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A short drive to Pleven and a visited the most interesting museum. It houses an enormous 360 degree panorama painting and 3D exhibit about the Battle of Pleven which liberated Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania from 500 years of Ottoman rule. It was a WOW!!

TUESDAY - OCTOBER 31. 🧡HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM NIKOPOL, BULGARIA!🧡 We chose the half day "Panoramic Pleven" included tour.

Last but not least the Viking Daily for tomorrow waiting for us in our cabin along with a thoughtful surprise!🍷

Before dinner there was a disembarkation talk. This was one big positive about staying in a hotel after the cruise.. you knew you had another day or two or three to enjoy instead of thinking about flying home the next day. We also learned that the Danube was too low to sail past Nikopol Bulgaria so we would be missing the port of Ruse. That would also mean that instead of taking an hour plus bus ride from Ruse to Bucharest we would be taking a longer one from just across the river from Nikopol from the port Turnu Magurele in Romania. I think that's right.. sounds confusing to me.. We had the option of changing tours the next day from the full day included tour which would be a long bus ride there and back to a new included tour that would be half a day with less time on the bus. We chose to change to the half day.. I think a lot of people did because we all knew that we would have a lot of time on the bus the following day to Bucharest. And then on to dinner!

Back in Vidin before we sailed there was a delightful children's dance troupe that performed in the lounge. So adorable and talented!

Everyone got a piece to try and the recipe to take home. Great success!

Once that was baking the "trainees" all pitched in to make a second one. All done! Martha Stewart would be proud.🧑‍🍳

Ramona and her Aunt Rosa were our lovely hostesses. First they made one for us.. you mix eggs, feta cheese, yogurt, oil, baking soda and of all things a "fizzy drink" that she compared to Mountain Dew! You then layer in a large baking pan with filo dough. Dot it with butter and then into the oven!

We drove to a nearby host's home for the cooking class. On the way we learned some Bulgarian. Merci - Thank you. Ciao - Goodbye. Dobra Den - Good day. On the menu today? A Bulgarian specialty called Banitsa.

In the afternoon we took the optional Vidin Home Hosted Cooking Demonstration tour and it was fun!

Back on the bus in time for tasty lunch.

A few surprises.. the terrain looked like the American southwest. Rock formations and red tinted dirt very much like Arizona or Utah. Also surprising that by the time we were at the top it was close to 80 degrees and we were all overdressed and HOT. There were 3 levels to climb to.. a flat one with no climbing.. a middle one with a little climbing and the top where you had to hold onto a skinny metal staircase to ascend.

The fortress was high on a hill. The bus driver did an amazing job navigating those narrow roads up and down.👏

This morning we took the included Belogradchick Rocks and Fortress tour. There was a little confusion on the time in the morning since it changed by an hour overnight. It was further confused by the fact that Romania, which was on a different time, was just across the river and most people's phones were picking up that time. Gabriel was smart to make an announcement in the cabins at 7:30am to let everyone know the correct time.✔️

MONDAY - OCTOBER 30. Good morning Vidin, Bulgaria!

👋Hello my pal from the Viking board TayanaLorna! Thanks so much for your sweet compliments. I'm so glad that you are enjoying my cruise report not only for the content but for the way it's organized as well. I usually only write these for 7 day cruises.. an 11 day one is turning into "War and Peace."😁 I'm super touched by your kind words.. thanks again.😍

Along with disembarkation information about Bucharest. I don't know if this week plus went fast or slow or just at the right speed. 🤷‍♀️ I do know it's nice to be away more than a week!😊

Loved seeing tomorrow's Viking Daily every evening.

A top brass toast and then a very festive and fun "Taste of the Balkans" dinner!

Then just before dinner we went thru the largest lock on the Danube.

More from the Iron Gates.. tranquil and beautiful.

Best photography hack? Look where the people with the fancy cameras are standing and take a picture from there. This was my shot of the monastery.. it's fine. This was theirs.. so much better!

Upstairs at around 3pm to enjoy our sailing through the Iron Gates.. the weather? PERFECT.☀️