On Friday, I woke up much too early for a four day weekend. I guess that's what happens when you're a teacher and your alarm clock goes off regularly at 5:45am. The good news? It meant that I had plenty of time to drink a pot of coffee before going on a walking tour of Sofia.
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[caption id="attachment_4771" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Sofia Tour"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4771" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4771"><img class="size-large wp-image-4771 " title="Sofia Tour" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_8189-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

Walking tour you might ask? Yes.</p>
After living in the city for nearly three years, I went on a walking tour of Sofia with a nonprofit group called <a title="Free Sofia Tour" href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/freesofiatour" target="_blank">Free Sofia Tour</a>. I went mostly because I could and because I've long thought that this was a major missing element of tourism in the city. Until earlier this year there have been no regular walking tours offered in the city for tourists and now we have one!!

[caption id="attachment_4772" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Sofia Baths"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4772" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4772"><img class="size-large wp-image-4772 " title="Sofia Baths" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_8222-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

And they're great.
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[caption id="attachment_4776" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Spring has come! "]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4776" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4776"><img class="size-large wp-image-4776 " title="Spring has come! " src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_8241-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

Sure I've seen all of the sites we walked past but for better or worse, I don't really know all of the history of the city. The tour did a great job balancing history, culture and place. My guide was very fluent in English and knowledgeable about the city. He did a really great job navigating the various interests of our diverse group.

[caption id="attachment_4774" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Old Man in the Park"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4774" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4774"><img class="size-large wp-image-4774 " title="Old Man in the Park" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_8234-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409" /></a>[/caption]

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The tour seemed to hit the right note for older tourists in their 50 and 60's as well as twenty-something backpackers.

Yesterday was really the perfect time to see the city. It doesn't really get much better than sunny weather, blue skies, a light breeze and the buzz of a long weekend.

[caption id="attachment_4775" align="aligncenter" width="1024" caption="Nevski, Looking Good!"]<a rel="attachment wp-att-4775" href="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/?attachment_id=4775"><img class="size-large wp-image-4775" title="Nevski, Looking Good!" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/IMG_8247-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="682" /></a>[/caption]

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