There are journeys that are made with only one baggage – the Heart. With these words of Irina Bakardzhieva ended another trip organized by her, which in early June took 50 Razgrad tourists to the embrace of the legendary and charming Transylvania. Sown by a grain of trust, watered with dedication and blossomed in friendship and shared emotions, this journey was out and in, in the visible and invisible.

On June 2, the Day of Botev and those who died for the freedom and independence of Bulgaria, we headed to Brasov – the seventh largest city in Romania, located in the heart of the Transylvanian region among the Carpathians. In addition to its charming architecture and cultural heritage, which have found a worthy place on the UNESCO list, the city is deeply connected with the Bulgarian Revival.

Vasil Aprilov studied and graduated from Brasov High School – founder and main donor of the first Bulgarian secular mutual school. In the Bulgarian quarter, in the museum of the First Romanian School, the typographic press is still preserved, on which for the first time in 1824 was printed the “Fish Primer” by Dr. Petar Beron. This happened thanks to Anton Pan – a Bulgarian who at the age of 15 left his native Sliven forever and by the will of fate remained in history as a famous Romanian composer, poet and publisher.

After visiting the largest Gothic-style building in Romania – the Black Church, a Lutheran temple built by the Transylvanian Saxons, we set off for Sighisoara.

For me personally, there is no more inspiring experience than meeting people who have found their calling and indulged it with all their heart and soul. Every transition between the cities was filled with interesting stories in psychology, geography, history and heraldry presented with charm and ease by Irina Bakardzhieva and Veselin Keremedchiev. And if we believe the universal law “like attracts like”, it is no coincidence that in Sighisoara we were welcomed by the hearty Carol – a local guide with whom we visited the birthplace of the legendary Vlad the Third Dracula.

The small town along the Trnava River Mare is at the foot of perhaps the most preserved medieval citadel in Europe. The entire old part of the city is on the UNESCO list – nine of the 14 towers of the fortification, headed by the Clock Tower, are preserved, as well as the entire medieval appearance of the buildings and streets inside. Colorful facades, neat restaurants, a feast of flowers on the balconies magnetically conquer every tourist. Everywhere there are associations with the name of Count Dracula. The tourist emblem of Romania is a famous cocktail of historical personality, rich writer’s imagination, the magic of the cinematographer and the influence of Hollywood, as well as a successful marketing strategy.

The second day of our trip began with an exotic place – the salt mine near the town of Plovdiv. Turda. The area was the bottom of a prehistoric sea, which left huge deposits of valuable raw material. The town was an integral part of the First Bulgarian Kingdom, entering its territory during the reign of Khan Krum in 801 and was part of it until 1018. The beautiful pattern of the salt layers dances on the walls of huge over 120 m deep galleries, shaped bell-shaped. A stunning 360-degree tour along the walls, just below the very ceiling of the Rudolph mine reveals 13 floors down an amusement park with a Ferris wheel, a sports field, an exhibition corner and benches for relaxation. You get the feeling that you are in the belly of a biblical monster that has engulfed an entire city with its inhabitants, and if you do not follow precisely the instructions for the exit, you risk going out to some other earth or in another era.

The afternoon took us to a real architectural masterpiece – Sibiu, the city chosen in 2007 as the cultural capital of Europe. In the parking lot, next to the fortress wall of the old town, we were welcomed by the most radiant guide in the world. The blue-eyed Nikoleta, dressed in a traditional costume, embracing a bunch of geographical maps, not just took us around the city, she gave a spectacle in which we ourselves were both actors and audience. And if the city is rich in museums, churches, history and culture, then its true charm is felt precisely through the boiling energy of dedicated people like it. We parted in front of the Orthodox church “Holy Trinity” – the day was June 3, Cherry All Souls’ Day and many worshippers flocked to the church.

The next day we left for Alba Iulia – the city where the accession of Transylvania to Romania (Treaty of Triannon) was announced on December 1, 1918. In 1922, King Ferdinand I and Queen Maria were crowned in Alba Iulia in the Orthodox cathedral built especially for the occasion. The old town has existed since Roman times and for many years was the religious and political capital of the region. Alba Iulia has six gates, a cathedral and an Orthodox church, both named after St. Nicholas. Archangel Michael.” In the Catholic cathedral is buried Janos Hunyadi – a great statesman and commander, whose life and numerous victories are closely related to the fight against the Ottoman invaders in the Bulgarian lands.

The last jewel from the historical treasury of Romania was presented to us in one of the old capitals of Wallachia. The monastery in Curtea de Argeş was the main hierarchical temple of the rulers of Wallachia in the 16th century. Anyone who has stepped into the quiet and spacious park and has seen the lace splendor of this temple can not help but believe the legend of its construction by Master Manol.

Back to Bulgaria, following the picturesque meanders of the Argeş River, in the bus we had fun with a quiz dedicated to the places we visited. It was a pleasure for me to prepare both the information materials and the questions about the game, but the real satisfaction came from the enthusiastic faces of my companions and their answers, raining from all directions.

Today, everywhere we are bombarded with recipes for longevity – what and how to eat, how to exercise, what models of thinking to apply. And perhaps the most natural means is to find our vocation, to develop and perfect it with love for our own good and for the benefit of others.

Good luck to Irina Bakardzhieva – let her knowledge and loving heart lead travelers to the unknown beauty of the world around us and within us!