As they hike to the group of glacial Seven Rila Lakes in Bulgaria’s Rila Mountain, Maureen Thomson and Jeremy Myers take in the cool mountain air and exhale slowly.

The US couple, who relocated last year to Bulgaria in the eastern Balkans, say the country’s “breathtaking” landscape of mountains, forests, mineral springs, lakes and rivers often stops them in their tracks.

When Thomson and Myers aren’t exploring beautiful lakes, they’re likely heading to “one of the old monasteries tucked into the hills,” a waterfall, or taking “a spontaneous drive that turns into a day trip.”

“There’s something deeply grounding about living in a place where nature isn’t just a destination,” says Thomson. “It’s part of your daily life.”

Nature calling

Americans Maureen Thomson and Jeremy Myers relocated

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