Back in the mid 20^th century in the heart of Europe in Bulgaria arrived an amazing ship. One of the first trawlers sailing in our waters. After many sea  miles, tons of sprat and turbot, the veteran Chaika headed to his last sailing. To the shore. Anchored, stretching its dried planks under the stinging sun, the ship was dying. In a summer morning on the city side a children’s hubbub could be heard. In droves arrived a group of children through the deserted road to the Salt-pans. Equipped with roller- brushes, paints and sand paper, led by enthusiastic youth leaders, they stormed the huge trunk on the shore. In no time they transformed it all, the ship was shining in all the rainbow colours. A captain was quickly appointed- Stefcho Rusev who had for his crew all the inspired children from the Sea school. And there by contrast to the painters “serious stuff” was being taught said the young sailors- to tight sea knots, the art of being a captain and the job of the boatswain and the technician.  They had a small cater that they mainted with the help of their teachers  and where they practiced what they had learned. In this wonderful ship on the shore of Burgas Krasimir Zanin was working with his students.

The city children were impatient to finish school and they rided their bikes through the Sea garden. On the asphalt they jumped and ran to the ateliers. Everyone undertook something- one made a mock-up of a ship, another would decorate the wall with new paints or would devise a clay toy. In the imagination ship even the bravest ideas seemed possible.

The habit of the kids in the beginning of the 80-ies and their younger brothers and sisters who were already discovering the abandoned Chaika. Although the coloured ateliers were gone that this remained a loved place for games. The sailing was replaced by the football and after that other games took its place. The spirit of the imagination and the freedom though even now appear like a vision when you sit on the lonely coast looking at the sea.

Text: Gergana Kostova

Magazine: “Vij! Burgas” 23 vol.