Blogs from Bulgaria, Europe - page 13

Tryavna, un oras renascentist in Bulgaria centrala. Intr-o perioada aglomerata am dat o fuga la 250km de Bucuresti in micul oras de la poalele Muntilor Stara Planina (Balcani) si ne-am cazat la hotel Familia, cu 47leva/noapte, fara mic dejun, aer conditionat, telefon, TV plat, camera spatioasa, curata. Hotel plasat in centru langa primarie, are jos o berarie si bineinteles locul unde se poate servi masa. Chiar langa primarie exista o parcare mare a orasului. Localitatea cu 10.000 locuitori dar si cu 7 muzee si peste 140 monumente istorice din perioada Renasterii Nationale Bulgare, curat, linistit, cu un farmec aparte te imbie la final de weekend sa il descoperi. Aici am aflat de Turnul cu Ceas din 1814 al carui ceas functioneaza inca din 1815, de Piata Captain Diado Nikola, de Biserica St. George construita intre anii ... read more

So, I wound up having a nice day on Sunday. I was not perfectly better, but I was good enough to enjoy more of the city. I had coffee in the morning, and some bread, so not the sumptious breakfast of the previous day in an effort to help with my stomach complaint. It worked, so I went back to the main street and turned the opposite way than I had before. I saw many interesting shops, which I took pictures of, and did more shopping. However, when I got near the end of the street, I found a museum dedicated to a Bulgarian Renaissance thinker and an Orthodox church from the same time period. I went to the museum, and it was absolutely deserted except for me and the guy running it - it was ... read more

The train ride from Athens to Thessaloniki was one of little enjoyment. I was so damn tired by the time it left, I thought I was going to be able to get a good night’s sleep on the train. This, unfortunately for me, could not have been further from the truth. I boarded with no issues, found my seat and settled in. For some reason, in their infinite wisdom, they left the lights blaring all night. There was no respite, and to make matters worse, the seats were just about as uncomfortable as you could imagine. So I arrived in Thessaloniki at 6 o’clock the next morning severely sleep deprived. Instead of trying to figure out which bus to take to the hostel I just walked the distance instead. I knew the hostel probably wouldn’t have ... read more

It was the tallest group of boys I had ever seen. Gangly guys; More neck than head; Their big Adam's apples nervously Yo-Yo-ing between chin and sternum. They looked like first time flyers. We were leaving Istanbul for Bulgaria. We were on one of those long accordion buses that jet-way anemic airports utilize to ferry passengers to planes. The young men were members of the Iranian National basketball team on their way to Sofia for a game. Half of them looked as if they were straight off the farm. Probably recruited by some government emissary whose sole task was to find Iran's tallest men; athletic talents be damned. On the plane, their heads rested atop their knees. I'll never complain about legroom again. We arrived in Sofia, Bulgaria. As we landed I noted abandoned military aircraft ... read more

10th August Very peaceful nights sleep in the hotel in Xanthi. 4 of us made breakfast before 10 and were still eating when it closed at 10.30. Then we drove into and through Kavala and found a lovely beach - no wind today so the sea is unbelievably flat. Hot though - 30 something so the sea is refreshingly cool. Filled up with petrol before getting to the beach and the guy filling the tank graduated from Southampton the same year as Christopher. Nice beach, lovely warm sea, massive jellyfish :) just the one. Hopefully got some good pictures with the underwater camera. Should have brought the GoPro though as that takes good pictures underwater I believe. Next stop a bite to eat in a cool Taverna? We got back in the car and travelled a ... read more