Bachkovo monastery & Asenova fortress near Plovdiv

I and my hostel mate toured two sites on our own today. It took us a while to find the bus station for the bus to the Bachkovo monastery built in 1083 by two brothers of Byzantine and a united nation heritage site. We walked around the complex located in mountains and relaxed in cool breeze. There were painters touched up the outsides frescos; yet fortunately not those in the main hall. It was quite a escape from the heat in Plovdiv. It maybe 1/4 size of the Rila Monastery, yet closer to the city. — checked in to Bachkovo Monastery.         We were lucky to hitchhike with a local from the monastery to the gate of Asenova fortress seated on a high, rocky ridge in the Rodopi mountain, on the left coast of the Asenitsa river. We got in, enjoyed the surrounding views, ate some food, then walked down to hitchhike. Another local kindly dropped up to the nearby train station to take a cheap (1.3 Lv) AC, and fast train ride back to Polvdiv. — checked in to Asenova Krepost with Sophia Rzesnik.