Snow Capped Moutains? Stunning Monastery? Yes, please.

 the majestic snow-capped Rila Mountain, Rila Monastery - Bulgaria

 Rila Monastery

the sun rising over the monastery

 one of the monastery's doors

 Orthodox icons

the entrance into the monastery's courtyard

more on the stunning monastery

Tweet

Rila Monastery

 Rila Monastery, Bulgaria

the Monastery is an UNESCO World Hertiage Site

 and was founded in the 10th century

 it is also known as the Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila

Tweet

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

 Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in downtown Sofia, Bulgaria

 the Cathedral is the largest in the Balkans

 the Cathedral is Bulgarian Orthodox

 and was built to honor Russian soldiers who died during the Russo-Turkish War or 1877-78

 downtown Sofia

downtown Sofia

More on the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral---Sofia's most memorable landmark

Tweet

Sofia, Bulgaria

The Church of St. George (4th Century AD), also known as the Sveti Georgi Rotunda

with Roman ruins and the Bulgarian Presidency surrounding - Sofia, Bulgaria

downtown Sofia, Bulgaria

 Sofia, Bulgaria

 the Uruguayan (far left) and American (far right) Buddy Bears

in Sofia, Bulgaria

The Irish and Spanish Buddy Bears

What is the traveling display of Buddy Bears?

remnants of Soviet factories outside Sofia

Tweet

Part X: The Return to Dakar

 after a lovely visit to Lompoul and Saint-Louis, we drove the coast back to Dakar, Senegal

passing countless soccer games

 after passing fishermen near Kayar, Senegal

 and fisherman near Mboro, Senegal

 children on the beach near Yoff welcomed us back into Dakar

and abandoned vehicles marked our entrance into the city

Tweet

Part IX: A Flamingo, the Ocean, & Endless Beach

we then drove along the beach, finding only this woman for miles and miles

 

and a solitary flamingo walking along the Atlantic Ocean

after the lovely weekend in Saint-Louis, the solitude of Senegal's Grande Côte was perfect

 

and it was easy to forget the chaos of Dakar

Tweet