http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Bulgaria , East , Varna en-us Thu, 10 Dec 09 14:42:12 +0000 Thu, 10 Dec 09 14:42:12 +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 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 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 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 At least I think it should be upwards.Looking forward to family visit not long now and have devised possible excursions to use time wisely.Travelling will have to be early am or later evening as in between is a nightmare with our weather. We are in the process of laying down plum Rakia for winter cold offsetting Never fear there will be some for Belfast at Xmas and Cornwall in June Even we ca http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-425816.html Today I went on a trip to a village called Dubovik which was about an hour and a half outside of Varna. Upon arriving in this small village the mayor a woman named Tanya Purveva came out and greeted us. Dubovik has a population of about 200 and a lot of elderly people. In fact the mayor told us that the lack of youth is a problem in her opinion and wishes that more young people would live t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-423042.html Its been a while but in June I went on a fieldtrip with college to Bulgaria.Without any expectations I left and found out that Bulgaria had a lot more to offer than I could ever imagine It started right off in the good way. I gathered with some classmates and we never left each others sides again for the rest of the week. Our trip started in Eindhoven where we took a very small and somewhat dan http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-420604.html When in Bulgaria everyone was telling me not to trust public transport and that the best way to get around the country was by hitchhiking. But being that I knew no Bulgarian and all of my trains were paid for I decided to take the best train in the countrymdashthe express train to Varna. If you donrsquot know Varna is a beach town on the edge of the Black Sea and Bulgariarsquos third larg http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-417193.html So after a uneventfulbarring thunderstorms trip back I'm now in the middle of sorting out finances visiting family cars and properties ie nothing changes. However have managed 2 trips to Varna beach once to meet pete and family and once yesterday with G for company. Just as well as needed him to push start the white carjohn's. Now killing time whilst key and starting lock are sorted.A http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-416386.html Sweeping Across Eastern EuropeI really do hate rushing through places but unfortunately that is what I had to do after leaving Budapest. My last day in Hungary was pretty much a blur I took a train out to a small town in the countryside that is supposed to remain true to the traditional Hungarian way of life and to my delight it did actually seem very authentic apart from the plethora of naff http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-409276.html Well not quite but working up to settling all outstanding debts and problems so i hope to have a reasonably OK trip to Cornwall.Car had a full service and now only requires 3 tyreswaiting till found.Insurance payment for outside Bulg relay etc insur for 30 days to be paid next.Rental continues smoothlytho at the mild nuisance value of watching Man U games yugh Small price to pay for money w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-398842.html Since my last blog I have had the pleasure of JJ staying over to try and buy a house in the countryside.I am pleased to report that this was accomplished along with another for Clinotherm.We also had time to visit Balchik and this time saw a snake in the walls and lizards and butterflies and frogs the next day at Yunets. So a great time was had by all. Subsequently the car threw another problem y http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-329988.html I wouldn't make a good hobo. I'm not addicted to crack I haven't got a beard and I have trouble enough sleeping in hostel beds especially if the pillows are too big. So managing to get an hour's shuteye on the floor of a Bulgarian railway station with prostitutes and other undesirable characters roaming around nearby surprised me.It had been none of our intentions to spend the night on the har http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-329424.html Well bath was delivered as planned and lesson went ok despite lack of managing to revise the verbs in the vocab.Then found that tutor would be away for 8 days but hopefully ring today and check if he was in. Went to office to let them know and he and staff agreed that rather than wait I should go on Weds and fri for tutor with standin.Reluctantly agreed having thought I would have all the time to http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-217047.html Okay so whilst leaving Romania I found myself in the same cabin as two American guys and one Romanian. One of the American guys was really nice and relaxed but the other one was quite irritating to be honest. Anyway it turned out that the annoying one was going to the same place as I was Veliko Tarnavo whilst everyone else was heading to Istanbul. Eventually the conductor moved the annoying http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-206112.html 3rd time lucky as today immigration came good and I now have residency permit for 10 yrsOne major headache disposed of. My last weekend at the new Yunets property was so delightful I'm thinking of going again this weekend.Byala is a lovely town with a good range of shopsnice town square and a beach that has a backdrop of flowstones and stalactites just hanging off the rocks and only 8 miles fro http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-201791.html This phrase applies both physically and metaphorically As regards to the later Immigration I found out yesterdayBday Bulgarian registration day had forgotten to send the statement I made saying I'd found the passport and so application was refused because of 'Invalid passport'. Once she found the form in the office she said she would sort out with sofia but because of nat. hols ThurFri it http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-199472.html Well I have now purchased a master bed for top room and a suite for lounge upstairs.Fortunately there is a 15 day wait before delivery as the builders did not arrive today.I WAITED UNTIL 11 AM THEN LEFT TO GO PICK UP THE REMAINING TABLE AND BENCHES TO JOIN YESTERDAY'S CHAIRS .At least that was the idea. unfortunately altho the van is big enough the doorway is small so the only nonflatpack items I http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-198529.html Well I am typing this in the comfort of my dining room.Still not letting me have boyana in locations so greg it has to stay at moment.Finding the mouse equiv hard to handle otherwise very pleased with set up.Using wireless connection via MTel card.Works anywhere a mobile works. V. convenient partic given country nature of village.From the 59 I will have my residency permission confirmed and hav http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-197421.html Well now on the way to my 3rd property.Tho' not in Balchik area nevertheless it is S. of Varna and about 10 km from Byala resortbeach. 20 mins tops from Varna along main highway. This will become a family investment for the future. More later by way of description when final contract signedprob by start Sept. I have also purchased a 26 flat screen T.V. and satellite package main house a lap http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/East/Varna/blog-195662.html