Varna and the Black Sea Coast

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We flew to Varna from Sofia. Picking up a local guide and motorcoach, the group set off for sightseeing along the Black Sea coastline. In the Cold War era, Varna had the nickname in the West of the "Red Riviera". The city, on the Black Sea, was the site of many beach resorts visited by Eastern European vacationers who could not then travel to the West. A brief tour of Varna was included.

Our visit to Bulgaria's Black Sea coast next led north to Balchik. The Balchik region had been transferred to Romania at the end of World War I and then transferred back to Bulgaria at the outset of World War II. Thus, Queen Marie of Romania built a coastal summer residence in Balchik in the 1920s. Balchik Palace and its adjoining Balchik Botanical Garden were tourist attractions when we visited and today. Balchik Palace has an interesting design, with a minaret rising out of its roof. After the visit up to Balchik, we spent the night in Varna before returning to Sofia.

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Photos

Varna Lighthouse
Lighthouse at Varna harbor, located on Varna East Breakwater. EE1975158

SS Varna
SS Varna. Built as Furness-Withy cruise ship Ocean Monarch in 1951 for New York-Bermuda service. Acquired by Navigation Maritime Bulgare (Navibulgar) and operated as Varna in 1967-1977. 13,824 GRT. Later Reina del Mar. EE1975159

Golden Sands
Popular beach on the Black Sea. Golden Sands, Varna, Bulgaria. EE1975162

Pantheon of the Fallen
The Pantheon of the Fallen in Wars. Installed in 1959. Primorski Park, Varna.
EE1975161p1

Black Sea Coast
EE1975164p1

Balchik Botanical Garden
Balchik Botanical Garden. Balchik, Bulgaria. EE1975165p1

Balchik Palace
Balchik Palace. Built in 1926-1937 for Queen Marie of Romania as her summer residence. EE19751640

Comments

[D MJ Binkley]

Lighthouse
There are so many different lighthouses in the world. I enjoy looking at all the different ones.

[AndrewHL]

Lighthouses
Member Dancing Dave has started a Lighthouse thread in the Photography Forum.