Arriving into Sofia was a bit of a grind. I didn't know what to expect, but the traffic coming in from the east side was heavy. Makes some sense as both the airport and the train station are out there. The seasonal light conditions didn't make things any easier. It was mid November, around midday, and the sun glare was intense. Unfamiliar surroundings in general, unfavorable lighting, and a tram running right down the middle of a snug 5-lane boulevard (Todor Alexandrov, I believe) and it was a little tense trying to figure out where to park as I approached
Hotel Central Sofia (okay location for convenience, not much for charm; and my room was stuffy and felt a bit sad overall). The parking options in Sofia seem difficult in general and approaching the hidden garage entrance of Hotel Central Sofia in those traffic conditions was impossible. I made a few turns trying to find a spot by instinct and luck and wound up in the lot of nearby
Hotel Anel. A security guard who fortunately spoke english told me the lot was mainly for hotel guests, but I would probably be okay as long as I was fine paying something like $20/hr (!). That seemed aggressive, but I needed to unload and regroup, so I left the car there happy to be done with the driving for a bit.
The reception / lobby area of the hotel was fine. Small, basic, trying a little bit to be friendly. Then I popped up to room 703 and saw that the 1970s brown theme carried through every detail.
Looking at the pictures now the room seems fine. But there was really limited ventilation and the air felt heavy with something. Heat from the sun baking through the window. Maybe the faint feeling that the room had been smoked in heavily for decades, even if it had been smoke-free in recent years. It was like opening up an attic above a mothball factory or something. Takes the energy out of you. Not a huge matter, though, since the idea was to immediately get out and start walking around the city to see the sights and get a lay of the land.
So I started east along Aleksandar Stamboliyski, noting the mix of residential and retail, with some recognizable brands and local shops. Also snapped a shot of a Black Friday sign. Saw more of these than I expected throughout both Bulgaria and Romania.
Once I got to the
Happy Bar & Grill it was time to turn north to see some of the ruins of Serdika, the
Central Mosque, and the
Regional History Museum.
It was a beautiful fall day and just getting started.
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