Some naughty ray of sunshine is peeking into the room, while the landscape outside can be named ‘a magical fairytale’ only. The tempting smell of pancakes coming from the kitchen makes us slip out of the warm bed. We are visiting the environmental friendly artistic home of Velichka and Encho Gankovski in the village of Drashkova Poliana, situated at the foot of the Balkan Range. She is a photographer and he is a ceramic artist who used to be a teacher at the art school in the town of Troyan. Being aware that it is essential to make a living, in 2003 the two joined their artistic knowledge with the love for tourism and communication, in order to make money. They have welcomed all their guests ever since with the words: ‘This is your house. We will take care of your good rest and recharging with new energy.’ The lady tells us more on how it started:

“I have spent my entire life in the mountains. I have taken part in different expeditions and surveys. Many friends would visit our villa-atelier in this village. Then at one point we said to ourselves: ‘Why don’t we start welcoming people whom we don’t know, but who can become our friends?!’ Thus we decided to turn to alternative tourism.”

Our hosts are members of the Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism, they join European projects and constantly diversify the rest opportunities they provide. They have been awarded with the Green House Certificate due to the authentic welcoming and the way they care of nature. Guests from Bulgaria and abroad visit the place and even British art students attend ceramics workshops there. “Their attitude is great. They want to learn it all – herbs, mushroom picking, Bulgarian songs and chain dances,” Velichka says. The Gankovski family organizes vacations for people from all over the world under a project of the association: these people visit the village for a week and get involved in four types of crafts – ceramics, iconography, wood carving and photography, alongside mountain walks.

The village is small, but people are nice, merry and helpful, Velichka further says and adds:

“There are maybe 50 – 60 people who live here at the moment in five neighborhoods, situated some 2 km away from each other. The road is good – the main Troyan – Apriltsi one and so people find us easily.”

The area offers numerous walking and leisure time opportunities:

“The spot is open towards the Central Balkan Range – the so-called Aprilska Hollow in the heart of the mountain. We have lots of sunny days. The Troyan Monastery is situated nearby – it takes an hour and a half to walk the distance. The road crosses the marvelous Baba Stana neighborhood which has been recently introduced with two hotels that have been gradually developed. The houses there are Renaissance-style ones. Then we descend to the centre of the Oreshak village. It is famous with the exhibition of art crafts and arts, established back in 1971. Craftsmen from across Bulgaria display their work there. Then the Cherni Osam River takes us to Troyan Monastery, the third largest in this country. It was established at the dawn of the 17th c. The Steneto Reserve can be found after crossing the Cherni Osam village. We are also close to the Severen Djendem Reserve. I often take the guests to the mountain, as many are interested in nature. We also have workshops for photographers. We take pictures and then discuss them.”

More from Velichka on possibilities for tourism in the area:

“The village of Gumoshtnik is close to us, famous with the Sv. Nikolay Letni church – perhaps one of the most beautiful temples in the region. A monument of locals who died with the Titanic can be seen in its yard. The temple is renovated, with a church school from the early 19th c. The guests may enjoy the marvelous view to the mountain from there. So, boredom is out of question here,” Velichka Gankovski says in conclusion.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev