My Travel Plans for 2023
Going back to where it all started, plus a few new destinations.
In 2023, I want to go back to where it all started. “It all” being the desire to travel the world, to explore, to experience, and to grow, which first took hold of me when I was growing up in a small village in my native Bulgaria.
Though I was born and grew up in Bulgaria, I haven’t had the chance to explore much of it. I left for the United States right after high school, to pursue higher education and a change of place. Also, I just really wanted to see the Rocky Mountains! And most of my travels as a kid I don’t really remember.
When in 2020 I found myself back in Bulgaria for six months, taking advantage of working remotely to spend longer than the usual 3 weeks with my family, the realization hit me that I hadn’t actually taken the time to explore my own homeland. Not at all.
Of course, in 2020, I couldn’t do major traveling while working from Bulgaria because 1) travel was restricted and 2) everything was closed for most of my time there.
That said, I was based in Plovdiv while working remotely and with the 7-hour time difference, I had my entire morning open before I started working. [By the way, I loved that arrangement! It felt as if I had each day to myself, even though I still worked. I knew even then that I wasn’t going back to in-person work.]
So I walked, a lot, and for the first time, I felt like I really knew the place, though I had lived in the city for five years in high school. I’m excited to share more on what I discovered during my walks in future articles :)
In addition to getting to know Plovdiv, I also enjoyed a few short visits to locations near Plovdiv and near the village where I grew up.
Asen’s Fortress
Asen’s Fortress was a perfect destination for someone who didn’t start working until 3pm. It’s close to Plovdiv and there are buses between the two locations almost every hour. The bus ticket is cheap and the ride takes about 30 minutes.
From the bus station in Asenovgrad, I walked to Asen’s Fortress, taking a route by the river, in the direction of the mountains.
Because I arrived right as they opened, and it was November, during a pandemic, I was the only one there, so I really got to enjoy the place. I’ve visited before, but it’s always been crowded.
Hisarya
Another location I got to see more of is the town of Hisarya. As a kid, I visited Hisarya quite often but there’s nothing better than leaving your country for 20 years to make you appreciate the history and value of your own backyard.
Hisarya is famous for its many hot springs as well, which made it a popular resort even in Roman times, and today, people visit from the entire region to fill giant bottles with mineral drinking water to take home. It’s freely available at the many springs throughout town and it’s said to have numerous healing powers.
I also discovered another cool location, just a short drive from the village I grew up in, but I’m planning a separate article focused just on it, so you’ll just have to wait to read it!
Visiting the above places, so close to where I grew up, and enjoying them as if I’d never been there before sealed the deal, and I now know I have to go back and discover my own native land.
For a small country, Bulgaria has much to offer in terms of nature, culture, and history, and I can’t wait to explore more of it.
One specific example of a travel dream I have related to Bulgaria is to visit all its monasteries (more than 120!). My grandfather Yordan used to tell me stories about traveling from monastery to monastery, staying overnight, and ever since then, I’ve wanted to do the same. I don’t think I can visit all this year, but I’m making plans to visit a few I haven’t visited yet.
Because I’m suddenly experiencing my own country with new eyes, it’s an absolute thrill to read about the experiences of those who were not born there. This is why I’ve enjoyed so much the reflections and stories shared by Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages. Some make me feel nostalgic and others reinforce my desire to dive into learning and experiencing my homeland.
Here’s one of my favorite pieces she’s written:
The northern part of Bulgaria is like a mystery to me since I grew up in the south, so Veliko Tarnovo is high on my list of locations to visit and learn more about. Now that I think about it, my teachers should have just taken us on school trips there instead of teaching us Bulgarian history from books :)
In addition to exploring my native land, I’m excited to visit a few locations in Europe I haven’t been to before and a few I’ve been to but would love to see more of.
- Switzerland
A friend and a climbing buddy from the United States recently moved to Switzerland to pursue doctoral studies, and we are already making plans for all the hiking we’ll do when I visit her. Swiss Alps, here I come!
2. Germany
I’ve visited Germany a couple of times before, specifically Munich and Hamburg. When a high school friend is getting married, however, it’s an opportunity to go back and check out a new location.
3. Spain
I’ve been in Madrid, Spain, since last November but haven’t done much wandering about because of family commitments, so I’d love to do more of that in 2023. I hope to at least see more of Madrid, which was quite rainy for the first month or so I was here but is getting sunnier in the new year.
A globetrotter who’s increasing my desire to explore more of Spain, not just Madrid, is Kim Baker. In fact, I have close family who lives in the country now and in the two months I’ve been visiting, I have started to think that perhaps I should choose Spain as a destination to live in long-term.
I appreciate Kim’s focus on slow travel and staying in places long-term and it’s making me realize I am that kind of person, too. Her 2-part stories on life in a small village in Spain stirred something and maybe 2023 becomes the year I choose a new location to call home.
Here’s to a year full of exploration, learning, and growth! Whether going back to what should be familiar or venturing onto new locations.
