This is a bit of a history lesson; read if so inclined! Several things can be true at once: Bulgaria is the only European country that did not comply with Hitler’s demands to deport its Jews. It is also the only European country whose Jewish population increased during WWII. But Read More

Koprovitsa and Thracian Tombs Koprovitsa: We head to the ‘National Revival’ village of Koprovitsa, a two hour drive from the capital, Sofia, where the initial uprising to oust the Ottomans in 1875 started. Many of the houses were built and refurbished in the National Revival style, and the town today Read More

Rila Monastery, Plovdiv, Bachkovo Monastery. Entering Bulgaria: We leave Thessaloniki with our guide Philip Stanimirov (and new best friend) and drive three hours over rolling hills toward the Balkan mountain range to the Bulgarian border. Bulgaria is in the EU and – while we were there – about to find Read More

We came to Northern Greece and southern Bulgaria (aka Ancient Macedonia) in part to explore the Sephardic Jewish history of the eastern Balkans. A bit of background: After the Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492 many moved to Central and Southeastern Europe in the Ottoman empire where they maintained Read More