R & R in Melnik, Bulgaria

Here's a little secret: as awesome as it is to travel long-term, it can be pretty tiring at times. The steady stream of buses and museums and meeting new people and trying out new languages-- it adds up! We decided that we needed a little vacation from our travels, so after touring through Plovdiv and Sofia, we headed to the tiny little town of Melnik, Bulgaria.

Melnik on a map

The town is incredibly small, with just a few hundred residents. We were were lured there by promises of wine, mountains, and peace and quiet. Melnik delivered.

Once our bus dropped us off in front of the only street in town, we wandered for a few minutes, trying to determine the best place to stay. Tom saw a big hotel up on a hill and suggested we check it out.

He made it to the top a minute before I did. By the time I walked into the lobby, Tom had transformed into a kid begging for a puppy. But instead, he was begging for a hotel room. "They have a steam room! And a jacuzzi!"

Sold.

Our hotel at the top of the hill

Strolling around town

We spent the next few days steaming, hiking in the lovely mountains, and eating great food at the restaurants that lined town.

Streets of little Melnik

Tiny bridges connected the two sides of "town"

Cool landscape just a short hike from town

Forests

One day, we went for a tour of an old wine cellar and paid about $1 for the tour and wine tasting. And though the wine wasn't anything to write home about (and yet, here we are), the ambiance in the old wine cellar was really neat. And, as hard as we tried, we couldn't get the nice man to stop pouring us (free) wine. After several glasses of wine, we finally had the courage to sneak out while his back was turned.

Old Bulgarian home

Barrels in the wine cellar

Creeping around the wine cellar

This little corner of Bulgaria is exceptionally beautiful. If you decide to visit, rent a car to tour around the rolling vineyards and quaint little towns. We were able to see a lot by bus, but we could've preserved a bit more of the rest and relaxation if we had our own wheels!

-R