Welcome to Live Without Worders, a podcast about how to live the good life through stoicism, personal development and cultural exploration. I'm your host, sarah Migatell, an American in England who's here to help fellow citizens of the world like you make the most of the brief time you have here on Earth. It is time to make every moment matter. Plovdiv is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Looking through the old town, it's like walking through an open museum, with its cobblestone streets, centuries-old houses and ancient masterpieces, including the Roman amphitheater, and you can still watch shows there today. But Plovdiv is not a city that is frozen in time. It's been named a European capital of culture. It's a city of festivals and creative energy, especially in districts like Copana, which they call the Trap. And today I am speaking with my friend, zlatina Ervanlieva, and she is a world traveler, a tour guide, a Plovdiv native, and she's just an all-around fantastic spirit, and you will definitely catch that vibe here today.
Speaker 1:In this episode, zlatina is sharing her travel tips on what to see, do and savor in Plovdiv, bulgaria and beyond. Did you know that Bulgaria is a huge wine producer and that Plovdiv is located in the heart of the Thracian wine valley? And if you like to relax in another way, this region is full of spas ready to pay for you. I visited Bulgaria for the first time this summer and I loved it so much that Zlatina and I are going to host a Bulgarian experience for you in May 2024. That is right. We are taking a small group of world travelers to Bulgaria in May. If you love ancient history, fabulous food, hidden gems, unforgettable experiences, you need to come with us. I'll share more info about this at the end of the episode, but you will want to sign up for our waitlist today, because this is going to give you priority access to sign up for the trip and an early bird offer Without further ado.
Speaker 1:Let's jump into my conversation with Zlatina so you can hear all about the magical things you can experience in Plovdiv and the surrounding areas of Bulgaria. Enjoy Welcome, zlatina. Thank you so much for joining me today. Thank you so much for having me. It's a real pleasure. So you are a very well-traveled person and you're spending the summer in Folkestone and I'm so glad that I got a chance to meet you and become friends with you. So what brought you here?
Speaker 2:I came to Folkestone in early springtime and I thought, oh, I really want to know more about the town. It looked very creative, it's by the coast, there's loads of history, and this is how I end up spending two months thanks to dear friends of mine, and I'm very, very grateful for this opportunity.
Speaker 1:Yeah, folkestone is a strange place where people come for a visit and then decide to move here. So many people. I've lived in many, many places and this is Folkestone's the only place where people are like you know what? I think I'm going to move my entire life here, so it's very, but I can see why it's such a fun beach town. I love it. So you are from Bulgaria, but you've been living in England for quite a few years now. Where is Bulgaria exactly?
Speaker 2:Bulgaria is located on a very strategic place on the Balkans, the Balkan Peninsula. Our neighbors are Black Sea coast, which we're very proud of, on the east. On the west, we have North Macedonia, serbia. On the north, divided by the Danube River, is Romania, and south is Greece and Turkey.
Speaker 1:When did tourism start to become more popular in Bulgaria?
Speaker 2:Well, during the mid 20th century there was so-called the Balkan tourism. So during the communist and socialist regime in Bulgaria, there were no independent tour operators. It was all government run, so our tourists were mainly from Germany, russia, czech Republic. So I believe that tourism is only starting now and, as I mentioned to you, I'm very passionate about slow tourism, where you connect with the local culture, local destination and hopefully most countries preserve their authenticity, something we could definitely appreciate more.
Speaker 1:Well, that's what I would love to dive into with you today authentic experiences in Bulgaria, especially in Plovdiv. So that is where you are from and you're going back in September. So, aside from friends and family, what are you most looking forward to seeing or doing or drinking when you're back in Plovdiv?
Speaker 2:Yes, Plovdiv. I was born and raised in Plovdiv. At that time, I've always, deep inside me, knew that it's quite a special, special town and it was very fortunate to win an initiative called European Capital of Culture. This is for 2019, the purpose of this initiative is to help different small places in different countries in Europe. The whole year during this period, there are a lot of activities happening. So in Plovdiv in 2019, in January there was a big grand opening of ceremonies and throughout the whole year there were loads of outdoor concerts attracting different visitors. So I'm very much looking forward to have to start with a visit to the old town of Plovdiv. It's a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. It's in the tentative list of UNESCO and, just having a little wonder, it's such a magical place to be?
Speaker 1:What makes it a UNESCO World Heritage Site? What's so special about it?
Speaker 2:Most houses in Plovdiv, in the old town, are from the revival period. This is when Bulgaria imagined mid 19th century, 19th century, and most of the houses are of different merchants. The second part of the house, the architecture everything is very, very unique. There's also a Roman amphitheater where even nowadays we still use it 1st century AD, and one of my favorite spots to have a cup of tea overlooking the city is just there.
Speaker 1:A cup of tea.
Speaker 2:so you become English now I become very English, I'm guilty of that, but just walking around, a lot of them are open for visiting and you travel back in time. In one of the houses it was a very rich merchant, merchant who on his wall he has a painting of Constantinople what is now Istanbul also from Vienna. For that time this was something really, really unique, as only wealthy people could travel and you could imagine how long it was taking them without having our comfort of flying. Nowadays you could fly to Plovdiv in just two hours and a half more or less, from London Stansted, where back in time it was taking them, I don't know a month or two to travel within Europe, and we shouldn't underestimate the comfort we have now of visiting different places. So, yes, I'm very much looking forward to go and visit all the sites within.
Speaker 2:Plovdiv is very walkable. Within four hours. You can easily walk in the main yes, in the main school, in the city center, so to speak, from the main square to Cappana, which is the creative district. It means trap. I absolutely love the atmosphere there and also meeting my friends who are local tour guides, as they constantly they're so passionate about the city and they constantly come up with new things to introduce local stories and information, and it's beautiful also to speak to people who are on the same page as you.
Speaker 1:So you mentioned that merchant house, which sounds so interesting. Is that open for us to visit?
Speaker 2:Yes, it's open. There's another house where you can see a real now this person. He was very passionate about rose oil. He was also a merchant and you can see a rose oil fountain for that time and from the wall it's coming a little. Yeah, it's a rose oil photo. It's very hard to explain as this is something unique and you have to see it and sort of even smell it and the moment you enter in his house, imagine this aromatic roses, the rose d'amastena. Very often when I mention to somebody, oh, I'm from Bulgaria, they say, oh, the land of roses. That's another unique thing about, about this territory is that we grow the rose d'amastena and and you use it in perfumes, cosmetics. We export it to France. Nowadays they use it in perfume selection and they'll do your cosmetics for face. It's really, really good for you.
Speaker 1:Can you just tell me the name of that merchant house?
Speaker 2:Yes, the house is called Clianti. They're very yeah, not very easy names Clianti. You can also visit the ethnographic museum. The more time passes, the more houses they open. There is an ancient pharmacy that you can visit, like the way they were. The pharmacy looks the way it was in 200 years ago, so it's quite something. So it's still a pharmacy. It's now only a house museum and the guide indoors will tell you all about how they were healing people back in time. It's a proper time travel.
Speaker 2:Even entering one of those houses. You can buy a group ticket. You can visit five houses With this ticket. It's only 15 level around eight years, and in every house there is a guide who will welcome you at the door and will give you some information about who was living in these houses, what was the family and how, what lifestyle they had.
Speaker 1:What are if I came to visit you. What are? Some other must have experiences. I should try out while I'm in Plopdip.
Speaker 2:There is a very big Roman stadium that, to be quite honest, as a local, we totally take for granted, as if every single city in the world there is a Roman stadium. Imagine the main pedestrian street. You're walking on top of this stadium. It's just underneath, under all the houses, approximately around three meters, four meters. Imagine it like that. It's just underneath and part of it you could still see. It used to sit 30,000 people 30,000, my mind even doesn't comprehend it. So they would get water through an aqueduct from the Rodope Mountains which is just next to Plopdip. I mean, they Romans. This whole stadium would be filled up with water and they would do different sports games, entertainment or all sorts of performances Not exactly theatrical, but mainly games and 30,000 people.
Speaker 2:It's quite a significant number and you can walk from the beginning. The guide will tell you where is the beginning of the stadium up until the end, and it's exactly under the main pedestrian street of the city. The Roman, yes, amphitheater was built one of the emperors, the Roman emperors, and even nowadays you can see the names engraved on the seats. 7,000 people were able to sit. Nowadays, we welcome different, let's say, stink was there? Well, so many names. There is a big, big program starting from June until September opera, theater, you name it.
Speaker 1:That's great, so all summer you can see live performances.
Speaker 2:Oh, summer. Luckily the weather is good, and imagine the blue sky, when, once you see it, it's still daytime around 8 pm and suddenly you see the sunset and then you have all the stars while watching a performance. It's magical. And the acoustics and the sound. It's on top of a hill. They were really, really good with the job they did with the acoustics and the sound, the whole surroundings.
Speaker 1:So many ancient things still around to keep us entertained, the way people were thousands of years ago.
Speaker 2:It's amazing, it is yes, time travel, absolutely time travel.
Speaker 1:What are some hidden gems that you like to take your tours on?
Speaker 2:I would say nobody climbs one of the hills. Well, I wouldn't say nobody, but people usually underestimate one of the hills that is very near. It's called Alosha. There is a soldier on top of the hill and it's such a beautiful walk. It's very green to get all the way up and from there it's the highest of all of the seven hills. You can see the city and it's fascinating how, where you are on the opposite side, you can see the old town and the city center Absolutely fantastic. Even on a nice sunny evening you could get a glass, a bottle of wine and some cheese and just enjoy the views during sunset. It's a beautiful sunset spot, but also a sunrise. For those of you who are interested, yes, the name of the hill is Alosha. What else In Plovdiv you could see, depending on your interest? There is a rowing canal, five kilometers long rowing canal, not too far from the city center, and they do European and world competitions in rowing Again in the summer, during July, you can walk. It's like a park space, very quiet Within the city center.
Speaker 2:In numerous places you can do wine tasting. We shouldn't forget that the Trations, the first tribe, were almost the first people in the territory of Europe to produce wine. So nowadays in Bulgaria we also produce a lot of wine. I believe that wine takes you on a journey once you're in the local destination, especially the local wine. There is a grape variety called Mavrut. It's a red wine, normally more recommended for the winter months, but still it's worth tasting it. And Barnezzo, we shouldn't forget, through food and drinks, I believe you really, really connect with the local destination.
Speaker 1:Let's talk more about food then, if you'd like to talk about food. So what are some vegetarian foods that we should try?
Speaker 2:Most of the veggies. They come from the local area and around Plovdiv the climate is very favorable. We have a traditional food, unfortunately not vegetarian. It's called Musaka. You could still cook it in its vegetarian version. It's cooked with potatoes, carrots, onion. We do obviously add minced meat, and to cover it there is a layer of yogurt. As you know, yogurt is very, very famous Yogurt flour, a little bit of salt. It doesn't sound out of pilling, but when you see it cooked in a specific way it's very delicious. Also, different mushrooms, cooked wild greens, spinach.
Speaker 1:What's the typical breakfast in Bulgaria?
Speaker 2:Typical breakfast we love more. It might come a little bit heavy, as it's mainly, let's say, banica. Banica is you use phyllo pastry cheese eggs, you mix all these and you bake it in the oven, so a lot of people have banita. For breakfast, there is something called Mekiti. This is a fried dough. I know it sounds weird, but it's really, really delicious. So you have this fried dough with, let's say, strawberry jam or any other jam that normally grandmothers produce yet, so like a homemade jam. We're not picking on breakfast, though. It's not something. You might even easily skip breakfast and just have, as I said, a cup of coffee, but lunch is quite something in dinner, so most portions in Bulgaria are quite big. The main purpose of this is when we go out, we like to share food, and people are very often they're a little bit shocked by the size of salads and main courses.
Speaker 1:We love sharing food. Okay, so people generally like order some things and then share it. Yes, it somehow unites.
Speaker 2:You have you noticed that when you have something and somebody is like oh, that looks really, really yummy, so people share, you feel like you belong to something bigger than yourself.
Speaker 1:Oh nice, yeah, I mean that's a good cultural tip to to mention, because, yeah, not all, not all cultures are like that. I guess I get might as you get yours. Maybe you can try a bite.
Speaker 2:Yes, no, we absolutely love and, yeah, it's more like sharing food. Sharing is caring. The other thing which I would recommend when you travel to Bulgaria and to the Balkans is to travel with an open heart, as quite often you might find our customer service slightly different than what one would expect. People have occasionally a little bit of straight face, and I wouldn't necessarily call it being rude, but you might have a little sense, especially coming from the UK where everyone is overly polite. That's a bit of a culture of difference. I'm not sure how to put it exactly in words. I guess that's part of our also socialist time when you couldn't trust much anyone. Like people were, although they felt safe and secure on some levels and they thought they're equal, but on a psychological level they couldn't trust much.
Speaker 1:So was this kind of like keeping a straight face right, Kind of like not showing your cards, maybe?
Speaker 2:Yeah, just looking a bit serious in a way that not necessarily it's not a sign of, oh, I don't want to talk to you. It's more of a sign of, oh, I have my own things going on and I'm not in a super happy place. I've noticed that when I organize tours and I go with friends and they say, oh, this person was a little bit way too serious and I thought, oh, imagine how many things are happening in their life. So it's a cultural difference, for sure.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's a very good thing to be mindful of because, yeah, when you're going into and I would say especially for Americans, where we're quite can often be quite open and smiling to people we don't know, necessarily when that's not reciprocated, that can feel quite rude. And so when you can be mindful of, oh, this is just a different culture and they're not necessarily trying to be rude, it has nothing to do with you, it's just how they are, then I think that can help you have a better experience because you're not sort of obsessing about what could be going wrong.
Speaker 2:Yes, totally no, it's traveling with an open heart. I just love love. This expression allows you to be less judgmental and to connect with other human beings more, as we all live on the same planet Earth. But everything is so different Think about it Even in the States, the difference from one state to another, although you're united by the same culture. But still, people here do that and people there don't do that, and little things like that. But yeah, it's just being open.
Speaker 1:Well, something that I find very fascinating is, you know, countries tend to have different overall cultures, but of course, we are all individual people and sometimes it just seems like people are born into the wrong place and if they were somewhere else, they would be so much more understood.
Speaker 1:Like, the Dutch culture is known to be quite direct and frank and honest and they're not trying to be rude. But if you're not from that culture it can seem quite shocking how blunt they can be. But I know I've heard people in the US who are like that, or even some neurodivergent people who that's just how their brain works, to be quite direct, and they're like oh, I should have been born in this other country. But yeah, like to your point, it's a big world and if we can just be more open-minded about where different people are coming from, I think that just helps everybody get along better.
Speaker 2:Oh, totally. You couldn't say it more beautiful than this. Yes, and that's the beauty of travel you realize that not everyone is like you, not everyone comes from the same how to say, like, not social status, but from the same starting point, and to me, it helps me to generate a sense of gratitude for everything that I've had the opportunity to experience, as traveling really, really opens your mind and, yes, you never come back the same.
Speaker 1:Would you agree? Yeah, 100%. And it's also like helpful to know people's history as well. I mean as a culture, their history, like before you go to a country, learn a little bit about what people may have gone through like, especially over here in Europe, where there were a lot of countries that were have been in war in our lifetimes. Oh yes, you know I just as an aside I met I was on a walk this morning here in Folkestone and I met this guy from Croatia and he seemed maybe late 40s, early 50s, and we just had a pleasant casual chat. But later I was thinking I wonder if you were, like, if you were in the war and we often don't give people that grace to think of like wow, you must have been through a lot, you know.
Speaker 2:Totally yes.
Speaker 1:Well, gary has such a rich history. It's been occupied by so many different groups of people. How has this influenced the development of the country, both the architecture, or is there any particular historical period that you think is really interesting that you want to share?
Speaker 2:Oh, I love your question as one of the first things I share with friends or visitors or people who visit, especially my hometown, plovdiv. This is the second city in Bulgaria is that? Plovdiv, and most of Bulgaria, even Sofia, the capital, is like a pancake. So there are layers and layers and layers of history. To start with the Thracians they are a tribe that imagine they were the northern neighbors of the ancient Greeks. We've all heard of the ancient Greeks, so the Thracians were their neighbors and they believed in afterlife.
Speaker 2:So nowadays we find a lot of graves and artifacts and jewellery and possessions and gold, gold vessels. So yeah, thracians haven't left much of a return. They didn't have alphabets or we don't know much about them, but we have discovered unearthed a lot of artifacts and I'm absolutely fascinating by this period. On one of our tours we visit an ancient Thracian tomb on top of an ever hill. They were very strategically always positioned in a safe place on top of a hill. Plovdiv is also on seven hills, so you could just imagine layers and layers of history. The metro station in Sofia they were just digging and creating the metro station when they found this big, spacious streets of a Roman town, so I would say the whole territory Bulgaria and the Balkans is absolute heaven for archaeologists.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and also the Ottomans were there. It was another one of the groups that was there, so they've heavily influenced architecture and, I'm sure, the culture in some ways. I think I heard one out of 10 people in Bulgaria are Muslim.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, so we still have quite fairly close connection. Well, we are just few hours from Istanbul and the border with Turkey, but you're absolutely right, these were the Thracians, the Romans, then the Ottoman Empire for five centuries. Five centuries is quite a decent amount of time. So we feel very connected with countries like Romania, north Macedonia, serbia, greece and Turkey. Think about all those countries, five centuries, coexisting together. Yeah, it's fascinating. We have we have very much coffee country.
Speaker 2:Well, now you remind me of a big difference with the UK.
Speaker 2:It's part of our Ottoman heritage the cuisine, the food, yes, and you could still visit different buildings built in the 15th, 16th century, the medieval period when actually, the Ottoman Empire, from the 14th until the 19th century, we were very much craved this independence and when it happened, that was another period of Bulgarian history.
Speaker 2:Also, during the medieval time, there was a period when Bulgaria reached Black Aegean and Adriatic Sea just before the Ottoman Empire, and it was like the gold century of the Bulgarian culture and development. So it's really loads to comprehend, but I would encourage people to travel and explore the Balkans, as it's really a territory that it's not very well advertised. You cannot find much about the Balkans, and what I would also recommend is visit the Balkans with a local. If you go to Romania, to your best to connect with local guides, local companies that will show you off the beaten path. There are loads of, loads of things to discover Just on the sideways of the main pedestrian streets and squares, like the secret, secret blue doors that you open it, and upstairs there's a coffee shop, restaurant or a church, a mosque.
Speaker 1:Well, back to Plavdiv. So we talked about a few things to do. Is there anything else you want to share? Do you have any favorite experiences that you've had yourself in your hometown that you want to talk about?
Speaker 2:Oh, totally. We shouldn't forget the spa. The spa sector is. Bulgaria is the second country in Europe after Iceland that is very blessed with mineral water springs. So for those, for those of you who really love experiencing yeah, swimming or different, other, let's say, treatments, this is a quite good destination to go.
Speaker 2:I can recommend different cities around Plavdiv. There is a place just next to Plavdiv called Starrusel or Velingrad. It's a town not far away from Plavdiv. They call it the spa capital of Bulgaria. And again in the middle of the country they're scattered around a lot of. Hisaria is a small town, only half an hour, half an hour to 40 minutes from Plavdiv, and I believe that this is part of what travel will look like, where we'll need to slow down, even just hide your phone and your computer so you can completely connect with yourself. And another way of experiencing the country is visiting a spa hotel. Even around Plotif there's so many. So once you do a city break in Plotif, you could do a day trip. That doesn't have to be a whole overnight stay, it could be just a day trip to a spa resort.
Speaker 1:I love that idea and I love day trips. So what other day trips are there? Is there a place you would recommend to go for a wine tasting or any other experiences?
Speaker 2:Yes, quite classical is Batkov monostry. It's a famous, popular monostry, again, approximately half an hour to 40 minutes from Plotif. There are numerous, numerous wineries around Plotif in less than 25 minutes where they open their doors and again you can do wine tasting while visiting a little village or town. Again, hisari, as I mentioned, is a spa destination. Again, sofia is not far away, just an hour on the highway, an hour and a half on the highway. We do go to the Rose Valley on the day trip from Plotif in May and June.
Speaker 1:And what do you do in that Rose region? Are you just walking through fields of roses? How does that?
Speaker 2:Oh, it's the most favorite day of the year. It's every beginning of June, 1st weekend. It's a program, so you arrive at around 8 am, a bit of an early start. You wake up fairly early to get there and there's a folklore program dancing, singing. They give you a little basket and you go in the fields and you pick up your own roses that you take home with you and then your room and apartment smells like heaven, very, very special. The other special thing is that the rose blossoms only from mid of May to mid of June. It's a little window that we have in this one month a year that you can pick up, collect the roses and a lot of activities going on.
Speaker 2:Imagine, like a space, open space. There is a little amphitheater with a stage where dancing, singing is happening, walking around a small ethnographic museum where you see how they produced rose oil back in time. Like really, really special. They've kept everything people were using and, yeah, walking around the fields of roses, singing and dancing. It connects you with the destination. It's the folklore, it's the traditions that remain, if you think about it, and unless we maintain it and preserve it, it will just disappear and we'll forget about it. And that's what I love about history and getting to know a destination like getting as far as back in time as possible. So, as you said, you know why people are the way they are at the moment, and if we forget history, history repeats itself. So I believe we have to be very open and honest about things and just see how we could implement them in our own life. Yeah, I suppose.
Speaker 1:You had mentioned that you like slow travel, and so do I. I like to spend a month in Italy, or like a month or two in Italy, here and there, and I really appreciate the slow travel lifestyle. But if somebody only had seven to nine days to spend in Bulgaria, what's an itinerary that you would recommend for them?
Speaker 2:Right. Seven to nine days is pretty good time to get as much from the destination and not get bored from the destination. So a week is a good time. You land in Sofia, the capital. There's plenty to explore within the city center. Then you travel to Plovdiv. I would say Plovdiv is at least for two to three nights in order to get to know as much as possible and not miss any hidden places.
Speaker 2:From there you could travel to Velikoturnovo. It's an old capital of Bulgaria. Imagine games of thrones. There is a castle on top of a hill and in a light show. They do a light show with lots of lights towards the castle and with music and special activity. On the journey from Plovdiv to Velikoturnovo again, we could stop at few wineries or trations. There are plenty, because this is the valley of Tration Kings, the whole territory of the middle of Bulgaria, the Rose Valley, the valley of Tration Kings and from there, after you spent two nights in Velikoturnovo, all the way to Varna. Again, on the way to Varna there are a few short stops, for I could think of at least two places we could visit historic.
Speaker 1:So Varna is the seaside actually. So could you talk a little bit more about that because I know a lot of people maybe from America aren't as familiar, but it is quite a popular seaside destination.
Speaker 2:Yes, Varna is the largest town on the Black Sea coast. We call it the Sea Capital of Bulgaria. Plenty of flights to get to. Even you can fly from Sofia to Varna. I know it doesn't sound too far, but you can take a flight from Sofia to Varna.
Speaker 1:When we're only there for a week, let's make the most of our time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, varna is beautiful to explore the Sea Garden. There is quite a long walk to do within this beautiful, very well-maintained Sea Gardens and a lot of history. Just from starting from the main square, we have local tour guides who take you on a journey. It's a very creative town, inspiring, attracts a lot of music, music performances, musicians, painters, and not too far away from Varna you could go all the way to Bočić. It's not easy to explain it, as a lot of it is nature and I believe, nature. The only way to experience nature is to connect with it, to be there. And the other thing you could visit a mussel farm. Sorry, mussel farm. Do some of the mussel spacings? Of course, wine I'm repeating myself, but Bulgaria has five different wine regions, so the wine that you have in the middle of the country, in the Danube River, on the Black Sea Coast, is different, as the climate is different within the country, different grape varieties.
Speaker 1:Tell me about the best wine day out that you've had, in what region it was.
Speaker 2:Oh, I would never forget this one was a picnic in a local winery called Vila Justina, and that's what's absolutely beautiful in September. September is the season when they pick the grapes Sorry, the grapes were the wine September. So a lot of wineries open their doors and they do either dinner or picnics. That was a beautiful, beautiful day, blue sky. We could pick our own grapes, taste their local wine and again, there are actually wine festivals in Plovdiv, in the old town, both in May and November.
Speaker 2:All those houses that I spoke about in the old town. They open their doors and you can walk around with a glass of wine and they give you a small sip of every single person who produces their wine, like wineries, but representatives. They give you a bit of. Yeah, you can taste some wine you can have. Also, we shouldn't forget about cheese. Cheese is a big one. There's a huge variety of cheese white, yellow cheese, locally produced. It's not exactly a gourmet tour, but you could say like wine and food tour. There are specific dates, so next one is 26 until 28th of November 2020.
Speaker 1:Okay, so it's in November.
Speaker 2:It's in November, there's another one in May, usually the first weekend of May they will announce it very shortly. It's a young wine parade tour, so they open the doors of all these wineries and local producers present their wine for two to three days, friday to Sunday.
Speaker 1:Well, it sounds like May is an excellent place to visit. We've got the wine. We've got the roses Sounds perfect, absolutely.
Speaker 2:It's like visiting Japan for the rose sorry for the cherry blossom. You should definitely do May with the blue sky, and I keep on saying blue sky, as it's so different when you have a clear blue sky and all the colors and everything. So May is beginning of spring. Bogey has four seasons, although not that distinct anymore, but, yes, winter, spring, summer and autumn, and to me it's always the best time to visit in spring, especially in May when you have the roses and the wine.
Speaker 1:So before I let you go, I would love to do a little lightning round about your favorite places in Plovdiv. So what's your favorite?
Speaker 2:cafe. The name is a bit of a tongue twister. It's called Gyukyan. Gyukyan means a corner shop or just a shop. Back in time, the merchants were having their own shop called Gyukyan. It's absolutely amazing. It's a family owned the building. They have preserved it the way it was back in time. It had numerous purposes, but I absolutely love getting a cup of coffee there. They do their own coffee by saying they do their own coffee. They bake their own coffee there. It's quite an experience and you can sit on the corner and just watch life passing by. It's in the trap, my favorite creative district. So yeah, that's my coffee shop.
Speaker 1:Now, because of the adamants. Is it kind of like a Turkish coffee culture, or what kind of coffee are people drinking?
Speaker 2:Oh, no more. Italian style, Italian Greek. Yeah, think about it. They do offer Turkish style coffee. They do offer all sorts of coffee. So when we say coffee, you can have espresso, double espresso, cappuccino, latte, Turkish coffee. There's a big menu you can choose from. It's not just Americano. Any type of coffee you name it, it's there.
Speaker 1:Where do you like to go out to eat?
Speaker 2:A place called. It's a restaurant called Smokini. Smokini means fix the fruit fix. They're absolutely excellent in everything they do. Even the wine menu looks like you have the map of the country and every wine they have it's marked on the map where it's coming from, what's the winery. They take you on a real journey for food and drinks. I love it. The indoor space, the garden yeah, smokini.
Speaker 1:Where do you like to hang out at night?
Speaker 2:I'm coming back to the trap, the creative quarter. It's very lively. It's such different. Everything is as if you are in a different place at night. Loads of live music in the space called the core, the main part of it. There are loads of live bands and love live music. There is a jazz cafe, any type of music that is live music. I mean any type. Mainly, I'm a big fan of jazz, rock music.
Speaker 1:You told me that you also like to salsa and that there's places to do that also in Proofdiv.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, we are quite passionate about salsa and there are different clubs, some specialized in Cuban salsa, others in LA. The climate gives you an opportunity to dance outdoors quite a lot. The clubs were organized dayouts or evening gatherings out, or let's get around the square and dance. Yeah, there's loads of opportunities to dance and Cuban salsa really unites people.
Speaker 1:If you don't know how to do that, is there a place you'd recommend to try it out?
Speaker 2:Yes, my favorite club is the one I visited called Mariposa. It's a butterfly.
Speaker 1:Mariposa, I might come and spend 90 days in Bulgaria, just so I can go do salsa three times a week. Oh, you're very very welcome.
Speaker 2:You would absolutely love it and people would love you, as you make connections so easily.
Speaker 1:You'll be very welcome. I would love it. So you mentioned the trap, which is the creative neighborhood. Do they have any markets there that maybe like artist markets, or are there any other markets in the city that you would recommend we check out?
Speaker 2:Yes, there are many just walking around the streets. Initially this district was open mainly for local artists. They were having the space for very, very little rent or even for free. Nowadays there are more restaurants in there, but there are still some of the shops Even on the main street. Plovdiv has one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe, according to statistics.
Speaker 1:You know we love that.
Speaker 2:Yes, we love comparing ourselves. I think Denmark is the other country that have a really really long pedestrian street, so walking from one end to the other. On both hand sides there are plenty of shops, local designers or even shoes shoemakers, so a good shopping destination as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so you mentioned the pedestrian street, but that just made me remember something that I believe Plovdiv is one of the oldest continuously lived in cities in Europe.
Speaker 2:Yes, talking about comparing ourselves, yes, it's the oldest continuously inhabited and it's believed that people life never cease to exist in Plovdiv, in some statistics you could read that it's 6,000 years old, in others that it's 8,000 years old somewhere there, but definitely it's on a crossroad with the other destinations, very strategic locations, and to get from Europe to Istanbul you have to pass by Plovdiv.
Speaker 1:Yeah, just hearing you talk about that reminds me of the amphitheater. Just how special and unique that is. Where you're sitting, in the same seats that people have been entertained in for hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years. It's just such a special connection.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's an experience. It's a time trial at its finest way to do it. Just another street in the old town is the so-called Kraft Street. It's different than the trap and there's a person who shows you how to make bread, how to bake it, or weaving or different other crafts. People were working a lot with their hands back in time, which we're very guilty of not doing nowadays.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly, we have no skills. Oh my god, that sounds incredible. I would love to go on holiday.
Speaker 2:You can make your own bread and do all that Totally. You can make your own clay pot and quite a lot of things by yourself.
Speaker 1:You mentioned to me before about herbs, and healthy herbs are very special, and it just made me want to go into the mountains of Bulgaria and pick herbs and make my own spices.
Speaker 2:Oh, there's so many. It's so rich in herbs, the aroma, and in springtime, when everything blossoms, it's yeah, it's briceless and just walking around connecting with nature. I believe nature is something we are getting further away from and it keeps on. At least yeah, at least me personally. I suppose most people are quite similar like being in front of the computer and then when you go in for a short hike, short walk, plowtiff is easy to escape. On all of these seven hills, Most of them you can walk and it really takes you somewhere. It's so peaceful and quiet, right in the heart of the city center, but still you have, once you start climbing, it's quiet, you hear birds singing and very different vibe.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, I can see why you wanted to spend the summer in Boxton. It is a nice London is my favorite city but it is also nice to get out to the seaside and be by the beach, and so I can see why, yeah, you wanted to spend more time here. I've actually gotten into the habit of taking my shoes off for a little while at my walk, especially on the lower on the upper leaves park, above the sea, and just walking on the grass barefoot for a little while. Aww, what museum should we check out when we're in plowtiff?
Speaker 2:Oh, I would say, if you have time, all of them, to start with all the houses in the old town that are open for visitors. As I mentioned, there is a discount ticket. You can have a group ticket for five houses and the ethnographic museum, the archeological museum. So many artifacts from the Roman period, from the Traytion in Poneguristim. I forgot to mention the Traytion. Oh, the goat Traytion vessels on earth. There are nine vessels of 24 carats, pure goat, three brothers. They were working on the fields and suddenly they came across. That was back in 1949. So we imagine, just after the Second World War. They were so honest that they gave everything they unearthed and found to the government. They gave them that really, really little financial price, but they were amazing human beings for being so honest and giving this oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, nowadays this month you could see this ancient treasure in the British Museum. I think this is the last week of when you could see I'm going to have to get on the screen.
Speaker 2:Because these goat vessels. They travel the world. They have a schedule. Every year they literally travel the world and once a year they come back in Bulgaria for a month, a month and a half. In Poneguristim, where they were found, a town in the center of Bulgaria, but also in Poneguristim, in the history museum, you can see a replica really, really good replica of them, and on one of the vessels, with really tiny small dots, you can read the name Aphrodite, the Greek goddess Aphrodite. Those vessels were used for wine ceremonies back in time. It's fascinating all handmade, wow, interesting.
Speaker 1:So interesting. Well, I'm going to actually try to see them here in the UK, but when did you say they'll be there?
Speaker 2:Oh, they normally are back in Bulgaria in June. They have a fixed schedule in a way, but the rest of the time they travel the world. It's fascinating. It's such a significant artifact they found. It's like the.
Speaker 1:Titanic and King Tut. Those artifacts are all circulating all over the place. If people are visiting Plovdav is there anywhere in particular? You would recommend they stay.
Speaker 2:I would say Central. So once you are in the city center it's very easy to make your way around and you can stay up until late evening. There are singing fountains in the main park. So once you're in the city center you just can come back to your hotel or guest room, come back, and if you stay somewhere in other districts it might be a bit of time consuming. So I would say, choose anything in the city center. There are plenty of small, familiar hotels that I absolutely love. Of course, larger chains and five stars. I know that this year, like three five stars hotels open on top of my head. One is named Visualiza quite of a tongue twister name, but it's in the city center. So when you have, depending on what do you want to experience, you can stay in a small hotel or in a five stars luxury.
Speaker 1:Well, Latina, it has been a pleasure talking to you. Where can people find out more about you?
Speaker 2:Oh, thank you so very much. I do have a website called travelinvisioncom. They're very welcome to visit the website. My email is there. I haven't been very active recently as I've been out and about traveling, leading tours, enjoying life, enjoying life, enjoying folks, and but I will be back with some new articles and new information, as there's so much out there to explore.
Speaker 1:Well, now I have Benita on the brain and I wish I could just walk to a cafe and get to them and have a coffee with the outside and just hang out. But we'll get there eventually soon. Thank you so much, Latina.
Speaker 2:Oh, thank you for having me have a lovely, lovely day. Enjoy the sun out in Folkestone, such a beautiful day.
Speaker 1:Bye, bye. Okay, you just heard about the wonders of bulk area. You need to come with us. Let me just list a few of the amazing things you'll experience. We're going to the capital, sofia, where you will explore thousands of years of architecture and history. We are going to Plavdiv. You are going to see all the hidden gems there. You're going to the Rose Valley. You're going to visit the oldest threshing spa in the world, so imagine rolling rose oil on your skin as you are soaking in a warm bath. You will be sipping wine and wandering around the ancient ruins. We'll be eating Shapska salad together and trying the local coffee. You will be in great company. We will have tons of laughs.
Speaker 1:This is a small group, not a massive tour bus experience. We are creating something so special for you, so click the link in the episode notes to get on the waitlist right now. We will be announcing the full itinerary soon and if you get on the waitlist, then you are going to get priority to come on the trip and will be offered a special early bird rate. Again, this is a small group that we're taking and solo travelers are especially encouraged to come along. May is the ideal time to go to Bulgaria and I would love to go with you. You are listening to this episode right now because you are a special kind of traveler. You are the get off the beat and path kind of person who appreciates culture and good food, opening your mind, ancient history, new experiences. This trip will change your life. Join us in Bulgaria May 2024. Get on the waitlist now.