The Bulgarians always seem to be the bad guys in international crime novels- I was picturing heavy-set, surly henchmen of organised crime. However the warm welcome I received staying in family hotels while hiking in rural Bulgaria couldn’t be further from the stereotype. A bucolic scene of quaint stone buildings, showers of rose blooms trailing over front fences, fields of sunflowers and snow capped mountains greeted me.
And so I have spent a week stretching the legs, clearing the mind. dirtying the boots and rediscovering forgotten muscles as I’ve explored multiple mountain trails in the Rila and Pirin mountain ranges of western Bulgaria.
There is beauty to be found everywhere in the world with so many places yet for me to discover. Bulgaria has been a perfect new angle on Europe, stunning alpine views and generated a ravenous appetite for home-cooked Balkan food.
I hope you enjoy this pictorial essay of stunning landscapes and panoramic vistas from the various mountain peaks and trails in Bulgaria.
What a beautiful country
Did you brave it and try the Shkembe chorba?