The online media Vox64.com, covering news and events from South-Western Bulgaria, tells about the man Alexander Manolev – what he likes to do in his free time and what are the important things in his life.
If you go for a walk in the mountains above Sandanski one weekend, you have a great chance to meet Alexander Manolev – Deputy Minister of Economy. You will hardly recognize him with the sports team and the backpack on his back, but he will certainly greet you and pass quickly. In fact, Manolev is not one of those people who like to stay in one place, so he goes to the mountains to move, not to admire the views. His friends say it’s hard to keep up. It happened that he made a transition of 20 km in one day, and in the evening he drew new plans for the next route.
Manolev himself admits that the mountain charges him, and the Pirin Mountain is a magical place where he feels very different. “For me, the best time of the week is with the family, and that’s in the mountains. And if the two combine, you get the perfect vacation, “said the Deputy Economy Minister.
However, he admits that he does not have as much time as he wants for the long hikes, but that is why there is no season for his favorite hobby. “The mountain is always beautiful. Even maybe winter more than summer “, says Alexander Manolev. He considers Tevnoto Lake in Pirin to be his favorite place. “This is a very special place. “Even in the summer, when many people come, the beauty of nature surrounds you and you can be left alone with your thoughts,” he said.
He loves winter sports, but rather they are another reason to be in the mountains. In fact, he combines many of his favorite activities so that there is always time for steep peaks and breathtaking views.
And why exactly the Pirin Mountain? There are many legends about the mountain and the places in it that old people tell. According to one of them, when Christianity came to our places and the people turned their backs on the old idols, the revered Slavic god Perun retired to the highest place in the mountain. So he gave it his name and in time from Perun became Pirin. This confirms something else that Alexander Manolev told me – Pirin is a magical place. And people have believed in this since ancient times.
I hope more of us realize this wealth we have.