Out of sight out of mind? We all have secrets. Tucked away. Hidden. Some stored in the shame box. Others in miscellaneous. Locked. Hopefully forever. Key disposed surreptitiously. No-one else’s business. Let sleeping dogs lie.
Thracia? Never heard of it until we entered Greece. Historically part of Turkey and this part of Bulgaria. Seems this local region has had lots of its secrets exposed. Gold diggers in search of treasure. Ahead of the game. Beat the experts. Rob and decimate. Underground treasure troves spoiled. The dead no longer left for dead.
Within a fifteen minute morning walk from the back gate of Camping Aleksandrovo we climb the steps up into a remarkable museum. Houses an exact replica of a 4th century BC Thracian Tomb. Discovered metres away in 2,000. Robbers unable to steal the unique wall paintings. A skilled artist has left his unique mark. Depicts the life and times of the local ruler.
The museum came to be with the financial help of Japan. Officially opened on May 15 2009, by Prince Akishino of Japan.
Makes you wonder why you’d put a knocker on the door to a tomb!
‘Knock, knock’ – “Yoo-hoo? Anyone home?”
Our afternoon 18K Scoot lands us in the municipality’s centre – Haskovo. Have a nose around. Just for something to do. Blend in with the locals. Do what they do. Not much. Have a coffee. Chat. People watch. Then visit the town’s claim to fame. A single monument. Certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. The world’s tallest statue of the Virgin Mary with the Infant Jesus.
