My last stop of the great Balkans escape is the capital city of
Sofia . A woman's name for a not so demure city. Best summed up as a city with an ancient history and being one of the oldest countries in Europe. Who would have thought?
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| City Centre |
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| Marinela Hotel |
We flew from Sarajevo into Sofia via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines, which happens to be one of my favourite airlines. Arriving into Sofia, we were greeted by our good friend Francois who had made hotel reservations for us at a special hotel.
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| Corridors |
We arrived at the Hotel Marinela Sofia. As we got out of the car, I felt instantly punished for looking like "what the cat dragged in" in my yoga pants, hoodie and sneakers. This is no ordinary hotel, the as the line of luxurious cars parked in the driveway screamed monied.
At once you are greeted by the gleaming marble floor in black and white stripes. The lines run vertically along the huge lobby that you get giddy just by walking on it. The soft furnishings spelled Kitsch at its best: crystal chandeliers, glass decorations, black and gold gilded objects d'arts, Japanese fans plastered on the ceiling and a long black curvy sofa commandeered the centre of the lobby.
Even the elevators had leather finished interiors, it was like an LV box.
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| Lobby of Marinela Hotel |
Can't help but noticed the many bodyguards and hunky men with their long blond haired, rail thin models sashaying through the hotel. This hotel has a notorious reputation as a place where business deals get brokered. The bar, which I curiously wandered inside, had expensive bottles of cognac and cigars displayed on its shelves. Strangely enough, this hotel was also the chosen hotel for Bulgaria's 6 months presidency of the EU meetings. Delegates and Ministers would have more on their plate to chew on !
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| "LV" elevator of Marinela |
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| St. Alexander Nevsky Church |
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| Roman ruins behind Sofitel hotel |
Beyond this enigmatic hotel with its secretive doors and rooms, Sofia spreads out like the roots of a large tree. Getting around Sofia by taxi is cheap but the catch is to order your taxi through the taxi company operator. This is the only safe way to get around without being taken for a ride. Many bonafide taxis ply the streets, some even resembling legitimate taxi companies and unsuspecting tourists get duped.
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| Flea Market |
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| Ancient Serdica ruins |
The city centre with its stately buildings and government offices, churches and museums is a must see. Bulgaria's treasures lie in its museums, churches and monasteries. I stumbled into an underground station and marvelled at the remains of ancient Serdica. Then i visited the St George Rotunda, the Russian church, Saint Sofia Church, Saint Alexander Nevsky church, National Archeological Institute and Museum and missed a few others like the Boyana Church and the icon museum next to the St. Alexander Nevsky church.
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| Just Perrier thanks! |
There was a flea market with antique jewellery, icon paintings and bric and brac. If i knew more about jewellery, i would have had a field day. Bulgaria is also known for its roses, which they export worldwide as perfume oils and rosewater. Of course, i had to have some.
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