As we headed back to Romania from northern mainland Greece, we took it slowly by staying around Kavála, close to the Bulgarian border and got tempted to visit Plovdiv again.. the common link between those 2 locations: Philip II of Macedon.
On our way to Greece from Romania, a pit stop needed to be picked to recuperate on 6 hours of driving. What a opportunity to find the Rila Monastery at the right place and moment. It is the most impressive monastery of Bulgaria and even so far in our travels in the region. No wonder it is on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Dans le nord de la Bulgarie, on peut faire tout un weekend en se concentrant sur le thème des cavernes. Notre escapade nous a transporté de l'époque de l'homme de Néandertal à celle du cinéma d'action américain.
The Black Sea coast of Bulgaria is very accessible (by car) and the roads are generally well maintained although not clearly marked. But that could be considered an adventure if you are in no hurry and completely off season as experienced in early October.
Plovdiv, in southern Bulgaria is a vibrant city and at the same time, not looking to be distracted from its slow living style. Totally a pleasure to explore and chill at the same time.
As a medieval capital, Veliko Tarnovo must have been impressive with its fortress and surrounding hills. These days, it is a lively and cosy touristic town.
For a weekend getaway from Bucharest with the added option to see a glimpse of a total different country, language and alphabet, Veliko Tarnovo and its area has a lot to offer.