More recently, a large percentage of the younger generation has left the country to start life in other more prosperous countries in the EU. It is striking to see how over represented the older population is particularly in rural areas, but also in larger cities.
From the Rhodope mountains, we drove west to the Pirin mountains. We visited the gorgeous Rila monastery and did some hiking around Panichishte before driving back to Sofia and then East towards the Black Sea. Driving East, we stopped along the way to visit the towns of Koprivshtitsa, Troyan, Preven, Lovech and Veliko Tarnovo.
The Rila Monastery, a true wonder!
Panichishte - Hiking to the six Rila lakes
Safran!
As usual..."apres l'effort, le reconfort"!
Koprivshtitsa, a historic town with an authentic Bulgarian architecture in Cenral Bulgaria
This town is located 110 kms east of Sofia. It is in this town that the first shot of the upraising against the Ottoman domination was fired in 1876. Every five years in Koprivshtitsa, there is a large festival of Bulgarian folklore, gathering musicians, artists and craftsmen.
The delicious shopska salad
Arch of Liberty near Troyan
Nice tree in the garden of our guesthouse - Lovely host couple
Lovech
Some parts of cities are simple housing - Remnants of the communist era?
Wonderful waffle
Hotel....got it!
Veliko Tarnovo, "City of the Tsars"
Baklava
Tsaravets Fortress
An abandoned factory from the Communist time
Church of the Forty Martyrs (13th century, mostly rebuilt)
like stone columns.
Pobiti Kamani near Varna
It is the only desert in Bulgaria consisting of sand dunes and natural rock formations. It is believed to be 50 million years old!
"The greatest self is a peaceful smile,
that always sees the world smiling back"
Bryant H. McGill
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