Visiting Sofia - 26th May- 30th May2010
For the fourth meeting partners met in Sofia the capital of Bulgaria.
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After partners – this time with children from Poland and Turkey - had arrived during Wednesday the 26th in Sofia, the official programme started on Thursday morning, with a bus tour to the centre of Sofia. First the Aleksander Nevski cathedral, one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, was visited. Afterwards the group walked to Hagia Sophia Church (Sveta Sofia) the second oldest church in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, dating back to the 6th century CE. |
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Passing magnificent old buildings, such as the Russian Church, members strolled to the Presidental Palace. The archaeological museum and parliament were also nearby. The Presidental Palace is home of the Bulgarian president. Every hour one can see the changing of the guards. The inner court of the presidental palace is like the courtyard of a hotel. Situated here is the Church of St George (Rotonda "Sveti Georgi"). It is an Early Christian red brick rotunda that is considered the oldest building in Sofia. Magnificent frescoes of 22 prophets over 2 metres tall crown the dome. |
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Before lunch the group visited the impressing Boyana Church in the foothills of the Vitosa-mountains. Eight scenes in the narthex depict the life of Saint Nicholas. After a typical Bulgarian lunch with sopska Salata (tomatoes, cucumbers covered with rasped sheep cheese) a bus took the group to the National Historical Museum of Boyana. For dinner the group went to a typical Bulgarian restaurant with live music. |
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Friday was the day to visit the school. Pupils and teachers welcomed all members warmly and bread and salt were offered at the entrance-door. Partners divided into groups (two delegations together) and visited classes. Pupils prepared dances, handicrafts, songs and wanted to know many things from their visitors. After a short break, school members arranged a concert, many different dances (folkloristic and modern) were seen and a great range of songs were heard. Bulgarian people are very enthusiastic about all music and dance. |
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In the afternoon coordinators met for working-meeting. In the evening again the group went to a typical Bulgarian restaurant with more live music. Early on Saturday morning the group set off for a tour of Plovdiv. On the way the bus stopped at Asenova Krepost (Asen's Fortress), a medieval fortress in the Bulgarian Rhodope Mountains, on a high rocky ridge on the left bank of the Asenitsa River. As well the Bachkovo Monastery, an important monument of Christian architecture and one of the largest and oldest Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Europe was visited. |
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| After lunch in a spectacular restaurant Plovdiv was reached. Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC. Known in the West, for most of its history, by its Greek name Philippopolis, it was originally a Thracian settlement before becoming a major Roman city. There are many remains preserved from Antiquity such as the Ancient amphitheatre, Roman odeon, Roman Stadium, the archaeological complex Eirene and others. |  |
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In the evening to close the activities in Bulgaria the hotel invited all – visitors and teachers – to a buffet. Bulgarian teachers tried to teach their guests folk dances like the Horo. The mobility ended with much fun. All partners were impressed by all things they had seen and thank the host for their great hospitality. |
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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
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