New vacation fantasy: attend the rose festival in Bulgaria! Did you know that Bulgaria's Rose Valley produces 85% of the world's rose oil and has been doing so for centuries? It takes 1300 rose blossoms to produce 1 gram of rose oil! Each June, they hold a week long rose festival. I'd love to attend but I'd also love to work plucking those petals. Sign me up for any type of physical labor, as long as it includes flowers. Bonus if I somehow get to look like this Bulgarian beauty. Have any of you been to Bulgaria? What is it like?
Photos: Found on two news sources ( CNC, chinaeconomic.net). Both cited the credit as Xinhua/Wang Meng. Facts found on Wikipedia + Rose-Festival.com.
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The second to last photo is my favorite. So great!
Posted by: Branden Harvey | July 07, 2011 at 12:28 AM
What wonderful photos! And while the idea is romantic, I think the reality of manual labor amongst the thorns wouldn't be quite as idyllic!
http://nomadic-d.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Nomadic D | July 07, 2011 at 01:55 AM
Can you imagine that delicious smell in this beautiful field? Bulgarian roses are the best!
Posted by: Leagh@bunchesdirect | July 07, 2011 at 02:39 AM
I've been! It's probably my favorite trip to date. It was wonderful. A learning experience, but wonderful. Spent a week there tooling around Sofia and went up in the mountains to the Rila Monastery - completely fantastic. Would do it again in a heartbeat!
Posted by: Kat | July 07, 2011 at 06:14 AM
YES. I'm coming with you. Bulgaria is a beautiful country and full of surprises. The best night out I've ever had in my life (other than my very silly bachelorina party) was in Sofia at a bar with a white Bulgarian rapper. The countryside is gorgeous as well - and what's not to like about a rose festival?
Posted by: What Possessed Me | July 07, 2011 at 06:25 AM
Beautiful!
Posted by: Jane Flanagan | July 07, 2011 at 06:57 AM
That looks like the perfect trip! Breathtaking!
Posted by: Meli (Blush + Jelly) | July 07, 2011 at 07:07 AM
I love Bulgarian rose oils - I always buy mine from their. The scent is unmatchable. I would love to visit there during their rose festival. :)
Posted by: myra :: twigs & honey | July 07, 2011 at 07:38 AM
its GORGEOUS! fields and fields and fields of roses and sunflowers(slun-go-gled- smiling at the sun ). NB: do not try to RUN in a sunflower field! You will get scratched and will not be able to get out once you get in![I beggggged and begged to stop on the side of the road, but my Bulgarian friends thought I was craaaazy wanting to "run" through sunflower fields. After FINALLY convincing them and LEAPING across a deep gully to reach the field and excitedly dashing into the tall maze, I realized my rookie mistake. Those stalks are KILLER strong and prickly! I did not ask to run through any rose bushes after that~
Posted by: Lydia Williams | July 07, 2011 at 10:01 AM
Lindo lindo mas trabalhar não dá, ha muitos espinhos... ou, é o preço!
abraço
Lara
Posted by: Lara Arenghi | July 07, 2011 at 10:42 AM
I have never been but The Bulgarian Rose Festival is for sure going on my bucket list! How amazing and magical! xo Samantha
Posted by: Vintage is for Lovers | July 07, 2011 at 10:59 AM
What beautiful fields, I wouldn't mind going there!
Posted by: Carolyn Cochrane | July 07, 2011 at 11:09 AM
This would be so wonderful, Chelsea! Totally agree with you physical-labor sentiment. I was thinking about applying to pick Lavender in Provence. How bad could that really be?
Posted by: Sam | July 07, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Wow! Imagine how many fields of roses they have. It would be like the cornfields in Iowa, but oh so much better. :)
Posted by: John Allen Photography | July 07, 2011 at 11:28 AM
I just spent 10 days there last September. It was gorgeous and it actually reminded me of Oregon a lot - had many of the same trees/plants/landscapes. Of course scattered in were remnants of its Eastern Bloc past, but I love the gritty feeling. I was completely enthralled by the contrast of deserted factories and flowering meadows (on ride from Sofia to Rila). Stark and stunning. Oh, and then there's the "am I on a movie set?" feeling when you pass a little old man with his donkey and cart on the road! Food is great, beer is awesome and despite the language barrier, people were very helpful and kind.
P.S. I can send you a link to my pics if you like.
Posted by: JenniferU | July 07, 2011 at 11:59 AM
Wow, gorgeous!
Posted by: Designs Good | July 07, 2011 at 01:05 PM
great photos
Posted by: sajuki | July 08, 2011 at 05:38 AM
Chelsea,
Why are we still here? Let's go. Grab the plane and camera and I'll bring dresses. My goodness it's gorgeous! The light in those photos. The petals. Where's my fainting couch?
Posted by: Sarahbeth | July 08, 2011 at 11:16 AM
If you do ever go, here are some tips I wrote up (after I spent a week or so there in 2009 to photograph a wedding) http://www.mergeweddings.com/weddings/bulgaria-travel-2/
Posted by: Rachel | July 11, 2011 at 01:29 PM
I get so many vacation fantasies from you. Just added another to the dream list.
Posted by: bronwyn | July 13, 2011 at 08:03 PM
Chelsea! I just returned from a two-week trip to Bulgaria (pretty much explored the entire country). My fiance is from there and we were visiting his family. We actually went to the official rose museum/valley of the roses located in the south of the country and while the season was nearly done (it peaks in late may/early June), I was able to capture a lot of great shots and learn some fascinating history. I'll email you when I do a post on it (in a few weeks most likely).
Posted by: Kayla @ Exquisite Banana | July 17, 2011 at 03:10 PM
I'm from Bulgaria! Happy to see those pictures and the attention they've brought!
I definitely recommend visiting Bulgaria - beutiful nature, lots of history and places to visit! If you want some tips and help - just e-mail.
Posted by: Lyuba | July 18, 2011 at 04:50 AM