ARCS just finished its first academic excursion during September 9-11. ARCS staff and two Fulbright Fellows traveled across Western Bulgaria visiting Kraka fortress near the town of Pernik, the Georgi Dimitrov Memorial House in the village of Kovachevtsi, and the Zemen Monastery before reaching the spa town of Kyustendil. We spent a full day touring Kyustendil landmarks, including the Late Roman fortress “Hisarlaka”, the Roman bath complex, Pirkova tower, the memorial museum to Dimitar Peshev, the "Master"- Vladimir Dimitrov art gallery, the Medieval Church of St. George, and the Regional Museum of History. The group stopped for a short stroll along the Kadin bridge in the village of Nevestino on the way to the spectacular Rila Monastery. Thank you guys for a wonderful time!