Blogs from Bulgaria, Europe - page 5

De multe ori suntem tentati sa ajungem cat mai aproape si o destinatie ar fi Bansko, Bulgaria. Poate ar fi mai avantajos sa ajungi undeva iarna, dar daca nu esti iubitor de sporturile de iarna, ce faci? Pur si simplu o viziteti, ca noi curiosi de inca un oras al Bulgariei. Arata ca o destinatie de munte de pe la noi, dar parca mai bine intretinuta in cabanele/hotelurile imense si in extrasezon parasite. Am gasit cazare la hotelul Gazei, care intre timp si-a modificat parcarea, adica nu mai exista desi pe booking scria ca este, dar nu au updatat informatia mergand pe principiul 'lasa ca ne descurcam noi cumva, sa ajunga ei la mine'. Si chiar asa a fost. Hotelul este situat in centrul vechi pietruit, greu de acces cu trolere. Camera a fost destul de ... read more

HE SAID... Since returning to Australia, people have asked how I found travelling in Eastern Europe. I always tell them I loved the place, and that I would return at the drop of a hat. An old engineer was bemused by my affection for Romania. He informed me with significant aplomb that he had compiled a list of ten countries where he had no desire or inkling to travel, and Romania was one of them. I looked at him in disbelief and refused to enquire as to the other nine countries, despite sensing his desperate need to share them. I changed the subject and quietly slipped away from his tedious chatter. We didn’t spend a lot of time in Hungary, as most of our travels were through Romania and Bulgaria, but I can comfortably say I ... read more

HE SAID... Today we were travelling north from Gorno Draglishte to Sofia (via Rila Monastery). We woke reasonably late following the feast and free flowing wine the night before. After gathering ourselves and our packs, we headed down to our homestay family’s small dining room for breakfast, where we enjoyed scrambled eggs, toast, mekitsi (fried dough), local jam and peppermint tea. After bidding farewell to our incredibly affable hosts, we left the homestay and headed northwards with Boris the bus driver at the wheel. We were making our way to the Rila Mountains, where we were visiting the Rila Monastery. The monastery is located in a forested valley deep within the Rila mountain range, and when we arrived mid-morning, the air was brisk and mist shrouded the surrounding hills. While the building and surrounding structures were ... read more

Our last morning in Borovets was drizzly but still warm. We went on a last walk, catching all of the local pokéstops and doing a last minute spot of urban exploration after we spotted a derelict bar/ hotel. The sorry looking calendar on the wall was from 2006 but strangely there were planks of wood piled up as though it was in the middle of being built. There were some disregarded ski boots which is particularly odd because they are expensive items. There were signs that someone could be living rough there, so we didn't stay long. The drive to the car hire depot in Sofia got hotter as we progressed and Sofia was having a very sunny day. We filled the tank and in Bulgaria they still have an attendant who fills the car for ... read more

HE SAID... Today we were travelling southwest from Plovdiv to Bansko. With a long trip to Bansko ahead, and a detour into a bear sanctuary on the way, we opted for an early breakfast in the tiny hotel dining area. I had muesli, yoghurt, prunes, toast, ham, cheese, fresh strawberry jam and tea. We checked out of our very comfortable hotel, threw our packs into the back of a minibus and made our way out of Plovdiv. It wasn’t long before we were driving along a bumpy potholed road that I think was a fairly major highway, with flat agricultural fields stretching to the Rhodope Mountains to the south. About 20 kilometres before Bansko we detoured up a steep and winding dirt track to the Belitsa Bear Sanctuary, otherwise known as the Dancing Bears Park. This ... read more