OSI - Slatino
Mount Vitosha Excursion We
left Slatino at 8:30 in the morning, had breakfast on the road, and
eventually arrived in Dragalevtsi village, at the base of Mount Vitosha,
at about noon. At Dragalevtsi there is a
30-minute chair-lift that goes part-way up the mountain. We took
this lift, and then a very nice 30-minute hike on the mountainside to Aleko
lodge. At Aleko the kids ate a hot lunch and rested for a bit, and
then we took another 20-minute chair-lift to the top
of the mountain. The kids wandered around the mountain top for a
while, climbing rocks, and enjoying the cool air and spectacular views and
scenery. We returned to Aleko late in the afternoon, where we had a
soda break. From Aleko we took a 30-minute cabin-lift back
down to the base of the mountain. We arrived back in Dupnitza at
8:30pm where our weary kids had dinner. They finally arrived back in
Slatino at 9:30, 13 hours after we left! They were very tired, but
behaved perfectly and had a great time. As always, it was a great
distraction for them from their boring summer days in the village. Click on the
photo for a larger image... Boarding the bus to Sofia... Leslie and
kids, on the way to Sofia... Veronica
on the chairlift... A
20-minute walk from the lift to Aleko lodge... Stopping
for a group photo... Hristina, Lili, Rosi,
Veronica, Rumen, and Veli... The
last remains anyway (of Bulgarian kebabche and fries) ... On
the lift, heading to the top... Resting on the final jaunt to
the top... Hiking to the top, with a view
of smoggy Sofia... Group photo from the top of the
mountain... Enjoying the view and the sun... Rumen,
Veronica, Lili, Gencho... Gencho and Rumen, on the lift
back down to Aleko (with a great view of Sofia, far below)...
Leslie and kids at Aleko Lodge... Rumen, in the cabin lift,
headed back down to the base (with Sofia in the background)... Acknowledgements Our
excursion to Mount Vitosha was funded primarily by a grant from Peace
Corps, thanks to the efforts of Peace Corps volunteer Leslie Geer; thank
you Leslie and Peace Corps! Our excursion was also supplemented by
each of the children's individual sponsors. Thanks for creating a
wonderful memory for these deserving kids!
Other
Events - View other events for OSI children If
you are interested in funding a similar project for OSI children, please contact
OSI
August 21, 2004
Thanks
to the efforts of Peace Corps volunteer Leslie Geer, Peace Corps provided
funds for an excursion for eight of our Slatino kids to Mount Vitosha.
The excursion took place on 21 August, 2004, and was chaperoned by Leslie
herself. Mount Vitosha is a peak that rises just to the south of
capital Sofia. In the hot summertime (it was 37c in Sofia!), it's a wonderful place to
escape the heat and to spend a day hiking around the splendid landscape.
Ready
To Go
On
The Bus
Heading
Up The Mountain
Walking
Along The Mountainside
And
Through The Woods
A
Short Break
Lunch
Gencho
Veronica
and Velizara
Rumen
The
Mountaintop
Veronica
Ringing
the Bell
Headed
Back Down
Soda
Break
Cabin
Lift
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