Grand Escapades
Travel Photography & Travel Experiences of Africa, South America, the Middle-East & Asia
Rozhen Monastery, Melnik, wine growing area, south of Bulgaria, Europe
In August 2010, we spent 17 days in Bulgaria. Our main destinations were: Melnik & Rozhen, Rila Monastery, Plovdiv & Bachkovo Monestary, Veliko Tarnovo, Kazanlak & Tryavna, Belogradchik & Vidin, and last but not least Sofia. Continue Reading →
Rila Monestary, also called “Bulgaria’s Jerusalem”, Bulgaria, Europe
In August 2010, we spent 17 days in Bulgaria. Our main destinations were: Melnik & Rozhen, Rila Monastery, Plovdiv & Bachkovo Monestary, Veliko Tarnovo, Kazanlak & Tryavna, Belogradchik & Vidin, and last but not least Sofia. Our most sensible advice: if you can, visit Bulgaria in spring or fall. The temperatures in August were just too much. We NEVER had a day with less than 34 degrees Celsius, and it was no comfort that locals told us that these were unusually high temperatures. In Plovdiv, the mercury scale even reached 41 degrees (106 degrees Fahrenheit). Continue Reading →
Old Lada, on the way to Melnik, Bulgaria, Europe
For this trip we chose a far more comfortable way of travelling than usual – first of all we stayed only 17 days, secondly the temperatures were oppressing and above all, the prices incredible cheap. So we rented a car, stayed in mid-range and sometimes even at Boutique Hotels. And of course, we tested the Bulgarian food to the limits, usually accompanied by local wine. Continue Reading →
Banya Bashi Mosque, Sofia, Bulgaria, Europe
We were not sure what to expect from Sophia and very positively surprised by the walk able center, the parks, the museums, the many cafes and above all The National Gallery with its amazing paintings. Continue Reading →
Roman Kaleto Fortress and the massive Rock Formations near Belogradchik, Northwest Bulgaria, Euope
Repeatedly Bulgarian tourists we met on this trip raved about the bizarre rock formations and the Roman fortress in Belogradchik. We were a bit sceptical, but since we were right there, at the foothills of the Balkan Mountains in northwest Bulgaria, we gave it a try. Besides the very name, Belogradchik, was so intriguing, so very “Balkanic”. Continue Reading →
Baba Vida Fortress, Vidin, Bulgaria, Europe
Locals immediately assume that foreigners who come here, do so for business only. To everybody’s surprise, we insisted we were here for pleasure. We simply loved this quiet river town with its long tree-lined promenade along the Danube, where “tout Vidin” strolls, rolls and chats in the evening. Lots of restaurants – some even float on the very river – offer the catch of the day. Continue Reading →
Horse cart, a typical means of transport in rural Bulgaria
The term “roads less travelled” was coined to describe areas not often visited by tourists. In the northwest of Bulgaria, it takes on a literal meaning. We drove over bits of roads where the weed crept through the cracks in the tarmac. Here Bulgaria gets as rural as it can get. Continue Reading →
National Revival Architecture , Tryavna, Bulgaria, Europe
This small town in the hills near Veliko Tarnovo has a very romantic and well restored historic center. Its renovated buildings all line cobble-stoned Angel Kanchev Street. So it took us not more than an hour to cover all of it. Tryavna’s most famous sight is its old church with its thatched roof that almost touches the ground. Inside lots of wood carved icons are on display, a craft Tryavna is famous for. Continue Reading →
Shipska Monastery, Bulgaria, Europe
Heading towards Tryavna, all of a sudden we noticed a brightly shining golden copula in the distance, the rest of the building was hidden in the thick forest around it. A look at the map and we knew, this was famous Shipska Monastery. Continue Reading →
Monument to the Glory of Communism, near Shipka, Bulgaria, Eurooe
Our tour de force to the Black Sea and back, all within a day, ended in Kazanlak. We kept going by munching peaches which we bought from vendors along the road. Exhausted and miserable we started hotel hunting. A nice, quiet place we wanted. Oh boy, the rooms in the huge Grand Hotel Kazanlak were horrid and noisy, we even feel sorry for the young lady who showed us around. Next was Hotel Palas for no less than 65 Euros, lots of suffocating extravagant velvet interior design. Continue Reading →