I went to Ruse ages ago with my MoM and Aunt. It was June. The weather was amazing. We drank coffee on the main square, wandered around town, popped into a house museum, checked out some ruins, drank some beer on the main square and then ate dinner at an outside restaurant/cafe along the main pedestrian zone.
<a title="Big building by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6940143024/"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5444/6940143024_614f9ae7d1_z.jpg" alt="Big building" width="640" height="427" /></a>
We liked the city. We took pictures of the architecture. We talked a lot about the layout of the city center with a park and plenty of cafes. My MoM and Aunt marveled at everyone's excellent English and the way everyone apologized for their bad English (which for the record wasn't bad at all). It was exactly what one hopes for from a new city--easy to get around with plenty to explore.

I was charmed.
<a title="Orange House in Ruse by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6940153962/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7089/6940153962_c116f5cb39_z.jpg" alt="Orange House in Ruse" width="640" height="427" /></a>
Interestingly, I haven't been back until this trip. I've thought about it but I never made it happen. It only took me the better part of three years to get back there and I am glad that I did. The city is basically as I remember it only now it has a few more western shops along the pedestrian zone. <!--more-->
<a title="House in disrepair  by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6940152684/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7211/6940152684_afa2c9e0d9_z.jpg" alt="House in disrepair " width="640" height="427" /></a>
While Ruse is a little less charming in the early spring, it's still awfully great. Sure the signage and myriad of one way streets around the old town/pedestrian zone is a little maddening but once you're there, it's pretty smooth sailing.

I really like the architecture in Ruse--even the crumbling buildings. I suspect that this is due to the influence of Western Europe given the city's location on the Danube. There just such a wonderful attention to detail on many of big grand old buildings. I appreciate that.
<a title="Walking zone by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/7086217941/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7267/7086217941_a66d685a3e_z.jpg" alt="Walking zone" width="640" height="427" /></a>
We arrived at dusk and after some zig-zagging through the neighborhood, a little swearing and a couple of lucky turns we made it to our hotel: <a href="http://www.cityarthotel.com/hotel.php?lang=en" target="_blank">City Art Hotel</a>. The hotel is really an excellent value for the money and more than this, everyone who worked there was so nice to us and very helpful.
<a title="Along the main walking zone by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6940145472/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7125/6940145472_eeab64cf4f_z.jpg" alt="Along the main walking zone" width="640" height="427" /></a>
Anyhow, after checking in we, strolled through town at dusk-ish. There were lots of lights on adding a glow to the city. We stopped for dinner at a restaurant along the main pedestrian zone. I can't for the life of me remember the name of it. Probably because the most exciting part of my night was about to follow. At the restaurant, I asked in Bulgarian for a table for four, non-smoking and got it. The waitress then brought us Bulgarian menus. When I asked for two English menus for the girls who were visiting us, the waitress laughed a little said to me in perfect English (<em>of course</em>): Oh, I thought you were Bulgarian based on your Bulgarian when you came in. <em></em>

<em>What?! What?!</em> My Bulgarian was good enough to fool a Bulgarian. That was nice.
<a title="Benches in front of the theater by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/7086219101/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7208/7086219101_c3a80d2157_z.jpg" alt="Benches in front of the theater" width="640" height="427" /></a>
The next morning before crossing over into Romania, we wandered back along the pedestrian zone. We popped into a church next to the theater and snapped up a Romania map at a local bookstore. A special shout out to the bookstore because we never would have made it through Romania without it. It's a little worse for the wear now but that's okay. We're home.