Like much of the Slavic world, Bulgaria uses the Cyrillic alphabet. 4:24. Travel with Rick on this video guide up the Nile River in Egypt and find out what to do on your next trip. We'll trace the country's complex history, from ancient Thracian tombs to medieval Orthodox Christian monasteries to Soviet monuments. It's never too late to enjoy Rick's live Monday Night Travel party with our weekly video recordings. With a complex weave of modern affluence, Western secularism, and traditional Muslim faith, it's a dynamic and stimulating city, well worth experiencing. And the theater remains part of the community to this day. Stefan: Yes, actually — you're right. Tarnovo was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, which was the medieval high-water mark of Bulgarian civilization. The 175-foot-tall steeple, flanked by bulbous golden onion domes that shimmer in the sunshine, holds a giant bell cast from discarded artillery cartridges after the battle. see our FAQ. Stefan: Ne [nods]. Bulgaria, so mysterious to most Americans, has a vivid identity as a crossroads of the Balkans. Rick Steves is an explorer at heart, so it should come as little surprise that he is finding unexpected joy in the midst of an awful situation. Sofia has lots of sprawling parks, offering apartment dwellers a green and inviting space to hang out. Rick: Now, this is funny in Bulgaria — you went "yes," like… [swivels head around] Down in the valley, golden domes mark Shipka Church, which honors the sacrifice of those Russian and Bulgarian troops. Rashko paints icons with a delicate touch. The town's hillsides are blanketed with both traditional homes and dreary concrete housing blocks. Some of Europe's best surprises are its islands. So many flowers and so much hard work. Rick Steves started his professional career by teaching travel classes in The Experimental College. Rick Steves was born in Barstow, California, United States. Don't miss the boat! Rick and wife. With Rick Steves, Andreas Clemens, Georg Reichlmayr, Holger Zimmer. Terms of Service | Privacy, previous recordings of Monday Night Travel, Watch with Rick Steves — Great European Festivals, Watch with Rick Steves — Ethiopia: A Development Story, Holiday Special! The Thracians were an impressive civilization. Every day commuters walk by reminders of Sofia's distant past. Thanks for joining us. It's the only national church I can think of that's named for a sainted military hero of a different country: Alexander Nevsky, of Russia. Rick: To your health — nazdráve! And many of the parks come with heavy reminders of a tough 20th century. They also have two children, Andy Steves, and Jackie Steves. Boyadzhiev's best works feature timeless slices of peasant life: Back in pagan times, people prayed not in temples, but under trees. Today, these statues seem to preach their outdated ideology only to each other. He hosts tours, publishes guidebooks, speaks at … The monastery is still home to a handful of monks, who host both tourists and pilgrims. But a recent initiative to pedestrianize and cobble the streets has turned the area into a hipster paradise. One of Europe's most dramatically set cities, it winds through a misty gorge at a sharp bend of the Yantra River. Todor the silversmith — with his strong hands and distinctive technique — transforms strips and strands of metal into exquisite jewelry. Rick Steves, America's leading authority on European travel, returns to transport viewers to the continent's bustling cities, quaint villages and picturesque countryside. Thanks for joining us. Explore Europe with Rick Steves, best-selling travel author and host of public television's "Rick Steves' Europe" and public radio's "Travel with Rick Steves." And today, while enthusiastically part of the EU, Bulgaria still wrestles with its communist legacy. [shaking head] A crossroads of civilizations, it offers a fascinating story. So this is like the…you could say, the "Jerusalem" for the Bulgarian people. Sicily serves up a full-bodied and tasty travel experience. Fun to see Youtube video with Rick Steves and Fred Plotkin . The Bulgarians feel a Slavic kinship with Russia — which, in 1878, helped liberate them from centuries of Ottoman rule. see our FAQ. 2:17. Rick: Nazdráve! Rick Steves's net worth is around $10 million. [nods]. Finally, we reach Rila Monastery: fortress on the outside…spiritual sanctuary inside. A place where East and West mix harmoniously. One of the largest Orthodox churches in Christendom--and the only national church I can think of that's named for an important saint of a different country: Russia. Until next time, keep on travelin'. Create custom playlists with more than 400 educational clips featuring the best of European history, art, culture, and experiences (plus topics beyond Europe). 5.0 out of 5 stars 14. Relatively unknown and underappreciated, Bulgaria is a country I've long enjoyed for the surprises it offers the curious traveler. Should they be allowed to stand, or should they be torn down? The iconic church is surrounded by a graceful arcade. Boyadzhiev — this is a self-portrait, with his wife — was already a well-established artist when his health took a terrible turn. Rick: So, "no" [nods]…"yes" [shakes head] — yes? And this replica tomb demonstrates how even in the afterlife, the deceased would be surrounded by comforting images. The wedding was conducted in St Thomas of Villanova, and the reception took place at Saint David Gold Club. Rick: You got Mediterranean — so it's a little bit of Greece, a little bit of Turkey, and a lot of Bulgaria. Stefan: Yeah… And these ruins have been artfully integrated into 21st-century life. We've learned a lot about them through their tombs. From Sofia, we visit Rila Monastery, head north to Veliko Tarnovo, explore the Thracian Plain, and finish in Plovdiv. Here in Sofia, within a few steps, you've got mosques, churches, and a synagogue. And on the top of it we have races with chariots, which is a part of a funeral procession. Did you come here as a child? Watch with Rick Steves — European Christmas, Watch with Rick Steves — Egypt's Nile, Alexandria, and Luxor, Watch with Rick Steves — Germany's Fascist Story, Watch with Rick Steves — French Alps and Lyon, Watch with Rick Steves — Austrian and Italian Alps. Over the next 25 years, he reveled in bright colors with a childlike exuberance, slapping thick, Van Gogh–like brushstrokes onto the canvas. Plan your own trip or take one of Rick's value-packed European tours and vacations. It was ruled by the Asen dynasty. A block away is one of Europe's largest synagogues. This bronze head of a powerful king humanizes those ancient Thracians. Most Bulgarians — like Russians and Greeks — are Orthodox Christians, and the Orthodox tradition stretches from here far to the East. Rick: It's warm… Stepping inside, you enter a world of glittering icons, a rich haze of incense, and hundreds of tall, skinny candles. Peasant women clustered around a fire, knitting as they eke out warmth. That was so good. Posted on June 4, 2020 by Rick Steves Rewatching The Story of Fascism in Europe One summer evening, the American president ordered a park next to the White House to be cleared of peaceful protesters. Although the couple is separated, Rick is … 4.0 out of 5 stars 42. Sofia may be the capital of one of the poorest countries in the European Union, but you wouldn't know it strolling its vibrant boulevards. This pivotal battle led to the eventual demise of the Ottoman Empire, and to the creation of the modern, independent country of Bulgaria. From ancient Greeks and Romans to fearsome Slavic warriors, from Ottoman pashas to Cold War communists, each left its mark. For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, Go behind the camera with Rick and his crew for the shoot of his 2006 Milan and Lake Como episode as Rick shares all the tricks of his trade in TV production. If you don't get in, you can catch a recording of the event on this webpage the next day. Newly revitalized, this artsy district is where foodies and creative young people congregate. Centuries later, the Roman Emperor Trajan built this 5,000-seat theater. Locals sit around a public fountain sipping glasses of wine. Video: Watch "Egypt's Nile, Alexandria, and Luxor," an episode of the Rick Steves' Europe TV show. It's lined with saints, including the church's namesake, Alexander Nevsky. The stage wall is mostly intact. Even amid a pandemic that has hit the travel industry hard, Steves … Rick Steves with family (Photo: Pinterest) Because of his unsuccessful marriage, his fans professed him as gay. The city is named for "holy wisdom," represented by this statue of Sveta Sofia. And today, flowers are laid at a monument to Cyril and Methodius, the missionary saints who invented the Cyrillic script to help introduce Christianity to the Slavs back in the ninth century. These scenes show the 40 days of trials your soul goes through after death. For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, While the fields smell sweet, the work is hard. We'll dine on fresh seafood at the fisherman's harbor in Cefalù, ponder ancient Greek greatness in Siracusa, commune with monks alive and departed in a Capuchin crypt, sleep in an olive orchard at an agriturismo, and eat our way through a classic Sicilian banquet with a famous chef. At the top of Shipka Pass, a memorial marks the site where, in 1877, a combined Bulgarian and Russian army finally turned the tide in the battle against the Ottomans. Stefan: Yes, yes, of course. And the city even has an actual yellow-brick road. In 1951, he suffered a stroke that rendered his right hand useless. Here's St. John of Rila, who, seeking a hermetic way of life, founded this remote monastery in the year 927. Bulgaria's capital, Sofia is delightfully livable. Get YouTube Premium Get YouTube TV Best of YouTube Music Sports Gaming Movies TV Shows ... VOLTERRA on Italy's Great Hill Towns by Rick Steves by VolterraTelevision. ©2021 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Stefan: Ne. I'm Rick Steves. With the end of the Cold War and the arrival of capitalism, Buzludzha was abandoned. This zone also has more than its share of creative, government-subsidized graffiti. With glittering treasures from ancient tombs and decrepit monuments to a difficult 20th century, it's a surprising land where this means yes…. ET | REGISTER. And to this day, these perpetually flowing water taps are appreciated by the locals. The ancient Greeks dubbed it Philippopolis (for the father of Alexander the Great), and the Romans called it Trimontium (for the "three hills" it was built upon). A guardian angel accompanies the soul — represented by a small child — through a gauntlet of temptations. Also known as "The Mousetrap," this district was once a dreary, deserted, and dangerous quarter. Plovdiv is a city with many personalities, built upon layers of history: Under the 14th-century Ottoman mosque, they've excavated an ancient stadium. This island-hopping adventure comes with remote beaches, Crusader castles, a Blue Lagoon, pre-historic wonders, and salty traditional island lifestyles. Prime Video $0.00 with a Prime membership. The heart of every single Bulgarian belongs to this place, belongs to this monastery here. Rick: So it's unusual for me to have the firewater with the salad. Everything you need is here. And it seems the entire town has turned out for the event. Stefan: This is a traditional Bulgarian drink, and it is called "rakia." To find the road up, look for the turnoff along the main road between Kazanlak and Shipka, marked by the stoic communist-era statue standing by a pillar. The interior is an eerie, crumbling world of vandalized propaganda, muddy asbestos, a roof that's barely held up by its hammer and sickle, and disintegrating mosaics — once so proud, and now just a humble artifact of a fallen empire. Credits: Rick: Hi, I'm Rick Steves, back with more of the Best of Europe. And Georgi Dimitrov, the "Bulgarian Lenin," is simply ignored. The streets are lined with bars, cafés, and creative galleries (look for PLOVEdiv, with prints that put a whimsical pop-culture spin on old communist icons). In this garden of communist propaganda, Lenin, who once topped the main pillar in the center of town, still faces the storm. American travel authority Rick Steves guides viewers through his favorite European cities. This time I'm surrounded by Slavic culture…it's Bulgaria! I'm joined by my Bulgarian friend and fellow tour guide, Stefan Bozadzhiev, who's my teacher for all things Bulgarian — including some fun little insights. The bricks lead to Sofia's cathedral — one of the largest Orthodox churches in Christendom. Join Rick's live Monday Night Travel party! Stefan: Yes. At the distillery, millions of blooms are quickly unloaded. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Between the Thracian Plain and Veliko Tarnovo run the Balkan Mountains. The monastery was founded in the 930s by Bulgaria's patron saint, St. John of Rila (or Ivan Rilski, as Bulgarians call him), who came here seeking a hermetic way of life. A walk along Veliko Tarnovo's craft street reveals a thriving folk culture with opportunities to watch artisans at work. In this town that's more vertical than horizontal, going for a walk around the block feels like climbing a ladder. Rick: So, why is Rila so important to the Bulgarian people? Rick: So what is this drink then? There we go. The payoff: a wide variety of rose oil products, appreciated both abroad, and at home. This bell tower, the oldest surviving part of the monastery, served as a final refuge in case of attack. Thracians buried their royalty in distinctive, dome-shaped tombs that were covered in earth. The church is dedicated to Russian soldiers lost in that fight.) Under the arcade, vivid 19th-century frescoes depict Bible stories, peopled by angels and devils, saints and sinners. 2014 | TV-G | CC. 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