Best day in Bulgaria?! Koprivshtitsa is hard to pronounce, easy to love 🥰
Day 66. 14km (53622kms)
As planned I was up at sparrow’s fart exploring Koprivshtitsa before all the other tourists emerged to ruin my photos 😜
First impressions of the village was of being back in the Cotswolds! Cute cottages on cobbled streets, adorably tiny bridges crossing the stream running down the centre of it all... And of course, as time drew on (covid-level) hoards of tourists.
I happily passed several hours wandering the lanes, peering over walls and through stately wooden doors admiring the brightly decorated Bulgarian revival period architecture in the fancier parts, and the more rustic stone and wood houses on the outskirts. I absolutely loved the place and wouldn’t have seen it if not for a chain of recommendations from cyclists and hosts.
The forecasted rain arrived at lunchtime so I got comfortable in one of the tourist restaurants ordering something that wasn’t translated on their tri-lingual menu beyond “koprivshtitsa speciality”. At first mouthfull I panicked realising I may have ordered something offal-based, but was relieved to discover it was chicken, egg, carrot and tomato, with a solitary date in the centre.
Once the rain began to let up I ducked into a ‘supermarket’ on my way out of town. Having delayed my arrival in Plovdiv by a day I was now out of food, but this shop was no little than a counter. The proprietor was incredibly helpful though, despite my asking for things by their Macedonian names.
Even in the rain I felt incredibly joyful as I pedalled uphill out of town; what a marvellous day! I had planned to descend the 600 or so metres to the next village to find a sheltered camp, but a big lookout on the brink of the steep descent saved me the job of searching. With views of whispy white clouds creeping up the valley, and greyer scattered rain clouds on the horizon I cooked my dinner in the fireplace unperturbed by the approaching rain.
#koprivshtitsa #bulgaria #travelvlog
Пікірлер: 80
A small village of my dreams... So beautiful😍😍
@helsonwheels
2 жыл бұрын
Oh I loved this place! 😍
MY PRETTY, BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL AND BELOVED BULGARIA! I MISS VERY MUCH MY BELOVED BULGARIA! NOWHERE IN THE WORLD THERE IS SUCH BEAUTY THAN IN BULGARIA!
@helsonwheels
Жыл бұрын
Yeah this was a very beautiful day in Bulgaria! 😍
By the way. When it comes to beer... On sunny days, Pirinsko (green bottle with a horse), in winter Shumensko (red bottle with a lion)
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
I’m drinking pironsko now! 🍻 😋
@stefanschiffer3555
3 жыл бұрын
@@helsonwheels наздраве!
What a stunning place! It looks like a movie set. And what a wonderful shelter you found as well. Na zdrowie!
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
Yesss! Great day! 😍😍
super gut!!!
@helsonwheels
2 жыл бұрын
🤣 wuh? 🤷🏻♀️
Macedonian is a dialect of Bulgarian, however it is considered a seperate language nowadays for political reason. But, historically and technically it is pure Bulgarian. Those terms you mentioned, burek, ajvar, and fasul - these are also used in Bulgarian so everyone can understand... Ajvar, Fasul and Burek are Turkish words, North Macedonia is stuck in the past, and they have been forcefully Serbianized. The Serbians use the Turkish terms for those things, and because of Yugoslavia, this is why they usethese terms today in North Macedonia. Ajvar and Lyutenitsa are two different things in Bulgaria, however Lyutenitsa is more popular. NA-ZDRA-VE is the correct pronunciation for Cheers in Bulgarian.. not Nazdarovie (this is Russian).
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
I’ve recently been taught to say аз искам in place of јас сакам too. I came here speaking (bad) Macedonian because I understood from Macedonians that Bulgarians believe it to be a dialect, so I hoped I wouldn’t cause offence by speaking a different language. But it’s been my experience in bulgaria that people often correct me saying something like “that’s Macedonian, not Bulgarian” so it’s very confusing to me!
@dayanbalevski4446
3 жыл бұрын
@@helsonwheels Everyone in Bulgaria understands Macedonia with no problems... sakam is a dialect form of iskam.. it is the same thing. The word pronunciation of sakam was recorded in regional Bulgarian dialects in Macedonia, since the 1800s. Like I said, today we consider the macedonian language as a political language... historically speaking, it was created in 1944 at the time when Yugoslavia took Macedonia from Bulgaria, and forcefully debulgarianized the population, who were majority bulgarians. The new language was based on thr Bulgarian foundations, and some of the vocabulary was replaced with Serbian words. At the time of Yugoslavia the country we know today as North Macedonia was known as "Vardarska Banovina". The term "Macedonian" and the idea of "Macedonianism" was imposed and forced by the Serbs onto the population, to distance them from their Bulgarian cultural heritage. This is why today, it is a hot topic to discuss these topics politcally. Bulgaria is vetoing North Macedonia based on historical issues in their text books which are falsified and not corroborated by any international historical documentation. Greece has been vetoing Macedonia for 30 years, because of similar historical disputes.
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
Very interesting! As I said, I am of course by no means qualified to have an opinion here! Naturally I heard a lot of the Macedonian side of things in Macedonia, so it’s interesting to hear the Bulgarian version too 😁 thanks!
@monkmarionson6287
3 жыл бұрын
@@helsonwheels On this peninsula, it's all history! Macedonia is a lost cause!
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
Awwww poor Macedonia! 😢
Wow! The vivid colors and the architecture is beautiful 😍. And you found another amazing camping spot - with a fireplace too!!! With those panoramic views and peaceful accommodations, I can see how the rain had no adverse effect on your day. Great vibes. Cheers 🙂
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
Fantastic day!! Even with rain 🌧☺️
@sunet6810
3 жыл бұрын
Oh I forget, these places are no "campsites", this places are used for community celebration and some smaller villages have village BBQ places and distills to make domaschna Rakia, one is between Melnik and Roshen ...
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
Oh I know it’s not an official campsite, but it served my purpose and I left without a trace 😇
@sunet6810
3 жыл бұрын
@@helsonwheels I'm sorry want to disturb you, but I rember my ride 7 years ago
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
No worries! Thanks for all the great advice!
Very nice camp site, ⛺️ 🌞
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
Yes!!! A great result!!
Ah... And you always try to eat schopska salata while drinking Rakia 😉 when you're on the coast, try "Tsatsa". Enjoy your time!
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
Yes! I like this salad and rakia thing! 👌🏼
I see you Like Rakia! I've tested a lot, and for me Karnobatska is the best, very mild! You should also try the "mastika" from peshtera... It's made of anis, similar to ouzo, but better.
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
I’ve had some mastika in Macedonia.. I didn’t love it... maybe I should give it another chance?...
@stefanschiffer3555
3 жыл бұрын
@@helsonwheels maybe I just drink too much and so I'm always looking for some diversification 😂😂😂 for sure "savoy" is a nice brand for booze. I like the gin and the dark rum🥃😜
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
I’m not sure about ouzo either.. I’d better learn to love it if I’m gonna spend 3 months in Greece.. 😁
@sunet6810
3 жыл бұрын
@@helsonwheels Sorry but than have a look at the next Freezer in a small shop for a little Mastika bottle or have some Tsipoura without Anis in northern greece
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
Oooh you can buy it from the freezer?! 🥶👌🏼
Hopefully you will visit Melnik, not that colourful as Ko priv sh itza and the bottle of Jambolska Rakia will be enough for two for a good ... have a good ride and good weather. You will find bjurek quick enough in Turkey and before you can see what is it named in Greece... but try to find a good homemade Ljutenutza and may be to late in the year but for a rainy cold day try some tsarska Turschia and grajna Rakia... Cheers Sune
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
Ahh I think I won’t get as far as Melnik though I hear it’s really beautiful... and yes I’m on the look out for good ljutenuza 😋
@sunet6810
3 жыл бұрын
@@helsonwheels okay so if you take the route through Batchkovo Monastery please have in mind there are two tunnels on the road, I'm sure you have light on your bike
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
I do, thanks for the warning though!
@dayanbalevski4446
3 жыл бұрын
@@helsonwheels try to visit the 7 rila lakes, the rila monastery. Ethnographic town of Etara, village of bozhentsi, village tryavna, they are all close to each other. There may be a few more in that area. Bacho Kiro cave. Plovdiv, Hisariya (Hadrians Wall), lots of things in that region. Seaside, depending on where you go. If you like historical sites, visit Beglik Tash monolithic compound. It is similar to stone hendge but older. Varna Panagyurishte Gold Treasure (Oldest Gold relics in the world). Lots and lots of places I can recommend but I would need to know your planned route. Hit me up if you want some ideas, I have been all over Bulgaria.
Hi can i be your wheel for a day? 😁I enjoyed watching your videos. Beautiful channel. Visit us in Danube river😍
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
I’d see a bit of the Danube... 🥰 but now it’s time to go south 🚴🏻♀️😄
Well done Miss Ozzy, you're pretty much pronouncing Koprivshtitsa like a local - honestly. That little bottle of rakia can easily knock you out though, so please be cautious :D
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
Wow really!! Thanks! I practiced! 😂 and yeah that rakia will last a few days!!
@ivs1326
3 жыл бұрын
@@helsonwheels It's not my cuppa tea rakia to be fair, hope you like it though. I'd recommend you give mastika a try, I'm sure it'll be well worthwhile xx
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
I didn’t love the Macedonian mastika.. maybe Bulgarian will be better... 😄
@ivs1326
3 жыл бұрын
@@helsonwheels Ah bless, well it's consumed ice cold, so it's probs best to try it at a restaurant - it'll still be very similar to the Macedonian one though, no doubt.
@helsonwheels
3 жыл бұрын
Mmmm maybe the one I had wasn’t cold enough...