Back from a week wandering the Pirot region — and what a journey it was.
From weaving workshops keeping the Pirot ćilim tradition alive, to wild rivers and the “Little Colorado” canyon, from emus in Temska to donkey farms in Dimitrovgrad, to standing on my father’s childhood land in Kamenica.
Mountains, history, animals, family, and stories I’ll carry for a long time. Serbia has endless corners like this — you just have to go and meet them.
By the banks of the Temštica River, a wild mountain stream carving its way through the Stara Planina before meeting the Visočica to form nearly 94 km of winding beauty.
Locals call part of its canyon the “Little Colorado” — and standing here in the mist, with the water rushing past and forest wrapping all around, it’s easy to see why.
This is my mom, standing on the land where my dad grew up — in Kamenica, a small village near Dimitrovgrad that now counts just 5 people (used to have around a 1000).
His childhood home is collapsing, but part of the estate remains in the family.
For the first time, I visited it — with my wife and my parents — and stood where his story began, where my roots quietly run deep.
House walls fall, but they are still there, waiting.
#Kamenica #Dimitrovgrad #Family #Serbia #Travel #Heritage #Pirot
Somewhere between Dimitrovgrad and “wait, is that a llama?” lies a donkey farm with over 160 donkeys, plus llamas, alpacas, sheep, and goats.
Yes, they use donkeys for milk! Yes, it’s as wonderfully odd and wholesome as it sounds.
Pirot region keeps surprising me — from ancient weaving looms to emus and now a full-on Balkan petting zoo powered by tradition and donkey dairy.
#Pirot #Dimitrovgrad #Donkeys #Serbia #slowtravel #travel #Balkans
The Pirot ćilim isn’t just a rug — it’s a woven language.
Every shape, color, and pattern tells a story: of family, protection, fertility, harmony. For centuries, these symbols speak without words.
This is the last workshop where Pirot rugs are still made entirely by hand. No shortcuts. Just wooden looms, wool, and deep-rooted tradition.
Each weaver can only make 0.8 m² a month — that’s how much care and meaning is packed into every thread.
Been exploring FOSS & privacy-friendly iOS apps lately (a tricky topic, I’ve learned) and just found Organic Maps @organicmaps — fully offline, open-source, and no tracking. Sounds like exactly what I’ve been looking for!
Continuing my adventures around Pirot tomorrow, so a perfect chance to test it in the wild. Hope it lives up to the hype!
Will report back.
#FOSS #Privacy #iOS #OrganicMaps #Pirot #SelfHosting #TravelTech #Serbia
Came to Temska expecting serene monastery vibes and maybe some sheep.
Got greeted by an emu.
In Serbia.
Zero context, full respect.
Tucked away in the Stara Planina mountains, Topli Do feels like time has gently slowed down here.
Its stone and earth houses whisper stories of generations past… and of a recent victory: the villagers who stood united and stopped mini hydro investors from damaging their river and land.
History lives here — and it’s still being written. 💪
#Pirot #TopliDo #StaraPlanina #VillageLife #Serbia #RuralHeritage #SlowTravel #Travel #TravelPhotography
LastQuake
AllQuakes - EMSC
Ivan Todorov