Weather today – Mostly sunny with a high of 76 F (24 C)

The only Viking excursion choices today are between one of two included tours. One called Ruse Highlights (3 hours, moderate, morning) and one called Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi (8.5 hours, easy, morning/afternoon). The Ruse Highlights is a local tour of the “architectural variety of “Little Vienna,” Bulgaria’s most important river port.”. 

Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi Excursion

We chose the longer tour, which Viking described as:

Tour two cultural gems rich in Bulgarian heritage during this full-day excursion into the heart of the country.

Begin with a drive through Ruse, then continue to Veliko Tarnovo, a fascinating medieval town built around Tsarevets Hill and its castle. After a coffee break, stop at the Yantra River bridge for a nice view of the majestic Assenev Brothers monument, a towering obelisk flanked by horses. Next, explore Samovodska Charshia, a traditional street teeming with handicrafts, or visit the castle ruins and enjoy vistas of the Old Town and countryside. Afterward, proceed to Arbanasi, rich in history and Greek influence. After lunch at a local restaurant, sample the Damascus rose products, locally made from the essence of roses. After, you will visit a local merchant house and see the intricate frescoes of the Nativity Church with a local guide.

Checking Google Maps, it will be approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to Veliko Tarnovo and then 15 minutes to Arbanasi, then at least about the same time to return. So, we are expecting at least 3.5 hours total on the bus seeing the Bulgarian countryside. I’m always surprised at the number of people who are surprised by how much travel time is involved in these long tours when it can be easily checked ahead of time via a little research.

Unfortunately, I woke up sick this morning, and Dave was still feeling puny as well so we spent the day in our stateroom – mostly sleeping.

I’m writing this a couple of days later and haven’t talked to anyone yet who took this excursion to get a report on it, but I’ll try to remember to keep asking about it. We did get a report from Deb and Elaina who were on our small group Parliament tour and took the Ruse Highlights tour and they were gracious enough to share a few pictures from their excursion for me to post here.

Ruse Highlights Excursion

The Viking tour description reads:

Marvel at the brilliant architectural variety of Bulgaria’s most important river port, known as “Little Vienna.” Established during the 1st century AD, Ruse is a repository of neo-baroque, neo-rococo, Empire, Renaissance and Secession brilliance. During this guided excursion, you will see the city’s most beloved landmarks. Pass the rich, crimson-hued Opera House, the Monument of Liberty—the symbol of the city—and the neoclassical Theater and Concert Hall. Continue to the baroque Old City Center, a collection of architectural styles, and the impressive Sveta Troitsa, or Holy Trinity, Church with its hexagonal tower. Then, browse the fascinating collection at the Museum of History, which houses 140,000 artifacts and items discovered in Danube castles. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore the old town on your own, before returning to your awaiting ship.

Deb and Elaina reported that they had a very good guide through the town.