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Bulgaria, Ecopaths, One place - two seasons, Sofia region, Southwest region

Ecopath Chepun Mountain

posted by Dario
Mar 12, 2019 1711 3 0
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Chepun Mountain is small in size and comparatively low compared to other mountains, but it should definitely not to be ignored. It is situated at the foot of the Western Balkan Mountains and is easy to conquer, with its peak being the Petrov Cross, which rises at 1206 meters above sea level. The very path to the mountain consists of a smooth ascending black road to the very top, which is about an hour and a half long.

Chepan mountain summer
Chepan mountain winter

For the first time I climbed the mountain completely alone on December 31, crazy right? But I must admit that this was one of my most fulfilling adventures that I have undertaken. Being alone with yourself, in the midst of the mountain desert … priceless.

Dragoman summer
Dragoman winter

So I walked along the black road that started on the right side of the street that goes out of Dragoman. At first it passes through areas covered with trees, but they gradually retreat, leaving you alone with fields covered in blown grasses.

Chepan mountain flowers summer
Chepan mountain flowers winter

The higher I climbed, the more exposed limestone you can see, which proves that the mountain is made of karst limestones, quite typical of the region, considering that at its foot is the only karst swamp in Bulgaria , The Dragoman marsh.

direction summer
direction winter
view summer
view winter

Once you reach the top, you will find an ancient votive cross, which is believed to have given the peak’s present name, the Petrov Cross. According to the legend, it was placed here by relatives of a Dragoman chorbadjie [wealthy man] named Peter who, in the Turkish era, was kidnapped and killed at the top by robbers.

cross winter
cross summer
Chepan mountain top summer
Chepan mountain top winter

On the top there is a metal table with two metal benches, for taking a rest, and another curious fact relates to another wooden bench, with a view of the Dragoman marsh and the southern outskirts, with the inscription “In memory of Tsar Boris III” is placed here  ‘In this place the King has stopped resting.’ ” In addition, a monastery at the very top is under construction, where it is believed that in the antiquity a sanctuary of god Sabazius was located.

Panoramic view from chepan mountain summer
Panoramic view from chepan mountain winter

As I told you at the beginning, the top of Chepun Mountain is not to be underestimated because it gives you an incredibly beautiful view in all directions starting from the north, you can see Stara Planina, east Vitosha and other big and small heights. At the southern foot of the Dragoman marsh, behind it are the low hills Three Ears, where the Bulgarian victory took place in the war with the Serbs in 1885 and to the west neighboring Serbia is visible.

Cheapn mountain peak summer
Cheapn mountain peak winter
Dragoman marsh summer from above
Dragoman marsh winter from above
view over the balkan mountain from chepean summer
view over the balkan mountain from chepean winter

In conclusion, I can say that no matter which season you choose to visit this peak you will not be mistaken, because even if the top is only 1206 meters above the sea level, it provides some of the most beautiful and full panoramas in every direction, and you can always combine the walk with the Dragoman marsh.  This region of Bulgaria is slightly underestimated whereas there are so many things that this place can show and teach us.

Cheapan mountain eco path summer
Cheapan mountain eco path winter

Useful information:
Chepun Mountain is located at the exit of the city of Dragoman, at 44 km;
This is an excellent destination for a one-day escape from the big city;
It’s a comfortable for both young and old;
Wear comfortable shoes, because we are still talking about a mountain;
Do not underestimate the low peak, it can show you more than you think;

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Dario Dionisi



If you want to know something more about me – my soul is a traveler, my origin is Italian and my true essence is a faithful friend. I am always open to new ideas and will be very happy if you want to contact me at dario@beyondsofia.com

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Let’s dive in together into the amazing world of Let’s dive in together into the amazing world of Costa Rica! 🇨🇷

To many, Costa Rica’s charm lies in its lush rainforests, unspoiled beaches and abundance of wildlife. With breathtaking landscapes and a myriad of creatures – from toucans to monkeys to jaguars – it’s easy to see why. 

Where else can you hike active volcanoes, zip line through cloud-covered rainforests and surf warm turquoise waters within the span of just a few days? In this compact but diverse tropical paradise, exhilarating outdoor activities are abundant. 

Nature-seekers will roam thick jungles while beachgoers will sprawl across the powdery sands. It’s hard not to admire all the splendors this “Rich Coast” has to offer.

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Heading to the next stage of life ~ Since soon I Heading to the next stage of life ~

Since soon I will celebrate my 30th birthday, I’ve been reflecting back to the person I was when I entered my twenties, and while I still feel young at heart, I’ve evolved into a completely different person.

I must confess, I have mixed feelings about turning 30. While I cherish the memories and experiences I have gathered during this time, I have also however, had my share of setbacks. The most important aspect that has inspired me are the experiences that I have gathered during my travels. Meeting new people, understanding their culture and trying new cuisines have changed my perspective towards life in general. While I am still a child somewhere in my heart, turning 30 is a big deal because it is assumed that I am an adult now.

Here are my 30 most precious travel experiences before turning 30:

1. Exploring my home country.
2. Travelling solo.
3. Supporting small local businesses and entrepreneurs.
4. Learning a foreign language.
5. Saving money for traveling.
6. Making friends while traveling.
7. Cooking traditional dishes.
8. Trying traditional food everywhere I go.
9. Overcoming my fear.
10. Trying something new.
11. Travelling with family.
12. Travelling with friends.
13. Travelling for myself and not social media.
14. Going out my comfort zone -  uncomfortable makes life more comfortable.
15. Living in a foreign country.
16. Packing like a pro.
17. Visiting my (some of) dream destinations.
18. Falling in love in a foreign country.
19. Blending in with different cultures.
20. Taking a piece of every place with me.
21. Learning to say no (in different languages).
22. Learning to take decent pictures.
23. Documenting my trips.
24. Valuing experiences.
25. Making memories.
26. Rediscovering my favourite places.
27. Planning elaborate itineraries
28. Keeping it positive and never regretting to have climbed that mountain.
29. Some people around the world are born disadvantaged, not biologically, but socially.
30. Realising that the most incredible thing I can witness happens twice a day, and it’s free.

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Your positive friendly reminder… Travel is, at Your positive friendly reminder…

Travel is, at its very essence, a tool – nothing more… nothing less. Broken down to its very essence, it becomes an instrument to fulfil our desires, attain new experiences and to discover a difference that is at least a step away from our local surroundings.

One thing that we can often forget is that travel also has the added benefit of helping us build a pretty solid amount of confidence too, something that we all stand to benefit from in the long-term, in our own personal development.

Follow this 5 simple steps and enjoy the best ways to develop your confidence, which can be learned whilst travelling:

✅ Be positive
✅ Embrace strengths
✅ Acknowledge weakness
✅ Listen to your head and heart
✅ Be an assertive traveller

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The Life of a Traveler: What It Is Really Like Ha The Life of a Traveler: What It Is Really Like

Have you ever wondered what it is really like to travel often? Living the life of a traveler is full of paradoxes. Full of strange feelings. Full of grandiosity. Let me tell you what traveling is really like.

Choosing this life is more than a temporary escape. It will completely and entirely transform who you are.

So are you prepared for a journey of beauty, adventure and heartbreak? Read the next few rows.

✔️ Traveling is saying yes to life.
✔️ Uncertainty is a traveler’s homeland.
✔️ Traveling is a life of extremes.
✔️ About the unknown driving force.
✔️ Discomfort as a teacher.
✔️ Traveling is falling in love deeply with the world.
✔️ Always a stranger, but at home in the world.
✔️ Experiencing exhilarating freedom.
✔️ Understanding different perspectives.
✔️ In the life of a traveler, nothing lasts.
✔️ Travel teaches you everything.

This is what the life of a traveler is like: Be courageous. Follow the calling of your heart. It will lead you to a million places you would have never expected. And you will grow big. You will grow beautiful. You will grow so full of life it will make your heart burst with happiness. Some of us simply belong to the road.

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The magic of Spain 🇪🇸 Double trouble - Dou The magic of Spain 🇪🇸 

Double trouble - Double S

Dive in the magnificent atmosphere of Segovia and Salamanca - two unique, original and beautiful cities 🌆
Photo dump Spain 🇪🇸 ⚔️ Portugal 🇵🇹 Photo dump Spain 🇪🇸 ⚔️ Portugal 🇵🇹 

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Dear Portugal, I would never have pointed to a ma Dear Portugal,

I would never have pointed to a map and picked you. I wasn’t sure we would even like each other. I came with only a few belongings and even fewer expectations. But I had the desire to get to know you and see if I would stay. And like two people making an acquaintance at a dinner party, we searched for commonalities: exploring, an insatiable appetite for rice and seafood, a bond to the earth and the sea.

At first I fell for the little things. The promise of discovering new things every single day. That dazed feeling after a few glasses of fruity vinho verde. The melancholy while listening to Fado music. The rissois, natas and feijoada, the melt-in-your-mouth queijo fresco, delectable sardinha and unforgettable bacalhau. And surprisingly, even lamprey and percebe.

I loved the quiet irony of your lavish, impressive buildings next to your ancient, dilapidated houses. I even adored your temperamental weather, sunny in the morning and sometimes tempestuous in the afternoon.

And I loved your people. The grandmas dressed in black with their soft faces and culinary secrets. The fishermen with their old fashioned hats. The shopkeepers who actually mean it when they say “obrigada.”

And then I began to love you for your words, and the new feelings they gave name to.  For that elusive feeling of saudade –– untranslatable but described so accurately by the Portuguese writer Manuel de Melo: “a pleasure you suffer, an ailment you enjoy.” Or the chamego — the sense of intimacy, infatuation, and cuddling, all in one word.

Of course, there are things about you that I will probably never understand. You’re an old soul and I’m too juvenile. I’m impulsive whereas you are cautious and pensive. I have this incessant desire to be happy, but you have this habit of enjoying being triste.

But I’ve lived many lives in different parts of the world, I’ve been running around, not caring where I rest my head, not knowing where I’d end up. Perhaps I met you, Portugal, because something inside me had really been crying out for stillness, for a safe haven where I could finally become myself.

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At the very lowest point on earth lies a natural w At the very lowest point on earth lies a natural wonder replete with a unique ecosystem, breathtaking desert views, and mineral treasures that have been attracting visitors for thousands of years: The Dead Sea. 

Located in the desert between Jordan and Israel, it is also the world’s deepest hypersaline lake. Although the high salinity of the water makes it almost impossible to dive.

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#Jordan #album #Asia
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