CURRENT MISSION

Journey the World

ABOUT ME

I`ve grown up in a small town on the Bulgarian border with Turkey and Greece, but I have lived in the capital city - Sofia, for more than 10 years now. Graduated in Tourism and traveling is my biggest passion. Also interested in Sports, Photography, Music and Movies.

PHILOSOPHY

The man is a man when he is on the road!

Interests

Traveling, Sports, Sightseeing, Photography, Music, Movies

• photography
• concerts
• movies
• traveling
• music
• sports
• tourism
• sightseeing

Music, Movies, and Books

- Music - Pop and Rock
- Books - basically all Stephen King books
- Movies - Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean, Schindler`s List, Gladiator, Beautiful Mind, Brave heart, Cinderella man, Rocky, Forrest Gump, American Pie, Mr. Bean, Invictus.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Wonder what to do in Sofia? Below are my recommendations:

CHURCHES
- Alexander Nevsky Carthedral - the biggest church in the country
- St. Sofia Church - with interesting basilica-like architecture and its bell hanging on a tree in front of the entrance. Interesting fact: the church actually gave its name to the city
- The Russian Church - small, but a beautiful one
- St. Petka Samardzhiyska Church - another small, but very interesting church, located in the subway of Serdika metro station and just few steps off St. Nedelya Church
- St. Nedelya church - a place of the 1925 assault. The church is also a part of the Square of Tolerance, including a Catholic church, a mosque and a synagogue in less than 5 mins walk from each other
- Boyana Church - one of the nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bulgaria and the only one in Sofia

ROMAN RUINS
- Archaeological complex Serdika in the subway of Serdika Metro Station
- Part of an ancient Roman Road, called Via Diagonalis (connecting today's Belgrade with Contantinople) in the subway between the Presidency and the Council of Ministers
- The St. George Rotunda in the inner yard of the Presidency
- Part of the Amphitheatre of Serdica - remains can be found in the lobby of Arena di Serdica Hotel (entrance is free)

MUSEUMS (which worth a visit):
- Sofia History Museum - in the building of the former public bath, which is an architectural masterpiece itself
- National History Museum - with the famous Panagyurishte Golden Treasure exposed (in Boyana neighbourhood)
- The Archaeology Museum - Thracian, Roman and other artefacts - right in front of the Presidency
- The Museum of Socialistic Art - old monuments and paintings from the communist period

IMPRESSIVE ARCHITECTURE
- National Theatre "Ivan Vazov"
- National Palace of Culture
- Headquarters of the former Communist Party at the Independence square (a.k.a. The Largo)
- The National Art Gallery (former royal palace)
- Bulgarian National Bank
- Palace of Justice (Sadebna Palata)
- Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski

PARKS
- Borisova garden
- South Park

BRIDGES (suitable for good photos)
- Lion`s bridge
- Eagles`s bridge

PLACES WHERE TO TRY BULGARIAN CUISINE (tried the below myself and can recommend them):
- Manastirska Magernitsa - https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294452-d809254-Reviews-Manastirska_Magernitza-Sofia_Sofia_Region.html
- Hadjidraganovite izbi - https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294452-d2154976-Reviews-Hadjidraganov_s_Cellars-Sofia_Sofia_Region.html

A BAR WITH A GOOD VIEW:
- Sense Hotel Rooftop top bar - overlooking Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Parliament - http://www.sensehotel.com/en/roof-top-bar.html

A RESTAURANT WITH A GREAT VIEW:
- The View Restaurant - on the top of Millennium Center (near National Palace of Culture) - http://theview.bg/en/

OFF THE BEATEN PATH:
- Vitosha Mountains - Sofia is the only European capital that is literally attached to a mountain. Climb Vitosha`s highest peak - Cherni vrah (translates as The Black peak). The mountain is great for hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter
- The Bells (Kambanite) complex - next to the Business Park Sofia in "Mladost 4" R.D. - 68 bells, each representing separate country; very peaceful and calm place
- Boyana Waterfall - offering a great view over the city and a very picturesque hike to the waterfall, starting at Boyana neighbourhood
- Dragalevtsi monastery - another place to get away from the noise of the big city. Located in the footsteps of the Vitosha Mountains in Dragalevtsi neighbourhood
- Vrana Palace - a former royal palace, located on the outskirts of the city

If you want, you can also join Free Sofia walking tour (twice a day) - you`ll learn a lot of interesting stuff about Sofia and Bulgaria - http://www.freesofiatour.com/

POSSIBLE (AND GOOD) DAY TRIPS FROM SOFIA:
- Rila monastery - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rila_Monastery - magnificent monastery in the heart of the Rila Mountains, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is a regular bus going there. You can catch it every day at 10:20 am from the "Ovcha kupel" bus station. Upon the arrival, you have about 2 hours for visit the monastery, before the bus return to Sofia
- Plovdiv - second biggest Bulgarian city after Sofia, with artsy atmosphere, Roman ruins and great views from its hills. Less than two hours drive from Sofia,
- Veliko Tarnovo - the old capital of Bulgaria with a medieval fortress, called Tsarevets -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsarevets. There are regular buses from Sofia to V. Tarnovo from the Central Bus Station

AREAS TO AVOID:
- Little Baghdad (the area locked between Maria Luiza blvd./Hristo Botev blvd./Tsar Simeon Str./Slivnitsa blvd. - not that you`re going to be attacked/robbed or anything... but maybe no need to take chances.
- Slivnitsa blvd. at night - especially Lion`s Bridge and Stochna gara squares. It`s Ok if you want to see Lions`s Bridge at day though. But really no need to go there at night (various suspicious people from the crimi contingent hangout around there at that time)
- Neighborhoods like Druzhba and Luylin late at night - I suppose, you won`t need to hang around there anyway, as these are far away from the touristic places

Enjoy Sofia and Bulgaria!

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Netherlands, Romania, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Bulgaria, Russian Federation