Bulgaria: Not only tasty food!!!

Bulgaria a very nice place where beautiful scenery and spend happy moments with friends (dinner)

 

Istambul - Edirne (Turkey) - Plovdiv

You will find some pictures of my wife Manuela in the Bradt guide out in December 2007!

This morning we took a flight from Istanbul towards Ankara, after they withdrew the bags and take the subway and get off at stop Otogi (the bus station). The Otogi Istanbul is huge and there are many offices and need to ask to find what you want. After several attempts I find what I was looking for, the company that operates buses for Bulgaria (Varal Oz?), I am told that there are only two buses assigned Plovdiv at 10:00 and 21:00 and were unfortunately the 10:15 a.m. !!!... ok not demoralized us, then we decide to take a bus to Edirne (town on the border) with Volkan and we start at 11:00. Except the air conditioning "ball" all over smooth line (16 YTL) and 2h 30 min to reach all'otogar Edirne located outside the city. Take a minibus that takes us 1 YTL downtown where do we download to a point X to take the direct bus to Kabikule 2.5 YTL (not a city but on the border). We note the usual endless row of trucks waiting to cross the border, but fortunately we walk and we can easily deal between customs and finally we are in Bulgaria. Although we spend two hours walking! to pass the customs that the Bulgarian Turkish. We try to find a taxi outside the customs but not much is approaching a man who gives us 20 lev (1 lev = 0.5 euro) to go to Svelengrad (the first village at hand) we accept because we are tired, we arrive at the station where (a gesture seen that our Russian 0) understand that there is no direct bus to Plovdiv but first we must go and Haskovo (60 km arrival in 1h reckless driving). Haskovo terminal to take the bus to Plovdiv where we get 1 hour and 30 later (70 km), both bus cost 24 lev (serves 4). From the point of view the difference with Turkey is considerable, much vegetation and very kind. In Plovdiv we take the first taxi that happens and we ask that you bring in a hotel, brings us to Thrace (60 lev a double room). After we placed the luggage in the center and we hit the net difference between the crumbling buildings of the suburbs and the glittering shops of the center. The center is very nice and full of young trees. Eat in the main square had spent all four of only 36 lev!, The space is the Arena.

Plovdiv

This morning we descend calmly to 8:30, we head towards Piazza Tzentralen and here we stop in a bar with outdoor tables to take four cappuccinos and three beautiful slices of cake (lev 14). When we walk in the street throwing a western windows of shoe shops and clothing that crowd the center. Around lunchtime we snack made of very good pizzas and rustic (lev 6) and from there go up to the city to stop doing the old Roman theater, very nice and well kept. We continue our walk in the Old Town stop from time to time in wooden houses, a giant walking buy ice cream (400g!) For 4.5 lev ... delicious!. We head to the Yug bus station to inform us on the bus to be taken tomorrow, but we are told to go to Sever bus station we head to our destination using a taxi (5 lev). Buses depart for Veliko Turnovo 8.30 to 13.30 and 16.30 and takes 4 hours cost 12 lev.

Plovdiv - Veliko Turnovo

After a good lunch stop on the first taxi and we head to the bus station where we take the direct bus to Veliko Turnovo. Arrived at its destination meet a guy with the shirt dell'Hikers Hostel we question whether we need a accommodation offering a passage in the center. the town of Veliko Turnovo, the ancient capital, is a pleasant mountain village very nice, the hostel is located a few steps from the town along a road covered with small pebbles. The hostel is nice and well kept from the terrace you can enjoy a very beautiful landscape. Having laid the backpacks we head to the restaurant ... Shtastilvetsa exceptional, very good, always crowded everything is good from the dishes (Karvna) to pizzas (!!). After lunch, with the belly in your hand, do a few step up to the fortress, past the main gate we head up to patriarchy (the church at the top). Tired we head to our hostel to rest.

Veliko Turnovo - Arbanasi - Veliko Turnovo

This morning we take a taxi directly to the nearby village of Arbanasi which is just 4 km from Veliko Turnovo. After about 10 min (5.2 lev) arrive at their destination on time is bruttissimo, we are left outside the Chapel of the Nativity (lev 4). This beautiful chapel has the whole time covered with beautiful frescoes depicting the genesis and the martyrdom of saints. Since it rains we will stop in a bar to eat something, and then take a taxi to return to town.

Veliko Turnovo - Sofia

After the usual breakfast we go off the bus near the ETAP small stadium. The bus leaves at 10:40 and takes 3 hours (lev 13) to reach Sofia. The stationing of the capital take a taxi that brings us to our sistenmazione or TS hostel (56 room the Room), the time to put your bags quickly and we head towards the center. Come to the Nevski Alekander beautiful, very beautiful with its golden domes, but the interior is a bit gloomy. Admire the nearby church of Sveta Sofia much more simple but special. In the afternoon we try to take information on how to reach the monastery of Rila, we asked a taxi 100 lev a / r but it is too, we see by public transport. We discover that a bus leaves from the station device (Ovcha Kupele) at 10:20 and returns at 15:00. Let us return to the main square to see the characteristic flea market, very characteristic.

Sofia - Rila - Sofia

With the usual taxi (lev 5) we head to the parking of the bus and take that for Rila (lev 6) after 2 hours we arrived at the small town of Rila, from there take the train to the market (1.5 lev) and 30 min leads to the monastery. The scenery along the way we drastically change a mountain road full of beautiful trees striking. Outside the monsatero there is a small kiosk that sells a few things to eat, the interior of the monastery veramnete wonderful everything is covered with colorful frescoes depicting the universal opinion, the fall of Constantinople and hell. Also in the arcade with the apartments of the monks, very beautiful. Not to be missed. 15:00 take the direct bus from the monastery in Sofia. Beware the taxi drivers who are out to stazuionamento Sofia, well controlled prices shown! otherwise you will end up paying a passage through the center 43 lev instead of the usual 5!. After the only cheat in Bulgaria we head to the good and great divák a super restaurant, try the soup ... divák buonissima (4 lev 48).

Sofia - Budapest (Hungary)

Last day of the capital, we visit the market of women situao close to our hostel, here we go to synagogue, mosque and baths. A few steps and we are in the central square with its statue of Sofia and the house of the parliament. The last leg of our vaiggio beautiful church is the Russian, of course we go for lunch from the usual divák. The taxi to the airport is 8.10 lev and the race lasts 30 minutes.