Well after my second stay of four weeks in the capital of Bulgaria, it's time for me to say farewell to Sofia. Just don't know where the days disappear to - someone is stealing them from me - can't believe that it is a month since I arrived here ... anyhoo - time to pack the bags, clean the flat and head off into the sunset - but before I leave the city, here are a few impressions ...
The focal attraction to Sofia is the grand
Cathedral of Saint Alexandar Nevski ...
... built in the grand Neo-Byzantine style at the end of the 19th century,
the Bulgarian Orthodox church has a capacity of 10,000 people inside ...
... for a review of the Cathedral you can visit my previous blog at ...
... this time the tour groups have arrived ...
... the golden domes is visible from so many points around the city ...
Sofia Synagogue
... one of only two synagogues in Bulgaria ...
... built at the end of the 19th century
in a very Moorish style of architecture ...
in a very Moorish style of architecture ...
inside ...
The beautiful National Theatre " Ivan Vazov"
... when I was here in the winter all the fountains were
turned off because of freezing - now in the summer
the city fountains are in full gush ...
... opened in 1906 but considerably damaged during WW2,
it was restored and re-opened in 1952 ...
... when I visited Sofia in April, it was in the middle of winter
and the municipal gardens featured wonderful beds of massed Tulips ...
but now in mid-summer the Tulips are gone and have
been replaced with Marigolds and Begonias ...
... BNP ...
... the National Art Gallery ...
... City Garden ...
... Quadrat 500 National Art Gallery ...
... I love the use of plastic Wisteria flowers
on this real estate office ...
... and likewise at this florist - great idea ...
... of course nothing beats the real thing ...
... a typical Balkan style ...
... the huge National Palace of Culture
built during the Soviet years and opened in 1981
to celebrate Bulgaria's 1300th annisversary ...
... sorry I'll miss the show ...
... National Museum of Contemporary Art ...
unfortunately closed for renovation
... Sofia has an extraordinary mix of architectural styles
from this very contemporary bank head office ...
... to the Soviet style apartment buildings of the 1970s ...
... and my favorite "do-upper" -
this deserted and overgrown mansion ...
... what stories hide behind that gate ...
... Mount Vitosha is always on show from all spots around the city ...
this one is along the 'usually crowded' Vitosha Mall ...
... my favourite piece of architectural sculpture
sits atop the Municipality Town Hall ...
... detail ...
... then there is the Saint Sofia Monument
lording it over the centre of the city
... lots of sculptures throughout the city parks
but this piece caught my eye ...
... and an authentic slice of the ex-Berlin Wall ...
A major industry in Bulgaria is that of the Rose Oil or Rose Otto Oil ... and this process involves the extraction of the essential oil from the petals of one of the rarest flowers in the world, namely the Bulgarian Rose Damascena; which is cultivated and harvested only in the Rose Valley of Kazanlak. Unfortunately I was too early in my first visit and too late in my second visit to visit the Valley ... but here are a few examples of late-flowering roses seen around the city ...
... Rose of Bulgaria ...
One of my favourite lunch spots is the Street Chefs ...
... where the hamburger and fries are out of this world ...
washed down with an icy cold lemon tea ...
washed down with an icy cold lemon tea ...
... of course there is always Mackers ...
though the adjacent street art kinda turns you off visiting ...
... but the real reason for my return to Bulgaria
is the bestest pizzas on the planet ...
though the adjacent street art kinda turns you off visiting ...
... but the real reason for my return to Bulgaria
is the bestest pizzas on the planet ...
... love this street sign taken over by the tree ...
... and this one caught my fancy ...
... under the busy streets of the city is a complex
of ancient Roman ruins - superbly protected
by a space-age-looking series of glass domes ...
of ancient Roman ruins - superbly protected
by a space-age-looking series of glass domes ...
... everywhere throughout the city are stray dogs and cats -
mostly well-cared for by generous locals ...
however at the city pound there are an estimated 1500 stray dogs ...
mostly well-cared for by generous locals ...
however at the city pound there are an estimated 1500 stray dogs ...
... all have been neuted and de-wormed etc and are put
up for adoption ...
... I found this display in the central park very moving -
and would have loved to have adopted a pooch for home ...
and would have loved to have adopted a pooch for home ...
... the Romanies are the re-cyclers of the Balkans ...
they do a great job reclaiming so much reusable
stuff from the skip bins and selling it on ...
they do a great job reclaiming so much reusable
stuff from the skip bins and selling it on ...
... pidgeons galore of course ...
... and trams to all corners of the city ...
... mmm - hope this is not referring to next Friday ...
... oh well - one last sit on my balcony at dusk
and one last aperitif to toast Sofia
and her friendly Sofians good-bye ...
and one last aperitif to toast Sofia
and her friendly Sofians good-bye ...
... then it's a matter of lugging my cases down
ulitsa Damyan Gruev to the Metro -
then out to the airport ...
... where I trust this big bird will wizz me off
into the blue yonder to some place exciting ...
stay tuned ...
ulitsa Damyan Gruev to the Metro -
then out to the airport ...
... where I trust this big bird will wizz me off
into the blue yonder to some place exciting ...
stay tuned ...
