After the Rila Seven Lakes, we drove to Plovdiv. I've been to Plovdiv a few times but everyother time, I've taken the train. Driving into Plovdiv was fine but I have to say the city itself has NO street signs.

Once we found our hotel, we had a great time in Plovdiv. We spent the majority of our time in Old Town Plovdiv or along the main street in the city center. The highlights of our visit included the Free Plovdiv (Walking) Tour, poking around the Plovdiv Amphitheater and shopping for antiques.
<a title="The family at the Plovdiv Amphitheater by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071349904/"><img alt="The family at the Plovdiv Amphitheater" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5468/10071349904_0e084340d0_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
<a title="The family at the Plovdiv Amphitheater by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071421746/"><img alt="The family at the Plovdiv Amphitheater" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7437/10071421746_8e54b55cdf_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
I have to say, Plovdiv was looking really good. The walking streets were well cobble-stoned, the buildings were well painted and there were more statues than I remembered. It turns out Plovdiv is a candidate for the European Capitol of Culture in 2019. 2019 seems to be pretty far off but I can't complain, the city is looking better than I've ever seen it.<!--more-->
<a title="Free Plovdiv tour by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071544893/"><img alt="Free Plovdiv tour" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7292/10071544893_75efe47172_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
<a title="Bike in Plovdiv by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071501396/"><img alt="Bike in Plovdiv" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3770/10071501396_febf46cffc_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
<a title="Cyrillic sign by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071511256/"><img alt="Cyrillic sign" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2891/10071511256_cf20d5b37b_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
<a title="Cyrillic sign by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071516096/"><img alt="Cyrillic sign" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2841/10071516096_764eebbe51_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
The walking tour is an off shoot of the Free Sofia Tour and it was so much fun. First it was much, much smaller than the tour we went on in Sofia and second there is so much to see in the city. The weather threatened rain but we were super lucky and it didn't rain during the tour. It did make for some very dramatic photos. The lighting was unexpected and I might add excellent.
<a title="Message in Cyrillic on the stairs by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071532043/"><img alt="Message in Cyrillic on the stairs" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7323/10071532043_7f5e856e14_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
<a title="Ancient things in Plovdiv by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071436575/"><img alt="Ancient things in Plovdiv" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3832/10071436575_edd083b483_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
<a title="Fountain by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071484096/"><img alt="Fountain" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7358/10071484096_9e00a6e1a2_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
As I said, I've been to Plovdiv but I didn't know very much about the history of the city or the sites. My previous visits were focused more on hanging out with friends than really exploring the city. When I visited four years ago with my MoM and aunt we poked around the old town and gave ourselves the Lonely Planet walk but a book can never replace a person. <em>Go figure</em>.
<a title="ProCredit Bank by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071460376/"><img alt="ProCredit Bank" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5488/10071460376_d6096cc579_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
<a title="Tell me your secret wishes by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071519013/"><img alt="Tell me your secret wishes" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2835/10071519013_f141701e8c_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
<a title="Tell me your secret wishes by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071422525/"><img alt="Tell me your secret wishes" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3698/10071422525_6bcec6510d_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
I found myself impressed with the Revival Style homes in the Old Town. These houses are easy to pick out with their boxy shape, wooden lines and single color. So pretty.The way they over hang the street makes for a dramatic look. I also loved the idea that two of the houses in the old town are almost kissing they are so close to each other.
<a title="Revival Style House Plovdiv by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071401026/"><img alt="Revival Style House Plovdiv" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5447/10071401026_da24025613_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
<a title="Revival Style House Plovdiv by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071412526/"><img alt="Revival Style House Plovdiv" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7334/10071412526_97498e9056_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
<a title="House museum by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071548496/"><img alt="House museum" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5483/10071548496_b620e126de_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
<a title="New Revival Style House Plovdiv by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071365905/"><img alt="New Revival Style House Plovdiv" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3706/10071365905_53da16a851_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
There was some chatter over a new house in the Old Town--a house that mirrors or imitates the Revival Style but isn't in keeping with the other houses. A few found it very distasteful but I don't know. Is it better to have a new house that references the past or an empty shell of a house that no one is willing to invest in? I think it's complicated problem. One that deserves more attention than I can give it.
<a title="Dad and Plovdiv from the Old Town by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071311024/"><img alt="Dad and Plovdiv from the Old Town" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5327/10071311024_de48ebdebd_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
<a title="Char and me at the overlook by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071442283/"><img alt="Char and me at the overlook" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5518/10071442283_177b15bfee_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
We spent a part of one morning climbing all over the Plovdiv Amphitheater. The Amphitheater is impressive. The size isn't <em>that</em> big but but the marble seats and stairs are in excellent shape and theater space at the front has multiple stories.
<a title="Plovdiv Amphitheater by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071357654/"><img alt="Plovdiv Amphitheater" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7412/10071357654_6c795d916e_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
<a title="Me at the Plovdiv Amphitheater by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071267594/"><img alt="Me at the Plovdiv Amphitheater" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7377/10071267594_9a01592b38_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a> <a title="Me at the Plovdiv Amphitheater by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071297195/"><img alt="Me at the Plovdiv Amphitheater" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7416/10071297195_799e2bfe93_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a> <a title="Columns Plovdiv Amphitheater by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071358376/"><img alt="Columns Plovdiv Amphitheater" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7404/10071358376_df6a736e8f_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a> <a title="Plovdiv Amphitheater by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071281134/"><img alt="Plovdiv Amphitheater" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3666/10071281134_e3502b105c_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a> <a title="Plovdiv Amphitheater by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071279844/"><img alt="Plovdiv Amphitheater" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3801/10071279844_ab78a019e9_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a> If you walk around and look carefully you can see that in the past people carved their names in the seats in Greek. It seems to scream: <em>that's mine, that's mine!</em> or <em>look, I put my name on it! </em> <a title="Stairs and seats, Plovdiv Amphitheater by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071271054/"><img alt="Stairs and seats, Plovdiv Amphitheater" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3729/10071271054_babc7c5039_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a> <a title="I put my name on this, Plovdiv Amphitheater by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071344576/"><img alt="I put my name on this, Plovdiv Amphitheater" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2885/10071344576_f2603fb432_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a> <a title="Arch detail Plovdiv Amphitheater by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071427053/"><img alt="Arch detail Plovdiv Amphitheater" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2811/10071427053_4e051c208d_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a> <a title="Plovdiv Amphitheater by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071328875/"><img alt="Plovdiv Amphitheater" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3682/10071328875_5fdb25fe65_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a> The stairs are steep but it's necessary for the sound. The seats are actually fairly comfortable. What's cool about the Plovdiv Amphitheater is that they still host concerts there (and maybe even productions). We didn't get to see one but it's cool to know. <a title="Dad at Plovdiv Amphitheater by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071294695/"><img alt="Dad at Plovdiv Amphitheater" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5525/10071294695_c3ce1eaba7_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a> What's cooler is the fact that after the amphitheater fell out of use (maybe 200 AD) no one knew it was there for centuries. I don't think that it was rediscovered until the 1960's--feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. This is impressive because the theater is basically in the Old Town and it is big--even if it's not as big as the theater in Ephesus.It's just so hard to imagine that no one found the sizable ruins for years and years.

Then we went to visit some antique stores. My dAd <em>loves</em> antiques. Then again he owns an antique store so this shouldn't come as such a big surprise.
<a title="Inside an antique store by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10071478364/"><img alt="Inside an antique store" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3813/10071478364_a78b5a226d_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
I like antiques too and I  found a small desk sized globe that at a glance seems to be post WWII and pre-1989. All of the countries are labeled in Bulgarian Cyrillic so it's super sweet. I haven't dated it because it's currently packed away. Luckily there are lots of guides online for this.
<a title="Harvesting Gloves by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/10086205616/"><img alt="Harvesting Gloves" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7388/10086205616_7fc45c90a0_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a>
My dAd was really interested in these wooden gloves that were used for harvesting grains pre-combine in Bulgaria. To the best of my dAd's knowledge, we don't have anything similar in the States--specifically the Pacific Northwest.  The idea is that you wear the wooden glove on your less dominate hand (so for most people, the left hand) and in your dominate hand (right hand) you have the scythe. You use your left hand in the glove to collect the grain  and cut it with the right hand. The glove helps in collecting an armful of grain/wheat/grass and the glove protects your hand from the dry stems and chaff on the grain. That's seriously clever.

So my dAd being my dAd, didn't jut buy one. Nope. He bought 3+ and a scythe. The moral of this story: when you see cool stuff, buy it.

Oh and a little more on the photos. The finger gloves in the picture are in a house museum in Plovdiv--not the one's my dAd bought. Also, I took many, many more photos than you see here in this post. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/sets/72157636185831304/" target="_blank">Check them out on Flickr</a> if you're interested.