Snowy Bozhentsi

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Bozhentsi is the name of one of the most well preserved traditional village in Bulgaria. It is an architectural and historical reserve since 1964 and is also part of UNESCO‘s cultural monuments. This year I was lucky to be in the area when a whole day of snowing was expected. I wouldn’t miss this chance to film this magnificent and quiet (especially in these pandemic times) village, so I prepared myself for a whole day of shooting and driving in the snow. It was a beautiful snowy day and I decided to film in the mountains first and to come back to Bozhentsi at dusk. I wanted to film the village covered in snow within the blue hour with the lights of street lanterns and house windows shining. When I returned to the village just before dark, the conditions were perfect – everything was covered with a fresh thick layer of snow, the lights were on and it was still quietly snowing. Nothing was moving on the streets except for some cats, that are so typical for Bulgarian villages. It was so magical and peaceful.

You can see these mesmerizing scenes here: https://youtu.be/ne7g_Os_8hM

The traditional architecture of an old Bulgarian house from this region is very well preserved in Bozhentsi.
This village is normally very popular with tourists, but these pandemic times made the streets very quiet.
An old cafe and cakes shop.
Time to go back home from a great day of shooting 🙂

Alpine Snow

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Last winter, me and some friends went on a ski holiday in the French Alps. We were quite lucky with the weather, as it was snowing almost every day and the snow over the roofs of houses grew to about a meter thickness. I used the opportunity to film a scene of the falling snow and to make a video of it. It can be seen here: https://youtu.be/v_JyzOVZVM0

On the last day of skiing, the only snowboarder in the group and my great friend, decided that he was going to rest. Brilliant! I had wanted to try getting on a snowboard for a while now and seized the chance. He gave me a few basic lessons that I practiced for a while and then I jumped on the lift. Soon I was staying up on the board and sliding for a a few minutes, without falling and I was enjoying it so much that I was converted. I decided that I am going to get myself a board and learn how to ride properly. I never got really good with the ski anyway and only really enjoyed speeding down the slopes 😉

Dolen village in the Rhodopi mountains, Bulgaria

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This is the village of Dolen, which means “lower”. It is situated in the western part of the Rhodope region and is an architectural reserve.

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Beglika dam on the way to Dolen.

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The green plants in the wheelbarrow are tobacco leaves, which are still a traditional means of livelihood in the Rhodope mountains.

IMGP4335 IMGP4338 IMGP4349 IMGP4353The entrance to a small old orthodox church.

Memories from a fishermen’s village

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Some years ago, there was a small settlement at the estuary of the river Ropotamo in Bulgaria. It consisted of a few shacks scattered between the trees on the riverbank, which blended in well with the pristine wilderness that surrounded it. The village had a very special atmosphere of peace and tranquility, as the people lived a simple lifestyle that was unobtrusive and nature friendly. Unfortunately, a few years ago the local council decided that the village was illegal and that since it was built in a nature reserve it should be taken down.

These photographs show the boats and the pier when the village still existed.

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