Archive for Europe
A Day Exploring the Bulgarian Capital
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In the Soviet era, Bulgaria was always one of the more productive countries within the Communist Bloc. Today, it is a member of the EU and the Black Sea holiday resorts are popular with foreign tourists offering excellent value. In the winter, Bulgaria is also a popular ski destination but we turn our attentions to the other side of the country and the nations capital city, Sofia.
Sofia is surprisingly missed as a tourism destination compared to the beach and ski resorts. Today, it is home to around 1.4 million people and can trace it’s origins back more than 2,000 years. The city has a diverse history and this is evident with the variety of buildings you will see in the centre. Cobbled streets, 5* hotels, Orthordox churches, Communist monuments and the Banya Bashi Mosque, a remnant from the time when Bulgaria was part of the Ottoman Empire.
Although a relatively large number of people call Sofia their home, many of the places of interest are in the heart of the city and you can easily walk between them. Once you arrive at Sofia airport, life is pretty easy. The taxis are on a meter and it cost about £6 to get to the Sheraton Hotel. There are a few excellent Western chain hotels in the centre of town so shop around to get a deal. The room at the Sheraton was around €100 a night.
Sitting Outdoors, Sofia
I suspect that Sofia is at its best in the summer months. The temperature will regularly hit 30 Celcius (88 Farenheit) so there are plenty of oppotunities to sit outside at one of the many cafes or in the parks and watch the world go by. Winter is a different matter when it regularly freezes and the snow comes along. Getting around Sofia when the weather isn’t so good won’t be a problem. Taxis are cheap and the modern metro is being expanded with the construction of a second line.
Street Sign, Sofia
Although Bulgarian is written in Cyrillic, all the street signs are also written in Latin characters too so there are no problems understanding which street you are on. Tourist maps are available at the hotels making Sofia a great place to explore on foot. There are some wonderful buildings to admire such as the Alexander Nevski Cathedral and the smaller St Nikolai Orthordox Church. The St George Rotunda which is behind the Sheraton hotel, is a UNESCO heritage site dating back to the 10th century. Not far from the Nevski Cathedral is a small open air market where I managed to find a couple of old Soviet Union medals. I always find it interesting to browse these type of stalls as you never know what you will find.
Alexander Nevski Cathedral
The number of street cafes and parks mean that you can wander around at your own pace. The value for money in Sofia is excellent. Eating is cheap and there are plenty of places to choose from. Another great thing I found about the various cafes, bars and places to eat was that many of them included free WiFi so I could use all my smart phones features without worrying about getting a ridiculous bill on my return due data roaming charges.
Although I found Sofia interesting, there wasn’t really much to it. The value for money is superb but it is a 3 hour flight from the UK. Its worth going once, perhaps in the Autumn to get a bit of sunshine but its not a city I would go back to time and again.
Volgograd’s Five Main Points of Interest
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On the banks of the River Volga in Southern Russia is the city of Volgograd. During World War II, the area was the scene of some terrible fighting between the Soviet Red Army and the German Army Group South. Much of the city was destroyed and has since been rebuilt. Throughout, visitors will find many interesting places that tell the story of the city that was originally called Tsaritsyn by the Tatars, renamed Stalingrad by the Communists and is today known as Volgograd.
Mamayev Hill was the original site of the Tatar settlement Tsaritsyn. It is the highest point in the city with commanding views of the area. Today, there is a colossal statue of Mother Russia which can be seen from miles away. She stands on top of a mound which is a mass grave of 34,000 soldiers who died hear. There are 35 Heroes of the Soviet Union buried here including the legendary sniper Vasiliy Zaitsev along with the commander of the 64th Army and twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Marshall Chuikov.
Like many cities around the world, the river is at the heart of it and Volgograd is no different. The River Volga winds its way from central Russia down to the Caspian Sea. At Volgograd it is a wide river carrying huge cargo ships. Along both banks are beautiful sandy beaches and during the summer, the water temperature can reach 25 Celcius which is on par with places like the Red Sea in Egypt in April. Every hour, short cruises depart sailing up and down the river and it allows a wonderful perspective of the city.
The Panoramic Museum is a fantastic place for anyone with even the slightest interest in the military history of Volgograd. It is located next to the Old Mill which is one of the few buildings that survived the battle. The damage to the Old Mill gives an idea what the devastation across the city. Inside the museum, there is a wealth of wonderful exhibits including the rifle used by Vasiliy Zaitsev. Plenty of time should be allowed to see everything the Panoramic Museum has to offer.
During the final days of the Battle of Stalingrad, the German Headquarters was in the basement of the Department Store. The store survives and a museum can be found hidden away in the basement. Among the items on display are portraits of the 5 Red Army soldiers who discovered the Germans and were asked to find a senior ranking office to accept their surrender. One of the men, Private Altukov of the 38th Motorised Brigade, is still alive and living in Volgograd.
Lyudnikov’s Island takes its name from the fact it was an area of the city under Soviet control that was isolated from the main force. The command post still survives although very badly damaged. Close by are a number of mass graves of fallen soldiers 138th Division who died here during the Battle of Stalingrad.
