Manastirishte January 2025

Today was the last of a few beautiful and sunny days in a row and we had to go out and enjoy the sun and the clean air, especially now, with the heavy levels of air pollution in Sofia.

We chose a light and open trail that we've walked so many times, that it feels like home - from the village of Plana to peak Manastirishte and back along an alternative track.

The sky was surrealistically blue, the air was crisp and the trail was empty - the perfect hike.

Hike info:

Destination: peak Manastirishte (1338 m)

Mountain: Plana

Total length: 8 km

Elevation gain: 160 m

Total duration (plus picnic): 3 hours

Average difficulty: 3 / 10 

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Burda cargo pants, Burda hoodie, orange hat

I: lingerie, Sinclair Lotte Blouse, Central Park Hoodie, black hat, knitted socks

Because of the relatively high temperatures these last few days, we expected soft soggy snow and mud, but the trail was actually not that bad - there were strips of deep wet snow, but most of the trail was fairly dry and we were not soaking wet at the end.

We took a few quick photos at the peak and turned back

The small chapel on the peak

This is a picture I took from our picnic place - on the sunny slopes under the peak. We had a cup of warm herbal tea with a sip of rum and oatmeal pie with feta cheese, which I had baked early in the morning.

Manastirishte in September 2024

While I've been posting about our hiking trip in Greece, we've been back in Sofia, gradually returning to our normal lives, which usually also means a hike once a week near or far from home. 

Last Sunday we went on a short and relaxed trip to the village of Plana, to one of our most favourite destinations - peak Manastirishte.

The grass is already golden-brown and autumn is in the air.

Hike info:

Date: 01 September 2024

Destination: peak Manastirishte (1338 m)

Mountain: Plana

Total length: 8 km

Elevation gain: 160 m

Total duration (plus picnic): 2 and a half hours

Average difficulty: 2 / 10 

Wild pears. These looked to good, but alas, very unpleasant to the palate - sour and most of all astringent. 

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Burda Cargo pants, Burda blouse

I: lingerie, Sabrina Slims II, Burda henley blouse

 

To our pleasant surprise, we found a newly installed table with two benches on the peak and we had our delicious lunch there, with a view to Vitosha across the valley.

 And back to the village and the car along an alternative trail: 

Manastirishte on a Warm Winter Day

The weather on the weekend was cold and with strong winds and husband and I decided to postpone our weekly hike and clear our schedules for Tuesday. The forecasts were right - today was a perfect day, warm and calm, and we had a most brilliant hike along the completely empty trails in Plana mountain.

Today we took a short detour from our traditional trail and went around this secretive small hill.

Hike info:

Destination: peak Manastirishte (1338 m)

Mountain: Plana

Total length: 9.7 km

Elevation gain: 160 m

Total duration (plus picnic): 3 hours

Average difficulty: 3 / 10 

To our pleasant surprise, the snow on Plana had almost completely melted, the tracks were fairly dry, with an acceptable amount of mud and ice.

The chapel on the peak

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Knipmode cargo pants, knitted socks, hat

I: lingerie, Sinclair Lotte Blouse, Houndstooth Hoodie, CC hat, gloves, knitted socks

 

Vitosha across the valley

We had our picnic on the southern slopes of Manastirishte, with a breathtaking view to the range of Rila mountain. It was so sunny and warm, quiet and peaceful, that we were immensely happy for being able to enjoy all that.

Back to the car along an alternative track.

Manastirishte in October, 2023

After the two days of hiking during the week we thought of opting for a leisurely walk in Vrana park on the weekend. However, the park was closed for the public because of some festival taking place there at night, the day was too gorgeous to be spent at home, so we packed our backpacks and went for a short hike on Manastirishte - our go-to destination, when we want a short nice walk without preparation.

Hike info:

Destination: peak Manastirishte (1338 m)

Mountain: Plana

Total length: 7.5 km

Elevation gain: 160 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 2 h 30 min

Average difficulty: 1 / 10 

As usual, the track was lonely and quiet, sunny and super relaxing.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers

I: lingerie, Sabrina Slims II

We had our picnic lunch on the hill, overlooking the fields above the village of Plana, drinking our cold beers and basking in the warm October sun. We've never had such a gorgeous October, I can't stop smiling and feeling happy with such a weather outside.

 

Manastirishte in June

I am so tired of this rain! It is Saturday today and it is raining, again. Last weekend the forecast was, of course, more rain, so we cancelled our plans for the preserved area above Pernik, where it was expected to be pouring (no idea if it actually did) and ventured a small hike to the nearby peak Manastirishte. 

The weather was actually fine, though with very high humidity in the air, and the fields around the village of Plana were like gardens, abundant with wild flowers.

Hike info:

Destination: peak Manastirishte (1338 m)

Mountain: Plana

Total length: 7.5 km

Elevation gain: 160 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 2 h 30 min

Average difficulty: 1 / 10

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Knipmode cargo pants

I: lingerie, Sabrina Slims I, raglan Burda blouse, hoodie

One of the three species of wild orchids we saw along the tracks:

:The peak

 

:We had our picnic here, on the grass, with a view to the gentle curves of Plana. Rila is far in the distance, hidden in the summer haze