http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Bulgaria en-us Tue, 01 Dec 09 23:19:35 +0000 Tue, 01 Dec 09 23:19:35 +0000 We arrived early in the morning for our fist port of call Varna a seaside resort town on the coast of Bulgaria.After booking our cruise I checked out the cruisecritic.com website and was fortunate enough after a few emails to have a private tour at every port of call with a group of 6 for five of our stops and along with those same 6 part of a group of twenty for two other stops. Oscar along w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-452336.html Well umm dont know where Caroline left the last one Think we just left 2 days of glorious sunshine on the med and headed north getting sick of Turkey We first went to see the calcium pools at Pamukkale and so old ruined city the pools could have been fantastic but as water wasnt flowing over the edges it was quite dull. From there to Ephesus another ruined city from way back when Jesus playe http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/West/Sofia/blog-450959.html I've entitled this blog waiting as it seems to sum up my life currently.Firstly I am waiting for my funds in the UK to reach my bank ac here so that i can 1Pay for my extensive double glazing to make life so much warmer and cheaper.2The same funds will provide for jeep insurance and winter tyres as necessary need both before travelling to Uk on 28th November.3 For Stan to provide his billhea http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Boyana/blog-449163.html Total Distance Cycled 854km over 9 cycling daysThe forecast for Tuesday and the rest of the week was suppose to be nice but overnight and into the morning there was no sign of that. I'm not sure if we had even seen the sun since a week ago Sunday. We took our time until there was some confirmation that the weather was starting to break. It finally did and we were off by 930 We found a side ro http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/West/Sofia/blog-447543.html Total Distance Cycled 672kmWe seemed to had a window to cycle on Saturday. It was warm and overcast but no rain so we went for it. Other than climbing out of the hole we had in Kavala on the coast but totally surrounded by hills the ride was pretty good and we did have the aid of the wind for most of the day that makes three in a row now . This was certainly our second best bike day of http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/South/Sandanski/blog-446394.html Of course as a start I should present the biggest travel spot in Bulgaria the seaside town Varna. It is a big city for Bugaria size almost 500 000 people live work and have fun in the Sea Capital of Bulgaria. But the subject of this entry will be not the usual travel advises you read almost in every travel blog or site. It is about the luxurious side of Varna. The lifestyle issues has not b http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-445825.html Continuing on down the Rhodopean mountains we were blessed with lovely fien if chilly weather. The town got it's first dump of snow the night previous given the cool temps and we woke to snow capped mountains and ice on the roads. That made for bracing jogging but that could not stop me of course. The private transfer to Plovdiv took less than 3 hrs and we settled into the Pension Plovdiv g http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/blog-445166.html Entering Sofia after a 3 hour plus bus journey was absolute delight after bustling Bucharest it is half the size has indications of more investment thanks to joining the EU several years ago good tourist infrastructure bus train stations near eachother and commute to or within town on trams trolley buses etc. Having had a rough deal since the earthquake and loss of some buildings many hav http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/blog-444687.html Enjoyed an excellent Bulgarian Merlot 2003 before settling in for a quite night in the village. On the morning of the 27th pushed on out of the Shiroka Laka valley and continued on twisted narrow barelymaintained mountain roads. Surprisingly close to SL we came to the Parapova ski resort. This looked great in that the forest was dense and evergreen but not so great in that it was like an http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/South/Plovdiv/blog-440432.html Sophia is clearly in transition or has been for the last hundred or so years. Sovietstyle apartment blocks are everywhere with new smarter blocks being built with methods which would challenge most OHS policies. Picked up a Citroen on Thursday morning and headed out of Sofia. As we drove from chique inner Sophia Greg was chanting keep right and the big hair ladies came out in force. At http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/South/Plovdiv/blog-440071.html After the basic 30 hour haul we arrived in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia. A city of old European architecture mosques synagogues and cathedrals. The day started with feta pastries and strong coffee and ended with a chicken goulash. The autumn weather is kind with sunny skies and daytime temperatures in the 20's. Cyrillic is hard to spontaneously fathom but is a necessary part of getting around http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/West/Sofia/blog-439174.html I hope you enjoyed the few photos that I loaded last time.There are lots more but it will have to wait till I can acess broadband speed .Probably Sam's. Still I now have a computer with an intact battery which means I can also access free wifi outlets at stores and cafes in Dobrich and Varna. I also am using the printer scanner Sam and Stu purchased here many thanks.Already it has enabled me to http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Boyana/blog-437604.html Here are some of the photos taken when the kids were here. Among others from visits to Balchik'palace'kamchiastone forest and rusenski lom park. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Boyana/blog-437190.html Our stay in Varna has essentially been 10 days of down time a welcome break halfway through this trip. It's just a shame the British weather came to greet us as we were looking forward to lying by the pool and getting a tan.We were met off the bus by Rob who we worked with in Azerbaijan. He kindly invited us to stay at his house in the hills above Varna. Our first full day with him was glorious a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-436161.html Much has happened since my last entry.Kids visit went very well enabling me to be a tourist again and also passenger in my own car most of the time.Thanks Stu.Dog had a type of mildly virulent mange and has progressed well after a series of vet visits and medication.travelling to there in car was messy BUT EVENTUALLY WITH PERSEVERANCE WE MANAGED A TRIP TO kAMCHIAYUNETS AND BOYANA IN ONE DAY wit http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Boyana/blog-435887.html Sorry it is been a while since the last update and we have had a few adventures.Firstly we went to Bucharest which is really dull. The second largest building in the world is there and worth missing. Also we had a typical travel inccident I will let Scott tell you the story please dont laugh at him too much..........Scott is to embarrased. Some guy an egyptian asked if they use euros here. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/North/Veliko-Tarnovo/blog-434643.html I'm ashamed to say I spent most of my final 2 days in Istanbul in a pub watching the cricket. I think culture is over rated anyway.Had so much fun it was unbeleivable though. Started off with a pub of about 40 aussies and 5 brits and ended up with the complete reverse Met a lad called Andy who notcied my Cuths day tshirt. Turns out he was a cuthsman and was with a mate from Aidens. Pretty small http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-431300.html Our growing laziness had not evaded us and our estimated time of departure from Plovdiv began to be aimed much later during the day. The fast train was slightly too soon for us to move from the cosy garden social area in the hostel and we were ambivalent as to getting the slow train since we had little else planned that day really Plus the slower train was a little cheaper as our faux budget http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/West/Sofia/blog-431032.html So it was time to part from the mountains probably appropriate since our pace of travelling and general movement had become extremely slow. Our next destination was not Varna like every other backpacker but Plovdiv Bulgaria's second city.We took the train again preferring perhaps unwisely legroom over the option of an airconditioned bus. Arriving at Veliko Tarnovo station after some exper http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/South/Plovdiv/blog-431023.html Veliko TarnovoAfter the festival in Bourgas we were just about recovered enough the next morning to dawdle down to the train station and head on to Veliko Tarnovo the medieval capital of Bulgaria. The idea of our next destination was some mountain based recuperation. The journey we took required one change and we were rather dubious as to whether we would know when due to most signs being in c http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/North/Veliko-Tarnovo/blog-429678.html