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//Day 34 /14-04-22 /Sofia

Besides sightseeing not a lot of action today. I woke up around 8.00 and spend some time preparing the next days. The next big stop is Thessaloniki, Greece. Either I will cycle south through Bulgaria or take a route via North Macedonia. The Bulgarian route has more sleeping options and slightly less climbing. North Macedonia ;  less sleeping options, more climbing but unknown territory. Tomorrow I will cycle to Kyustendil, still in Bulgaria, some 100 K from Sofia. I need to decide tomorrow which route I will take as the route splits in Kyustendil. 

Today the weather was still sunny around 24 degrees.From Sunday onwards rain is expected for a couple of days, with Monday temperature dropping to 6 degrees in North Macedonia. In Bulgaria, the temperature will drop to 12 degrees, another reason to cycle via Bulgaria….

After having showered I visited Sofia’s city center. As mentioned yesterday the the city is an easy place to visit :  limited traffic, nice streets, relaxed atmosphere. I had planned a walking route which would bring along the main attractions. The Cathedral Sveta-Nedelya,St.Petra, the Russian church, Sofia mosque, synagogue, the presidential palace, the history museum, the government quarter, the Serdica archeological complex,….In most churches services were ongoing and not allowed to take photographs, which is unfortunately because most of the churches are beautifully decorated and have a very photographic atmosphere. 

After 5 hours walking I had seen most of the attractions which I put on the list and had a late lunch in a trendy restaurant. After lunch I treated myself on a ice cream and went to my hotel for some rest….

In the evening I went for a pre-dinner stroll in the city. The sun is shining, people eating ice cream, the parks full with playing children and people talking, full terraces. I walk to a restaurant which I found on Tripadvisor but on the way I pass a small alley where I see people sitting, drinking and eating on a terrace.I have crunchy chicken skin and curry sausage “in the pan” with a home brew Nash’to pivo….A perfect dinner to end the day. Tomorrow Kyustendil, The Orchard Garden of Bulgaria awaits…


































Lessons learned : 
  • Great ice cream to be found in Sofia
  • The Bulgarian’s like their pizza.
  • Crispy Chicken skin is yummy.



Comments

  1. Liliane vanlee4/14/22, 8:27 PM

    Blij dat je een mooie dag gehad hebt en dat je ervan hebt genoten. Hoop dat het morgen weeral goed gaat.
    De foto's waren weeral heel mooi.
    Geniet nog van jouw fietstocht.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Caroline4/14/22, 9:23 PM

    Better the 12 than the 6 degree route and maybe the savest way😅

    ReplyDelete
  3. Leentje Vanlee4/14/22, 9:52 PM

    Mmmmm chicken and ’pivo’! I can see you're enjoying Sofia! Lovely photos as every day!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lieve meirsman4/15/22, 11:05 AM

    Een drukke, leuke, interessante dag gehad, heel veel gezien en weer heel prachtige foto's, benieuwd welke route je morgen gaat nemen

    ReplyDelete

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