One of my favorite things to do around November is to go hiking, whether with friends or by myself. This year, I teamed up with fellow moderator @FelipePK for a picnic trip in the countryside.
We decided to visit Prohodna Cave, a cavern well-known for a unique natural feature. It took us approximately two hours to get to the location from the center of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. We relied on Google Maps to lead us there and the route took us through picturesque small towns and villages.
When we got to Prohodna Cave, we immediately understood what made this place so special. There were two almond-shaped holes in the stone on the roof, formed due to erosion from heat and moisture, through which sunlight entered the vast cavern. Seen from a certain angle, this sight resembled a pair of eyes. This phenomenon was what gave the cave its other popular name—”God’s eyes.” A local woman shared with me and Felipe that when she looked up, she felt as if those eyes were piercing her soul. I can say I felt it, too.
Overall, the terrain inside the cavern was quite uneven, so wearing adequate footwear was a must. It was common to stop and help others pass through difficult or narrow parts. Unfortunately, I couldn’t capture all the different angles of the environment inside on my camera, because it was simply too big.
Prohodna Cave is a great place for sports enthusiasts, as it offers nice conditions for climbing and trekking. If you’re looking for something more thrilling, you can register for a bungee jump, just like I did in 2016.
The feeling of jumping off a cliff was incomparable. The world went blank in front of my eyes for a second and then I was falling almost to the ground. When the bungee rope pulled me back up, I felt as if a giant from the heavens picked me up.
When we left the cave, Felipe and I looked for a place to sit down and have a picnic. We chose a location next to a plain field, where cars and sometimes caravans would pass by.
Making the fire was quite easy, thanks to the dry weather over the past few weeks. The day itself was sunny and the wind was weaker than we expected. We utilized the surrounding elements, like stones, sticks, and branches, and managed to build a proper fire. Soon we had the perfect smoldering coals we needed for our cooking.
While waiting for the fire to settle down, we prepared our main dish—chicken drumsticks wrapped in bacon, with a bit of salt, pepper, and chili flakes. To go with this meal, we brought tomatoes, bread, and tea. I had also fried some eggs beforehand, to have additional protein.
As an enthusiastic camper, I can confidently say that tools are very essential for outdoor activities—whether it’s a simple knife or a special tent to protect you from hot and cold weather. For this picnic trip, I used an eco-friendly grill net, which was really useful as it didn’t require greater support than a branch we found on the ground.
We had a great time talking and enjoying our outing, but as it happens with autumn days, this one soon came to an end. As the sun was setting, we packed our backpacks, cleaned up after ourselves, and set off back to Sofia.
Do you have a favorite picnic spot you recommend? Share with us in the comments below.
Every time was really a cool experience!
