel some 70km to the city of Byala. You have to pass through the city, and just where the city ends in its Northern part, you turn right before the gas station and hit the country road through the grape vines. From there it is about 4-5 km to the beach itself. Half-way to the beach there is a natural spring where you should refill your water. There will be some signs to help your orientation. The gathering will be rather at the South end of the beach, because there is another natural water source. ==News Story (long) - April 2011 == Read it in: [[Hitchgathering/2011/NewsDE | German]], [[Hitchgathering/2011/newsFI | Finnish]], [[Hitchgathering/2011/NewsFR | French]], [[Hitchgathering/2011/NewsSP | Spanish]], [[Hitchgathering/2011/newsHU | Hungarian]] In 2011, the European Hitchhikers' Gathering will take place in Bulgaria. This annual "Hitchgathering" is organized now for the fourth time, by its participants. The gathering aims to promote hitchhiking in Europe. ''"The Hitchgathering brings together people from different countries and gives them life changing experiences. It portrays an alternative way of travelling that saves our planet's resourses."'' a Latvian hitchhiker, Arta, describes. Marco Polo, and other travelers of the past, would have never made their epic journeys without the help of friendly strangers. Voyagers travel the roads for a multitude of reasons. Yet, when it comes to hitchhiking, getting from A to B for free by raising your thumb is not the only motivation. Some seek personal growth, others yearn for adventure and others still, appreciate the profound cultural experiences to be had while enjoying their discussions with the drivers that stop for them. For the past couple of decades, however, the popularity of hitchhiking has been in steady decline. People have put more emphasis on ownership of possessions and feel ever more isolated from the communities they live in. Fear in our contemporary society is much more prevalent than it used to be. Generally people don't want to jeopardize their wealth and health by taking unnecessary risks, such as sharing a ride with an unfamiliar traveler. But is this really the case? ''"Through hitching I have come to accept my faults, ignore those of others and realise that there is a whole lot more compassion, mercy, love and humanity out there than we are led to believe."'' a South African hitchhiker, Tam, sums up. ''"I have become more patient and talkative than I expected. I have realized that most people are willing to help each other despite what is said in the news. People are just afraid of what they don't know."'' says Anaïs from France. Each year, a generation of hitchhikers emerges. And now they are equipped with modern day technology! People can plan and prepare their trips with knowledge-bases such as [http://hitchwiki.org Hitchwiki.org] and [http://digihitch.com Digihitch.com]. Accommodation can be found through online platforms like [http://couchsurfing.org CouchSurfing], [http://hospitalityclub.org Hospitality Club] and [http://bewelcome.org BeWelcome]. Internet has enabled organized action between hitchhikers around the world. One example of this new open collaboration is the European Hitchgathering that started as, and still is, a grass-roots initiative to ensure that hitchhiking culture prevails and develops. ''"It is a family where you can share 'the essence' of travelling."'' says Max who is coming to the Hitchgathering all the way from New Zealand. Previous hitchgatherings took place in France, Ukraine and Portugal. This year The Hitchgathering is going to be organized on the beautiful Kara Dere beach near Byala, Bulgaria. The event starts on 5 August 2011 and lasts at least a few days, or as long as people wish to stay. But for most participants, the adventure starts many days earlier as they set off for their journey. Smaller scale gatherings will be organized for them in all major stopover cities, so they can rest and meet the others on their way to Bulgaria. The program of the event is made by the participants, on the spot. Anyone can hold a workshop, facilitate team games or whatever they think might contribute to the success of the event. Workshops that need preparation will be organized by the participants themselves through the website. ''"Go for it! You won't regret it. It's a way to get out of your comfort zone, to challenge yourself, but also to witness that there still are nice people on this planet that are willing to share."'' says Ron from Guatemala. ''It's a great festival where you can meet other hitchhikers, share stories and knowledge, and have a freaking good time! But you really have to want to hitch, as there will be hard moments when you have to see the adventure in it."'' Zsolt, a Hungarian hitchhiker, adds. ''"Hopefully the reason why you don't see that many hitchhikers on the road is that they already got a ride."'' a Finnish hitchhiker, Tomi, states and continues: ''"We wish that this event contributes to a creation of a more open, trust-filled and sustainable society."'' Max adds: ''"The hitchhiker is there to give you the opportunity to do your good deed for the day!"'' '''More information:''' [http://hitchgathering.org Hitchgathering.org]

European Hitchhikers' Meeting takes place in Bulgaria, 5 August 2011[http://hitchwiki. This is the fourth annual Hitchgathering. It is organized by the people for the people, and thus open for anyone to joinorg Hitchwiki.org]

"Through hitching I have come to accept my faultsIn 2011, ignore those of others and realise that there is a whole lot more compassion, mercy, love and humanity out there than we are led to believethe European hitchhikers' gathering will take place in Bulgaria.This annual "Hitchgathering" a South African hitchhikeris organized now, Tamfor the fourth time, sums upby its participants. "I have become more patient and talkative than I expected, that most people are willing The gathering aims to help each other despite what is said promote hitchhiking in the news. People are just afraid of what they don't know." says Anaïs from FranceEurope.

Yet, for the past couple ''"The Hitchgathering brings together people from different countries and gives them life changing experiences. It portrays an alternative way of decades, the popularity of hitchhiking has been in steady declinetravelling that saves our planet's resourses. This is due to several factors: the public transportation has become somewhat well-functioning,(this is definately not the case in the UK where in 20 years since public transport was privatised prices have rocketed and less profitable routes scrapped - basically it"''s a lot shiter than it used to be) private car ownership has become more accessible and fear has increased in our societyLatvian hitchhiker, Arta, describes.

StillMarco Polo, every yearand other travelers of the past, new generations would have never made their epic journeys without the help of hitchhikers emergefriendly strangers. And now they are equipped with modern day technology! People can plan and prepare their trips with knowledge-bases such as Hitchwiki.org and Digihitch.com. Accommodation can be found through online platforms like CouchSurfingIt might appear very simple: raise your thumb to get from A to B for free, Hospitality Club and BeWelcome. Internet has enabled organized action between hitchhikers around but the worldmotivations for hitchhiking vary. One example of this new open collaboration is The European Hitchgathering that started asSome seek personal growth, others yearn for adventure and others still is, an initiative by appreciate the hitchhikers profound cultural experiences to be had while enjoying their discussions with the drivers that stop for the hitchhikersthem.

"The Hitchgathering brings together people from different countries started as, and gives them life changing experiences. It portrays an alternative way of travelling still is, a grass-roots initiative to ensure that saves our planet's resourseshitchhiking culture prevails and develops." a Latvian hitchhiker Arta describesPrevious gatherings took place in France, Ukraine and Portugal. "It is a Family where you can share 'the essence' of travelling" says Max who This year The Hitchgathering is coming going to be organized on the Hitchgathering all beautiful Kara Dere beach near Byala, Bulgaria. The event starts on 5 August 2011. But for most participants, the way from New Zealandadventure starts many days earlier as they set off for their journey.

Previous hitchgatherings took place Smaller scale gatherings will be organized for them in Franceall major stopover cities, Ukraine so they can rest and Portugal. This year The Hitchgathering is going meet the others on their way to be organized on a beautiful Kara Dere beach near Byala, Bulgaria. The program of the event starts on 5 August 2011 and lasts at least a few days, or as long as people wish to stay. Similarly, the program is made by the participants, on the spot. Anyone can hold a workshop, facilitate team games or whatever they think might contribute to the success of the event.

''"Go for it! You won't regret it. It's a way to get out of your comfort zone, to challenge yourself, but also to witness that there still are nice people on this planet that are willing to share." says '' Ron from Guatemala. "It's a great festival where you can meet other hitchhikers, share stories and knowledge, and have a freaking good time! But you really have to want to hitch, as there will be hard moments when u have to see advices the adventure in it." Zsolt, a Hungarian hitchhiker, addsfirst-timers.

"Hopefully Max from New Zealand reminds the reason why you dondrivers: ''t see that many hitchhikers on the road is that they already got a ride." a Finnish The hitchhiker, Tomi, states and continues: "We wish that this event contributes is there to give you the opportunity to a creation of a more open, trust-filled and sustainable society... and proves do your good deed for the drivers that we don't biteday!"''

www[http://hitchgathering.hitchgatheringorg Hitchgathering.org]

www[http://hitchwiki.hitchwikiorg Hitchwiki.org]