As previously I am going to be covering my holiday blog posts via extracts from my journal:

3. 12/7/13

UP

"Bobby has organised a hiking trip - [No joke I did not realise it was a mountain summit 8 1/2 hour hike until I saw the peak, although ironically more prepared than Bobby: Thank you NorthFace for taking my money]

…We walk up through woods and then along a gently sloping valley, then very steeply up rocky paths and boulders most of the way to the summit (the last stretch actually very gentle).

On the way we stop for mountain tea at a rest stop (grumpy woman in a horrible smelly dining room), sitting outside [view already wonderful by this point - see photo 2.] we meet our companions for the climb - A group of British hiker holidayers with Bulgarian guide and a Berliner with his 11 year old son.

Two thirds of the way up there is a beautiful lake - unfortunately most of the time and most annoyingly at the summit [where I had a pan planned] there is dense cloud so there is little chance to stop and make good landscapes." [In fact I barely use my tripod]

DOWN

"The way down is more interesting -or at least painful. The scenery changes from rocky to valley grass and scrub still very high up, and most of the down climb is down a very steep, never ending valley/ large gully. Beautiful ridges to either side, ponies with bells on and hikers from Holland also [8,9].

We take a brief break by a mountain stream with a carpet of wildflowers, but in not too long we get a proper downpour [see photo 10 for the incoming cloud], this coincides with the steepest drop in the lower part of the valley scoop and the path going AWOL. Bobby really struggles with slipping on the wet vegetation as we have to walk perpendicular to the slope for ages to reach the ridge we think we should be going for.

Eventually rain stops and we make the last leg down two humpback ridges striking into the main forested river valley [11,12]. The first is open with a view and the second enters beautiful woodland." [Very painful knees by now - not used to this!]

RILA MONASTERY

"Finally we see the monastery. I am very dirty and wet […] and first I have to change into Bobby's trousers according to monastic rules, and eventually we find a monk to find us a very basic room.

The beautiful enclosed courtyard, tiered monastery preserved during many insurgencies and later communism due to it's remoteness. The atmosphere is extremely peaceful and calming as we sit on the balcony terrace/colonnade looking down at the courtyard, practically surrounded by swifts chirping,and dreaming of chocolate."

As usual you also can view this set on Flickr

As always cutting criticism and comments via email (tomglendinning.photography@gmail.com) or

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, are hugely helpful and welcome.

If you don't like something then please, tell me - Also try to articulate why, it is tremendously useful to have constructive, critical feedback.