I went to Ruse ages ago with my MoM and Aunt. It was June. The weather was amazing. We drank coffee on the main square, wandered around town, popped into a house museum, checked out some ruins, drank some beer on the main square and then ate dinner at an outside restaurant/cafe along the main pedestrian zone.
<a title="Big building by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6940143024/"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5444/6940143024_614f9ae7d1_z.jpg" alt="Big building" width="640" height="427" /></a>
We liked the city. We took pictures of the architecture. My MoM and Aunt marveled at everyone's excellent English. It was exactly what one hopes for from a new city. I was charmed.
<a title="Orange House in Ruse by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6940153962/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7089/6940153962_c116f5cb39_z.jpg" alt="Orange House in Ruse" width="640" height="427" /></a>
Interestingly, I haven't been back until this trip. I've thought about it but I never made it happen. I am glad that I did.<!--more-->
<a title="House in disrepair  by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6940152684/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7211/6940152684_afa2c9e0d9_z.jpg" alt="House in disrepair " width="640" height="427" /></a>
While Ruse is a little less charming in the early spring, it's still awfully great. Sure the signage and myriad of one way streets around the old town/pedestrian zone is a little maddening but once you're there, it's pretty smooth sailing.
<a title="Walking zone by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/7086217941/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7267/7086217941_a66d685a3e_z.jpg" alt="Walking zone" width="640" height="427" /></a>
We arrived at dusk and after some zig-zagging through the neighborhood, a little swearing and a couple of lucky turns we made it to our hotel: <a href="http://www.cityarthotel.com/hotel.php?lang=en" target="_blank">City Art Hotel</a>. The hotel is really an excellent value for the money and more than this, everyone who worked there was so nice to us and very helpful.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6940145472/" title="Along the main walking zone by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7125/6940145472_eeab64cf4f_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Along the main walking zone"></a>
After checking in we, strolled through town. There were lots of lights on adding a glow to the city. We stopped for dinner at a restaurant along the main pedestrian zone. I can't for the life of me remember the name of it. Probably because the most exciting part of my night was about to follow. At the restaurant, I asked in Bulgarian for a table for four, non-smoking and got it. The waitress then brought us Bulgarian menus. When I asked for two English menus for the girls who were visiting us, the waitress laughed a little said to me in perfect English (<em>of course</em>): Oh, I thought you were Bulgarian based on your Bulgarian when you came in. <em></em>

<em>What?! What?!</em> My Bulgarian was good enough to fool a Bulgarian. That was nice.
<a title="Benches in front of the theater by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/7086219101/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7208/7086219101_c3a80d2157_z.jpg" alt="Benches in front of the theater" width="640" height="427" /></a>
The next morning before crossing over into Romania, we wandered back along the pedestrian zone. We popped into a church next to the theater and snapped up a Romania map at a local bookstore. A special shout out to the bookstore because we never would have made it through Romania without it. It's a little worse for the wear now but that's okay. We're home.