The first two days in Bulgaria exceeded all expectations.  We first explored the city, walking around the many Greek, Eastern, and Russian Orthodox churches and cathedrals.  After resting in the afternoon for a bit – time to deal with jet lag – we met our group for a short walking tour of Sofia and a traditional Bulgarian dinner – lots of food hanging from the chandeliers, fire water, wine, and beer, accordion music with dancing.

Our tour group consists of eight travelers and one amazing guide.  Three of the travelers are siblings from England, one is their friend and kick-boxing buddy, one is also from England, an ER doc from Phoenix, Joel, and me.  I couldn’t ask for a better group to travel with – everyone is friendly, helpful, well-traveled, fit, etc.

Today was our first snowshoeing day – an adventure different than we expected! The plan was to drive to Vitosha National Park, Bulgaria’s first national park and the oldest park on the Balkan Peninsula. Declared a national park in 1934 and visible from Sofia, the park is home to Mount Vitosha (2290m).  However, with falling heavy snow, the police would not let us drive up the mountain until the road was cleared.  While we were waiting, though, buses and other cars went around the police car and proceeded up the mountain.  We finally also continued up, only to be blocked by a skewed bus.  Ivo, our guide, backed up the big Mercedes Sprinter van, we pulled off and put on our snowshoes, and off we went.  The powdery snow reminded Ivo of the snow in Siberia (hence, our WhatsApp group name is Bulgarian Siberia).  We snowshoed for a couple of hours…much harder than I imagined given the conditions.  Tomorrow, the weather should be better.  For the next three days, we’re staying at a nice hotel in Mount Maliovitsa, a Bulgarian mountain which is so well respected, that its North Face is the symbol of the Bulgarian Alpine Association.