Balkans 2019 - Saturday, June 1 - Sofia and Rila Monastery, Bulgaria


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IMG_7920 - Looking back toward the narrow Rilska valley that we just came through
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IMG_7930 - The flat, outer end of the Rilska river valley
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IMG_7932 - Kocherinovo village is "the land of giant storks". White storks (Ciconia ciconia) breed in Europe and winter in Africa.
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IMG_7945 - In 2019, 5000 pairs of storks passed through Bulgaria. See two nests on chimneys and even(?) on the store porch roof.
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IMG_7949 - This valley provides ample food for the storks: insects, reptiles, small mammals, and small birds.
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IMG_7964 - Snow on the mountain tops
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IMG_7971 - In antiquity, Homer called nearby Thrace "the fat-soiled land" and "the Mother of sheep".
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IMG_7977 - Back to the varied Sofia architecture
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