Greetings from Bulgaria! 🇧🇬
Today was a big driving day 3.5 hours across the border into Bulgaria, which has been absolutely beautiful thus far (our first impression was the picture above).

We were getting anxious it may have been a poor itinerary choice as quite a few people had been making negative comments about the country.
The border patrol took a lot longer to get through than the last one. I was starting to get worried when the customs officer put his gloves on and wanted to search the boot. (We hadn’t actually looked into the possibility of any bio-security restrictions like there is back home.) In the end I think the gentleman was more impressed about us importing 3 children into his country than the possibility of us carrying any contraband. He gave Jesse a pat on the back then ducked his head in to grin at the kids before waving us along.

First stop was Rila Monastery, founded by St. Ivan of Rila in the 10th century. I understand the main church and frescoes were completed in the mid 19th century. It’s Bulgaria’s #1 attraction and for good reason. It’s still fully functioning in the monastical sense therefore we had our work cut out for us keeping 3 little chatterbox Johnsons silent while we were inside the walls! I’ve shared a heap of photos because I couldn’t choose just a few. The colours and detail in the frescoes were mesmerizing.

 

The surrounding forest and misty mountains are very idyllic. As was this stream running just outside the walls.

Possibly 2 of the biggest flagstones I’ve ever come across in my travels.

We didn’t stay as long as I would have liked as the kids were keen to burn some energy after being in the car all day. A peaceful monastery wasn’t the right setting for such activities.

We decided to fit in a hike up the Stob Earth Pyramids. I had just noticed them pop up on google maps as being not so far out of our way to the bnb.

The short but steep climb only took us just under the hour to complete. Exceptional views, fairly certain we spotted some sort of black mountain cat on the way down which was very exciting! I’m holding out hopes that we also encounter some bears before the end of our trip.

The villages of Stob and Rila all had awnings made of grapevines.

Our bnb host didn’t speak any English but he put Bluey on for the kids which won them over instantly. The fact it was a Bulgarian dub didn’t bother them in the slightest. I think they deserved it after nearly 5 hours in the car today and not a single gelato stop!