Vidin, Bulgaria

If truth be told, there aren't many major cities on the Bulgarian side of the Danube. That means some limited options when it comes to visits, at least by a tour ship. In our case, Vidin was a day stop, giving us a chance to look around a bit. 

Obviously, it's been a hard road for this city. The transition from Communism to capitalism has been a difficult one here, as it has been in many rural areas of Bulgaria. There aren't many jobs here, and some people have fled for bigger cities and other countries.

But Vidin is not without its charms. First of all, downtown is quite nice. There is a mix of architecture, and some attractive buildings. The public squares add a good feeling to the city. A riverfront park works well. The major attraction is a fortress that dates back to the 13th century. Not many of those around. 

Vidin offers a side of Bulgaria that might not be a common sight to most. So I'm glad we stopped here.