This past week was spring break. I was gallivanting through Bulgaria and Romania. It was great fun. The weather was mostly good, the driving was okay and the sites were amazing.

We started with a stop in Veliko Tarnovo. It was a quick stop. We walked around town, ate some lunch, did some shopping and then climbed back in the car.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6938577248/" title="Old town and new town meet by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7139/6938577248_9ff8560de8_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Old town and new town meet"></a>
What I like about the city is how picturesque it is. The houses line the valley and crowd around the river. The roofs are red and the buildings a mix of yellow, white, grey and some pinks.

I love the communist era wall art which graces many of the buildings along the main street. It's big and bold. Angular yet attractive. The lines draw your eyes in. Are these pieces beautiful? Well, I am not sure but what I do know is that they are interesting.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6938577956/" title="Communist era wall art by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7106/6938577956_eff24348be_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Communist era wall art"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6938580058/" title="Communist era wall art by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/6938580058_b7a4403292_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Communist era wall art"></a>
Every time I've been to Veliko Tarnovo I've liked it. I am beginning to suspect that this is a city that will never disappoint me. That's a pretty wonderful thing to realize. Even though a couple of hours wasn't enough in Veliko Tarnovo wasn't enough, I left happy.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6938576564/" title="Shopping by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7230/6938576564_befab23c9f_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Shopping"></a>
I'll end this quick post on Veliko Tarnovo on this note: I think this city has some of the best souvenir shops in the country. They have a mix of traditional souvenirs like post cards, playing cards, magnets, tee shirts and other trinkets but they also have what I would dub modern Bulgarian souvenirs including jewelery from local artists and handmade art pottery with a nod to traditional form but very fresh and new. Now I don't actively seek out souvenir shops in Bulgaria but I found myself impressed by the variety and selection in Veliko Tarnovo more so that I've been with most of the shops in Sofia.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6938582214/" title="Buildings around town by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5347/6938582214_104f1100da_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="Buildings around town"></a>