Sep 6 2025

Apparently the train between Bucharest and Veliko Tarnovo only runs once per day. Very slowly. So today was to be in the minibus across the Danube on the friendship bridge into Bulgaria. 

We first passed through/around Georgi’s home town, Rousse. Looked very much a working town on the river. We continued across the Danubian plain and up into the foothills of the Balkan Mountains that divide(d) Bulgaria into its two historical parts, the northern principality of Bulgaria and the southern Roumelia of which Plovdiv was the capital. 

They were unified on this day in 1885. 

Veliko Tyrnovo was the capital until it was moved to Sofia after 1879. 

Thus VT had that hill town, old capital feel to it. Checked into our hotel (situated on a steep hill) complete with towels arranged as elephants. Then it was time for a  city tour with Georgi starting out with lunch (perched on a hill) then walking  in the nominal pedestrian zone (as there appeared to be regular car intrusions). 

After the tour it was wine tasting and the local grapes did not disappoint. Especially the red. 

And the truffles were full of taste. 

Having earlier been introduced to the statue of the four brothers across the river we thought we should be able to wind our way down the streets and cross the bridge. Except the bridge was a “bypass” of the road emerging from the tunnel. So we had to make our way back around past the tired yet impressive Hotel Veliko Tyrnovo and the wedding reception therein. 

We eventually made our way onto the peninsula to get a closer look at the very dynamic monument of the Assen Dynasty whose uprising against the Ottomans ushered in the second Bulgarian Empire. 

That evening, because of the aforementioned unification there was a light show projected onto the citadel. So we, and it appears every person in Bulgaria, made our way down to the forecourt to watch. Unfortunately I placed us right under the speaker. Still it was fantastic to experience. 

On the way back we decided to stop for a drink and a pizza and watch the multitudes stream past. And multitudes there were.