Rose picking

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We had a very early start in order to get to a family-run rose distillery who we found out supply Garnier with their rose products.  The specific rose they grow in Bulgaria for the rose industry is the Rosa Damascena as they have the best perfume. We had a tour around the plant and saw the rose oil being extracted from the roses before going to pick a few roses for ourselves.  Some of the dancers in Iliana's ensemble were also there, dressed in their costumes, to add a bit of colour.  In the old days, this is how the rose pickers would have been dressed but not these days. 

We then went to a tiny village for a picnic lunch where we saw old  houses, and barns like the one in extras before ending our day in Voivodinovo village where Iliana's ensemble put on a concert for us and the whole village.  Their ages range from 4 to 77!  I've added a shot of a couple of the little ones and also the dancers from the south western region of Bulgaria, known as Pirin. Their costumes definitely have a Greek flavour about them!  A long but memorable day.