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Backpacking the Albanian Alps: Europe’s Hidden Gem
“Albania?!” That’s pretty much the response I got from my friends and family when I told them I’d be making my way through this Balkan nation. And I’ll admit, prior to my trip, I knew nothing about Albania; I had no preconceived notion about the country and had no idea what to expect. Why Albania? Well, I was in North Macedonia on vacation and saw Albania was just a few hours drive from the city I was in, so I figured I’d make my way through. Not to mention, Albania, along with North Macedonia, were two of the few countries that accepted American tourists during the Covid pandemic. After a…
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Backpacking through North Macedonia
Although my goal is to travel to each country on earth, I never could’ve imagined I’d be in North Macedonia this early in my journey. So, how did I end up here? Well, due to Covid, American citizens were severely limited from visiting much of the world, except North Macedonia and a few other countries. It didn’t take much to convince me to head over to the Balkans again, especially since my first experience in Bulgaria wasn’t too great. I decided to give the region another shot. You may be wondering, “What is there to even see or do in North Macedonia?” It obviously isn’t as jam packed as its…
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Traveling Through Minsk, Belarus
Belarus is one of the most mysterious countries in Europe. This former Soviet nation, which borders Russia and Ukraine, is often regarded as “Europe’s Last Dictatorship.” For the longest time, travel to Belarus was quite restricted, as visas were hard to obtain, but lately, things have opened up. Despite the relaxed visa policy, Belarus still falls short in attracting foreign tourists, especially compared to their European counterparts. In February, I had the opportunity to visit Belarus for a few days. One of the first things I noticed was the lack of tourists. In fact, I didn’t see a non-white person the entire time I was there. But strangely enough, nobody…
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How to Spend a Layover in Brussels, Belgium
I had no intentions of visiting Brussels, but with only an hour to deboard the plane, retrieve my luggage, and recheck it, the chances of catching my flight to Washington D.C. were slim. And, as expected, I missed my flight (first time ever too!) With the next flight leaving the following day, I had a full 24 hours to explore. Suddenly, missing my flight didn’t seem so bad after all. I booked a room at the Marriott and took an Uber into the city, which was only 30 minutes away. Aside from chocolate and beer, I knew nothing about Belgium, so my expectations were low. With Belgium being such a…
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How to Get to Rila Monastery
Rila Monastery is one of the most iconic places in Bulgaria and one of the biggest tourist destinations in the country. Travelers often book group tours through their hotel, but I recommend you travel here by yourself if you’re looking to save money. Here’s how to get to Rila Monastery and what to expect. There is a 1 daily bus at 10:20 from the West bus station (Ovcha Kupel). The bus arrives at 1:00 and departs again for Sofia at 3:00. The bus costs 22 Bulgaria Lira one way. Halfway to Rila you’ll make a stop for about an hour or so in a small town. There is nothing to…
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Free Tour in Plovdiv
Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in the world and my favorite in Bulgaria. From Sofia Central Bus Station, I purchased a bus ticket for $10 lev. Plovdiv is a chill city and seems more like a place for backpackers. Like Sofia, there is also a free tour in Plovdiv, which I took advantage of. Here’s what to expect. Free Plovdiv Tour Departure Time: Every day at 11am and 6pm (May to Sept) 2pm (from October to April) Meeting Place: Municipality building on Plovdiv’s main street Duration: 2 hours The tour guide was pretty unenthusiastic, but the actual sites were incredible. Compared to the capital Sofia, Plovdiv was more vibrant…
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Free Tours in Sofia
Of all countries, my first European adventure was Bulgaria, a country 99% of the world couldn’t pinpoint on a map if their life depended on it. I didn’t know much about Bulgaria other than it was in Eastern Europe and was known for yogurt. When I checked in my hotel, I stumbled across a brochure for two free tours in Sofia. The “Free Sofia Tour” and “Balkan Bites Tour.” Seeing how I didn’t have any plans, I figure I’d take advantage. Free Sofia City Tour Departure Time: November-March 11 AM and 6PM. Three times a day 10 AM/11 AM/6PM the rest of the year. Meeting Place: Palace of Justice Duration: 2 hours. Here…
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How to Get from Istanbul to Bulgaria
Getting from Istanbul to Bulgaria is quite simple, cheap, and convenient. From Otagar international coach terminal (Aksaray metro stop) in Istanbul you can purchase your ticket. There are several companies, but I went with Metro, which is probably your best bet. A one way ticket costs 75 Turkish Lira ($21 as of 2016) and leaves several times a day. I opted for the bus departing at 10:30 PM. I purchased the ticket in the morning and was able to leave my luggage at the station. The Journey to Bulgaria The bus itself was pretty nice, but a little too cold for me. Definitely bring a jacket regardless of the season. When…
