Родопи (Rhodope Mountains)

It's no mystery that the Родопи (Rhodope Mountains) are probably my favorite place in Bulgaria. The people are incredibly hospitable, the scenery is spectacular, the pace of life is slow, the food is fresh and delicious. There is little not to like. So when friends came to visit a few months ago, I was more than happy to show them a few of the places in the Rhodope Mountains I've grown to love: Горно Дряново (Gorno Dryanovo), Ковачевица (Kovachevitsa), Ягодина (Yagodina), Гьоврен (Gyovren), and Широка лъка (Shiroka Laka).

Трявна (Tryavna)

I visited Трявна twice during my service. The first visit was only for a couple hours, and half the time was spent eating lunch. The second visit coincided with our close of service conference, and there wasn't much free time to explore the town. It's a very relaxed place which I wish I would have gotten to know better. Among other things, it's home to a small, Belgian micro brewery, which produces some of the best beer brewed in Bulgaria.

Шипка (Shipka)

My Peace Corps service ended almost two months ago. I've been traveling around Eastern Europe and the Caucasus trying to unwind and make sense of it while contemplating the next chapter in my life. I'll return to Bulgaria in a week or so to see friends and pack up for the return trip home. Between now and then, I'll be adding a few more photos and, hopefully, putting the finishing touches on this blog. This is the first of such posts.

Шипка (Shipka) is known for being located close to the Шипченски проход (Shipka Pass), site of a series of famous battles during the Russo-Turkish War in 1877 and 1878. It's also known for its church, the Memorial Temple of the Birth of Christ, whose golden domes can be seen for miles. Time constraints permitted only a visit to the church.

Асенова крепост (Asen's Fortress)

I first saw Асенова крепост (Asen's Fortress) when I visited Бачковски манастир (Bachkovo Monastery) a few years ago. I'd been wanting to get up and see it ever since. A few months back, I finally did.

A shot of the fortress, perched precariously on a rocky ledge.

A couple closer shots of the church.

At the top.

A view toward Asenovgrad.

A view in the other direction.

Чудните мостове (The Marvelous Bridges)

I'd been wanting to visit Чудните мостове (the Marvelous Bridges) since first seeing photos of them. Unfortunately, their remote location made that almost impossible given the prohibition against me driving in Bulgaria. But when some friends came to visit and rented a car, they were more than happy to take a detour to see this natural wonder. We all agreed it was a wise decision.

The detour.

The natural bridges.

A rainbow on the way out.

Долен (Dolen)

After a few unsuccessful attempts at hiking to Долен (Dolen), we ultimately gave in and had a friend drive us there. Долен is a small village that combines aspects of Горно Дряново (Gorno Dryanovo), Лещен (Leshten), and Ковачевица (Kovachevitsa). Divided in two, the new part of the village is something like a mini version of Gorno Dryanovo, while the old part - an architectural reserve - is something of a mix between Leshten and Kovachevitsa. If you want to escape the rat race, you really can't go wrong spending time in any of these places.