Lyulin mountain and “Bonsovi” meadows (14 June 2014)

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Lyulin mountain and Bonsovi meadows

This is one of the most underestimated mountains around Sofia. You simply need to see it.

When you have good guide (like me) to show you the area at least once – you will fall in love.

There are plenty of herbs laying around for gathering and many beautiful places to take photos. Rarely anyone is seen walking. Serenity and peace.

Part of the day was rainy and foggy, but we managed to get the maximum from both weather and terrain.

The friendly dog followed us and took some of the food scraps 🙂 we didn’t mind him at all.

The meadow is accessible via car as well, but the walking there is much better and rewarding.

Люлинска планина и бонсови поляни.

Това е една много подценявана планина, която просто трябва да се види.

Ако имате добър водач през пътеките (като мен, хехе) – елате и я вижте поне веднъж. Ще се влюбите.

Има куп билки за събиране, ако това ви харесва. Множество интересни гледки за снимане към Перник, София, Витоша (копитото се вижда като на длан). Рядко срещате повече от двама души по цялата пътека. Мир и спокойствие.

Част от деня беше мъглива и дъждовна, но това не ни отказа. Грабихме с шепи и от деня и от гледките.

Дружелюбният пес на снимките ни изпрати през целият път и си хапна остатъци от сандвичи. Нямахме нищо против 🙂

Самата поляна около хижа “Бонсови поляни” е достъпна и с автомобил от Горна Баня, но препоръчвам да се доберете до нея пеш.

Много по-добро усещане в края на деня, когато седнете на биричка с картофки.


From Svogue town to Thompson station via Ceria peak (08 June 2014)

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Even if it is the middle of June, the plateau above Svogue is still in the beginning of the Spring season.

I managed to shoot a lot of flora and fauna in this small 5-hour trip. Including Horse, stray Siamese cat, very brave Lizard sitting next to the train line, lonely Hawk, 2 resting goats, brave centipede who wanted to drink from my water and plenty of bugs.

Wild violas are currently still starting to bloom in the plateau and I got just 1-2 frames, but there was plenty of Thyme just laying around for the picking (excellent herbal tea) and many wild strawberries just laying near the roads.

I found also a dozen of Giant puffballs (mushroom named Calvatia gigantea) but only 1 of them was still edible, the others were already in a gestational phase (sporing out) so I discarded it (did not pick it up).

The water in the “Botev” memorial fountain was dry, there was only some left in the basin, so we poured water from the nearby village and left towards the peak.

20 minutes walk from the Ceria peak, there is excellent wooden gazebo for resting, so we opened a galon of beer and had a rest before we got down to Thompson train station, following the path of 2 enthusiast bikers.

Excellent 1-day mountain trip. Drop me a message if you want details how to do it yourself.

The 7 Rila lakes – 12 August 2012.

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The Seven Rila lakes is undoubtedly one of the most impressive natural mountain lakes in the Balkans. A place of fable you should see at least once. Their beauty attract all Bulgarians and many foreigners who loved it just by seeing pictures.The seven lakes are huddled in the northwest slope of Rila mountain. They are formed by glacial melting of the circus. The lakes are filled by water siphoned from the peaks “Dry chal”, “Otovishki” and “Charamiya”.All lakes are named for their form. Their ordinary names are:

  • The eye (deepest one – 37.5 metres ~ 12 store building)
  • The kidney.
  • The tear (2535 metres Above Sea Level)
  • The twin (looks more like a hourglass, but in dry months it divides into 2 lakes – hence the name)
  • Three-leaved lake
  • The fish lake (near the hut) and
  • The down lake (“only” 2095 metres above sea level)

Most of the lakes are having small fishes. Trout and minnow. But they grow really tiny due to the lack of food and chilly winter.

The Universal White Brotherhood (a New Age-oriented religious movement) are coming here each year on August 19 to celebrate their Paneurhythmy (new-year’s celebration according to them). They gather in huge human circles, everyone dressed in white and dance slowly while the sun raises.

The legend about the 7 lakes tells the following story: “Thousands of years ago, when the earth was still not inhabited by humans, in the mountain of Rila – 2 giants lived. Man and woman. They were loving each-other without merits, without conditions.

They loved their home. So sunny, warm and cozy – no being can remain uncharmed.

Unfortunately, one day, the elements got jealous of their love and comfort and sent them dark clouds and strong winds. Strong quakes started to tremble below their abode.

Male giant protected viciously each and every critter, each and every blade of grass, each and every stream of water.

This only made the elements more determined to destroy the love of the giants.

In the battle against the elements, the giant withered and eventually fell.

Satisfied, the elements left the devastation and the mourning wife.

She was so sad and shriven – her tears never stopped flowing. From her tears flowing on the mountain slopes, 7 lakes were formed with such purity that can strike even the dark hearted.

There is a big rock before the “Kidney” lake with forms of the 2 giants. The mountain guides claim those are the giants, petrified in the stone to remain in silent vigil for their lost home.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Rila_Lakes