I met Dimitrina Benkovska at the Triangle - a place not so familiar to the citizens of Sofia, but a well-known venue for tram drivers.

It's 2.20pm and here, at Banishora depot, it's all go - the drivers are walking to and fro, changing shifts, checking schedules for tomorrow, while the trams are passing by all the time.

Dimitrina, or Mimi, as her friends call her, had just finished work and she was ready to comfort herself with the traditional, everyday ritual of all tram drivers at the Triangle -a cup of coffee with colleagues after work.

Although Mimi is 40 years old, she has already worked as a tram driver for 19 years. At the moment you can see her operating "her tram" - number one.

Talking about the difficulties of this profession she said: "It's not so hard, as long as you're focused and concentrated on what you're doing."

The female tram driver, or "vatmanka" as is the word for such an occupation in Bulgarian, added: "Not anyone can be a tram driver, it's like a gift - either you have it or don't."

Besides its charms, the tram driving profession can also be dangerous. Mimi shared with me that a lot of her colleagues, including her, had been attacked.

Because of the public transport's almost-24-hour timetable, tram drivers are going to or from work during the small hours and become a target for thieves and street criminals.

Mimi's attack in 2000 finished in the hospital with three broken ribs. After the incident, she decided to change the control panel of the tram for a job at the depot office. It was her way of recovering psychologically after the bad experience.

But in two years time, nothing could stop her from driving. "Our job is a thrill. When you've got it in your blood there's no coming back," she said with a smile on her face.

Looking at her made-up face, I raised the question about the feminine side of being a tram driver. Mimi convinced me that all that matters is whether you're a good driver. If this condition is fulfilled, the gender is just a background.

However, to be a good-looking woman at the driver's seat on the tram has some (dis)advantages. Mimi confessed that when she was younger, she caused a car accident because a male driver was staring at her.

To my surprise, the tram operator informed me, that according to her, 60 per cent of the tram drivers in Sofia are women.

In comparison, several years ago the team of tram drivers consisted mainly of men. So, this fact goes to show the total emancipation of the profession, and that the claims that women are bad drivers are just a myth.

Still, the most important thing is to do your job, regardless of gender. And listening to Mimi, I can tell you that all men and women in the tram drivers' team at Banishora depot can relax and have fun after a hard-working week.

Mimi explained that at least once a month about 50-60 of her colleagues get together and go on an excursion somewhere around the country or party all night long. The last gathering was a few weeks ago, when they celebrated the Women's Day on March 8.

The thing this tram driver likes the best about her colleagues  is that they're one big united team.

She also finds happiness in small things, in everyday life. "I'm not a rich person, but I can say I'm a happy person because I have found my spiritual peace."

She's convinced that without discovering your own spiritual peace, it's hard to live your life, especially in Bulgaria. According to her, inner harmony helps to overcome the difficulties of everyday life after the changes in 1989.

In this case, it's inevitable to talk about politics. Mimi told me with bitterness that she's disappointed by all politicians. She said the country would get better when a middle class is formed, something that is absent at the moment according to her.

After discussing the never-ending topic that is politics and returning to tram driving, Mimi said with a smile: "If I had to choose my life all over again, I would work as a tram driver as well."