Is Bulgaria undeveloped or RETRO, is it undiscovered or long forgotten?
‘Wandering around Bulgarian mountain villages you get this feeling like being in the Alps in the sixties.’
The quote belongs to a precious guest of ours and it made us start reconsidering what the essential elements, creating the value of a travel experience, are. The small ‘unspoiled’ village, we were passing through, was for this lady a direct reminiscence of another time and place, linking her to the memories of her youth. And though the scenery and the cultural impact of it were very different, she was charmed by a similar feeling of being present in a cozy, beautiful, not very touristy, friendly, a bit clumsy, authentic environment, a refreshing break from the over commercialized everyday life. She was happy about this sudden experience of innocence and the sun warming up her back.
A REALY GOOD TRAVEL IS ALL ABOUT GETTING PERSONAL WITH THE PATH, CULTURE, NATURE, FOOD, SIGHTS, PEOPLE.
IT GOES BEYOND OFFICIAL VERSIONS AND AIMS INSIGHTS.
This revelation helped us see very clearly that the most important part of traveling is the traveler himself / herself … and the second most important thing is his/her gusto.
Life is too short for boring facts, so we promise to be brief with them.
For those interested in facts and statistics, you will find the essentials here:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/bulgaria-facts
A REALY GOOD TRAVEL IS ALL ABOUT GETTING PERSONAL WITH THE PATH, CULTURE, NATURE, FOOD, SIGHTS, PEOPLE.
IT GOES BEYOND OFFICIAL VERSIONS AND AIMS INSIGHTS.
This revelation helped us see very clearly that the most important part of traveling is the traveler himself / herself … and the second most important thing is his/her gusto.
Life is too short for boring facts, so we promise to be brief with them.
For those interested in facts and statistics, you will find the essentials here:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/bulgaria-facts
Let us present you our country through different types of sensual and intellectual pleasures and leave the field open for the ones you are going to share with us.
CULTURE
Throughout its 13-century old history Bulgaria has played a key role in the region, due to its location on the main trade route between Europe and Asia. Here has passed the road from London to Calcutta, since from Antiquity to the present days. Historic evidence of the Thracians, the Romans, and the Slavs are everywhere, yet Bulgaria was one of the first countries officially established in Europe back in 681. More recently, nearly five centuries of Ottoman rule and decades of communist regime have left their traces. The country is a crossroad of cultures, which is to be seen in the local customs, art, kitchen, architecture, life perceptions. The result is a peculiar diffusion zone of mutual cultural interpenetration. Well-preserved folklore pagan practices live along Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine art and architecture, combined a mixture of Bulgarian, oriental and Mediterranean cuisine, and the heroic narrative of the national Revival period in the 19th century. Nowadays we also add the positive and negative feelings of being a Russian satellite during the communist era and the massive cultural and infrastructural results of it, combined with the struggle to establish an efficient democracy, as one of the newest members of the European Union.
Bulgaria is a country in a constant transition, unestablished and unsure about its identity therefore unable to radiate into the touristic commercial field a successful image, a universal simplification of itself and a unique selling point. It succeeds to elude the definitions, which leaves the narrative about it vaguely open for interpretations and much more interesting for exploration. This situation is highly challenging for us, the guides, and profitable for our guests. Not having at disposal well known clichés, we have to dive deep into the land's multi-faceted culture.
NATURE
Diversity is also present in the landscape formed by lush farmland, rolling hills, high peaks, forests, caves, waterfalls, sandy rock formations, seaside shore. With more than seven mountain ranges, Bulgaria is a true haven for walkers, hikers, mountaineers and anyone interested in wildlife and the great outdoors. You can enjoy walks in the countryside, passing through small villages and interacting with locals, but also more challenging hikes above 2000 m see level and adventurous experiences like cycling, rafting, paragliding, freestyle skiing. We gladly combine the country's rich and varied landscapes with cultural and culinary delights and even in the wilderness we never forget that there is always time and place for a treat.
More than 1/3 of the territory of Bulgaria is covered by mountains, located mainly in the central and the southwest parts of the country. Each of the mountain ranges has its specifics, unique combination of relief and landscapes.
Rila is probably the most famous alpine range not only because it is with its 2925m the highest in the country and on the Balkan Peninsula, but also because of its special charm and stories about it. These start with the Tracian origins of the mountain’s name (Rila – well-watered mountain) and continue with the belief that Rila is a holy spiritual mountain, a place to gather wisdom and reunion with nature. There are many sacraments in this mountain and they say it is a blessed one, a center for higher divine power. Rila offer us spectacular vast scenery and plenty of sparkling glacial lakes. The hikes within Rila are usually long 5-7h, but they are of moderate difficulty.
Pirin is the second highest mountain and its face is completely different. It is covered with white marble rocks, which form breathtaking landscapes together with the sky. Its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea determines the mild and sunny climate and the reputation of the sunniest mountain range. The local stories tell us about bravery, freedom and dignity. Its symbol is the eagle and sometimes you really have the feeling as if you are flying in the clouds. The hikes in Pirin are with average duration from 4 - 6h. Most of them are moderate, but there are also some challenging sections. A significant elevation gain is typical for Pirin.
Rhodope is the human mountain mild and inviting, enchanting with its flowing hills, gorges and caves, countless legends and welcoming inhabitants. Its spirit is the one of communication and diversity. The mountain population is a mixture between Bulgarian Christians, Bulgarian Muslims - Pomaks and Turks. They have lived together peacefully for centuries. You can witness here still preserved folklore practices and it is very likely to enjoy a spontaneous good hearted invitation in a local’s home. Rhodope's terrain determines the hikes which vary from easy to moderate. Their length could vary a lot, since the vast territory and the countless options that the mountain offers.
Balkan or Stara Planina (Old Mountain) is the heroic one. There are many historic references in the Bulgarian history to this mountain. The Liberation from the Ottoman rule and the uprisings before it have started here. Old Mountain kept the Bulgarian spirit alive in opposition to the Ottoman influence. Most of the traditional craft centers are situated here. Also the famous Bulgarian oil roses. More than 400km hiking routes cover the range. Their difficulty level varies from easy to challenging. You can also enjoy several eco-trails, biking routs and horse riding itineraries.
CUISINE
When we talk about the pleasures of travelling we couldn't deny the very significant part of the local kitchen. In Bulgaria we say that man's love goes through the stomach and we could also say the same about the traveler. Good food is one of the most important parts of a travelling experience, and there is plenty of it in Bulgaria. The cuisine showcases a diverse background and abundant land: organic produce, yoghurt, white brine cheese, meat stews baked in clay pots and flavored with aromatic spices stimulate our senses each day. We could enjoy a very good quality of local products and plenty of vegetarian options.
Bulgarian cuisine is influenced be the Middle East, Greek, Mediterranean, Russian cooking traditions. It is famous for its fresh naturally grown vegetables, variety of dairy products and flavored by herbs and spices.
Yoghurt - The country is notable as the historical namesake for Lactobacillus bulgaricus, a microorganism chiefly responsible for the rich local diary production. Bulgarians love yoghurt and its quality here is remarkable. It is also very spread in the local kitchen, being used for the preparation of the cooling drink airan. Sheep yoghurt mixed with honey and walnuts is a great desert and the summer soup tarator is also prepared with yoghurt, water, cucumbers, garlic, dill and olive oil.
Cheese - White brine cheese called "sirene" similar to feta, is also a popular ingredient used in salads and a variety of pastries. One of the tastiest traditional Bulgarian dishes prepared with this ingredient is banitsa – a cheese pastry made using phyllo dough, sirene, eggs, butter and of course yoghurt. It is the perfect breakfast and you can combine it with airan or boza - a thick oriental beverage made of a boiled combination of wheat, rye or millet, with added sugar for the traditional sweet taste.
Vegetables – Salads are very celebrated in Bulgarian cuisine. Bulgarians eat them usually as appetizers at lunch and at dinner and gladly combine them with Rakia – a fruit brandy with alcohol content about 40%. Salad and Rakia consumption takes time and needs good company. It can last for hours before this interlude to the main dish is over. The most popular salat is Shopska. It's named after the Shopi, or natives of Sofia.
Meats – Main courses are very typically stews with lamb, beef, chicken or pork. Deep-frying is not common, but grilling is very prominent. Meat balls, kebapches, grilled meat pieces, grilled sausages are to be found in almost every restaurant.
Deserts – Baklava is an outstanding one. It is popular in all the Balkan states. Iit is a sweet variant of Banitsa, filled with sugar syrup and nuts. Though not originally Bulgarian Crème Caramel is also loved in the country and frequently served. A typical childhood dessert would be a rice pudding or a backed sweet pumpkin.