Gelatinized Pork Rinds
Until now, I had been buying vacuum-packed gelatinized pork rinds from the store, but they always tasted like rubber to me.
A Walk to Mount Klikach and the Oldest Pear Tree in Bulgaria
Mount Klikach (1,383 m) is an exceptionally panoramic peak located in the Vlakhina Mountains above the village of Gorno Leshko.
Winter Ascent of Mount Botev on Bulgaria’s National Day
For a long time, we had been thinking about doing a winter ascent of Mount Botev—the highest peak of the Balkan Mountains, rising to 2376 meters.
Winter Ascent of Mount Spanopolski Chukar
The time had come to do a winter ascent of Mount Spanopolski Chukar (2576 m). Last winter we only reached the Spano Pole shelter—we were a bit too lazy to continue upward, and not everyone in the group had snowshoes.
Winter Ascent of Musala Peak
A winter ascent of Musala Peak via its classic route: passing Musala Hut, the Musala Lakes, the Ice Lake Shelter, and then following the fixed steel rope to the highest peak in the Balkans — Musala (2,924 m).
Orthodox Fasting Calendar 2026
Here is the official fasting calendar of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church for 2026. Each year includes several multi-day fasts as well as regular one-day fasts. The longer fasting periods precede some of the major Christian feasts:
Pork Pacha Soup Recipe (Bulgarian Pork Jelly Soup)
Pork pacha is a traditional Bulgarian soup made from collagen-rich pork cuts such as feet, ears, tail, or head.
Tripe Soup
Tripe soup is a traditional dish in Balkan and Bulgarian cuisine. It is traditionally made from veal or lamb/kid tripe and seasoned with garlic vinegar and hot pepper.
Climbing Golyama Straza Peak in Pirin
Golyama Straza Peak is 2799 m high and is the eighth highest peak in Pirin. It is part of the Ushitsite (Straza) ridge, located between the peaks of Polezhan and Kaymakchal.