Sofia

Back in Sofia for our last day, we decided to visit the Ethnographic Museum. These costumes and embroideries are from the 19th century.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also visited the Archaeological Museum. There was a lot of interesting stuff to see here.

 

These are stelae (ancient gravestones) from the 3rd-4th century. They honor all of the members of the family.

 

 

These 2nd century stelae are depicting funeral feasts. In the left one the woman is holding a child. In both of them the little people at the bottom are servants.

 

 

These decorative slabs are from the 2nd-3rd century. The first one is a personification of a river deity. Notice the little boat in the bottom right corner and the fish in his hand.

 

 

This one is the personification of the Nile River. I like the alligator at the bottom.

 

 

These are 2nd-3rd century votive tablets depicting the three nymphs.

 

 

These are from 5000-6000 BC.

 

 

I love this little 'Casper' fellow.

 

 

This gold pectoral is from 400 BC.

 

 

These are from 200-300 AD.

 

 

On the way back to the hotel we passed the National Library.

 

 

And the former Central Mineral Baths which is now the Regional Historical Museum.

 

 

 

 

And that marks the end of our tour of Bulgaria.

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Koprivshtitsa

Today was the somewhat lengthy drive back to Sofia from Veliko Ternovo. We stopped at midday for a lunch break in the town of Koprivshtitsa. Our original plan to stop in Glogovo fell through yesterday afternoon and our guide was able to arrange a last minute lunch at the refectory of the Orthodox cathedral in Koprivshtitsa. He is friends with the priest there and the priest's wife made a lovely lunch of tomato and cucumber salad, chicken soup, and fresh cherries for 25 people with just a few hours notice. We were also served some of their homemade liqueur. I wish we had more time to see the town which is known for its authentic 19th century architecture, ethnographical treasures, fine fretwork, household weaves and embroidery, national costumes and typical Bulgarian jewelry. Since 1965 the National Festival of Bulgarian Folklore takes place approximately every five years in Koprivshtitsa. [Wikipedia]

 

 

This is the Todor Kableshkov House Museum.

 

 

This is the Orthodox Cathedral.

 

 

 

These are a couple of the wonderfull wood carvings that were in the church.

 

 

 

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Folklore Performance, Veliko Ternovo

Our guide organized an amazing folklore performance specifically for our group. It was incredible and very elaborate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Veliko Ternovo

This is the street our hotel was on.

 

 

 

And this is our hotel. Looks like a peaceful small little town but ....

 

 

In this picture our hotel is just to the right of the yellow house (near the center of the photo).

 

 

This is the view from our hotel balcony - the Monument to the Asen Dynasty. Wow!

 

 

Also in Veliko Ternovo is the Tsarevets Fortress, a medieval stronghold that served as the Second Bulgarian Empire's primary fortress and strongest bulwark from 1185 to 1393. It housed the royal and the patriarchal palaces.

 

 

 

These are two examples of the public art.

 

 

 

Veliko Ternovo has a reputation for handicrafts. This street is lined with crafts people. We visited four of them.

 

 

This woman and her son make pottery decorated in the traditional patterns.

 

 

 

This woman is a woodcarver.

 

 

An icon maker. The gold areas, such as a halo, are typically done in gold leaf.

 

 

 

A weaver.

 

 

And this man is a famous silversmith.

 

 

This is one of his masterpieces.

 

 

 

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