29 reasons to be happy and enjoy Bulgaria

Just recently I saw 30 photographs of Bulgaria by the great artist and landscape photographer Evgeni Dinev. Few countries can be so proud of so much natural and man made wonders than Bulgaria. From the sky high mountains, natural thermal spas, valuable historical collections, historical monuments, and a vast distribution and wealth of fauna and flora. This is my view on Bulgaria, through my lens whilst travelling around this amazing country and this blog is inspired by Evgeni Dinev.

VARUSHA

TSAREVETS

ENTRANCE TO THE DEVIL'S THROAT, RHODOPE

BACHKOVO MONASTERY

BACHKOVO MONASTERY

VIEW FROM KOSOVO VILLAGE 

AUTUMN PASS, RHODOPI

CLEAR WATERS, RHODOPE

MIXED FAITHS SIDE BY SIDE

THE VERY IMPRESSIVE DOSPAT LAKE

BREATHTAKING ROADS, RHODOPE

NATURAL HIGHLIGHTS, RHODOPE

DEVIL'S BRIDGE NEAR DOSPAT

INNER BULGARIA SCENERY

VICTORY AT SHIPKA

OLD OIL PIER, SOON TOTAL OIL WILL BE DRILLING ON THE HORIZON

OLD OIL PUMPS AND POPPYS

BULGARIA COAST, SHABLA

BLACK SEA STORM

OLD FISHING SETTLEMENT, SHABLA

BANSKO!

THE MIGHTY TSAREVETS FORTRESS'S WALL

DIVISION BELL, OLD AND NEW VELIKO TARNOVO, FRONT AND DISTANCE

IN THE BLEAK MID WINTER, THE ROAD TO SVISHTOV

THE YANTRA VALLEY, TRAPEZITZA (left) and TSAREVETS (right)

VELIKO TARNOVO DAY, 3D MAPPING SHOW

STARA PLANINA MOUNTAINS, SHIPKA, BUZLUDJA AND HARNESS THE WIND

VALYA BALKANSKA, GAIDA PIPES, VOYAGER AND BULGARIA

VALYA BALKANSKA

Game of Thrones in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

The throne comes to the world of Veliko Tarnovos, where summers and winters can last for year upon year and the thirst for supreme power, represented by the Iron Throne is eternal.

The Iron Throne in Veliko Tarnovo

All Men Must Die, "Valar Morghulis". The struggle for the throne continues more fierce and mysterious words Valar Morgulis and a mystical black eyed raven are among the symbols of the Spring season in Veliko Tarnovo.

Brave people from all over the land of Bulgaria wait to sit in the mystical throne

According to legend, the this Iron Throne is made from the swords of the enemies who have surrendered. 59 days were needed to allow the thousands of swords to become a throne. Blades and serrated edges point in any direction and daunt anyone standing in front of him, beware!

Blades and serrated edges point in any direction and daunt anyone standing in front of him, beware!

International Festival of Tourist Films 2014, Veliko Tarnovo European Capital of Culture 2019, region candidate

International Festival of Tourist Films "On the east coast of Europe." 

For the tenth consecutive year Veliko Tarnovo hosts International Festival of Tourist Films "On the east coast of Europe."

The beautiful historical old capital of Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo

Since 2005 the festival has developed as the only dedicated forum for tourism products in Bulgaria, which provides an excellent backdrop for film companies, developers and teams of film producers and art directors with leading representatives of the tourism industry and investors. Film Festival is part of the international exhibition "Cultural Tourism", which this year will take place from the 10th until 13th April.



For this year's festival 77 films were nominated and after pre-selection 63 productions from 23 countries were selected. "The festival will welcome nearly 50 Bulgarian and foreign dignitaries for its anniversary including official visits of heads of the biggest tourist film festivals in Cannes and Berlin, globally recognised film producers, representatives of embassies and foreign missions in Bulgaria, representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Energy, National Film Centre and associations of Bulgarian Tour Operators and Travel agencies", said festival director Mary Karagyozova. The best films in the world in the last two years for travelers and destinations will be shown in three consecutive days of festival screenings. These will be presented with several productions that will take viewers back to the recent past of Bulgaria.

The group "Movie Memories", to be shown in the club "Melon" consists of two documentaries on cultural and tourist themes from the 1970s and 80s. After the screenings there will be open forums with the filmmakers.

In the group "Cinema and the City" is a particular screening of the comedy "ancient coins" from 1965, showing the Black Sea at the time, and "The Island" by Kamen Kalev. The film is about an island "St. Anastasia ".

10th to 13th of April

The group "Special movie collection" will be shown in the club "Hedgehog" particularly for fans of documentaries on art and culture.

All screenings at this years festival are free. There will be a special prize for attendees to win - a 6-day trip for two to the island of Santorini in Greece and will be a lucky draw.

Santorini Greece

Original Bulgarian article by Zdravka Maslyankov, Yantra Dnes live

Veliko Tarnovo 3D Mapping Light Show

On March 22nd 2014 there was a cacophony of sound, light, music and explosive fireworks to a visual backdrop of lasers in the old Medieval city of Veliko Tarnovo shortlisted 2019 contender for the European capital of Culture.

a cacophony of explosive fireworks brings the holiday to a close

 The 22nd march is Veliko Tarnovo day when the day starts with motorbike owners celebrating the 1st day of Spring along with the likes of Veliko Tarnovo's very own OBMC.

the Veliko Tarnovo "Old Bastards" Motorbike Club celebrate the 1st day of their season on the 22nd March

Veliko Tarnovo day is associated with the glorious victory of Ivan Assen the second over the ruler of Epirus (an area partly now in Greece and Southern Albania), Theodore Komnenos at the Battle of Klokotnitsa March 22, 1230.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       














Also the day of the Holy Forty Martyrs is also associated with this day.The forty martyrs were Roman soldiers who had confessed that they were Christians and were condemned by the Roman prefect of this region in Lesser Armenia, to be stripped naked on a frozen lake near the town of Sebaste on a freezing night, so they would freeze to death.

the vivid green and white and red lasers scatter across the buildings and properties on the River Yantra gorge  steep rocky banks

Nowadays the day is one big celebration in Veliko Tarnovo which gets more and more popular each year.

end of the day!

Tsarevets Castle, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria....don't knock it until you've tried it!

Just for 6 Bulgarian levs per adult an enjoyable afternoon can be had at Tsarevets Fortress and park in Veliko Tarnovo Bulgaria.This fortified location dating back from Medieval times is a spectacular place to visit. Great time to walk and photograph this spectacular location is on a dry, Sunny day in Winter, when there are virtually no tourists around!

So I did just that as you can see below, it paid results! The walk culminated in arriving home in General Gurko Street, which I will photograph real soon!

Blood red skies over Tsaravets Fortress

Fortified walls of Veliko Tarnovo can be walked upon at your own risk! 
I wouldn't advise it if you suffer from vertigo 

Foreboding Medieval Castle in the old Capital of Bulgaria

The Citadel and the moon

Looking through the bells
down to Veliko Tarnovo

Cross bow with spear!

The Citadel Tower at Tsarevets,
looking over Elena Balkan

Citadel Architecture

The old wooden drawbridge gatehouse at
Tsarevets and onwards to the
"old town" of Veliko Tarnovo

Mystical views in Tsarevets Park

The Yantra Valley around Tsaravets Fortress

Beautiful misty Veliko Turnovo

So if you support UKIP, ignore what Nigel Farage was saying and come and see for yourself why you should emigrate here, not the other way round !