The owner-managers, Stoyan and Sonya, constructed their guesthouse from scratch in traditional style. The main house had wooden beams, more antiques, and gigantic kitchen. ex-Marine and I instantly plunked ourselves down, chose a bottle of excellent wine, poured a glass, and didn't move for hours watching Sonya and her mother prepare a mouth-watering dinner.

And, what a dinner. Meats, chicken, roasted home-raised vegetables including eggplant (one of my favorites), fresh bread baked every day by Sonya....and more! It was food-coma heaven. Everything served was extremely delicious and organic. Since our stay here, Sonya has written a best-selling cookbook on Bulgarian food and also holds cooking classes. You couldn't ask for friendlier, warmer, and hospitable people who treated their guests like family. Going to bed extremely happy and content, the next morning (another beautiful, sunny day), we looked out from our balcony and watched Sonya setting the breakfast table under the arbor. Fresh seasonal fruits, banitza - a typical feta cheese/spinach filo dough pastry, more freshly baked bread and jams, their own honey, crepes, and more. There is no menu and everything is served family-style, but even the pickiest eater would find something wonderful to eat.

They had collected many antiques over the years, all for sale, and I couldn't resist this heavy Macedonian belt. On the one or two times I've worn it, I feel as if I'm wearing Rocky's championship boxing belt. Very heavy...

It was a real treat to just wander around the stone-paved streets in this picturesque village surrounded by apple orchards or just sitting in their wonderful garden. And, I ask you...could a chicken ever ask for a more beautiful coop than this one? A person could be happy living in this...let alone chickens... I was blown away by the attention to detail with a little ramp for the chickens to walk up, slate roof and flowerpot...