People collect all types of things – coins, stamps, beer bottles. The hobby of a famous Bulgarian actress is collecting toy frogs. Collecting is a passion and the passion of Milkana Yordanova from the village of Smilyan in the Rhodopes is collecting cow figurines. She has hundreds of them – made of wood, porcelain and what not, cows are everywhere in her home. Why did 57-year old Milkana choose to collect cow figurines?
Everything started with a gift coming from the Alps. Mr Gaudenz Ruf, Ambassador of Switzerland to this country (1995–2000) was present in the village of Smilyan during one of the traditional local celebrations of Miss Cow contest. The contest is a tourist attraction, as well as a reason for joyful celebrations. It was Mr. Gaudenz who gave the first cow figurine to Milkana. Since then she has collected more than 450 figurines.
“I have cows form all over the world and they all have different names,” Milkana says. “I have happy cows and sleeping cows, but every figurine shows calmness and sincerity. This makes you think about slowing down and living more peaceful lives. I have 7 wooden cow figurines from Switzerland. They are very beautiful and some have flowers in their mouths. I have the zodiac signs represented as cows. I have skier cows and others.”
Almost everyday I receive a souvenir depicting this good animal, Milkana says and adds that she feels good knowing there are many people who want to contribute to the collection. Milkana Yordanova is an economist and in 1992 her family started their own business in the Rhodope.
“In 1992 a programme of the Swiss government for support to Eastern Europe started. We applied with a project aiming to create dairy farms high in the mountain similar to those in the Alps. Later, however, we created a dairy farm in the village of Smilyan, which turned out to be a perfect place for this business. The milk was studied by Swiss experts, who said it was very suitable for the production of yellow types of cheese; due to the fact cows graze in mountain meadows. We have been living for 20 years in the village of Smilyan. We have also realized a project related to rural tourism as the village turned out to be an attractive tourist destination. It has even become popular due to the delicious cheese we produce here.”
The family of Milkana Yordanava has enlarged their business by building a guesthouse. Guests there can also try the delicious dairy products produced by Milkana.
“A number of friends used to ask me why were I going so far away to the province. Now I tell them that I am not in the province but in the center of the universe because I love my life here and my work. Don’t give up and follow your dreams,” Milkana concludes.
English: Alexander Markov
