This past weekend while exploring north-western Bulgaria, we went to see a Hristo Botev monument. It was foggy on Saturday and the road was windy.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/8224013281/" title="Tree on the way down from the Hristo Botev monument by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8346/8224013281_7989678625_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Tree on the way down from the Hristo Botev monument"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/8224013005/" title="Near the Hristo Botev monument by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8490/8224013005_5b6b17ee7e_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Near the Hristo Botev monument"></a>
I have to say there was something magical about the whole thing.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/8225088348/" title="The landscape near the Hristo Botev monument by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8489/8225088348_22f3a2f660_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="The landscape near the Hristo Botev monument"></a>
The landscape was especially dramatic with the fog. It also slowed down the driving. This was okay. It gave me plenty of time to admire the fall colors.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/8225092074/" title="Steps up to the Hristo Botev monument by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8225092074_da7465145c_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Steps up to the Hristo Botev monument"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/8225089022/" title="Hristo Botev monument by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8206/8225089022_e2b652035d_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hristo Botev monument"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/8224016843/" title="Me at the Hristo Botev monument by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8346/8224016843_96eae53c8a_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Me at the Hristo Botev monument"></a>
The monument is up a big flight of stairs and either side off the stairs is lined with pine tree. At the top of the stairs there's a big cross and it over looks an incredible valley. The monument-cross was tall and white.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/8225090268/" title="Hristo Botev monument by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8225090268_aa6829dbf6_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hristo Botev monument"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/8225089630/" title="A and the Hristo Botev monument by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8477/8225089630_8de790e1d5_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="A and the Hristo Botev monument"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/8225090024/" title="Hristo Botev monument by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8066/8225090024_0fe14b9462_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Hristo Botev monument"></a>
We didn't stick around too long because it was cold and windy on the top of the hill.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/8225093698/" title="late fall outside the Hristo Botev monument by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8225093698_19a53dc5ba_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="late fall outside the Hristo Botev monument"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/8224019651/" title="IMG_9850 by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8224019651_194cedf8a0_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_9850"></a>
I wasn't super impressed with this site. Yes, Hristo Botev is a national hero but the monument isn't that easy to reach. It's not like you can stop by to visit it on your way somewhere else. You really have to make a commitment to visit this site and there's not much else there.