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The Smell of Roses

Towards the end of the Rose Festival in Kazanlak, Bulgaria, on the Sunday, there is a big parade. It starts with the Rose Queen and goes on for ages, which in the June heat is quite an ordeal. We watched group after group of school children and local organisations, car clubs, biker clubs, judo clubs all proudly showing their stuff.

We almost gave up and decided to leave but then the procession changed, it became what we had come to see.

Bulgarians in their traditional costumes parading down the street throwing rose petals everywhere, to the point the road was covered with them.

It was a lovely end to the procession.

The guys on the horse and cart were spraying rose water over the onlookers which was quite welcome after a long stand in the heat.

It cooled you down and left you smelling of roses 😊

I had to wipe the camera down afterwards though.

 

 

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Uploaded on October 24, 2025
Taken on June 8, 2025