On the road

     Do you like one day trips? I do! Our roads are not the best but we do have amazing views :)

On the highway:

On the country road:

Reaching our final destination :)

In the city

      I was looking some old photos when I saw this one.

     I was just going to visit my parents and just in front of my home there were three horses walking around all alone! We've started wondering if they belong to someone or they've just run away. I guess I'll never know :)

     At the end this isn't something strange here in Bulgaria. Even in Sofia, in front of my office, I saw  horses once walking on the street during the day creating incredible chaos. Too bad that I didn't have my camera with me to show you this. And the funny part was that instead of someone trying take them off the boulevard there was a cameramen from one of the TVs running after the horses and filming. And no, I don't think they were filming a movie this day. :) 

     I am just wondering why it's still so difficult for us to get used to see bicycles in our streets as well... I hope some day soon we will ;)

Tsigov Chark Mountain resort

         I just love this view! :)

       Let me tell you more about this place in case you haven't been there yet.

      Tsigov Chark is a Mountain resort in the western Rhodope mountains. It's near the Batak Reservoir, which is the 3rd biggest artificial lake in Bulgaria.  There are some very nice guest hoses around where you can stay and also markets and restaurants.

      It's a perfect place both for having a quiet and peaceful holiday or for having a lot of fun with friends. There are plenty of things that you can do in each season of the year. You can go fishing in the summer or you can go skiing in the winter... or you can just enjoy the beautiful nature that surrounds you.

       There's noting like the taste of the grilled food!

        

        Such holidays should never end!!! :)

My "Must visit" list - The Rose Festival :)

     Bulgaria is famous with its rose oil called as well "the liquid gold". The high qualities of the Bulgarian Kazanluk rose is well known. The rose oil is used for the making of perfumes, chocolates, liqueur and jam. One kilogram of it is extracted from about 3000 kg of roses where each flower is  picked by hands. The period of the harvest lasts only 20-25 days and there are more than 2000 people occupied in it each year.

     The Rose Festival is one of the events that you just shouldn't miss if you happens to be in Bulgaria in the end of May or in the first week of June. It originates from the celebrations held at the beginning of the rose-harvesting period. It started in Kazanlak in 1903. Some time after similar celebrations start also in Karlovo. The Rose  Festival is becoming national in 1967. 

     Nowadays it has become an international event where thousands of guests are coming to The Rose Valley to see The Queen of Roses, the harvesting ritual and the parade. 

      For the once that would like to visit the Rose Valley here is the program of the Rose Festival 2013.

Swallows

     For more than 10 years leaving in Sofia I haven't seen swallows anywhere but in my home town they are everywhere. I can listen to their songs all day long :)

Easter is coming

     Last Sunday we have celebrated The Palm Sunday. In Bulgaris this day is known as Tsvetnitsa and it's one of the biggest Bulgarian holidays. It's the “holiday of flowers and trees” and it's taking place each year on the last Sunday before Easter. 

     On the next Sunday we are going to have roast lamb for lunch :) It's one of my favorite Easter's traditions. The "egg fight" is another favorite tradition of mine. The winning egg is a sign of good luck and if you win you should keep it until the next Easter. I hope to win this time! Fingers crossed :)

     But before starting the "egg fight" we still need to dye the eggs first.