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DIGITAL OFFICE
PR, MARKETING & MEDIA DEPARTMENT
NEWSROOM DESK
Erasmus + is one of the European Union programs to support training, youth job, and education inclusion. I have never heard of it before to come to Sofia Bulgaria and participate as an intern in the International Center for Development of Education and Training.
Firstly, I will explain to you shortly about Erasmus +. It boosts and supports actions identified in the Education and Digital Area, but also the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Youth Strategy 2019-2027. Offers different opportunities, for example, exchange in higher education, vocational education and training, adult education, sport, and youth, among others
I applied when I was studying my master's course in Spain, and my plan after finishing was to come back to Colombia, but when I was chosen for the internship, I asked myself, why not?
It has been one of my best experiences in a personal, but professional way. I have had the opportunity to work in a totally different environment, learn about project development, since the initial point, where is important to identify the problem and recognize the mindset of your audience.
But also, this experience has been an opportunity to go out of my comfort zone, and make me grow up in a personal way, manage my time, travel but at the same time be responsible with my job obligations, living with people that I have never seen before. It teaches me to be conscious about the importance of always going out of your comfort area, and look forward to something more, always be learning not just about your job, or educational environment, your teamwork, and every new aspect you have to handle teach you something and boost your self. You should do an Erasmus + internship.
Bulgaria is a country where you can find mountains wherever you go. The perfect place for mountaineers who love nature. Some of the best-known routes or peaks are the 7 Rila Lakes, the peak of Musala or Cherni Vrah, the closest to Sofia. However, there are many other options, in this case, we are talking about Black Rock in Borovets, in the Rila mountains.
How to get from Sofia to Borovets? We head to the South bus station, at the Joliot Curie metro station. There we take a bus to Samokov for 4 leva, they leave all day. After an hour and a half, approximately, we will have reached Samokov, a small mountain town. From Samokov to Borovets there are two options: bus or taxi. The last bus leaves at 5:30 p.m. (information for October 2021), so if you don't get to catch the bus, you will have to take a taxi for approximately 20 leva.
In Borovets you have to sleep one night, in Booking, you can find very cheap options out of season since Borovets in ski season receives a lot of tourism. In low season you can find an apartment for 70 leva for 4 people. In the town, there are not many shops, so if you want something specific to take to the mountains, you better buy it in Sofia or Samokov.
The Black Rock route is very simple, with no long climbs or dangerous areas. A route that can be done with family or friends and that will not take you more than 3 and a half hours, depending on how many stops you make to take photos. Where does the route start? You must go to the Hotel Festa Winter Palace, and follow the route on the right bordering the hotel. At this point, you can already find a route sign.
All the way you find signs, so it is almost impossible to get lost. After an hour and a half you arrive at Black Rock with incredible views. Legend says that during the Ottoman Empire prisoners were brought to this point and pushed into the abyss.
Once at Black Rock, you can follow the route to go around the mountain or go back the same way. We did not choose any of the options, we went up, then we skirted the river until we found our way again. A route is not recommended if you do not take someone who is very well oriented in the mountain and you are not willing to get completely dirty.
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