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› Currently. Overwhelmed.
Why is this trip more overwhelming than the trip I did to Italy?
Is it just me, or do some trips feel heavier before you even leave?
I honestly don’t know — maybe some trips just come with chaos attached to them. So who knows how this one will turn out.. 💀 …maybe good, maybe bad. All I know is that this trip feels more chaotic than the others I’ve been on.
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› Wait… Bulgaria Is In 19 Days?!
Time to Pull Up a Chair ·
A chaotic little pre-trip checklist before Bulgaria — mostly so I don’t forget anything. Packing lists, random purchases, and yes… rice.
A cartoon looking me. Lol!
Bulgaria trip is coming up way faster than I thought. Today the countdown shows 19 days.
In 20 days I will be in Bulgaria! That’s insane!
Wait… Emma, what? 19 & 20? I will be at the airport on July 12th BUT the flight doesn’t leave until 06.30am on July 13th.
Leave for airport – July 12
Flight to Bulgaria – July 13
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✔️ Plane tickets ✔️
✔️ Hotel booked ✔️
✔️ Airport transfers arranged ✔️
✔️ Train tickets ✔️
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Things I have bought;
Shoulder bag that fits the camera bag plus more ✔️
Travel locks ✔️
Sunglasses ✔️
New shoes ✔️
Cabin bag ✔️
Suitcase ✔️
Camera lens covers ✔️
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What I don’t need to buy/have already (mostly a reminder to myself)
Travel bottles (for night cream, hair oil etc) ✔️
Scrunchies ✔️
Brush ✔️
Headphones ✔️
Charger ✔️ (but I do need a new cable though)
Water bottle ✔️ (I tend to buy ALOT of those)
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What I can buy in Bulgaria:
This might sound weird but bear with me. I will explain below.
Toothpaste + Toothbrush
Shampoo & Shower stuff
Rice
I can probably buy more but for now, that’s what I have come up with now.
Now for the explanation… why I can buy those things in Bulgaria: it may not take much space but I would rather buy those things in Bulgaria than risk having an explosion in my suitcase. Rice? I will bring an extra sock so I can fill it with rice and make a little beanbag that works as a tripod for night photos etc instead of bringing my tripod with me, which I did when I went to Italy — so… let’s just say I won’t be doing that again.
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Wow I didn’t expect the post to be this long with just; what I have, need, and don’t. -
› Trip to Bulgaria 2026: Packing List, Travel Preparation & Personal Travel Diary 🇧🇬
Remember this post? Somewhere warm soon
M SURPRISED ME! With a trip to Bulgaria! I actually found about this recently!
A personal travel diary, packing list, and preparation checklist before a summer trip to Bulgaria ~ CHAOS!
Tickets booked ✔️
Hotel sorted. ✔️
Airport transfers arranged. ✔️
Planning a trip to Bulgaria in 2026? Read my personal travel diary including packing list, travel preparation, what I’ve bought, travel apps I use, and final checklist before departure.
Travel to Bulgaria 2026 – Two weeks of Vacation Begins
Time to travel abroad, explore new places, go on small adventures, and create new memories in Bulgaria.
And I can already feel it — that shift before a trip when everyday life no longer feels completely normal. Everything slowly turns into preparation. Time feels slower, almost stretched, as departure gets closer.
This is my personal travel preparation for Bulgaria 2026, including my packing list, travel checklist, and everything I’ve bought before my trip.Travel mindset before going to Bulgaria
There is always a specific mindset before traveling. For me, it’s a mix of excitement and constant planning.
Last year, I traveled to Italy. Unfortunately, it didn’t meet my expectations and felt disappointing on a personal level. Venice, in particular, was far from what I had imagined. Instead of romantic canals and glowing lights, it felt crowded and underwhelming. Because of that experience, I don’t plan to return to Venice again.
This is why my upcoming trip to Bulgaria feels very different — more exciting, more intentional, and more positive.Travel preparation checklist: apps, documents & planning
Before traveling to Bulgaria, I’ve been preparing everything in advance.
I’ve downloaded several essential travel apps, including:
* Taxi apps ~ Yellow & TaxiMe
* Translation apps for communication ~ simple Google translator. I’m still looking into other
* Public transport timetable apps ~ Moovit
Taxi&Transportation apps ~ These are the apps I have downloaded so far. Maybe more will be added. I’m still googling what I need and what to avoid etc.
I also constantly check my travel documents, passport, and ID to make sure everything is ready.
This pre-travel planning phase is always the most intense part for me.Pre-travel chaos: packing anxiety & preparation routine
Before every trip, my environment changes.
My room slowly becomes a reflection of my mindset — not organised, not calm, but a quiet kind of chaos. Packing, unpacking, and re-checking everything multiple times.
Even when I follow my packing list, I still double-check everything.
My mind often asks:
~ Did I pack this?
~ Where did I put that?
~ What if I forgot something?
Even when I know everything is already packed.
This is just part of my personal travel routine before any trip, whether it’s a weekend or a long vacation.
What I’ve already bought for my Bulgaria trip
Here is my current Bulgaria travel packing list of items I’ve already purchased:
~ Small camera bag organiser (for lighter travel, no backpack needed)
~ Set of six coded travel locks (no keys, for security while traveling)
~ Two new pairs of sunglasses
~ Screen protector for my phone
~ New walking shoes for sightseeing and travel
The bag will be (hopefully) good for my camera and few lenses for me to have in my shoulderbag when I’m outside. 
The new shoes.
These are part of my essential travel gear for Bulgaria 2026. So far.
What I still need to buy before traveling to Bulgaria
There are still a few final items left on my Bulgaria packing checklist:
– Camera gear & photography accessories –
~ Lens covers
~ Lens cap holder
~ KnightX CPL filters (multiple sizes)
~ Memory card holder (compact version)– Travel essentials for Bulgaria –
~ Two shirts
~ A pair of shorts
~ Suitcase
~ Cabin bag or carry-on travel bag
These final items complete my travel packing list for Bulgaria. I think. I hope.Travel countdown: Bulgaria trip July 12th 2026 ✈️
The countdown has officially begun!
Right now, my thoughts are everywhere:
what I still need to buy, what I still need to pack, how I will get there, currency exchange, and transportation details.
And most importantly — making sure I don’t forget the essentials:
passport, national ID, wallet, and charger.
Passport and ID are the most important travel documents. Everything else can be replaced.
Final thoughts: preparing for a summer trip to Bulgaria
This Bulgaria travel diary is part of my preparation process. Slowly, everything is becoming real — from planning to packing to departure.
Soon, it will all be zipped, organised, and ready to go.I hope.
All my posts about preparation, travel, photography etc will be in one category of its own. Just like my Norway trip 2024, Italy Trip 2025.