Back again…
Just spent a week on holiday based in the city of Plovdiv in southern Bulgaria. A large city with a history of 8,000 years of continuous occupation and a wonderful ‘old town’ centre containing a number of significant archaeological sites including parts of an amphitheatre and a 240metre long stadium. Lots of interesting shops, loads of cafes and restaurants and clean – very much a place with a ‘pavement culture.’ It has been selected as the European City of Culture in 2019. We found the people very warm and friendly.
For two days, we hired local natural history guide Ivo Angelov to take us out into the nearby extensive Rhodope Mountains. Much of it is spectacular, with impressive views with conifer forests, gorges and rivers, plus (though we didn’t see!), both brown bear and wolf. Very quickly once off the ‘beaten track,’ the silence was amazing! Unfortunately we should have holidayed a little further to the east for a truly amazing biodiversity hot spot. Think I may go back there!
Ivo’s main interest is with birds – he having worked for the Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds carrying out extensive research on the three species of vulture that occur in the eastern Rhodopes. His details are: ivaylo.d.angelov@gmail.com
See also: Crossbill Guides – ‘Eastern Rhodopes.’
http://www.rewildingeurope.com/blog/wildlife-encounters-in-the-rhodope-mountains/
http://www.rewildingeurope.com/areas/rhodope-mountains/