DAY 4 BUCHAREST [Romania] VELIKO TARNOVO [Bulgaria]
SOFIA [Bulgaria] (B/L/D)
In the morning, depart for Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital.
Wow, look at the early morning traffic!!
This map was passed around by the tour guide to show us the countries we will be visiting throughout our trip.
Today we will be leaving Romania (see the bridge below) and entering Bulgaria.
Google map showing the Friendship Bridge over The Danube
Bulgaria.
This journey will take us across the Danube (Friendship) Bridge, the 2.8km steel truss bridge over the Danube River connecting Ruse and Giurgiu.
Much of our time will be spent travelling to Bulgaria so we had a coffee break...
such a well stocked highway stop!!
See what I mean? you can even have your happy hour here!
Men talk because ladies take a longer time at the "Ladies"
On the road again..this time we are crossing the border, and look at the truck line
It's now noon and time for lunch
Lunch is at Ajetpo
We eat inside, but the outside looks more cafe like!!
Salad
Main course
Minced meat with potatoes
Dessert
After lunch, visit the Tsareverts Fortress, a medieval stronghold located on a hill in Veliko Tarnovo and one of the most widely visited historical sites.
Veliko Tarnovo is a city in north central Bulgaria.
Medieval history
emanates from Veliko Târnovo’s fortified walls and cobbled lanes. One of
Bulgaria’s oldest towns, Veliko Târnovo has as its centrepiece the magnificent
restored Tsarevets Fortress, citadel of the Second Bulgarian Empire.
The inescapable symbol
of Veliko Târnovo, this reconstructed fortress dominates the skyline and is one
of Bulgaria’s most beloved monuments. The former seat of the medieval tsars, it
boasts the remains of more than 400 houses, 18 churches, the royal palace, an
execution rock and more. Watch your step: there are lots of potholes, broken
steps and unfenced drops. The fortress morphs into a psychedelic spectacle with
a magnificent night-time Sound & Light Show.
Entering the structure you pass through 2 gates and veer left for the fortress walls, some were once 12m high and 10m thick!
It was very sunny and hot and umbrellas came in handy!!
Imagine being in the Byzantine century!
There were great views at the top!
There is a museum, churches, houses, and even an execution rock!
The fortress was rebuilt and fortified by the Slavs and Bulgars between
the 8th and 10th centuries, and again by the Byzantines in the early 12th
century.
We managed to go in to explore one of the churches.
Inside it was breathtakingly beautiful with wall murals and ceiling paintings, photography was forbidden but we sneak some shots.
Coming down was not so difficult as there were stone steps for you.
Cobbled lanes of an ancient medieval town now falls into a modern township as seen from tourist souvenir stalls.
Leaving the Tsarevet fortress, we drive past the countryside.
Time for coffee break again and this is such a cute little stop!
But as usual, very well stocked, the racks are heavily laden with chocs and snacks!
Hmmm Baristo coffee!
Then it was time for dinner at the Kitchen Bar.
As usual, I found the tables for al fresco dining more alluring!
Okay, okay, the inside is cosy too!
As usual, we had 3 course meal, with salad, chicken breast and creme brulee.
Believe it or not, this is creme brule!
Boarding the bus again for the ride to our hotel, Today's sightseeing is only at the Tsarevets Fortress.
Metropolitan Hotel in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Goodnight! Tomorrow will be a full day in Bulgaria before we travel to Macedonia!
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