Melnik is a node on the tourist circuit. This is not a bad thing, as it means that there is comfortable accommodation, great food, and more than typical attention to maintaining the historic character and appearance. The small town, with a fraction of its original population prior to the withdrawal of its Greek residents in 1923, is attractively nestled in a dramatic landscape of hoodoos (the Bulgarians call them "pyramids"). It is a wine producing area, famous for its robust reds, which we had the pleasure of sampling. Winston Churchill reputedly had wine from the area shipped to him by the barrel.
We made an excursion by bike today to the 13th century monastery at the nearby village of Rozhen. It is a tranquil place, with an atmospheric church in which a solitary monk was singing throughout our entire visit. There are some great 16th century murals, including a depiction of a ladder to heaven from which unworthy sinners are being dragged by nasty devils.
Congrats on completing an amazing 4500km!! Quite an achievement.
ReplyDeleteBut have you actually seen the Black Sea yet? Did I miss that in the blog?? Thought that was the original idea here - the Loire to the Black Sea??
Didn't you always hate the smart kid in the class with the great memory that would point out some inconsistency that you would rather not talk about? Yes, we had tentatively planned to finish at the Black Sea and then fly home from Istanbul. We learned, however, that the Danube valley in Romania is not actually that pleasant, and Ruth decided that her family would be anxious if we went to Turkey. So we changed our plans. Good thing we did not have (and still have not purchased) a return air ticket.
DeleteC'mon. Admit it. You're just lost now.
ReplyDelete