Plovdiv City Tour – one day cultural excursion

Culture and history

Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria, situated on Maritsa River in the Thracian Valley. Its unique location on a major ancient crossroads has stimulated strong cultural and political influences from East and West civilizations, and yet maintained its unique cultural identity. Plovdiv is almost contemporary to Troy and older than many of Europe's oldest towns like Rome, Athens, Carthagen or Constantinople. It is a town built upon layers of towns and a culture developed upon layers of cultures.

Plovdiv’s historical quarter includes houses from the National Revival period (18-19th century) and an imposing open-air museum situated on the three hills of the ancient Trimontium. One of the most remarkable sights of the town, the Ancient Roman Theater, is still used for performances.

Tour Facts

Date: 29 and 30 April
Departure time: 09.00
Arrival time back at hotels: 17.00
Timetable:
1½ hours drive to Plovdiv.
11:30–13:00 - walk around the Old City with a professional guide.
13:00 - lunch in a traditional restaurant.
15:00-16:00 - shopping and photo opportunities in the commercial centre of Plovdiv.
16:30 - departure to Sofia
Price: € 39 per person (based on group of 10)
Booking: Contact Visa Travel to reserve your place and pay on arrival in Sofia. All prices are based on a group of 10 or more participants (except the Sofia tour). If fewer than 10 participants join, the tour will be either cancelled or the price will change. In both cases those who booked will be notified well in advance. To make this possible please do register not later than 25 March.

Rila Monastery – one day cultural excursion

Culture and history

Rila Monastery - the foremost Bulgarian shrine and part of the Bulgarian national psyche. A sacred place for meditation, prayer and worship that is to Bulgarians what Ankor Wat, Mecca and Jerusalem are to other religions of the world.

The centuries-old forests of Rila Monastery Nature Park and the looming mountain slopes provide a majestic backdrop to Rila Monastery, a historical, cultural and architectural reserve of international statute and an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tour Facts

Date: 29 and 30 April
Departure time: 09.00
Arrival time back at hotels: 16.30
Timetable:
1½ hours drive to Rila Monastery.
10:30–12:30 - Tour of the monastery with a qualified guide
12:30–13:30 - Time for shopping and photos
13:30 - Lunch in a local fish restaurant. (The most popular food here is fresh trout from the river.)
15:00 - departure to Sofia
Price: € 36 per person (based on group of 10)
Booking: Contact Visa Travel to reserve your place and pay on arrival in Sofia. All prices are based on a group of 10 or more participants (except the Sofia tour). If fewer than 10 participants join, the tour will be either cancelled or the price will change. In both cases those who booked will be notified well in advance. To make this possible please do register not later than 25 March.

Bulgarian Cuisine – one day cultural excursion

Culture and history

Let us take you to Beli iskar village in the area of Samokov town in the foothills of Rila Mountains. We'll show you the importance of food preparation and sharing in Bulgarian life, the traditions of producing and using organic food ingredients and of gathering products from nature.

You'll hear about our best traditional recipes. You’ll have the opportunity to cook and, best of all - to taste.

Tour Facts

Date: 29 and 30 April
Departure time: 09.00
Arrival time back at hotels: 18.00 (approximately)
Timetable:
1 hour drive to Beli iskar village.
10:00–13:00 - Meeting the hosts and explore the traditions and peculiarities of the Bulgarian cuisine. Cooking session with the host - preparation of local traditional dishes.
13:00 - Lunch.
15:00 - departure to Sofia.
15:xx - On the way back a short visit to Samokov town center with opportunities for shopping from the famous Samokov crafts shops. The traditional Bulgarian clay pots for cooking (giuvetche) are not to be missed for everyone who intends to practice the new knowledge and cook Bulgarian dishes.
Price: € 33 per person (based on group of 10)
Booking: Contact Visa Travel to reserve your place and pay on arrival in Sofia. All prices are based on a group of 10 or more participants (except the Sofia tour). If fewer than 10 participants join, the tour will be either cancelled or the price will change. In both cases those who booked will be notified well in advance. To make this possible please do register not later than 25 March.

Dobarsko village - A Bulgarian Traditional Village Wedding - two days cultural excursion

Culture and history

Dobarsko village is situated 180 km southwest from the capital city of Sofia. It has vivid and well preserved folklore, cultural traditions and rituals from the ancient times, which the local community is happy to share with Bulgarians and foreigners. You'll become part of the rituals and celebrations of a Bulgarian wedding just as it was done centuries ago.

Dobarsko is a mountain village - 1070 m. above the sea level. It is nestled in the southern foot of the holy Rila Mountains and overlooks the endless horizons of Pirin, the pearl of Bulgarian mountains and the wide Rodopi mountains.

The village of Dobarsko has been restored and is the location for the church of St. Teodor Tiron i Teodor Stratilat 1614, a national monument of culture. The three-level 17th Century church is half dug into the ground because the builders didn’t want to attract Ottoman authorities’ attention. The beautifully preserved murals of the church depict scenes from Jesus Christ’s life.

Phenomenal murals shows Jesus Christ in a space rocket and that is what the ancient Dobarsko Church is so famous with.

Tour Facts

Date: 29 and 30 April
Departure time: 09.00
Accommodation: in family guest houses.
Arrival time back at hotels: 17.00, the following day
Timetable:
3 hours drive to Dobarsko village.
13:00 (day one) - opportunity to taste the delicious local cuisine.
13:00 - lunch in a traditional restaurant.
15:00 - a visit to the famous Dobarsko Church.
16:00 - preparations for the wedding rituals on the next day, bread making and decoration preparation
18.30 - dinner
08.00 (day two) - breakfast
09.xx - You will take part in the old wedding rituals in the village houses, in the Church yard and the village square with lots of folklore songs and music.
12.00 - Lunch (at the climax of the ceremonies)
14.00 - Departure to Sofia
Price: € 74 per person (based on group of 10)
Booking: Contact Visa Travel to reserve your place and pay on arrival in Sofia. All prices are based on a group of 10 or more participants (except the Sofia tour). If fewer than 10 participants join, the tour will be either cancelled or the price will change. In both cases those who booked will be notified well in advance. To make this possible please do register not later than 25 March.

The Valley of the Thracian Kings – Discover the Wonders of the Recent Archeological Findings

Culture and history

Two hundred kilometers southeast of Sofia in the 80 kilometer-long Kazanlak Valley, thousand of mounds lie among the rose farms in the foot of the Sredna Gora and Stara Planina Mountains.The he royal Thracian tombs were built into the hills between the 5th and 3rd centuries B.C. They rise several stories high along roads and in farmed fields.

This is the valley of Thracian kings where amazing new finds were uncovered in the summer of 2004. Most notable among these is the 682 grams mask of pure gold that belonged to the powerful king Seftus III. This was followed by the discovery of an undisturbed tomb of a Thracian king with seventy-four gold artifacts.

The first Kazanlak tomb was discovered in 1944. It became famous all over the World with its wall paintings and are included in the UNESCO`s List of World Heritage Sites. These and some other Bulgarian treasures were publicized in the December 2006 issue of the National Geographic Magazine

We invite you to the Valley of the Thracian Kings nearby the town of Kazanlak for an exiting two days cultural excursion.

Tour Facts

Date: 29-30 April
Departure time: 09.00
Arrival time back at hotels: 17.00
Timetable:
2 hours drive to Kazanlak.
12:30 (day one) Lunch.
13:30 Departure to the Kazanlak Valley and visiting the Thracian Kings` tombs with a professional guide.
17:30 Arrival back in town
19.00 Dinner
08.00 (day two) Breakfast
09.00 - Visit the Kazanlak tomb near the town
13.00-14.00 Lunch, followed by travel back to Sofia
Price: € 79 per person (based on group of 10)
Booking: Contact Visa Travel to reserve your place and pay on arrival in Sofia. All prices are based on a group of 10 or more participants (except the Sofia tour). If fewer than 10 participants join, the tour will be either cancelled or the price will change. In both cases those who booked will be notified well in advance. To make this possible please do register not later than 25 March.

Sofia - 2 hour walking tour

Culture and history

The cultural and administrative capital of Bulgaria is an ancient city becoming more and more international.

The jumble of cultures and religions as well as the ethnic tolerance of the society is reflected by the capital city of Sofia. A short walk in the centre from the marketplace is the Byzantine Church of St. George, which itself sits atop the ruins of the Roman settlement here.

Nearby is the Banya Bashi Mosque, the largest in Bulgaria. Around the corner is the Sofia Synagogue, the largest Sephardic Synagogue in Europe. Near all of this are scattered dozens of cultural institutions – theaters, museums, universities, opera and concert halls.

Tour Facts

Date: 27 and 28 April
Departure time: 12.00
Arrival time back at hotels: 15.00
Timetable:
Three hours walking tour around the city, including a stop for coffee or lunch if the group decides! Lunch not included in the price.
Price: € 10 per person (if the group includes 15 or more participants)
Booking: Contact Visa Travel to reserve your place and pay on arrival in Sofia. All prices are based on a group of 10 or more participants (except the Sofia tour). If fewer than 10 participants join, the tour will be either cancelled or the price will change. In both cases those who booked will be notified well in advance. To make this possible please do register not later than 25 March.

Семинар: Въведение в интеркултурната комуникация и интеркултурния тренинг
Seminar: Introduction into Intercultural Communication and Training

Петък, 27. април 2007 г., 09:00 – 11:00

Пламен Макариев
Юлиана Рот

Семинарът е предназначен за български участници, които желаят да се запознаят с основните аспекти на научния подход към проблемите на  интерперсоналното общуване в контекста на културно многообразие, характеризиращо съвременния глобален и мултикултурен свят. Той ще има уводен характер, тъй като интеркул­турната тематика е новост за научния и обществен дискурс в България. Незави­симо от това към нея в последно време се забелязва значителен – и растящ – интерес, който трябва да бъде подкрепен.

Ще бъдат представени историята на възникването на дисциплините Интеркул­турна комуникация и Интеркултурен мениджмънт, съвременните им контексти и научни парадигми. Ще бъде направен и кратък преглед на развитието на интер­културната тематика в различни страни. В дискусията внимание ще се обърне на шансовете за бъдещо развитие в България, както и на създаването на мрежа между заинтересовани изследователи и треньори.

Семинарът ще се проведе на български език. Участието в него е безплатно.

Friday, 27 April 2007, 09:00 – 11:00

Plamen Makariev
Juliana Roth

The seminar aims at presenting to a Bulgarian audience the main points of departure for the dealing with cultural diversity in the global and multicultural world. It will have the format of an introductory workshop, since intercultural topics are very new in the Bulgarian academic and social discourse. On the other hand, there is a substantial – and growing – interest in this topic which should be supported.

Primary topics will be the historical background, the contemporary contexts and the basic concepts of intercultural communication and management. This will include an overview of the development of the intercultural field in different countries. The discussion should tackle the chances of future intercultural work in Bulgaria and encourage networking among interested individuals from academic and training contexts.

The seminar will be held in Bulgarian: it is free of charge.