Visiting Sofia

St Alexander Nevski Cathedral

Sofia, Bulgaria's capital since 1879 has many hidden surprises for its visitors and we were very fortunate to be guided around by our Bulgarian friends: Ana, Miglena and Veselin.

Surprises included the very beautiful interior of the Boyana Church, the fossil museum on the top floor of the University, the Russian Church, and wonderful Trojan treasures within the Museum of Archaeology. 

Art museums are always on my priority visit lists and I was not dissapointed in the National Art Museum.  Artists of note were Zahari Zograf, Boris Elisseev, Vladimir Dimitrov (The Master), and the favorite for me Nenko Balkanski (1907-1977).  His painting "Family", 1936 shows a starving couple with no hope and no food - but through this hardship there was a slight smile on his face - was it love?

Public-private investment is much needed in the monuments and museums of Sofia to modernise lighting and ambient conditions for their beautiful works of art - however I guess that the economic hardships of the country in general leave this task low on the priority list.

Bulgaria, July 2011

Troyan Monastery and covered bridge, Lovech

"Mixed feelings, beautiful scenery, genuine treasures, pleasant surprises, and friendly people" sums up my thoughts regarding a recent trip to Bulgaria - all made possible by the kind hospitality shown by my good friend Veselin and his family.

Among my travels was Byala Slatina which showed signs of a grander age under socialist rule, historic Lovech and its beautiful covered bridge, Pleven, the Central Bulkan National Park where we met a friendly group of people including Sezi Hasanova and her family, the Troyan Monastery where the famous Bulgarian revolutionary Vasil Levsky hid out during the time of Turkish rule, and of course Sofia where we encountered some real treasures and pleasant surprises (Sofia will be the subject of a future blog).

Overall my trip left me with a deep feeling of sadness - sadness at the fact that the country has been left to rot, particularly outside of Sofia, sadness at the almost total loss of their previous industrial backbone and sadness at the bleak outlook that is currently facing the people of Bulgaria.