Places kristinayonkova Wants to Go

Bizarrely shaped rock formations in northwest Bulgaria come with equally bizarre legends.

A striking symbol of the Bulgarian capital.

Eastern Bloc nostalgia, anybody?

A vast Communist-era exhibition space in the Bulgarian capital.

A collection of art from Bulgaria's time as a communist state.

An architectural marvel that spans the Arda River, and has stories of a haunted past.

A gigantic statue of a Russian soldier watches over the ancient city of Plovdiv, a prominent reminder of the Soviet period in Bulgaria.

These cascading falls resonate throughout the Bulgarian forest.

Not far from a popular beach, an unfinished, abandoned mansion for Bulgaria's last communist dictator.

On the outskirts of the small village, an abandoned grassy field glitters thanks to the white stones of an ancient structure.

Crossing a suspension bridge above a forest is the only way to reach this 12th-century monastery.

Mysterious standing stone formations looks like a petrified forest.

This once-grandiose behemoth of a monument from the socialist era now sits quiet and closed up.

These natural cliffs look like they are a part of an old castle complex.

This ancient theater, restored in the 20th century, lives on as a venue for dramatic and musical performances.

This apartment is a true time capsule of local life in Bulgaria during the Soviet regime.

This massive stone and steel monument remembers a century-old battle that cost thousands of lives and nearly destroyed the city.

A mountain pass in Bulgaria's Balkan Mountains was the site of four historic battles.

The social hall of this former factory is a Communist-era time capsule.

Rebuilt several decades ago, its striking murals prevent it from being reconsecrated as a church.

The last Oostende trawler to fish off Iceland is now a museum.

This memorial museum chronicles the apocalyptic destruction of the First World War.

A rare example of World War I trenches from the British front.

This fairy tale forest hides scenes from some of the more obscure and bizarre Western nursery stories.