Lazarow World-Hike-About: 60.33: Bulgaria: Yagodina: Eagle Eye Climb, pre-autumn coloring followed by a later true autumn hike.

Part-way up, we look into the gorge and valley.

After reaching the hotel, it is an incline all the way to the top.

I made the point last week, aloud, much to Jenni's 'astonishment' that Bulgaria is my favorite place to visit for hiking and casual living, inter alia. More specifically, the Rhodope and Pirin Mountains are fantastic places. I also knew Jenni would reply, should she not be too bored, that I mention it about all the countries and regions we visit. It's my mind. It is obviously too small to retain much so the current or last place visited is therefore the favorite—the only one I remember. Naturally, I am deeply- or would be- offended but I like to give her the benefit of the doubt as she is correct...occasionally or perhaps more than occasionally. However, for the first time I stand by my position unequivocally and while I won't 'fight to the death to defend it', I will try to sneak a booking for next autumn.

This blog is linked to that which follows. We did the hike twice: Once before the autumn colors descended upon the forests and then three weeks later, to the day. In addition, we were able to return to the coffee vending machines for which we have developed a strange fondness. There's no accounting for behavior of those tending toward senility. In addition, I joked with Jenni that I hoped the guys we met at the machines 4 years back might join us for a 'catch-up'. It wasn't to be. However, on the second hike, we met Philip and he shrewdly had us purchase him a beer in order that we would not be drinking alone, that is, coffee.

Philip and Jeffrey, in no particular order. Jen loves to take these photos unaware.