As I noted above, Bulgaria has been invaded a number of times, like many European countries. One of the more dramatic was when the Russians helped rid the country from Turkish - Ottoman - occupation. Our local Sofia guide repeatedly referred to this as 'the liberation', without any other qualification. I didn't ask the question, but it seems that Bulgarians must have a mixed attitude to the Russians - the liberators' in the nineteenth century, and occupiers in the post WW2 twentieth century.
There are a number of stark reminders of the Russians in Sofia today. There is the 'Russian church' - built abt 1880s for those Russian liberators who stayed behind.
Then there is the main cathedral, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Named after a Russian saint, and also built in the 1880s.
Real gold leaf over the domes - 60 kg in all:
No chairs in these eastern Orthodox churches - all but the ill and infirm have to stand - except for the Patriarch and members of the Royal Family, who all get thrones, on the right.
During Soviet control, churches were maintained as 'museums' but those brave enough to attend could attend and the museum-keeper AKA priest might attend to them. No open services.
This is the royal palace for the former Bulgarian king. The Bulgarians were very practical. When they were liberated, and obviously needed a monarchy, instead of creating their own, they borrowed from existing Royal Families in Europe - thus instantly cementing alliances
But the most interesting things in the above 2 pics are the road-making materials (obviously) - the 'yellow brick road'. I thought they were merely yellow glazed or painted regular bricks. But no. The yellow is a natural colour of a very rare and particular limestone, which the Bulgarians lined a couple of key streets with in the late 19th century. Cost a gazillion, even back then.
The Intercon frontage has the yellow bricks - obviously a special place
/ Oh, and that's Czar Nicholas II on his horse, there.
Oh, and remember the Captain Cook restaurant at the Intercon, that I puzzled about when i arrived? Turns out it has nothing to do with the English navigator and explorer. Its a fish restaurant. So the words 'Captain' for the sea and 'Cook' for restaurant - are a play on words.
- and at a distant gate, to boot. I hauled cough and arrived at the gate breathless, with the last bus abut to depart. That would have been my first ever missed flight, but fortunately my record is still intact 
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