Bulgaria
Hello, all the way from Sunny Plovdiv!
Travelled from Veliko Tarnovo yesterday, was an interesting bus journey! But anzwaz..
Veliko was a lovely town - our hostel was perched atop a hill with an amazing view of the local castle ruins. We visited them (albeit under 30+ sun, so it was a quick trip) - they are on another hill, surrounded by forest and a winding river.
If enough tourists visit during the day (the price is 4 leva each, a fee that we somehow managed to get out of paying, we weren't asked!) and they raise enough money - a total of 320 levs - they put on a light show spectacle at 9.30pm, which is visible from the town. The castle is lit from below with multicoloured lights, and even though we didn't see it (as it wasn't on due to us not paying the entrance fee), the normal 'everyday' night lights were spectacular enough.
We didn't see the 'centipede monster' again, but research showed that it is called a 'European House Centipede' and it bites. So our fears were founded. But, luckily for us, we weren't eaten in our sleep.
Left Veliko yesterday morning, after being given a hand-written note from the girl on reception for the taxi driver, to take us to the bus station and not to charge us more than 3 levs for the privilege. Bought our bus tickets (3 pounds for a 4.5 hour journey - why can't england be the same?) and went to buy some food for the journey - of course, at that point the bus turned up and Bulgarians from every corner of the station ran towards the bus and began the tight squeeze of 30-odd people trying to fit on at once.
We dutifully gathered our backpacks, chucked them in the hold, and patiently waited outside the crush (as us Brits do - we really are the masters of queueing). Someone spotted our ticket and told us that we were allowed on first, as we were priveleged enough to have bought them beforehand, whereas everyone else was paying the driver. A reluctant path revealed itself in front of us, as they parted (not without a few frowns in our direction) and we managed to get on board.
Once there, there were few seats, so we sat one in front of the other. Unfortunately, the driver thought nothing of letting everyone on board, so when the bus finally pulled away, the aisle was full of frustrated sweaty Bulgarians (not a nice experience - one of them smelled not unlike a wet dog). Of course, the air conditioning didn't work and the curtains had to be pulled across the windows as the sun was too fierce - there were several heated exchanges during the trip, but thankfully no fisticuffs.
Drivers in Bulgaria are scary. Especially bus drivers. Even the Bulgarians were nervous. The driver thought nothing of overtaking two lorries on a hill, facing oncoming traffic. If ever any of you get a bus in Bulgaria, sit by the window - ignorance really is bliss.
Arrived in Plovdiv at 6pm, to be greeted by an enthusiastic young man with a goatee, who had come from our hostel to pick us up. He bounced around, introduced us to a huge hulk of a guy called Nikolai, both took our backpacks (on Nikolai's shoulders, it looked like a child's rucksack) and we all bounced over to the waiting van.
It's so nice to be somewhere that one of us knows - travelling around foreign and alien places starts to take its toll and you long for something familiar. We love the adventure of new places, but theres no place like somewhere that feels like home.
We were taken to the apartment, which is just off the main square and next to a mosque, which houses a 6-bed dorm and a private twin room, a bathroom and toilet. We stayed in the 6-bed last night and for the next 3, we are having a twin room (ah the luxury...). As we booked it through it's sister hostel in Veliko, we also get a 10% discount, so we can afford to go private!
Had a strange Canadian in the room last night - in his late 50's, he was rather odd. We asked where he was from, to which he replied 'Canada. You?' We said 'Near London' (as no-one has heard of Essex or Berkshire) and he was confused as to 'which' London, as 'there's one in Ontario'. Thought it might be pretty obvious from our accents...
Plovdiv has built itself up quite considerably since H's visit - there are many more cafe's (also due to it being summertime) and benches, and it just looks 'cleaner'. It's a great town, with Roman ruins around every corner, and a beautiful Old Town. We will be going to see the amphitheatre tomorrow (Theatre of Ancient Philippopolis) which is the country's most impressive Roman ruin, and take a walk around the old sector - we're here for 3 more nights, at least, so plenty of time to explore.
Currently sitting in a great internet cafe in the middle of a ruined amphitheatre in the centre of a busy shopping street - an amazing view! This afternoon, we will not be doing the tourist thing, but going to the cinema to watch 'Superman Returns', for just over a pound each. It is in English, with Bulgarian subtitles, and the deciding factor was that it's air-conditioned..
Will blog again tomorrow, amigos.
Lots of love
From the Terrible Twosome xxx
Travelled from Veliko Tarnovo yesterday, was an interesting bus journey! But anzwaz..
Veliko was a lovely town - our hostel was perched atop a hill with an amazing view of the local castle ruins. We visited them (albeit under 30+ sun, so it was a quick trip) - they are on another hill, surrounded by forest and a winding river.
If enough tourists visit during the day (the price is 4 leva each, a fee that we somehow managed to get out of paying, we weren't asked!) and they raise enough money - a total of 320 levs - they put on a light show spectacle at 9.30pm, which is visible from the town. The castle is lit from below with multicoloured lights, and even though we didn't see it (as it wasn't on due to us not paying the entrance fee), the normal 'everyday' night lights were spectacular enough.
We didn't see the 'centipede monster' again, but research showed that it is called a 'European House Centipede' and it bites. So our fears were founded. But, luckily for us, we weren't eaten in our sleep.
Left Veliko yesterday morning, after being given a hand-written note from the girl on reception for the taxi driver, to take us to the bus station and not to charge us more than 3 levs for the privilege. Bought our bus tickets (3 pounds for a 4.5 hour journey - why can't england be the same?) and went to buy some food for the journey - of course, at that point the bus turned up and Bulgarians from every corner of the station ran towards the bus and began the tight squeeze of 30-odd people trying to fit on at once.
We dutifully gathered our backpacks, chucked them in the hold, and patiently waited outside the crush (as us Brits do - we really are the masters of queueing). Someone spotted our ticket and told us that we were allowed on first, as we were priveleged enough to have bought them beforehand, whereas everyone else was paying the driver. A reluctant path revealed itself in front of us, as they parted (not without a few frowns in our direction) and we managed to get on board.
Once there, there were few seats, so we sat one in front of the other. Unfortunately, the driver thought nothing of letting everyone on board, so when the bus finally pulled away, the aisle was full of frustrated sweaty Bulgarians (not a nice experience - one of them smelled not unlike a wet dog). Of course, the air conditioning didn't work and the curtains had to be pulled across the windows as the sun was too fierce - there were several heated exchanges during the trip, but thankfully no fisticuffs.
Drivers in Bulgaria are scary. Especially bus drivers. Even the Bulgarians were nervous. The driver thought nothing of overtaking two lorries on a hill, facing oncoming traffic. If ever any of you get a bus in Bulgaria, sit by the window - ignorance really is bliss.
Arrived in Plovdiv at 6pm, to be greeted by an enthusiastic young man with a goatee, who had come from our hostel to pick us up. He bounced around, introduced us to a huge hulk of a guy called Nikolai, both took our backpacks (on Nikolai's shoulders, it looked like a child's rucksack) and we all bounced over to the waiting van.
It's so nice to be somewhere that one of us knows - travelling around foreign and alien places starts to take its toll and you long for something familiar. We love the adventure of new places, but theres no place like somewhere that feels like home.
We were taken to the apartment, which is just off the main square and next to a mosque, which houses a 6-bed dorm and a private twin room, a bathroom and toilet. We stayed in the 6-bed last night and for the next 3, we are having a twin room (ah the luxury...). As we booked it through it's sister hostel in Veliko, we also get a 10% discount, so we can afford to go private!
Had a strange Canadian in the room last night - in his late 50's, he was rather odd. We asked where he was from, to which he replied 'Canada. You?' We said 'Near London' (as no-one has heard of Essex or Berkshire) and he was confused as to 'which' London, as 'there's one in Ontario'. Thought it might be pretty obvious from our accents...
Plovdiv has built itself up quite considerably since H's visit - there are many more cafe's (also due to it being summertime) and benches, and it just looks 'cleaner'. It's a great town, with Roman ruins around every corner, and a beautiful Old Town. We will be going to see the amphitheatre tomorrow (Theatre of Ancient Philippopolis) which is the country's most impressive Roman ruin, and take a walk around the old sector - we're here for 3 more nights, at least, so plenty of time to explore.
Currently sitting in a great internet cafe in the middle of a ruined amphitheatre in the centre of a busy shopping street - an amazing view! This afternoon, we will not be doing the tourist thing, but going to the cinema to watch 'Superman Returns', for just over a pound each. It is in English, with Bulgarian subtitles, and the deciding factor was that it's air-conditioned..
Will blog again tomorrow, amigos.
Lots of love
From the Terrible Twosome xxx
posted by the travellers at 10:29 am
2 Comments:
Hey there guys,
Glad you are ok and survived the man eating insect. I hate insects! Not scared of them. Just hate them, like I hate rubbish music or Charmed.
Miss you lots down here in smelly lincoln, i would love to tell you it has blossomed beautifully in the sunshine and heat, but unfortunately i can't... bet you are surprised, no, as usual, it continues to rot like one of the dead pigeons found above the staff room of music zone, one of the fifteen dead pigeons. And they wondered where all the smell and flies came from. Morons.
Anyway, thinking of Somerset at the moment for new dwellings.
Hope you enjoy Superman Returns, thought it was cool, not quite a Batman Begins, but definately not a Spawn or a Judge Dredd. Very cool though, think i may purchase.
Writing is back on, just frying in the heat at the moment and Nikki has finally got a job wahooo! no more free loading, she would kill me for writing that.
Hope you are both ok, wanna see more pictures! Congrats Marli on your 2.1, very cool indeed.
Take great care,
love Jamesxxx
Tilly and I say dobar vecher. She is being particularly dribbly and smelly so am passing it on. Can't get them into the Cosy Cattery, but have found a very expensive pussy prison in Frilsham for our forthcoming holiday - costs more per night than we'll be paying for ourselves!
Glad to hear the Bulgarians are treating you well. Are you going to send us a postcard from the post office???? Get the right box this time!
Do house centipedes eat midges and thunder flies? If so, please bring a couple back.
Big thunderstorm last night and lashings of rain this afternoon so the garden and the fish are happy, but not the washing!
DO try and get to the gold museum.
Enjoy Pwovdiv!
Lots of love S,A,G,T&T (and the new lily in the pond)
PS Got out of the car and saw a butterfly on the buddleia, wasn't sure if it was a purple emperor or a white admiral. Whilst dashing about trying to identify it, smacked my coccyx on the metal door catch - ouch!!! (It was a white admiral)
PPS A is fishing - went for a walk along the river and met a fellow fisherman. They fell into conversation and talked about red kites. The man said there has been one flying over Thatcham for several days. He heard a huge comotion from his neighbour and it transpired that the kite had taken her guineapig! Smacks of the phantom guineapig slayer - perhaps she's an animagus.
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