An American has become the first US pilgrim to walk Camino Bulgaria, the route from Malko Tarnovo to Sozopol through the Strandzha region and the coast of Burgas province. Lester Stewart walked the whole trail.
He set off from Malko Tarnovo and passed through Zabernovo, Pismenovo and Primorsko before finishing in Sozopol. Camino Bulgaria is also known as the Way to the Relics of St. John the Baptist and links natural, historical and spiritual sites along the way.
Along the route, local people opened old churches for him and he talked with priests. He also saw local traditions and Bulgarian hospitality firsthand.
In Sozopol, Stewart was given the "Yoannia," the certificate handed to those who finish the route. His is one of the first 100 issued, which means many pilgrims have already reached the end of the trail.
From Sozopol he carried on along the coast to Burgas, then went to Plovdiv and Asenovgrad before heading home to the United States.
Stewart has walked 23 Camino routes in all. He says the trail markings on Camino Bulgaria are just as good as those on the famous Camino de Santiago.
What struck him most were Strandzha, the Black Sea coast and, above all, the people he met along the way. Stewart promised to keep telling others about Camino Bulgaria so the route through Strandzha and the Burgas region becomes as well known as Europe's major pilgrimage trails.
"Bulgaria was wonderful, and I hope one day I can come back," Stewart said after returning to the United States.