We started our first day with a sightseeing tour in Bulgaria`s capital city Sofia. First we visited the biggest university in Bulgaria which is the St. Klement Ohridski University founded in 1888. It is the oldest and most prestigious higher education institution in the country with over 20,000 students. Our second destination, was the National Library which has a statue of the brothers Cyrill and Methodius at the front, who are famous for inventing the first Cyrillic alphabet. Their legacy is honored with a yearly celebration which takes place every year on May 24th.
After our visit at the National Library, we moved on to the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral which is the largest Orthodox Church in Bulgaria built between 1882 and 1912. The Cathedral was constructed in memory of Russian soldiers who died during the Russo-Turkish war, which helped free Bulgaria from Ottoman rule. Next to the cathedral was the St. Sophia basilica which was built between the 3rd and the 5th century. The first systematic survey of the underground level was made by professor Bogdan Filov in 1910 to 1911. Subsequently 3 more churches were successively built on the side of the first one, the last of them from the beginning of the 6th century is today’s Saint Sophia basilica.
During the second Bulgarian Kingdom, the basilica had the status of bishopric cathedral after which the city of Sofia in the 14th century was named. In the Ottoman period it was converted into a mosque but in 1930 the main altar was restored and since then it has been functioning again as an Orthodox Church. The population of Bulgaria consists of 70% Christians and 11% Muslims, the rest is a variation of other beliefs. Later on, we took a walk to the inner city of Sofia where we briefly visited buildings like the Bulgarian National Bank or the National Theater. In front of the National Theatre, we decided to take a quick break to admire the garden and the waterworks in front of it.
Afterwards, we passed through the biggest shopping district and saw the national palace of culture which is a place where concerts and festivals often take place. We finished our tour at the Paradise Mall where we got two hours of free time to just go around, do some shopping or buy food. As closure we went back to the hotel where we spent the night playing games and preparing for the next day. (Kamilla, Savita)
On Monday, our second day here, we spent the day in Mezdra, a small town in Bulgaria where we were staying as part of our program.
We arrived in Mezdra by train, and after getting settled, we had some free time to walk around and explore the area on our own. Some of us went for a walk, others relaxed, and some looked around the local shops or got snacks. It was a nice way to start the day.
Later, we met up with Galina, a teacher from Bulgaria, who took us to the town hall.There we met the vic mayor of Mezdra Neli Mineva . And then something special happened a group of girls from a choir decided to perform three typical Bulgarian folk music for us. Their performance was beautiful, and it made the moment feel meaningful.
Then we went to the Kaleto Fortress and Museum, an archaeological site in Mezdra. It’s a place where remains from different time periods like the Thracians, Romans, and medieval times have been discovered. We walked around the ruins and visited the museum, where we saw old artifacts and learned more about the area’s past. It was interesting and informative.
In the afternoon, we had some more time to walk around and enjoy the surroundings before heading back to the hotel. Once there, we had more free time to relax, talk with friends, or just enjoy the evening. (Martina, Galin)
We started the day with a school tour at Ivan Vazov Highschool. There, we also got the chance to see what the preschool children were doing. It was really nice to visit their classrooms and watch how they learn, play, and do creative activities.
After the tour, we joined a workshop led by Atanas Karashenski. It was called “Data is the new money, or how to rock’n roll your data to tell a story.” Atanas talked about the future and why it’s important to learn many different things. His main message was: to live well in the future, we need to stay curious, try new things, and collect knowledge. He also showed us how we can use the data and information we have today. We talked about topics like football, world wars, and climate change.
Later, we went on a trip to Brusen village. It’s a small and beautiful place with a lot of nature and traditions. There, we learned more about the local culture. One of the highlights was making banica, a traditional Bulgarian pastry. It’s made with thin dough and a cheese filling. We could do it all by ourselves – we even rolled out the dough, filled it, and baked it. We ate the banica with typical Bulgarian yoghurt, which was fresh and a bit sour. It tasted really good after all the work!
In the afternoon, we had a creative workshop where we made small dolls wearing traditional Bulgarian clothes. We learned that Bulgarian women’s clothing is very colorful and full of beautiful patterns. It usually includes a long white shirt, a dress or apron with colorful embroidery, a belt, and a scarf for the head. The patterns often show things like nature or family. It was fun to make our own dolls and learn what the clothes mean. (Mela, Rana)
We started day four with a school tour at Ivan Vazov. There, we also got the chance to see what the preschool children were doing. It was really nice to visit their classrooms and watch how they learn, play, and do creative activities.
After the tour, we joined a workshop led by Atanas Karashenski. It was called “Data is the new money, or how to rock’n roll your data to tell a story.” Atanas talked about the future and why it’s important to learn many different things. His main message was: to live well in the future, we need to stay curious, try new things, and collect knowledge. He also showed us how we can use the data and information we have today. We talked about topics like football, world wars, and climate change.
Later, we went on a trip to Brusen village. It’s a small and beautiful place with a lot of nature and traditions. There, we learned more about the local culture. One of the highlights was making banica, a traditional Bulgarian pastry. It’s made with thin dough and a cheese filling. We could do it all by ourselves – we even rolled out the dough, filled it, and baked it. We ate the banica with typical Bulgarian yoghurt, which was fresh and a bit sour. It tasted really good after all the work!
In the afternoon, we had a creative workshop where we made small dolls wearing traditional Bulgarian clothes. We learned that Bulgarian women’s clothing is very colorful and full of beautiful patterns. It usually includes a long white shirt, a dress or apron with colorful embroidery, a belt, and a scarf for the head. The patterns often show things like nature or family. It was fun to make our own dolls and learn what the clothes mean. (Mariia, Mohadisa)
Our last day of the Erasmus+ project took place at Ivan Vazov Highschool in Mezdra, Bulgaria, and was both meaningful and emotional. The day began with a presentation by Vasilka Kolovska, who shared a presentation on the topic of media literacy. In her talk, she addressed the dangers of scams and the spread of false information — important topics in today’s digital world. She also gave us insight into the Erasmus projects her Highschool had previously taken part in, explaining their goals and the valuable experiences gained through international collaboration.
The rest of the day focused on media literacy, rounding off a week full of learning, teamwork, and intercultural exchange. At the end of the program, we were honored to receive certificates of participation from Ivan Vazov Highschool, recognizing our involvement and contributions to the project.
For our final lunch together, we enjoyed pizza as a group, reflecting on the unforgettable memories we had made. Afterwards, we said our heartfelt goodbyes and made our way to Sofia Airport by bus. (Savita, Hümeysa)
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