Red Bags Across Bulgaria 5

One of the joys of traveling by bicycle is finding a place to stop.   Though almost anywhere will do once things begin to feel a little too tender in the saddle, a good break will include the basics of shade, scenery and refreshment.  Bulgaria has this figured out.  Placed sporadically around the country are wonderful little roadside fountains.  These generally consist of little more than a pipe sticking out of a rocky wall, with a steady stream of clear water cascading into a trough at the bottom.  They are usually miles from the nearest settlement, like an oasis in the desert.  And just as welcome on a hot day.  Take a big gulp and splash your face and arms with the icy cold water, then sit at a small table under the shade of a willow to admire the view of the surrounding rolling green hills.  It’s like a mini vacation at a tiny spa.  These delightful little waysides are used as a rest break by motorists, a water source for nearby residents, a place to replenish water tanks for farming equipment and are a great watering hole of sorts for the many horses which still pull wagons along Bulgaria’s roads.