Grand Marina Beach Hotel Golden Sands

... metal. <br><br>If you have ever zoomed through a gap and not been entirely sure that your bike's handlebars or car's wing mirrors or Boeing 747's wings would fit you will know the feeling I am writing about. A kind of wincing, tense, imminent, there's-going-to-be-a-nasty-crash type of adrenaline pumped fear which wells up in your stomach and then quickly passes. It was just like that but continual, for a whole kilometre and this feeling, intermingled with horns and our ...

... under such political conditions.<br><br>We turned off the main road and headed up into the hills to Madara where the horseman is chiselled in stone on the mountainside at one point and this has become the national symbol. It was voted the most important figure / relic / attraction in Bulgaria and this in itself speaks volumes about the lack of other attractions. It is ancient, dating from approx. 7th century but is hardly impressive enough to ...

... She tries to visit once a year and I begged her to let me tag along. She was gracious enough to conceed and we had a wonderful time.<br><br>Her husband Rick was very jealous that he could not get away from work to join us, the beaches were wonderful the weather mild, and the prices cheap. We were in heaven.

A very nice place and quiet resort, is ideal target for family with kids, food and drinks very cheap and the people are friendly. About the security reasons I saw all the time the officers from Security companies -armed- and Police patrols on the street, here you need just to choose the proper location and enjoy the time.<br>

... where the hot, fresh water and the cold(ish) Salty water meet, and the kiddos splash around and the old people soak their bones. Cute. There is also a natural hot bath along at the end of the beach where I went one night for a soak. Its the little things in life. <br><br>A strange tradition that we stumbled on in Varna is called July Morning, which is based on a song by Uriah Heap by the same name. Apparently, since the end of communism, everyone in Varna, and along the ...

... his shirt unbuttoned, and a strong scent of BO lingering in the air everywhere he went. <br>First question: "Do you have money"<br> "No"<br> "OK, I'll take you to the ATM then."<br>Wow what a welcome!<br><br>It soon got better, Simon one of the people we had met in Veliko showed up, he had also brought along some new friends as well. Katie and Sam. With the same first impressions as us we soon ...

... breakfast for the grand total of $24A for the night &#8211; bargain! We had lunch and then walked down to the beach via the usual souvenir shops. The specialty here seems to be old fashioned dress-up photos and to have your portrait drawn (they were actually very good). We arrived at the beach and wandered along the water's edge (it was too hot on the sand) past the many umbrellas and chairs set out for rent. We ...

... to various locations and countries that need an extra bit of security. Here in the foto one can be seen working at the Botanical Gardens in Balckik, Bulgaria. \his job is to stop the squirrels from pinching all the nuts off the oak trees. He looks very happy about it.

... Picked up Jovik, Damyan's best friend and off we went. Past many hotel resorts that have been built along the Black Sea coast. Finally got to the gardens and started our walk. Not too many annuals were in flower as it was the wrong time of year, but the trees and old winding paths that led us to the beach and then the Queen's Summer Palace were very impressive. Will let the fotos explain the rest. Had a coffee in a quaint ...

Finally got to Varna and caught up with Damyan, though was tiuch n go as my mobile battery was just about flat and \damyan did not yet know where the bus would drop me at. Finally we meet up, and we head back to his place, say hello to his parents, and wife and then we head out for dinner at an \italian pizza parlour. After dinner had an early night as \i was completelly exhausted and was looking forward to a good night's sleep.