On the weekend in Sofia, we drove with Marcie to the nearby mountains and the Rila Monastery, a 19th century rebuilding of one destroyed by fire. The monastery, with nine monks still in residence, was founded in the 10th century, rebuilt in the 15th century and again in the 19th. We had a private tour of the museum and the building. On the way down, we stopped for lunch at a local place that prepares freshly caught and very good trout.

On a hillside overlooking Sofia is the Boyana Church (not a monastery) from the 11th century. Only a few people are allowed in at a time (we went with Marcie, Ilian, and Myra) and are lectured about the ancient frescoes by a peculiar little old man. The Dragalevtsi Monastery is farther up on Mount Vitosha, which overlooks the city. We walked there with Victoria and Keith after lunch with them, Marcie, Mona, Myra, and Ilian at a traditional restaurant.