Relentless Journey to the East: The Mountain Town of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Walking along the ancient street 'Samovodska charshia' in Veliko Tarnovo, you will blend in and feel the leisurely charm of this mountain town. 🏞 Veliko Tarnovo is a typical mountain town with a terrain somewhat similar to Chongqing, built on the slopes of a mountain and divided into an upper and lower town. Most of the hotels and houses on the streets are old buildings, with lobbies on the street level and guest rooms below, from where you can see the lower town and the meandering Yantra River. 🍾 The Old Market of the Fortress Town: The 19th century was the largest commercial district in the town, and today it has become the most artistic spot in Veliko Tarnovo. Inside the preserved old buildings along the street are various cafes, restaurants, handicraft shops, and souvenir shops. The rose water series here is very famous, and many shops have it. You can also find many local artists' handicrafts and uniquely designed high-end jewelry here, which are very special and pleasing to the eye. 📈 Following a small path from the old market up to the top of the upper town, along the way are the red-roofed cottages of the locals, as well as small chapels, and even the cats and dogs are very gentle and adorable. The view from the top of the mountain is also excellent, overlooking the city of Veliko Tarnovo. The residents have planted roses🌹 and other flowers in front of and behind their houses. The Bulgarian Rose Festival is on the first Sunday of June, so we came just in time for the warm-up. Fortunately, we also encountered a couple exchanging rings under the rose tree, truly letting love bloom in the ancient capital of Bulgaria, feeling warm all over, making the trip worthwhile.