Something about soviet era concrete and the Cyrillic alphabet just scratches this weird itch in my brain, so stepping out from the airport into the dreary Bulgarian day really got my dopamine receptors firing.
Skipping the evening of arrival because that's boring but Boy(ana), writing this has made me realise I've really not been taking many pics, but y'know, living in the moment and all that.
With a fresh day I immediately channelled my inner artsy girl by gobbling breakfast (a delish acai bowl and latte) at a swanky cafe. Quickly navigated the tekky tram system (LOVE the trams fyi) over to Vitosha, a mountainous area straddling the city and home to bears, boars and wolves.
First though, I stuck my weirdly shaped head round the door of Boyana Church, significant for boasting medieval frescoes from as early as the 10th century; its stylistic depictions a bastion of insight into a time otherwise lost to the dusts of time. Armed with my newly found culture, I stomped my merry way up through eery woodland to Boyana Waterfall, its cascades shrouded in spray and mist. Encounters with stray dogs and deer aside, it was a gentle descent upon the city where I found this gem of a shack to sink some lunch.
Following that, the afternoon was spent perusing the museum of Bulgarian history, situated in an impressive soviet era building nestled next to the president's residency. The museum was really interesting, albeit had some glaring omissions. The exhibits were conveniently... vague about certain aspects of Bulgaria's involvement with the axis powers in WW2, and completely 'forgot' to include anything at all from the communist regime. 👀👀
BulgariaSofia42°37’45” N 23°15’19” E
BulgariaSofia42°37’45” N 23°15’19” E