nPostednon March 3, 2014
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nOnnthis date in 1878, the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire signed anpeace treaty. Why is this event commemorated in Bulgaria?
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WhatnBulgarians celebrate today is their liberation from the OttomannEmpire.
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ThenOttoman Empire was built by Turkish people who conquered andncontrolled much of Southeast Europe, Western Asian, the Caucasus, andnNorth Africa. The Ottoman Empire began its rise in 1299 and grew andnexpanded greatly in the 1400s to the 1600s. Reforms andnmodernizations occurred during the 1700s and 1800s, but the empirenwas also slowly declining in size during this time. During the earlyn1900s, the Ottoman Empire lost war after war, each time losing morenand more land. Historians mark the creation of the Republic of Turkeynin 1923 to be the end of the Ottoman Empire. n
ThenOttoman Empire was built by Turkish people who conquered andncontrolled much of Southeast Europe, Western Asian, the Caucasus, andnNorth Africa. The Ottoman Empire began its rise in 1299 and grew andnexpanded greatly in the 1400s to the 1600s. Reforms andnmodernizations occurred during the 1700s and 1800s, but the empirenwas also slowly declining in size during this time. During the earlyn1900s, the Ottoman Empire lost war after war, each time losing morenand more land. Historians mark the creation of the Republic of Turkeynin 1923 to be the end of the Ottoman Empire. nn
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nHowever,nalthough Bulgaria had been “liberated,” it wasn’t necessarily anbastion of freedom. After World War II, it became a Communist state.nA man named Todor Zhivkov ruled the nation for 35 years—keepingnBulgaria in “complete submission” to Soviet rule. It has only been since 1989 that the nation has become a democracy.
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Therenis an interesting place in Bulgaria that is left over from thenCommunist era. It is called Buzludzha. From far away, Buzludzha looksnpretty imposing although a little bit flying-saucer-ish! But when younget closer, you can see that the place has been abandoned andntrashed… a modern-day ruin rather than an ancient ruin.
Therenis an interesting place in Bulgaria that is left over from thenCommunist era. It is called Buzludzha. From far away, Buzludzha looksnpretty imposing although a little bit flying-saucer-ish! But when younget closer, you can see that the place has been abandoned andntrashed… a modern-day ruin rather than an ancient ruin.n
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| When you get closer, you can see that the place has been neglected. Well, make that abandoned. Notice that someone has spray painted “Forget your past” above the locked doors. What you cannot see here is that someone has cut some of the metal bars so people can get in. |
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| The overview of the interior is pretty amazing! |
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| Notice that someone has chiseled Todor Zhivkov’s face off of this mural! |
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| The interior in winter. Amazing! |
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| Some of the windows have been blown out, affording visitors great views of Bulgarian landscapes. |
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nThenblog Window To Bulgaria has more info and photos…And Deserted Places has some amazing photos!
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nLearnnmore about Bulgaria with thisnand this othernearlier posts.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nUnitynDay in Sudan
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nNationalnAnthem Day
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nJapanesenDoll Festival
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nPlannahead:
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nPlannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest boards for:
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nn Marchn holidays
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nApril holidays n
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nApril birthdays
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