Veliko Turnovo and Independence Day

We rented a car and drove to a lovely city about 3 hours from here.  At least, it should have taken about 3 hours and ended up taking about 6.  The Google Maps app on the phone went a little crazy and routed us a weird way and then the road we were supposed to take was closed.  We had to back track a mile or so and then take a very small curvy road to our destination.  Oh well, another adventure.

We met Isabel and John for dinner, (she is a fellow Fulbrighter), and then walked to a spot where we watched a light show at the Fortress.  Very impressive!  This was Bulgarian Independence Day or Liberation Day.  Seems that Bulgaria was liberated a number of times over the years.

 

The next morning was rainy so Carol got some work done and when the rain abated we set out to find the artisan shopping street.  There were lots of fun little shops and Carol found a copper pot she really liked.  Here she is with the craftsman himself.

The next day we set out to see the fortress.  It was very impressive.  That spot occupied from the fourth millennium BC.  The second kingdom fell in 1393 and the fortress was reduced to rubble.  You can see the foundation and a few areas have been restored.

There was a huge monument that we could see from our hotel room. 

 I took the foot bridge across to see it up close.