A trip between two seas – from THE BLACK TO THE WHITE SEA THROUGH THE CENTURIES AND HISTORY OF THRACIANS, BYZANTINES, ROMANS, BULGARIANS AND TURKS 3 DAYS - 2 NIGHTS Burgas – Keşan - Erikli - Enez - Gala – Lozengrad – Burgas 1st day Departure from Burgas, Democracy Blvd., in front of Domino restaurant at 06.00 a.m. Travelling to Malko Tarnovo. Crossing the Bulgarian-Turkish border through Malko Tarnovo – Derekyoy Border Control Point. The road passes through Strandzha mountain, situated in the territory of the two neighbouring countries Republic of Bulgaria and Republic of Turkey. Strandzha mountain is relatively low. Its terrain is characterized by stretched hills, limited by river valleys, deeply incised in them. Two main hills, oriented generally to west - east direction, are formed on our territory: southern border one with the highest point on Bulgarian territory peak Gradishte - 709 m altitude, while on Turkish territory the highest peak is Great Mahiada or Mahiada – 1031 m high. In Turkish the mountain is called Yildiz, which means star or stellar mountain in translation and the legend tells that one could observe the stars here during most nights. A section of the main watershed of the Balkan Peninsula between the catchment of the Black and the Aegean Sea passes along the entire ridge of the mountain from south - west to south - east. While travelling through the mountains, one can see unique plant species, such as Strandzha periwinkle (Rhododendron Ponticum). The woods are of the south - euxinian type, formed by eastern durmast, eastern beech and Quercus frainetto with а zone of laurel - like shrubs (Strandzha periwinkle and others) and sub-euxinian forests of Quercus frainetto, cerris and eastern durmast . The flora of the mountain comprises 1 665 species, whereas there are dozens of relict and endemic plants. The fauna of Strandzha has 99 endemic species of invertebrates and its vertebrate fauna is the richest in a Bulgarian protected area - 263 species. The plants, which grow in Strandzha, are: pine, spruce, fir, etc. Strandzha Nature Park is located on the territory of the mountain (pronounced park in 1995, with 116 136.2 hectares it is the largest protected area in Bulgaria). The following reserves are located on the territory of the park too: „Vitanovo“, „Silkosiya reserve“, „Sredoka“, „Tisovitsa“ и „Uzunbudzhak“. After the border point the road descends approximately 40 km along the south-western slopes of Strandzha mountain until it reaches the locality Karadere, where the dam of the town of Kirklareli (Lozedgrad) is situated. Passing through Lozengrad. Continuing to the town of Keşan. The town is one of the nine district centres of the district of Odrin (Edirne), the administrative centre of 6 municipalities. Keşan is situated at the crossroads between the East and the West, between the North and the South, not far from the Turkish-Greek border, near the Aegean and the Sea of Marmara, right at the intersection of ancient roads between Edirne and Gelibolu on one hand and Istanbul and Alexandroupolis on the other. The town has a population of around 62000 people. The main occupation in the area are agriculture and trade. Wheat, sugar beet, sunflower seed, barley, maize, different types of vegetables and of course rice are grown here. The traditional festival of rice is held in the town in the autumn. The history of the area can be traced back to 30 centuries BC when Thracian lived here, which the numerous artefacts found here during the archaeological excavations held are a proof of. Short break in the town. Time for coffee, shopping at Keşan outlet centre. Departure to Erikli, a coastal settlement, situated on the Gulf of Saros of the White Sea. The gulf stretches in the most north-eastern part of the sea between Gallipoli Peninsula and the mouth of the river Maritsa (Merich in Turkish, Evros in Greek). The archipelago Saros - Saros Adalar is situated here, a group of small islands in the European part of Turkey. It consists of 3 small islands - Big Island (Buyukada or Yunus Adasi – Dolphin Island), Middle Island (Kuçukada or Defne Adasi – the Island of Bays) and Small Island (Minikada or Böcek Adasi – the Island of Insects). The bay with the same name as the archipelago is 75 km long and 35 km wide. The nearest islands in the White Sea are Imbros (Gökçeada) and Samothrace, but they are in the open sea off the Gulf of Saros. The habitat of Saros is far away from industrialized areas, clean, with favourable water currents. It is a popular summer resort for domestic tourism and recreation with sandy beaches and crystal clear sea. Diving, windsurfing and fishing are the most often practised water sports here. Accommodation in hotel. Free time to stroll around Erikli. Optionally, possibility to organize Fish evening at the restaurant of the hotel at an additional cost. There are different types of seafood caught in the Gulf of Saros. Overnight stay. 2nd day Breakfast. Free time for beach and rest at the hotel or an optional trip to the ancient town of Enez and Gala lake. Departure to Enez (Enos in Bulgarian, Ainos in Greek), located on the southeastern coast of Maritsa River, right where its waters meet the Aegean Sea. In Antiquity the town here was named Ainos and was one of the important ports of Eastern Thrace on the eastern bank of Evros. The town is mentioned by Homer and Herodotus in their works. It is believed that the town was founded by colonists from Mytilene (Lesbos island) and Kime around 7th C BC. In 375 BC, during the Peloponnesian War, the town took part on the side of Athens and was a member of the Athenian maritime union until 345 BC. From 341 BC it belonged to the Atalidi dynasty from the ancient town of Pergamon, the capital of the Pergamon Kingdom. Enos passes into the hands of Rome after the last king of the dynasty Atlus III – called with the nickname The Crazy, bequeathed all his kingdom and wealth to the Roman Empire. In Late Antiquity the town was the capital of the province of Rhodope and an episcopal centre. According to the ancient chronicler Prokop, emperor Justinian built the great fort and the city walls. A medieval fortification, which belonged to the Genovese family Gatiluzio, which governed it from 1376 until its conquest in 1456 by the troops of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, is situated today at the site of the ancient acropolis. In 1912, during the Balkan War, Enos was conquered by the Bulgarian army. The town is the end point of the line Midia – Enos, the territory, which according to the London Peace Treaty, was ceded by the Ottoman Empire to the Balkan Union and Bulgaria, but a few months later the line was adjusted by the Treaty of Bucharest of 1913 and the town was returned to Turkey. The preserved and restored acropolis of Enez rises at a height of 25 meters above the level of the sea and the river, perched on the hill – preserving memories from glorious times of the peoples having passed through the district, revealing a wonderful, breath-taking view to the Aegean Sea and the delta of Maritsa and inviting to a romantic meeting at sunset, when you are here, you can watch one of the most beautiful sunsets on the Aegean Sea. Sightseeing of the remains of the Fortress and the church Saint Sophia - "Wisdom of God". After the town was captured by the Ottoman Turks by order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, the episcopal church was converted into a mosque – which bears his name FATIH - conqueror. It is located in the south-eastern part of the acropolis and has impressive size for its time - 21 to 38 metres, without the apse, and rivals many churches, built in Constantinople at the same time. Unfortunately, a big part of the church, which was converted into a mosque, was destroyed in a big earthquake in 1965 and it has not been fully restored yet, but the municipality of the town hopes to provide enough funds for the restoration of the site, part of the European and World Cultural Heritage. Sightseeing of the remains of chapels and small churches in the area of the fortress and the harbour. Sightseeing of Tashalta necropolis and the tomb of Has Yunus Bey. The Byzantine monastery and the church were converted in 1456 in a tomb of Yunus Baba - commander of the fleet of the Ottoman Empire. Sightseeing of the remains of the ancient Roman road Via Egnatia and bridges over Maritsa and its tributaries, remains from its fortress walls around the harbours. In Antiquity Enos was known as the "dual port” - the first one located by the sea and the other by the river. By the middle of XIX C, when the mouth of the river at Enos was covered with silt, the lower stream of Maritsa was used for river transport, whereas with high water one could reach Plovdiv along it and even Pazardzhik . Free time for coffee, lunch or sweet temptations in the centre of the town of Enez. Departure to lake Gala. Gala Lake National Park has been a protected area for already 11 years and covers an area of 15000 acres. In 1991 5850 acres around the lake were declared a nature reserve, and later, scientists - ecologists and biologists from the Thracian University in Odrin assisted for the announcement of this area a protected area and a national park. Work is done here on the protection of the environment and nature, birds and aquatic inhabitants of the river and the lakes Pamuklu and Small Gala. The area is under the protection of the International Convention on the Protection of Wetlands of Europe and the Ministry of Environment and Forests of the Republic of Turkey.