Just visited Bankya (In Bulgarian: Банкя), small town around 15 km from the Capital of Bulgaria, Sofia. Honestly, this place doesn't have any exceptional natural formation or anything like that, nor it has any cultural objects of significant note. Relatively interesting are the natural hot mineral water springs and public fountains and baths built on them, but that's about all.
Nonetheless, due to its geographical proximity to Sofia, it was popular destination for weekend trips during the second half of 20th century for many of the inhabitants of the Capital and seems it continues to be popular choice for holidays and city-breaks.
Below I'll post a few pictures from this town.
And below a few more pictures with views from another village in the vicinity - Gradoman
This natural formation is a bridge like arch situated in the western parts of the Balkan Mountains, not far from the village Lilyache, from where is easy to be reached by car or foot. Also there are ruins of old stone walls and several well marked routes suitable for walking.
With couple of words this place is pretty interesting, but not well known and often overlooked as touristic attraction, but regardless Ill recommend it highly to any visitor in that part of the country.
Bellow Ill post also short video from the nearby village from which The Gods Bridge can reached easily by car or foot.
The path leading to the arch
One of the side routes which leads to the brook below
Small shaded table for a moment of rest
Some of the mini-caves around the arch
Detail from the arch Bozhiyat Most (The God's Bridge)
Under The God's Bridge (Bozhi Most)
Small fountain in the centre of the nearby village Lilyache
Old school (still in use) in Lilyache
Another view from the centre of Lilyache
Cute small lake-like pool with toy bridge in the centre of Lilyache
While I've been wandering around these days, happened that I visited Ledenika, a cave in the Northwestern parts of Bulgaria, which can be reached from town called Vratsa. The place itself is impressive natural formation with some endemic species of insects living in it like the beetle "Svetlomrazets", which translates as "light-heater". This cave was never inhabited during the human history, but it was used as kind of natural fridge during the Ottoman rule over the country, because of the low temperatures just above zero Celsius maintained during the whole year.
The cave is locked and visits are allowed only with guide for 5 levs (2 pound) per person. Along with the natural curiosities there was light show too. While thing like that is not necessary bad, I don't think it contributes much to this place in particular. I'll go as far to say that I'll even like it, but only in a proper ambient, like night club, which that cave obviously is not.
As is alreday well known I like tortoises, so while I've been in North-West Bulgaria I decided to look for some of them in the area, because in this place live only Hermann's tortoises and in particular the Eastern subspecies T. h. boettgeri. This subspecies is somewhat endemic for the teritory of Bulgaria and the areas around the country.
The animal is relatively easy to be found if one follow few simple rules. First look for places with mix pf trees, bushes and open areas covered with grass. Second, be very quiet, the tortoise is much easier to be heard then seen, and third best time is in the morning before the hottest hours in the summer, because these animals will look for cover in the afternoon and is going to be nearly impossible to be seen or found.
So, after short search I found two of them. Note when I comment the unusual patern on the shell of the second, happen that after imspection I discovered that most of the it was damaged and without the usual annual growt circles, so I assume it was victim of fire or other injury.
