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It is official, Fanari has been occupied by Bulgaria!

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Written by: Gianna Esquivel

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Today we arrived in Greece! We are very excited and we are dying to see the Aegean Sea in person hahaha All those amazing pictures of the Greek beaches people post on the Internet are about to become real. We can’t wait! So we are heading directly to the beach! We will explore Northern Greece, starting with Fanari and its surroundings. Are you ready?

 

Where is Fanari?

Fanari or Fanarion (official name) is a small village located on the seaside in northern Greece. Take your map and follow these references. Based on Google Maps calculations, Fanari is:

 

• 386 km (4 hr. 35 min.) from Sofia (София), Bulgaria (BG).
• 201 km (3 hrs. 5 min.) from Plovdiv, BG.
• 106 km (1 hr. 26 min.), from Kardzhali (Кърджали), BG.
• 235 km (2 hr. 45 min), from Tekirdağ, Türkiye (TR).
• 88 km (1 hr 10 min), from Alexandroupoli, Greece (GR).
• 32 km (30 min.), from Komotini, GR.
• Xhanti 37 km (34 min.), from Xhanti, GR.

 

Fanari belongs to the Municipality of Komotini of the Regional Unit of Rodopi. It is a littoral settlement. It is 16 meters above sea level. Its population is estimated at 700 permanent residents.

 

What is the meaning of Fanari?

Fanari means lighthouse. The name comes from the Greek φάρος (fáros). The village was named Fanari because its original center was established on the headland where the lighthouse was.

 

History of Fanari

When you arrive in Fanari village and see its beauty and the awesome Aegean sea, you barely reckon about its history. It’s like “Who cares? It is beautiful! That’s it!” hahaha. But come on! A bit of history does not hurt! hahaha.

 

Fanari's foundation goes back to 1923 when the Peace Treaty of Lausanne was signed. The objective was to establish the borders, exchange war prisoners, and relocate civilians after the war between Greece and Türkiye. Fanari and other villages around were founded by Greek refugees from Eastern Thrace, currently, Türkiye. Fishing, agriculture, and trade were the main activities in Fanari.

 

During World War II, Fanari, like many other Greek villages, was impacted by the German occupation. Locals took part in the resistance against the occupying forces. After the war ended, Fanari’s reconstruction and development took place. Fishing and agriculture (olive groves, vineyards, etc.) remained as main activities.

 

During the latest decades, Fanari has modernized and improved its infrastructure, transportation, and amenities. Residents’ quality of life has become better and the village more accessible for visitors. That is how, Fanari is now an important tourist spot in Rodopi, both for locals and tourists from neighboring countries like Bulgaria, Türkiye, Romania, and Serbia!

 

Since the moment we arrived in Fanari, the Bulgarian presence was very clear. We can say that roughly, from every 10 cars in Fanari, 6 had Bulgarian plates.

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What to do in Fanari?

Fanari is a small village ideal for you to relax and enjoy the beach, nature, and that slow pace coastal spots offer. It is the ideal destination if you are looking for a beautiful, comfortable, and quiet place to rest. Although the increase of tourists the village has experienced during recent years, it is not as crowded as other popular destinations in Greece. Besides, we arrived in May 2023 and we found only the local people and a few tourists, mostly Bulgarians. Some of them were there only for short stays, like a day or a weekend. May is still low season so if you arrive in July or August, for sure you will find more visitors.

 

What to do in Fanari? Well, of course, you can explore the village and its surroundings, but you can also enjoy the awesome pleasure of doing nothing… Ok, nothing more than jumping into the sea, enjoying the beach, and fulfilling your soul with the beautiful landscape and your belly with delicious Greek food and drinks. This was a very tempting plan we did not refuse! Hahaha. Ok, here you have what to do in Fanari!

 

Swim and enjoy the beaches

Fanari owns beautiful beaches, one (the longest) has the blue flag tag, an indicator of quality standards and environmental safety. The beaches are pleasantly sandy! During May, the water is cool, some can say “still cold”, but we will say, just a little bit cold. And honestly, to have this beauty only for yourself, without sharing it with hundreds of tourists, is worth not waiting until the high season (Summer). The shallow waters of these beautiful beaches are a big plus for families, kids, and people who don’t know how to swim. The currents at the time we were there were very calm.

 

We were moving from beach to beach only to change the view. Here kind of our daily routine there:

• Beach at the port of Fanari. We visited it for an early swim. The only people we saw there, were local fishermen working on their boats and Bulgarian fishermen who enjoy this activity as a hobby. It was easy to enjoy the tranquility of this nice, sandy, and for moments, a bit rocky beach.

 

• Central beach. We moved to the central beach in front of the restaurants and cafes to have meals, and delicious hot coffee and cold Greek coffee (frappé, freddo espresso, or freddo cappuccino). Since the restaurants are here, they are a magnet for people. We were very lucky because, by the time we were there, neither the restaurants nor the beach were crowded. Only during the weekend, more visitors arrived to have a coffee or spend the day in the village.

 

• Arogi-Fanari Beach. This is the longest beach in Fanari. After breakfast, we walked on this beach that connects Fanari with the nearby village called Arogi. You can walk as long as you want on this pleasant, sandy, and peaceful beach. The absence of commerce or big development around makes this area more secluded and tranquil. You only need to take with you water and sunblock! That is it!

Fishing

We have not trained for fishing yet, but as we told you before, we found Bulgarian enthusiasts of this activity there. One day, while enjoying the sunrise, we greeted some fishermen in Greek, “Καλημέρα (Kalimera)!”. Then, they answered, “добро утро (dobro utro)!” hahaha. Come on! They were Bulgarians! Hahaha. They ruined what with thought was our first friendly encounter with Greek people. But they gave us a fun time and some cool tips for fishing!

 

They were from the southern city of Kardzhali, BG. For them to visit Fanari is a relaxing hobby together with fishing. They like so much the shallow and clear waters of the Aegean Sea, so they come to spend long stays, especially during the Summer, but also a day or several hours only to relax, fish, and get back home (Bulgaria) with fresh fish for dinner. If you are into making new friends, meeting Bulgarians can be another cool thing what to do in Fanari, Greece hahaha.

Cycling around

Tourists carrying their bicycles in their cars or campers was a constant while being in Fanari. Luckily, the landlord of the apartment we rented offered us bicycles to go around. It is not a rule but you can rent a bicycle or motorbike in some guest houses and hotels. It is a great way to go around Fanari village, its beaches and even to reach the next villages for more exploration. The terrain is mostly flat, the roads are good and we felt the whole area was pretty safe.

 

Sunset and sunrise spotting

Words can’t express how big fans of sunsets we are! The horizon in front of you, defined by the immensity and clarity of the sea, together with the changing colors of the sky that are reflected in the sea, wow! It is perfect! And very romantic too hahaha. Well, a big advantage of this village is that not only sunsets but also awesome sunrises can be seen in Fanari. We admired great sunsets from the beach at the port and lovely sunrises from the Arogi-Fanari beach. This is only a personal preference, you can choose your favorite place for spotting sunsets and sunrises, and get amazing postcards (pics).

Taste Greek gastronomy

Fanari is a small fishermen's village, M is a fish lover so he expected to find an attractive variety of fish and seafood on the restaurants’ menus. Honestly, he was not impressed. The reason? He is Bulgarian and the fish offered in the menus are very common in the Black Sea coast too. You will find sardines and anchovies pretty much everywhere. There are other choices like burgers, pizzas, pasta, salads, pork, lamb, chicken, etc. We stuck to the Greek souvlaki and gyros. So, the fish variety was not impressive, but the Greek seasoning is good. You can eat tasty stuff from the morning to the night.

 

In a couple of restaurants, we saw that the fish was not fresh. The reason people gave was that during the low season, it is not lucrative to fish every single day. Ok, the problem for fish lovers is that being in a fishing village, you don’t feel like eating refrigerated fish. We choose places with fresh fish. Ultimately, it's a matter of taste.

 

One note here, menus are written in Greek, English, and BULGARIAN! So it is official, Fanari has been occupied by Bulgaria and locals know it well.

 

Drink Greek beverages

Beverages deserve a special mention because they are delicious and essential for Greeks' daily lives. The day can’t be started properly without a shot of hot coffee or even a cold one if the weather is already warm. Then, all along the day, you will see people drinking their different cold coffee choices, frappé, freddo espresso, or freddo cappuccino. They are delicious! Very early in this trip, we happily joined the Greek way hahaha. Later, after enjoying your meals, a shot of Ouzo or Tsipouro will be the digestive you need to reach “Nirvana” hahaha or just to hit the pillow to enjoy a nap. When it is to pleasures, Greeks are experts!

 

What to visit around Fanari?

If you want to explore more, the surroundings of Fanari will keep you entertained. This area is not as developed as other very famous cities or Greek islands. A large area houses natural ecosystems that have been left untouched to naturally flourish. Only 12 km north of Fanari is the Nestos National Park. You won’t see big and luxurious resorts, but nature and villages with a much more relaxed vibe. We love places like those still exist! These are our recommendations.

 

Porto Lagos and the Monastery Agios Nikolaos

Only 15 km (16 min. By car) northwest of Fanari, you will find Porto Lagos, where you can visit the Agios Nikolaos monastery (Xhanti region). It is an attraction because the complex was built on two small islets of the Porto Lagos lagoon, connected by a wooden bridge. On one islet, the Agios Nikolaos is. On the other, the Panagia Pantanassa chappel. The monastery seems to be floating framed by all that natural surroundings and enjoying an astonishing view, of the Thracian sea. It is an active place for believers and tourists.

Lake Vistonida

From the moment you arrive in Porto Lagos, you will see Lake Vistonida. You can explore more of this beautiful lake, home to different and interesting fauna. It is an ideal spot for nature lovers, photographers, and bird-watching enthusiasts. Pink flamingos are beautiful and popular there (March-October). All the region where Lake Vistonida lays is a protected habitat.

 

Arogi village

Only 4 km east of Fanari, Arogi village is. It is another calm place, very similar to Fanari, but still a good alternative for exploration. Nature is the constant there, nice beaches, nature trails for hiking, traditional Greek architecture, tasty local cuisine, and beverages.

 

Where to stay in Fanari?

Accommodation in Fanari won’t be a problem! The village has a lot of guest houses, small hotels, apartments you can rent (different sizes and costs)., and a camping site. Just consider that during the low season, many of these places are closed, so the choices get reduced.

 

It is official, Fanari has been occupied by Bulgaria!

Bulgarians are big fans of Greece! Especially in northern Greece, we felt like we were still somewhere in Bulgaria. Daily, we found Bulgarians either at the beaches, on the road, at restaurants, in the accommodation, or in supermarkets. Greek people in the area also speak Bulgarian. We only can say, that the beauty of Greece is astonishing! It is impossible not to be conquered by it.

 

Conclusion

Fanari was our first stop on this trip through Northern Greece and it was perfect! We haven't enjoyed ourselves and relaxed as we did it here, a long time ago. The village has not the glam of the most famous Greek cities and islands but exactly that makes it very charming. We recommend you include Fanari in your travel list!

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Kardzali is a hotspot for Turkish and Greek tourists, but not Bulgarian. Why?!

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Written by: Martin Pramatarov

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Can you believe it? A Bulgarian city that is full of foreign tourists from Turkyie (Turkey) and Greece, but very few local tourists. Why is this happening? We went to Kardzali ourselves to find out. Is there something that keeps the local tourists away? Exploring all the places to visit in Kardzali, we made some very interesting discoveries. Find out what!

 

Where is Kardzali?

Kardzali (Кърджали), also spelled Kardzhali or Kurdzhali is a Bulgarian town located in the central part of South Bulgaria, next to the Arda River and Rodophe mountains.

When you look at the ma p of Bulgaria, locate Plovdiv, and from there go slightly southeast and you will see Kardzali.

If you a watching the map of Türkiye (Turkey), you will see Kardzali, west of Edirne.

And if you are checking the Greek map, you will find Kardzali, north of Komotini.

Some say that the name of the town comes from the Ottoman conqueror Kirca Ali, but Bulgarian historians say that is not true. The historian Boris Simeonov says that the name comes from the old Bulgarian language and the word “karchag”, meaning pottery. The place of the pottery makers.

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What to visit in Kardzali?

We were pleasantly surprised by the many interesting places to visit near Kardzali. You can spend a whole week around here, or even more if you are a lucky person with long holidays. Packandgo.info recommends you group some of the places to visit near Kardzhali per day.
For example:
Day 1: Utroba cave and the Devil’s Bridge.
Day 2: The stone wedding and Perperikon.
Day 3: River Arda and Tatul.

 

The Stone Wedding (Kamennata Svatba) (5 km way)

The stone wedding is a magnificent stone formation really close to Kardzhali. It is just around 5 km from Kardzhali. That makes it reachable not only by car but also by bicycle and even on foot. We usually don’t recommend taxis, but it could be a good option for a tourist group too.
We were quite lucky and there were no other tourists at the time of our visit. We could go around, take pictures from every angle, and even enjoy a small picnic there.
As we mentioned, Bulgarian tourists are staying away from Kardzhali and the foreigners don't know it.

The Stone Wedding has a legend:
A long time ago, there was a very beautiful woman. She was, so pretty, that everybody wanted her.
She fell in love with a brave man, and they were going to get married. The bride was ready and she was coming to the wedding together with all of her family and friends. At one moment, the wind blew her bridal veil and everybody saw her beautiful face. Because of her beauty, the men immediately desired her. That includes the father of the groom. God saw that and petrified everybody.
Back then, God was not merciful.
The Stone Wedding has a free entrance. You don’t need to pay anything.

 

The Mushroom Rocks (22km away)

The Mushroom rocks, also known as the Stone Mushrooms or Kamennite Gubi are a great rock formation near the village of Beli Plast, between Kardzali and Haskovo. They are called Mushroom rocks because they truly look like mushrooms. The Mushroom Rocks are around 22km away from Kardzali and it takes around 30 minutes to reach it by car.
They were made from volcanic tuffs (learn about volcanos) and they have multiple colors like pink, blue, and some black dots thanks to the mineral cloinoptilolite, manganese, and mineral celadonite.
The Mushroom rocks are around 2.5 to 3 meters high, and there are a bit more than 10 rocks.

By the way, Haskovo is also worth visiting. Check it out here!
If you are into cool rock formations, you can also check Belogradchik, or Sliven, and its blue rocks.

There is no entrance fee for the Mushroom Rocks near Kardzali. They are free to visit and you can stop your car at the entrance.

Utroba Cave (Womb Cave) (23 km away)

Utroba Cave is a very good hiking route near Kardzali. It is around 23 km away from the town and it takes around 45 minutes by car or around 1 hour and 15 minutes on bicycle. You should go towards Nenkovo village, and just a bit after the hut Borovitsa, you will see the sign that shows the start of the trekking. There is a small parking for a few cars. The hike is marked with a yellow sign on the trees and if you follow it more, you can go all the way to the Paradise Viewpoint of Arda River. We only took the route until the Utroba cave, and it took around 1 hour.
It does not require any special preparation, but still, it is a good effort. The terrain changes. First, it is a forest, then it is rocky. We went during the late spring and we were quite sweaty when we got to the top.
On the route, there are no shops, but there are a few benches and even kiosks that you can use to make a picnic. We saw some families that carried meat for BBQ.
Let’s get to the interesting part. Why it is called Utroba? Utroba Cave means Womb cave. It is called the Womb Cave because it has a similar shape to the female genitalia. Its entrance is 3-meter high, 2.5-meter wide, and it is 22-meter deep.
The Thracians, who lived here thousands of years ago, worshiped the Mother Goddess. The Utroba Cave has such a location, that the sun's rays enlighten the cave at a certain moment during the day, and that represents the fertilization that the Sun God performs with the Mother Goddess in order for the world to exist and be reborn. The Thracians created an altar, and the best time to see this is during the winter, between December and February.

Even now, many tourists from Türkiye (Turkey), Greece, and Bulgaria come here, to ask Mother Goddess for fertility. They bring food and other gifts to the altar.

Utroba (Womb) cave has a free access. You don’t have to pay anything.

 

Perperikon (20 km away)

Perperikon also known as Perperek is one of the greatest Thracian sentuaries in the world. It is ancient. The first settlement here was built in around 6000 B.C.!
It is located very close to Kardzali, around 20 kilometers, so you can go there by car or by a tour bus from Kardzali, or another close town. There is a paid parking and a free one. Depending on the season, you might be able to find a place on the free one.
There is also a small entrance fee that you need to pay at the entrance.

Perperikon is on a hill, around 500 meters high and you can enjoy a very beautiful view from every side of Perperikon.

The name Perperikon comes from the Middle Ages, between the 11th and the 13th centuries. The first name was Hyperperakion, but it was shortened to Perperakion and later to Perperikon. The name comes from the golden mines of Rodophes, and the process of refining gold.

The first civilizations here date back to the Bronze Age, and there are many ceramics found here in the Early Iron Age. There is also an impressive 2-meter in diameter altar made out of rocks.

It is believed that Perperikon was the place of the most famous Temple of Dionysis during the classical era.

Now you can see the remaining multiple-story palace with a very impressive fortress, with tick walls and even a preserved defense tower, and a church from the 5th century.
While we were enjoying the sanctuary, we started talking with a few of the tourists. They were a group of Turkish people, who used to be Bulgarians. How come? There was a very rude process in Bulgaria in 1984 called the "Revival Process", in which the government pushed all the ethically Turkish people, who were born in Bulgaria to change their names from Turkish names to Bulgarian names or leave the country. Become 100% Bulgarian or go away. A very extremist approach. Those who didn't want to do it emigrated to Türkiye (Turkey).
So, these guys were one of the people who decided to move to the neighboring country. They came for the first time to Bulgaria, after many decades to see the attractions, but also their abandoned houses. They had many memories of the rocks since they lived in the village nearby. They had tears on their faces, and an anger, that no "Sorry" can erase.
So this region of Bulgaria has not only ancient history but modern too.

 

Tatul Thracian sanctuary (28 km)

Tatul entrance fee for adults costs 6 BGN.
Tatul entrance fee for children and pensiones costs 3 BGN.
Tatul is a Thracian sanctuary and it could potentially be the tomb of the mythical musician Orpheus. We can’t be sure if Orpheus even existed, but what the stories tell is that he was a Thracian from the Rhodope Mountains. And on the top of Tatul, there is clearly a tomb of a famous person, so we decided to believe the myth.
Greek tourists get easily annoyed when another of the neighboring countries tries to claim something from their mythology, but let’s not focus on who is wrong and who is right. The place looks magnificent and full of energy anyway.
What you will find in Tatul is a well-preserved Thracian sanctuary that is located on a 200-meter high hill, near the town of Momchilgrad. The Tracian settelment is from 4000 B.C., and it consist of a rock piramid with a sarcophag and multiple althars.
During the years and the multiple archeological works there, the workers have found multiple pottery, bronze items, valuable items, and more. What is truly unique are the items dedicated to the Sun cult. Back in the day, the gods were directly related to nature and the Sun was one of the most popular ones.

 

Harman Kaya (Harmankaya) 31.5 km

Harman Kaya is a huge Thracian sanctuary in the Rhodopes from around 5000 years B.C. It is located near the village of Bivolyane.
What is really interesting about is that it is all cut inside the rocks.
The whole complex was developed next to a small, 7-meter-deep cave. There is also another cave there and both look like wombs. Just like most of the other Thracian sanctuaries in the area, there are cut niches inside the rocks that serve as holders of different items during religious ceremonies.
There is also a tomb cut inside the rock.
The main attractions here are the two so-called Harmans which are big circles cut inside the rocks. One is around 10 meters and the other is around 15 meters. What archeologists think is that they were used for astrological purposes. It is really curious to think, how ancient people from all around the globe were looking at the night sky and were trying to understand the world.

 

Monyak fortress 11.5 km

Visiting Monyak fortress near Kardzali, around 5 km, and it is a great hiking destination. It takes around an hour to climb to the Monyak fortress, and you will pass through forest and a bit rocky track. What is incredibly nice is that you can see the Arda River from the top.

The fortress of Monyak is located on the top of the Sixth Fortress peak, which is 586 meters high. The fortress was built around the 12th-13th century and used to be one of the important fortifications of Middle Age Bulgaria. The fortification had high walls, some of which were as high as 7.8 meters high, and the length of the wall was around 300 meters.

During the Middle Ages, the Monyak Fortress was an impressive stronghold. Bulgaria was often in conflict with Byzantine and there were many attacks of nomadic tribes coming from the east. A century later, after many years of battles, the Ottomans came to Europe and conquered Bulgaria.

Sadly, the Monyak fortress is not very well preserved and it is slowly falling apart. It would be nice if the Ministry of Tourism of Bulgaria started taking care of it.

 

The Horseshoe Bend of the Arda River (Golemia Zavoi na reka Arda) 30 km

If you are near Kardzali you can enjoy the beautiful Arda river and its multiple viewpoints. One of the best of them is the Horseshoe Bend of the Arda River (Horseshoe on Kardzali Dam). There, the river Arda makes a U-turn and it looks like a horseshoe.

It is on the road between Kardzali and Ardino. You need to turn in the village of Kobilyane and go direction of Borovitsa.

It is a hotspot for nature photographers and even if you are not a professional, you can make some stunning pictures here. It is a very popular destination for Instagram pictures too.

 

Devil’s Bridge (Diavolski most) 42 km

The Devil’s Bridge is a very impressive old bridge from the 16th century, near the town of Ardino. A long time ago, there was a bridge that was a part of the Via Egnatia, an ancient Roman road that connected Thracia, Macedonia, and Illyricum and went all the way to the Aegean Sea.
This bridge was destroyed, but in the 16th century, Sultan Selim the first order to be rebuilt. So, the current design is thanks to the Ottomans, and it looks spectacular.

 

The Thracian sanctuary Eagle Rocks (Orlovi Skali) 34.6 km

The Thracian sanctuary Eagle Rocks is another interesting sightseeing spot near Ardino (3 km away). The site consists of multiple niches, maybe around 100 niches are cut into a really large rock that is located above the forest.
It had some religious meaning, but sadly it was so long ago that the current historians don’t know the story. What some archeologist guess is that the place date back to the 2nd millennium B.C. and it was used through the Antiquity.
Now it looks like a really romantic place. Imagine if you could put candles inside the niches. Coming here with your partner, think about coming to Orlovi Skali late, enjoy the sunset, and put some candles for a nice romantic evening.

 

Thracian tomb of Aleksandrovo (Aleksandrovska grobnitza) 63.4 km

As you can see, this zone is full of myth and legend. One of them says that here in the village of Aleksandro, you can find the grave of the famous Alexander the Great. Is it true? In this article, we are truly triggering the Greek people. Now with Alexander the Great hahahah.
Probably we will never know if this is really his tomb, but there is an amazing tomb from the 4th century B.C. with well-preserved frescos and that is a fact.
You can visit it both from Kardzali and Haskovo.

 

What to do in Kardzali?

There are plenty of things to do in Kardzali and its surroundings.

• Visit the Regional Historical Museum in Kardzali. You will learn a lot about thousands of years of history. The region is one of the most interesting ones in the world.

• Eat Bulgaria, Turkish, and Greek cuisine. Enjoy some dunners, pide, moussaka, filled paprikas, sarmi, or another delicious dish from this part of the world. Which is the best? Try the 3! We love all of them and they all have special preparation methods.

• Drink Bulgarian wine and Bulgarian rakia. The whole region of Thracia is well-known for its excellent wine for more than thousands of years. The first evidence of winemaking near Kardzali dates back to 4000 B.C. and is connected to the Thracians. After that Greek and Bulgarian winemakers continued the tradition to the modern days. If you are not into wine, there is a stronger grape-made alcohol called rakia. It is the Bulgaria version of Brandy and it tastes delicious.

• Climb the Rhodope mountains. The Rhodope Mountains, also known as Rodopi or Rhodopes are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe. The biggest part is in Bulgaria, but it also spreads to Greece. It is not the highest mountain in Bulgaria, but it is one of the most picturesque. You can climb the highest peak called Golyam Perelik, see Kardzhali Dam, and enter the Utroba cave or the Devil’s Throat cave.

• Check historical sights and learn about the Thracians: Perperikon, Orlovi Skali, Harmankaya, Tatul, Utroba cave, Thracian tomb of Aleksandrovo, and more. If you are keen on Thracian history, what better place than the Thracian region itself?

• Discover natural beauties like The stone wedding, the Mushroom rocks, and many more caves and waterfalls that you can find near Kardzhali.

• Enjoy water activities in the Arda River. You can find multiple viewpoints, trek around, cross through the suspended bridges, and even rent a boat around the Arda River.
  Go to one of the nearby towns. In the South of Bulgaria, there are many more interesting locations. Check out more villages, towns, and cities around.

 

So, why Bulgarian tourists don’t visit Kardzali and its surroundings?

Bulgarian tourists don’t visit Kardzali and its surroundings because it is not a trendy zone and they prefer to travel to closer places to the big cities. There is nothing wrong with the region and it has plenty of attractions near Kardzali to see. Sadly, it is not really close to the capital city Sofia, nor the big port cities like Varna and Burgas. Even Plovdiv is around 100 kilometers away.

Clearly Turkish and Greek tourists have discovered Kardzali and its surroundings and they have appreciated all the natural beauty and history of this region. If you are one of these tourists, that really enjoy this region, Packandgo.info has a message for you.

Please share this article with a Bulgarian! Show them how great the South of Bulgaria is. Tell them not to skip Kardzali on their way to the Greek beaches and spend at least a few days here. Yes, the Rhrodopes are not as high as Rila and Pirin, but they are also beautiful and full of interesting places.

 

What other Bulgarian cities can you visit from Karzali?

The top cities to visit from Kardzali:

• Haskovo

• Zlatograd

• Smolyan

• Pamporovo

• Asenovgrad

• Svilengrad

• Plovdiv

• Stara Zagora

• Hisarya

• Kazanluk

• Sliven
  

The closest big cities are Plovdiv and Stara Zagora. Kardzhali is quite far away from the other big cities Sofia, Burgas, and Varna.

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Everything you need to know about the Mexican Alebrijes

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Written by: Gianna Esquivel

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Guys, we have talked already about these beautiful Mexican fantasies called alebrijes. After publishing the article Alebrijes, meet these fantastic and colorful Mexican creatures! we receive many questions about them. So here you have the answers. We hope this can satisfy your curiosity and more importantly, that this gives you the last kick to Pack and Go to Mexico to meet these beautiful and exotic creatures in their homeland!

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Are alebrijes from Mexico?

Yes, alebrijes are from Mexico. They were created by the Mexican handicraftsman, Pedro Linares López, who was born in Mexico City in 1906 and died in 1992 when he was 86 years old.

If you want to know more about the story behind the Mexican alebrijes, check Alebrijes, meet these fantastic and colorful Mexican creatures! 

 

How many types of Mexican alebrijes are there? 

There are two types of Mexican alebrijes, the ones made of paper, through the technique known as papier-mâché sculpting used by his creator, Pedro Linares López in 1936.

And the alebrijes sculpted in wood, like the Oaxaca ones made of copal wood instead of paper. Based on the Mexican region you are in, you can find more versions that use different types of wood.

 

What powers do alebrijes have? 

Alebrijes don’t have supernatural powers. Let’s explain this, taking away the nahual myth. An alebrije combines different features from different animals in a single creature. Therefore, the powers alebrijes could represent, not really have, are useful animal abilities and instincts. If you give wings to a jaguar, besides being a great swimmer and climber, it will fly. If you add to it an elephant trunk, the jaguar will gain a powerful sense of smell to track whatever. Remember that alebrijes were created far from myths. It was a handicraftsman's creation and contribution to Mexican popular art.

Now, if you look for an answer considering the nahual myth that has been connected with the alebrijes, the powers of nahuales -not of alebrijes- are said to be animal features. But the main difference here is that being connected with a human, those animals could take human shape and the human could transform on the animal. Just consider that the nahuales myth was taken as inspiration to create alebrijes in Oaxaca. But they are not the same thing. Most of the descriptions of nahuales describe them as beasts or normal animals.

 

Are alebrijes connected with the Day of the Dead?

No, alebrijes are not connected with the Day of the Death. Alebrijes were created by the Mexican Pedro Linares López in 1936. They were the result of his creator’s imagination.

But thinking about the version of alebrijes made in Oaxaca, their link with the nahual myth makes a connection with the Day of the Death.

 

In Oaxaca, it is believed that, whether in its guardian or evil version, a nahual can appear throughout the year. But during the Day of the Dead, the nahuales are more present because, on that day, the barrier that separates this world and that of the Dead (supernatural world) is erased for a few hours.

On the Day of the Dead, the nahuales coexist with the souls of those they protected in life and it is said, they are even visible to the living. Especially during the days around the Day of the Dead, people in Oaxaca are more careful and kind to animals. They think that these animals could be the nahuales of living or dead people.

 

What are alebrijes in Coco?

If you haven’t been yet to Mexico, pretty sure you already knew the alebrijes while watching the animated fantasy “Coco” (2017), of Disney.

Alebrijes were used by the creators of “Coco” like spirit guides of the main characters. Don’t forget it is fiction, therefore you shouldn’t take their version like it’s 100% historically accurate. But they used them in the film to include another native and visually attractive Mexican element. Alebrijes are exotic and very colorful and this turned out convenient to create the vibrant environment this Disney’s fantasy offers you. 

In the movie, alebrijes are directly connected with the Day of the Death. But we already explained to you that there’s no such connection. The use of alebrijes in “Coco” is closer to the one explained by the nahual myth, popular in states like Oaxaca, about animal guardians of humans. And still, you will find inconsistencies with it because such guardians were normal animals, not alebrijes.

 

What does it mean to give an alebrije?

Giving an alebrije is a kind detail. Many people give alebrijes as souvenirs of their trip to Mexico. To add a colorful and beautiful detail to any room. For the believers of the myth of the nahual, giving an alebrije means a tool to drive away from a home an evil spirit. It is said that the more monstrous the alebrije looks, the more effective it will be against evil spirits. Some give them away as a symbol of good luck.

The meaning is more a personal attribution than something real.

 

 

Do alebrijes represent real animals?

Yes, alebrijes represent real animals, all kinds of them, but with emphasis on the ones that are more common in Mexico. Once the artisan combined the features of different animals in a single piece, the result is not a real but an imaginary animal.

Sometimes, the first thought many tourists have when they see an alebrije for the first time is “they are dragons”. But they are not dragons. Maybe some get a bit that image due to the combination of animals, the addition of claws, wings, or horns.

 

What animals are alebrijes?

All animals are potential alebrijes (mice, snakes, jaguars, lions, hedgehogs, monkeys, foxes, scorpions, rabbits, and so on). Handicraftsmen use a wide variety of animals and combinations of them. But usually, they recreate the more popular or known animals of their regions. 

 

What are alebrijes made of?

The most popular and traditional alebrijes are made of paper, through the technique known as papier-mâché sculpting. Or sculpted in wood, like the ones made in Oaxaca with copal wood.

But there are alebrijes made of clay, different types of wood, some artists have painted alebrijes. And I have to say that recently I have seen very cheap versions of alebrijes made of plastic by China. 

 

Are all alebrijes the same?

Not at all. Alebrijes are not all the same. Since there’s no standard pattern or matrix to make them, every alebrije is unique and unrepeatable. They (their size, colors, combination of animals, material, etc.) are the result of every creator’s creativity and skills. That gives great value to these pieces. It’s not strange people want to collect them. 

 

How to paint an alebrije?

To paint an alebrije there are no specific rules, just get creative! Every alebrije combines the features of different animals. Talking about such combinations and colors the limit is your imagination. I will create a couple of examples: an eagle-headed lion with wings, a snake-headed leopard with a peacock tail. You can paint them blue, pink, purple, green, black, yellow, brown, etc.

Handcrafting your alebrije could be a nice activity for adults and kids. You should try it!

 

Where can I buy alebrijes?

You can buy alebrijes in Mexico. There are many souvenirs shops, craft markets, and art galleries where you can find all sizes, animal combinations, and quality alebrijes. You can also try online shops but there’s a chance the products are not Mexican.

And as we just said, you can create yours! 

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