CSULB: Bulgaria & Istanbul (2024)

We will take a late afternoon/early evening flight to Sofia Bulgaria. This will be an overnight flight with a stop in one of Europe’s large cities. Arrival in Sofia, Bulgaria is on the afternoon of day 2 considering the 7-hour time difference.

We will arrive in Sofia, Bulgaria early/late afternoon.
Check into hotel.

You can explore in the late afternoon before heading off to Welcome Dinner.

Enjoy the morning exploring Sofia including Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia Graffiti Tour, and other historic landmarks.

Late in the afternoon we will travel to the Stone & Compass Center in Stolat, Bulgaria. This will be our home base for majority of our stay.

This morning we will visit The Monument House of the Bulgarian Communist Party, also known as the Buzludzha Monument. Afterward, we will visit Shipka and the architectural ethnographic complex Etara.

Later this afternoon back at the center, we will work on assignment #1/ Class meeting/discussion on assigned readings.

Today you will enjoy a day trip to the 2nd Bulgarian empire’s capital city of Veliko Tarnovo. Here you will have the opportunity to climb Tsaravets Fortress which was the hub of this medieval city. Shopping, gelato, and traditional crafts make Veliko a favorite of all who visit. Participate in on-the-go lectures as we pass through hundreds of years of history.

Tonight, we have a special pizza dinner with Bulgarian Dancers back at the center.

Today we take a day trip to Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city. Here we will see the ancient Roman amphitheater, explore the old town and learn more about the Roman ruins spanning the length of the pedestrian walking street.

Word Day/Class meeting/discussion on assigned readings (afternoon) at the Stone & Compass Center

Start today right with traditional Turkish coffee! Then, tour Hagia Sophia, Istanbul’s main cultural and historical site. Then, take a tour of Basilica Cistern, the largest of several hundred cisterns that lie beneath Istanbul. You’ll have free time in Sultanahmet Square, where you’ll find the Egyptian Obelisk, the Colossus of Costantine Porphyrgenitus, the Serpentine Column, and the German Fountain!

Today, you’ll tour Topkapi Palace, homem to many ornaments, books, artifacts, and other valuable items dating back to the Ottoman empire. Then, have some free time in Gülhane Park. In the afternoon, tour Dolmabahce Palace, a must-visit palace from the Ottoman era. After dinner, stroll around Taksim Square for shopping or a Turkish delight!

Wake today and cherish the memories you have made as we head back to the US.