Stara Pliska Complex 

Visited the complex with a friend couple for St. Valentine's day. Had a pleasant stay. Prices are a bit high for Bulgarian standards. The hotel rooms are cosy and clean, reminding of the old traditional Bulgarian houses with wooden ceilings and furniture. The outdoor area is very nice with a swimming pool, water cascade, children's playground. The adults can have fun with table tennis, billiards, darts and air hockey. I am not into the SPA but those who tried it were pleased. The indoor swimming pool is not very large but it's a good size and the water was warm. The restaurant is excellent. Small menu with a few dishes from the Bulgarian, Armenian, Georgian and Russian cuisine. Everything we ordered was served quickly and was delicious. The eggplant rolls, filled with walnuts just melt in your mouth. The meatlovers will not be disappointed as well - all the meat is prepared on charcoal grill, flavored with spices that are typical for each country's national cuisine. A lot of the restaurant tables are situated in the garden which will be lovely in spring and summer. The only thing I did not enjoy is that smoking inside the restaurant was allowed. The hotel area is connected to the so-called "Court of the Cyrillic alphabet". There you can see the alphabet letters made of stone, each one carrying a message, carved in the stone. There is a small art gallery and a chapel. Which leads me to the title of my post... The complex unites styles from different time periods and cultures in its decoration and architecture - you can see a blend of traditional Bulgarian furnishing and Armenian decoration. In the "Court of the Cyrillic alphabet" you can see the statues of Boris I and St. St. Cyril and Methodius, who are associated with christianity, along with some Bulgarian pagan symbols. The big letters are made of Armenian stone carrying messages - some connected with the Armenian culture, others with christianity. All of that is explained by the Armenian roots of the owner, who is obvioulsy into Bulgarian history and culture. That eclectic approach is not exactly my cup of tea but didn't really affect my overall good impressions.