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.

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.

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.

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>.

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.

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.