Cover photo: Victor Tsonev/Pink Tsonk
Victor Tsonev is a local photographer and musical selector.
Describe Plovdiv in a few words
My place. My whole life revolves around this city, I wouldn’t replace it for the world. I arrive at the sea for two hours, I reach the mountain for an hour, and in the city, everything is 15 minutes away - there is no such pleasure, there is no such peace, there is no such aylyak.
Your secret place
I have a lot of secret places depending on what I want to do. If I want to escape from everything and relax, I climb on Alyosha - I adore Bunardzhika. If I want to see someone I go to a little, sheltered neighborhood café next to the former Flamingo cinema, if I want to eat something out of the ordinary, I go to the sandwich shop near the Sports school, which we regularly do with one of my best friends.
Favorite bar
Bar Lokalka! (I'm kidding) It's a pretty complicated question - I've had many favorite places over the years, some no longer exist, others exist under another name and concept. At the moment, I’m split between The Post, Cat and Mouse, Fargo and Fabric, depending on what my plans are. By the way, I strongly recommend all four of them!
The most underestimated place
Thrakia - all of us who don’t live there, we always talk a little arrogantly about this neighborhood, but it turns out that people there live very well and are happy.
Where would you take someone who is not from here?
Plovdiv is not a big city and generally, we can tour it in one afternoon, as long as it is not the typical Plovdiv heat. It depends on my guest and what they want to see. I will start from Dzhumaya through the Old Town, the Ancient Theater, some photos on NebetTepe, then we will go down the shortcut directly to ChifteBanya, then on September 6th Blvd through Saedinenie Square, we’ll get it to Bunardzhika to see the other point of view (the city visitors only go up NebetTepe), then we’ll pass through the small and quiet streets of the former Energo and get to Kapana, where we’ll have beer and something to eat.
Anya and Stefi are the crazy creators of the blog Divi Samodivi and marketing gurus.
Describe Plovdiv in a few words
Samodiva S.: A few words, really !? For Plovdiv, I can write the longest declaration of love I've ever written in my life, but just a few words ... I'll try.
Plovdiv is love and a wonderful home for urban samodivas. HOME in capital letters. You have the pros of a comparatively big city, as a nightlife and rich cultural life, colorful and smiling people. Plovdiv is like an old lover who has become a friend. Sometimes you get tired of him, but you can’t stop loving him.
Samodiva A.: Plovdiv is the hug in the morning by a loved one who says "I love you, do you want coffee?" He knows you, loves you, protects you and gives you everything you want.
Your secret place
For both of us, our secret places are around Maritsa. We are samodivas after all, nature calls us. BUT! We won’t tell you which they are or at least not unless you bribe us secretly with food and wine ;))
Favorite bar
Samodiva A.: Cat and mouse! When I have no one to go out with, I go there. Best place on Earth. And Download, I'm sorry, but they play death metal there, I can’t help mentioning them.
Samodiva S: Cat and mouse before meeting with friends after work, on Saturday afternoon, on Sundays because otherwise, it's boring. Cat and Mouse from morning till night. It can be a short film. And The Post because the cocktails!!!
The most underestimated place
Samodiva A.: Every new place that appears is being underestimated. The Post is a great example of this. With these cocktails, they have to have a queue in front. We both agree that all neighborhoods that are out of the center, are being underestimated, unfortunately ...
Where would you take someone who is not from here?
Samodiva A.: Oh, a full tour. We’ll start on Ivan Vazov Street to see the warehouses, then along the hills, pass through Kapana and drink a beer, then Maritsa and the Rowing Channel... for more beer, but this time also with sprats.
Samodiva S.: How cliched would it sound if I say the Old Town and then on a hill to drink beers (or coffee)!? This is for "Welcome", of course. We’ll make a tour of the Main Street - these buildings should be seen, from where we’ll go to Kapana, the Nylon (The Nylon is a religion), the Tobacco city... And the graffiti around town, the Maritsa coast, a big tour of the Youth Hill and the welcome of at least 1 sunset there! In short, that somebody should be wearing comfortable shoes, we have something to show : ))
