OKOKUZITHOKOZISA KWE-AIRBNB
Izinto ezingavamile ongazenza e-Balkan Mountains
Bhukha izinto ezenziwayo ezingenakulibaleka ezibungazwa abantu bendawo ku-Airbnb.
Okwenziwayo okusezingeni eliphezulu
Cook and Eat Bulgaria
I will take you on a culinary adventure of the national Bulgarian cuisine.
We will prepare seasonal meals and use fresh and locally grown products from the small local grocery stores.
Together we will cook a hands-on four-course, traditional Bulgarian meal, including banitsa, a main dish, a salad or a soup, and a light dessert.
We will start with the preparation of the classic pastry for banitsa from scratch while talking about mystical Bulgarian food and culture habits stories.
Our soup will be traditional Bulgarian cold soup - Tarator (we will cook it only when cucumbers are tasty and in season - spring, summer or early autumn time, for the wintertime we will prepare a winter salad) followed by the main course, which will be based on your food preferences (vegetarian or classic meat dish) and finishing with delicious Bulgarian yogurt dessert with homegrown/made ingredients.
You will have the chance to learn classic recipes and secret tips for mastering Bulgarian cuisine.
I will be happy to share with you products grown in my family's back yard with a lot of love and care, like homemade alcoholic drinks and classic Bulgarian preserves.
Other things to note
Vegetarian and Vegan options are available upon request. Please, inform me about any food allergies.
Street Art & Graffiti Tour
Step off the beaten path and join us for an alternative tour exploring the city’s street art and graffiti, to get a unique introduction into the fascinating history of one of Europe’s most intriguing capitals.
This tour is designed with adventurous, alternative travelers in mind who are looking for an unconventional, fun, and colorful way of experiencing Bucharest.
We’ll take you through charming backstreets and hidden corners, where you’d never guess you’d find fascinating street art and beautiful 19th century architecture, hidden away from the tourist trail.
The highlight of the tour is discovering murals and street art in the most unexpected places.
Then go on to discover secret summer gardens, hip local hangouts and more captivating architecture.
Life under Communism
In this 3-hour journey, you will learn about the major landmarks and events in the Communist history of Bucharest, the violent beginnings of the Communist regime, the nationalization and forced demolition of thousands of houses, the People's House (currently, the Palace of the Parliament), dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his megalomania, and the bloody anti-Communist revolution of 1989.
The experience tells the story of the conflict between two worlds -- a brutalized Bucharest under the Communist regime, and the peaceful and prosperous Bucharest of the interwar period. You will learn about why Bucharest is such a striking mix of very different architectural styles, how each regime has left its mark on the city, how the city looked, and what its inhabitants went through in their daily lives under Communism. You will re-live the emotions of the anti-Communist Revolution and the fall of the Iron Curtain.
We'll explore:
> Historic Cosbuc and Uranus neighborhoods
> Antim Monastery, the Nuns' Convent
> The Palace of the Parliament
> The former Boulevard of the Victory of Socialism
> Former headquarters of Securitate
> Revolution Square.
Great for groups, as well as for individual travelers.
Wines & cheese tasting from Bulgaria
I will introduce you 5 types of the most popular Bulgarian wines from local grapes as well as two types of local cheesе. Along the tasting I'll recount you about our wine regions and the history. Our customers are some of the best restaurants in Sofia, so a recommendation for your next gourmet experience in Sofia will be provided to you at the end of the tasting. All you need to do is to enjoy the true essence of Bulgarian wines and cheesе.
Bohemian quarters, food & market tour
Ours will be a cultural excursion set around good food, and architecture — just as any food tour should be!
I will first introduce you to two of my favorite neighborhoods: The Armenian Quarter and the Jewish Quarter. This area simply screams Bucharest with its multi-cultural history, amazing hidden gardens, and 19th century eclectic architecture. We'll make several stops on the way, including an achingly cool ruin bar for a Romanian platter with a story to tell. We may suggest some great Romanian Craft beer for you to get alongside this spread or traditional appetizers.
And because the best way to know a city is through the belly, we'll hop on a vintage tram and journey to the city's liveliest market: Obor. Well hidden inside a brutal communist neighborhood, surrounded by utopian blocks of flats, this very old market truly feeds the soul and gut of Bucharest. Someone told me once that beer makes history better, that's why we'll start our exploring at the nice people of Terasa Obor to get a few tasty and very famous "mici"- Romania's proud meaty contribution to the world of mouthwatering street-food. Vegetarians will not be disappointed either as local cheeses and fresh vegetables will complete this rustic feast.
Other things to note
Please let me know of any dietary restrictions at the time of booking.
Check up on the meeting point before the tour, or else write or call and please be on time.
Don't hold back with your questions:)
Konke okwenziwayo eduze ne-Balkan Mountains
Wine tasting in heart of Sofia!
During your personal tasting experience I will guide you through the distinctive world of Bulgarian wines. Although Bulgaria has been producing wine for 5000 years it is still relatively unknown to the rest of the world. Now a rising new generation of Bulgarian boutique winemakers are devoted to the craft and bringing new attention to our country.
You will taste 5 wine varieties of local grapes unique to Bulgaria, that can not be found anywhere else: Miskets, Melnik, Mavrud, Gumza and Rubin. Plus, local cheeses, artisanal bread and mineral water.
The tasting is held in one of the best boutique wine shops in Sofia – Tempus Vini, which is located on an artsy street in the city center, known for its fine restaurants and boutiques. And just a few streets away from Sofia’s main pedestrian boulevard.
During the tasting I can tell you about the wine regions of Bulgaria including the history and the wine culture of my beautiful country.
All tastings are held in English or Bulgarian. Duration is about 1.5 hours. Then I can offer you suggestions of my favorite restaurants nearby to finish your evening. :)
Other things to note
Please inform me if some of the guests have any allergies. Thank you. We are expecting you!
Sofia Communist Tour
Discover the main landmarks of communist history in the city of Sofia. Start your tour by passing by the former headquarters of the Bulgarian Communist Party. Continue on to see buildings such as the secret police investigation facility and the destroyed mausoleum. Head on towards the monument of the Soviet army and the National Palace of Culture.
During the 3-hour-long walking tour, learn about the theory of communism and what Marxism-Leninism is. Find out about the history of communism in Bulgaria, the pros and cons of the period, and the relation between the communist government and religion, industry, economy, culture and everyday life of the people. End the tour with a fresh perspective on the city and a new insight into the country's communist past.
Please note group size may vary depending on the season.
The New Sofia Pub Crawl
Join us for a pub crawl around Sofia's great night life! Don't miss the best opportunity to have fun with travellers from all over the world enjoying a few drinks and the best bars around town.
During the week when less people join us, we go to some smaller and hidden locations with their own history and atmosphere. During the weekend we go to bigger venues, as more people (10+) are joining us.
During the week:
Our second place is a hidden bar with its own story that our guides tell to the guests.
Our third place is an art location with a unique vibe. This venue has a special story which the guests of the pub crawl will learn.
Our fourth place is is a lively bar on a weekday where the people on the pub crawl already know each other and level of enjoyment go on higher levels.
Our last place during the week is a lively place where you can dance and have fun the rest of the night. We get there at about 12:30 - 1 am and you can stay until it closes in the early hours of the morning :)
During the weekend:
Our second place is a lively bar/club where the guests start enjoying the nightlife music in Sofia.
Our third place is a venue where quite often the guests can hear live music)
We have the sole intent to provide our guests with a safe and enjoyable atmosphere. Any individual or group that is only interested in getting wasted as determined by the guides will be asked to leave
Sofia Pub Crawl
Sofia Pub Crawl is a guided tour of Sofia's best bars, clubs and nightlife overall. You get to join a group of locals and tourists from all over the world for a night of exploration and drinking.
What you get:
- A 4+ hour tour of Sofia local's favourite bars (unique and hard to find) + a club
- A free round of shots at every place and free entrance to the club at the end
- Meeting locals, as well as travelers from all over the world
- Drinking games, challenges and other types of entertainment
- Your very own fun English-speaking guide
Cook and Eat Bulgaria
I will take you on a culinary adventure of the national Bulgarian cuisine.
We will prepare seasonal meals and use fresh and locally grown products from the small local grocery stores.
Together we will cook a hands-on four-course, traditional Bulgarian meal, including banitsa, a main dish, a salad or a soup, and a light dessert.
We will start with the preparation of the classic pastry for banitsa from scratch while talking about mystical Bulgarian food and culture habits stories.
Our soup will be traditional Bulgarian cold soup - Tarator (we will cook it only when cucumbers are tasty and in season - spring, summer or early autumn time, for the wintertime we will prepare a winter salad) followed by the main course, which will be based on your food preferences (vegetarian or classic meat dish) and finishing with delicious Bulgarian yogurt dessert with homegrown/made ingredients.
You will have the chance to learn classic recipes and secret tips for mastering Bulgarian cuisine.
I will be happy to share with you products grown in my family's back yard with a lot of love and care, like homemade alcoholic drinks and classic Bulgarian preserves.
Other things to note
Vegetarian and Vegan options are available upon request. Please, inform me about any food allergies.
UNESCOS Rila Monastery and Boyana Church
This is usually a small group tour. The meeting point for it is behind Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, next to Cafe La Catehdrale at 8;45am. The departure is at 9am. The monastery is situated in the beautiful Rila mountain. The traveling time to it is about two hours. The monastery is UNESCO heritage site and it is the biggest monastery complex in Bulgaria. There you will have about 40-minute guided tour with which you will learn about the history and the legends related to the monastery. If you are interested, we can visit its museum as well (the ticket is 8 lev per person and it is not included in the price of the tour). After that, you will have some free time to check the shops, take some photos and have lunch break.
If your tour is on a weekend day during the summer, the restourants next to the monastery could be crowded, so you can bring your own food from Sofia in order to save some time. At about 2pm we will depart to Sofia and on the way back we will stop at the Boyana Church- another UNESCO heritage site, situated in the footsteps of the Vitosha Mountain. The entrance ticket here is 10BGN - you pay should pay it on spot. Once again, the guide will tell you about their history and what they represent. The visit in the church is about 20 minutes. The return in the center of Sofia is at about 5;30 pm.
The Buzludzha Monument and The Valley of the Roses
Join us on a guided trip to one of the most iconic communist monuments from the past in Eastern Europe. The UFO-like abandoned building is located on top of Buzludzha peak in the Central Balkan mountains. Today an empty structure stripped of its initial purposes, it has gained many admirers and popularity around the world and is considered a remarkable representation of this part of history. Another highlight of this day trip is the town of Kazanlak-the center of rose oil production in Bulgaria. We will make a short stop at the wonderful Ethnographic Complex of Damascena where you can learn more about the production of the famous Bulgarian rose oil.
The tour starts at 7:00 AM at the back of the Alexander Nevski Cathedral. The transfer time is about 3.5 hours per direction and the tour is about 11 hours long. First, we will stop at the Complex of Damascena around 10:30. Then the town of Kazanlak where there will be a short lunch break. We will arrive at the Buzludzha monument around 13:30. Keep in mind that the Buzludzha monument is currently not open for visitors for safety reasons and cannot be seen from the inside. However, the views from the outside are well worth the time. The monument is atop the Buzludzha peak in the Balkan mountains so make sure you bring a jacket and comfortable shoes. The last stop will be at the Shipka memorial church. We leave for Sofia at 16:30.
Fashion, Coffee and Co-Creation
After two years of Pandemic, two kids and lots of changes in our world I’ve come back to what I know to do best: Fashion Design. What is this workshop about? We meet at the entrance of Cișmigiu park on Știrbei Voda street. We buy some coffee; we discuss what we want to accomplish in two and a half hours, and we go to our studio. We are a team of two: me and my friend Ghita who helps me with the technical part of my collections.
At our studio we talk about our style preferences, we look at the fabrics, we decide if we also need textile paint, collage, patchwork, or other special technique. Together we will learn the basic facts of how to build a pattern from which we will make a T-shirt, a simple skirt, or a blouse/kimono, doable in 3-4 hours. The surprise: you go back home with a piece made by you entirely! :)
After the pattern is made, with all the sizes and shapes that we want, we cut the fabric and we put all the pieces together, then we discuss what we want to modify or to add, to touch our aesthetic goals.
After the kids came, I started a new slow wear brand called Onions crafts and it’s about natural fabrics, zero waste approach, herbal dyed, handmade embroidery. I can tell you the story about this too.
All this with a musical and positive background, laughs and having fun!
Hiking to the Seven Rila Lakes
Our meeting point will be behind Aleksander Nevski Cathedral, in front of "La Cattedrale restaurant". The departure is at 07:00 o'clock sharp. (GPS coordinates: 42.695601, 23.333790).
We'll drive to the Panichishte Resort chair lift which takes us to the Seven Rila Lakes Cirque.
Then we start exploring them one by one. Each lake is named after its most characteristic feature. The highest one (at 2500m above sea level) is called Salzata "The Tear", from where we have a bird’s eye view over all seven lakes, as well as surrounding outcrops and deep valleys; the next one in height carries the name Okoto "The Eye" after its oval form; Babreka "The Kidney" is the lake with the steepest shores of the entire group; Bliznaka "The Twin" is the largest of all; Trilistnika "The Trefoil" has an irregular shape; the shallowest lake is Ribnoto Ezero "The Fish Lake" and the lowest one is Dolnoto Ezero "The Lower Lake" (2100m above sea level), where the water that flows out of the other lakes is gathered to form the source of Dzherman River.
Once you visit the last lake, we'll return to the upper station of the chair lift, ride it, and head back to Sofia with our minivan. You'll be dropped off at the starting location.
Other things to note
Be physically prepared for this hike. Depending on the month that you book, you might need winter clothes. Hiking boots are a must!
Summer one-day trip from Nis to the mountain Kopaonik
My tour starts from Nisa, driving my car Kopaonik Mountain( 2,5h or 120 km distance)
Tour starts in the morning from Nis, local breakfast (Burek with cheese / meat / sleep) and yogurt.
I drive by car to Kopaonik, the car is ready for winter conditions.
We will do the following activities on the old mountain:
1. We will drink tea from local herbs on the old mountain in a mountain lodge.
2. Sightseeing of the mountain by gondola in 15 minutes, the highest peak on the mountain, to the top of Pancic in 2017 m, on the mountain Kopaonik
3. Skiing and mountain sightseeing on skis/For new skiers the first skiing lesson with a professional instructor.
We will ski together, ride sleds, ride four-whe. In case we can't ski, we can plan hiking trails to enjoy the panorama.
On the way back to Nis,
I also suggest lunch at the local ethno restaurant "Stari bunar" near the mountain Kopaonik (optional).
Original local products from the mountain, prepared in Serbian way !!!
Serbian grill, mountain cheese and Kajmak, mountain trout and blueberry dessert-blueberry pie, and Local wine Buon Appetito!!!
Return to Nis in the evening at the iron address.
In the summer, visiting the adrenaline park, hiking the mountain trails, summer skiing,
driving quads on mountain slopes,
bob on the rails...
Other things to note
Need to bring winter footwear and clothing!!!
Very nice one day mountain tour, first of all safe and comfortable.
Street Art & Graffiti Tour
Step off the beaten path and join us for an alternative tour exploring the city’s street art and graffiti, to get a unique introduction into the fascinating history of one of Europe’s most intriguing capitals.
This tour is designed with adventurous, alternative travelers in mind who are looking for an unconventional, fun, and colorful way of experiencing Bucharest.
We’ll take you through charming backstreets and hidden corners, where you’d never guess you’d find fascinating street art and beautiful 19th century architecture, hidden away from the tourist trail.
The highlight of the tour is discovering murals and street art in the most unexpected places.
Then go on to discover secret summer gardens, hip local hangouts and more captivating architecture.
Unique Museum of Communism
Want to know & feel how a Romanian family lived during the communist period? Look no more, and book a time-traveling session at Ferestroika. A highly enjoyable and enlightening peek into the daily life of a Romanian family under Ceausescu, and a well-documented, interactive, non-partisan experience that helps understand its legacy on present day Romania. This is not a museum like any other, but a time machine that lets you step into the late years of Communism and immerse yourself in the home of a real family. And unlike other museums where the exhibits are behind glass, this is one that you experience through touching, sitting, trying, smelling, and feeling.
Our private tour in a nutshell:
Pick-up with guide (historian) from Gorjului subway station
Short Tour of the communist neighborhood Militari
[Museum tour – 2 hours]
Intro & welcome drinks
Room by room guided tour: Kitchen, Hallway, Pantry, Bedroom, Child room, Bathroom, Living room
Fun and engaging challenges in each room required in order to progress to the next room
Walk and ride horses through the nearest paradise to Sofia
If you are looking for a unique experience surrounded by loved horses, you are coming to the right place!
The base is located at Elena´s house, the owner of the horses, by Radomir.
Please have in mind that we will drive from Sofia 1h and 15min to arrive to our destination, but don't worry, the scenery on the way is already worth the trip!
We believe in a stronger connection with the horse and putting their best interest and wellbeing first. This means that our horse experience might be much different to others that you might have had in the past.
First, we all warm up by walking with the horse, we will lead them just as if they were dogs :D We will do a combination of walking and riding depending on the terrain, it will end up being around 50% walking and 50% riding.
We will pass by some beautiful landscape overviewing the mountains and fields. The main view point will be up a hill with a panoramic view to the mountains.
The hike/ride will take just under 2h.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Better message me before booking so I can double check if the ride will be possible. This will depend on weather and the horse´s wellbeing.
- In some cases, I will be able to pick you up at your accommodation.
- Long trousers and closed shoes such as trainers or hiking shoes are a must! No shorts and no open shoes.
A Thrilling Hike to the Black Peak of Vitosha mountain
Take a deep breath and escape to the peaceful embrace of Bulgaria's stunning mountain ranges. For anyone seeking a chance to connect with nature, this mountain retreat is the perfect getaway.
We are going to visit the highest point of Vitosha - Black Peak - in the oldest natural park in Bulgaria, established in 1934. While climbing and descending 550 meters, we will enjoy some incredible views of the capital Sofia, the Balkans' highest peak Musala, and many more. We will also enjoy some delicious cuisine at a mountain lodge.
Book now and get ready to relax, recharge, and rejuvenate in the peaceful embrace of Bulgaria's stunning mountain scenery.
Please contact me before booking to discuss the details of what you want to do (I'm quite flexible) and how you can best prepare for the expected weather conditions.
You can also contact me for any dates that appear "unavailable" in my calendar. They're probably available but just haven't been scheduled yet.
Bucket list EVENING tour of Varna
When the exhausting heat of the day subsides, and refreshing evening falls upon the city, we will go to explore its beautiful streets, squares and corners. We are going to see all of the iconic locations of Varna, as well as less visited places, and several impressive abandoned buildings. Evening is the best time to experience Varna, as there are fewer cars and people on the streets, the shadows are long, and the last rays of sun add special charm to the city.
We will stop on the beautiful Independence Square, where I will tell you the story of all the great buildings around, as well as the story of Varna's most noble architect, who created over 350 buildings, but ended up in prison.
At the local market, we are going to taste famous Bulgarian tomatoes, which can weigh as much as 1,3kg! We are also going to try local street food and drink from the oldest bakery in Varna.
We will enjoy breathtaking sea views at newly renovated Varna port, where I will also tell you about the most impressive engineering construction of the city - Aparuhov bridge.
We will finish our walk on a high note - on the 14th floor of the hotel Cherno More, where I will offer you a cup of coffee or a glass of juice, and we will admire the bird's-eye view of the city.
In the end, everyone is going to receive a small souvenir to remind you of beautiful Varna and our lovely walk!