Стара планина (Balkan Mountains)

The Balkan Mountains (Стара планина in Bulgarian, which literally means Old Mountains) run from the Serbian border straight through the heart of Bulgaria all the way to the Black Sea. I contemplated hiking the Kom-Emine trail from beginning to end all the way across Bulgaria upon the completion of my service but decided against it after drowning my camera in the Grand Canal in Venice. I did, however, convince some friends to climb Връх Ботев (Botev Peak), the highest peak in the Balkan Mountains.