In 2004 we received a message from our then 20 year old son Anthony. He has been offered a business opportunity to buy a backpackers hostel in Europe’s next new thing, Bulgaria and specifically Veliko Tarnovo. The only problem is that he is on the tail end of 2 years backpacking around the world after completing year 12. He has no funds and is after our help to buy the place. We were not in a position to buy the place which, in retrospect, is probably in everyone’s best interest
The historic and cultural centre of Bulgaria, Veliko Tarnovo, is the next stop in our long and lazy loop through Bulgaria. It has been dubbed the historic and cultural capitol of Bulgaria. The Yantra River meanders between the hills surmounted with fortresses, the largest of which is Tsaravets constructed in the 12th century. It housed both the Royal and Patriarchal palaces between 1185 and 1393 until the all conquering Ottomans laid siege and after 3 months overpowered the fort. Today the ramparts remain and a reconstructed Bulgarian Orthodox church surmounts the hill. We are now out of the main tourist season and having the fortress to ourselves to wander around is magic
