Travel, life, loves and laughs.
Breakfast in Sofia surprised me in the best possible way. Instead of rushing through coffee and pastry, I found myself slowing down, sitting with food that carried centuries of history. One of my favorite mornings in Bulgaria unfolded at The Rainbow Factory, a colorful, welcoming spot that celebrates traditional Bulgarian flavors while keeping things warm, local, and deeply comforting.… Read the rest
Nestled deep in the Rila Mountains of southwestern Bulgaria, Rila Monastery immediately captures the imagination. Surrounded by towering pines and rugged peaks, this UNESCO World Heritage Site merges spiritual reverence with architectural grandeur. Standing as a living testament to Bulgaria’s Orthodox heritage, a sanctuary where faith, art and history seamlessly intertwine, every corner of the monastery reflects centuries of devotion, creativity and resilience.… Read the rest
In the middle of charming Melnik is the Kordopulov House. We visit here on a bright, sunny spring morning after a bracing walk to the Holy Place. The town is quiet, it’s the very beginning of the season anyway but Covid has hit tourism hard and we receive an especially warm welcome as the first tourists to return since the beginning of the pandemic.… Read the rest
Atop Melnik’s picturesque cliff tops, the St. Virgin Mary Spileotisa Monastery is perched. Known locally as the Holy Place, this tiny monastery, referred to a a cave (speleon) was built between 1209 – 1211. Its name is also associated with the Virgin Mary of the Holy Place at the Mount Athos monastery Vatopedi.… Read the rest
Melnik is known for its wine and Bulgarians love their meat. So Mexaha Melnik seems the perfect combination. A Mexaha is a local, traditional Bulgarian bistro or restaurant. You can find them in cities and scattered throughout the countryside.… Read the rest
Nestled in the Rhodope Mountains of southern Bulgaria, Bachkovo Monastery stands as a beacon of Bulgarian spiritual heritage and historical significance.
We arrive on a sparkling Spring morning after the night in Plovdiv and a quick stop on the way at Asen’s Fortress.… Read the rest
The Kapana is Bulgaria’s first ever dedicated creative district. Tucked in behind the Ancient Stadium of Philippopolis it is also known as ‘The Trap’. This is a direct translation and also a colloquialism. It refers to how one can easily become lost or trapped in the streets here.… Read the rest
Plovdiv is the modern site of the ancient city of Philipopolis. It is charming from the get go and given the range of things to see here, it is no wonder it was named Europe’s Capital of Culture in 2019.… Read the rest
Plovdiv has an Ancient Town within its Old Town and more layers of Old Town within this. Centered along ul. Saborna we walk up the steep cobbled street that crosses over Boulevard Tsar Boris III Obedinitel, one of the modern city’s main thoroughfares.… Read the rest
Usually a fan of beautiful rather than bizarre, this Russian Soviet monument, looks more like something from Space Jam than from Bulgaria’s Communist past. Locally referred to as simply as the Socialism Monument, even ‘bizarre’ does not quite describe what stands before me.… Read the rest