Next Day

We left by motor coach for a full-day tour to Veliko Turnovo, the medieval capital of Bulgaria.

On entering Veliko Turnovo we stopped for coffee then proceeded up the narrow streets to Tsarevets - the place of the patriarchal church and royal palaces. Here we saw how the city forms a natural fortress, located on three hills surrounding the Yantra River. A palace, fortifications and churches were built into the terrain. Across the river, ancient stone houses that seem perched on top of each other rise up the steep riverbank.

We gradually worked our way back to the Samovodene Market which has been brought back to life. As in olden times, skillful craftsmen fashion and sell exquisite objects in the small restored workshops.

We headed out to Arbanassi Museum Town (What we would call a heritage park.) for a cultural lunch - traditional food and entertainment.

We watched them building one of their austere houses. Walking along besides street sellers we saw many homes resembling minor fortresses on the outside with high, solid walls and heavy gates, iron grids and secret hiding-places. Yet, they are spacious and comfortable, richly decorated and furnished on the inside.

The site includes the oldest of Arbanassi's five churches — The Birth of Christ (1637 - 1649), dug into the ground without a belfry and with hidden cupolas, but hiding a genuine art gallery with over 3,500 stunningly realistic figures and Biblical scenes, painted by unknown artists throughout the ages.

Following our visit to the church we continued our walk on our way to the museum

As dusk approached it was time to head back to our ship for another captain's dinner and our evening entertainment — Romanian folklore music.

Next Day

Cruising Across Europe — Index

Great Adventures