When I was researching Bulgaria to see if it would be an interesting place to spend some time, I read that this country produces 70% of the world’s roses! That had me intrigued and piqued my interest in visiting. Now that I am here, I see beautiful roses in Plovdiv everywhere I turn. And wow, does it ever intensify the beauty of the city.
Remember, I do not edit my photo’s in any way. The colours you see below are exactly what I beheld.
Bulgarian Roses
The Bulgarian Rose or Damask Rose is grown for its strong fragrance from which the country produces some of the worlds finest rose oil. Most of this takes place in the Rose Valley, an area of which I plan to explore further. These roses are bright pink, have an abundance of petals and are absolutely gorgeous. Can you imagine seeing fields and farms of roses in bloom?
Plovdiv Roses
From the study of Bulgaria, I knew the likelihood that I would see roses all over the country would be high. And I was not wrong. For here in Plovdiv, the roses are blooming all over the city. Cascading from people’s gardens, overflowing in parks, their beauty is abundant.
And these roses are huge! Not the little dainty or tightly wrung roses that I am used to seeing in floral shops and the like. These roses are proud. They display their colour and scent like an unabashed extrovert.
Hidden Beauty
How amazing to be wandering down a dark alley or in the most unlikely place to see any flower, and to behold such extravagance!
You bet I do stop and smell the roses; however, I do not see a single other individual partaking in this simplest of pleasures. I have caught the eye of older gentlemen watching me and smiling at my juvenility. I like to think we share the acknowledgement that life is best served on a simple platter.
Once again, I see that it is the small things that matter. This is my expression of myself and I’m loving every minute.
