Bulgaria

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Joined my walking group in Bulgaria for a week-long trek in the Rila & Pirin Mountains. Unfortunately due to my right foot not being fully healed after a bad broken metatasal in May, I could only spend 1 day with the group trekking up Musala Peak - the highest peak in the Balkans. Spent the rest of my stay sightseeing in Sofia, horse-riding near Plovdiv, and cycling in the Rodopi mountains. Bulgaria is still a little rough around the edges, but heaps better value than Turkey. Better go now till it becomes another EU country clone, and loses its charm.

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Photos

The London Hikers Bulgaria gang
Welcome dinner in Govedartsi

Moussaka bulgarian style
Much lighter & tastier than the Greek version

vino
The Bulgarian red was nice and so cheap

trekking to Musala Peak
Rila Mountains

pit stop
The outlook was lovely, but the toilet was stinky!

1st hut
Can buy tea (made from local mountain herbs) and hot soup

scrambling
Scrambling up steep rocks whilst holding the guide wire

Obligatory summit shot
Hong and I on top of Musala Peak - highest peak in the Balkans at 2925m

snack pack
the delights you can buy at the supermarket

shopska salad
Commonly referred to as 'shepherd's salad'. Bulgarians cover EVERYTHING with cheese.

Aleksandar Nevski Cathedral, Sofia
beautiful interior frescoes

stone river
one of many on Mount Vitosha

mullet
Where did you get your fabtastic hairdo's ladies?