I am ecstatic to tell you that our first Bulgaria driving video is out and available to watch here. We are still working on a video that highlights our 24 hours in Istanbul and the very first day in Sofia. However, there have been some technical issues in doing what we want to do, so that particular video will come out later this year.
For now, let me tell you about our first full day in Sofia. We woke up to snow. On October 3 in Bulgaria. Prior to this trip, I researched what the weather was typically like in Bulgaria’s autumn months. Snow was not mentioned at all. We had rented a small standard vehicle that handled about as well as you’d imagine, so driving in snow in an unfamiliar country gave us pause.
In the video, you will hear my phone’s alarm blaring to warn us about the weather. We had plans to drive to Rila Monastery this day (it is a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site located in the mountains), but with the snow, we opted to stay in Sofia. So, we headed to the National Archaeology Institute and Museum.
As we drive, you see all kinds of architecture around Sofia. One of the things I loved about Bulgaria was how the old and new mingle, history is ever-present around you. It was humbling to walk around and see the ruins of ancient Romans intertwined with the Soviet style buildings and modern steel and glass structures. As we approach the museum, you can see ruins from the 2nd-4th century AD scattered around the museum’s outdoor area.
Inside, you will be overwhelmed with the number of artifacts and sheer amount of history that greet your eyes. We spent at least two hours exploring this museum. Our admission tickets cost around $6 USD. All of the museums in Bulgaria are purposefully affordable. Most of the exhibits had explanations in both Bulgarian and English, but I would have a translation app handy just in case. However, the docents all spoke English, and they had so much extra information to impart.
At the time we visited, archaeologists had recently uncovered a Thracian warrior and his horse’s grave. For some reason, I loved this story. We got lucky enough to see the artifacts that were recovered while we visited the museum. This museum had figures, statues, artwork, tombs, mythological depictions, and so much more. I highly recommend visiting this museum if you’re in Sofia.
After our very successful trip to see a whole bunch of history, we decided to go to the grocery store for lunch. Parking in Sofia is difficult, so we opted to drive outside of Sofia a little and visit…Lidl, one of the major grocery chains in Bulgaria. I love visiting grocery stores in other countries, and I always buy at least one reusable bag as a souvenir. Somehow, it makes shopping at home seem more exotic.
On this visit, you’ll notice that the grocery store parking lots is gated. It confused us at first, but after attempting to find parking (in the next video), we understood why the grocery stores do need to monitor their lots. You simply drive in and park.
We had a great lunch of hot dogs nestled in warm croissants. I laughed at this package of ham that I found amusing for some reason. Prices in the stores were inexpensive compared to New England, and the selection was extensive and fresh.
I felt driving in Sofia felt hectic the first day. Between the unfamiliar car, the snow, the streetcars, the language barrier…it was a lot to be plunked down into. I think I might recommend saving Sofia for the end of your road trip, if you drive and don’t speak Bulgarian. By the time we returned, we felt right at home and had very little trouble navigating around town. Here is an example of a road sign that confused us as we passed by.
Next time, we will continue our first full day in Sofia. We discover that parking is even more difficult than expected, retreat to a place of calming meditation, and finish the day at a Snail House. Happy adventuring!