Holiday Park Hotel Varna

... of the economy, including
gambling, corporate security, tourism, real estate, and professional
sports, are believed to be controlled in part by shady business groups
with links to Communist-era secret services or the military ...

... ve ever seen. I accompanied Ian and his rotvieller for a hasty beer breakfast. The two litres of beer helped temporarily cure Ian's physical need for alcohol and me to realise that I had best leave.

The first Bulgarian town I rolled into was called General Toshevo. Named unsurprisingly after a General, called Toshevo who had helped kick the Turks out of what is now Bulgaria and had, posthumously earned himself the honour of having a town named after him.

I ...

... station. It was voted best town to live in Bulgaria twice.

Varna has a maritime sea garden which hosts many attractions including a dolphinarium, open air theatre and ballet centre. It is a major university town with 5 higher centres including a Naval Academy

The last king of Bulgaria, King Simeon, in 2001 became PM after spending 50 years in exile in Spain. He is no longer in power.

Real Estate has really boomed in ...

I met Albena last Christmas, she is married to Rick Harper a Washington National Guard Soldier and contractor at Fort Lewis. They had had moved from Virgina, and Albena was not yet working and had not met many people.

She grew up in the beautiful coastal city of Varna Bulgaria, and all her family was still ...

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.

... 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.

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 ...

... strong of a word, the door was opened by someone. Into the common room we finally found ourselves, "Hi". No answer from the locals. Well great this seems like a really great place. In writing you may not be able to tell that this was sarcasm. Both toilet/showers were busy so even though we both needed to go to the bathroom we had to wait to use the filthy things. Finally Dave the owner showed up ...

... years ago) and we would have to go around. We found our way to the other side of the landslide and then asked for more directions ... we were on the right track ... just up that way. Our third enquiry had us just up the hill, turn right, then left, then right where we finally found it but the sign was written in Cyrillic lettering. We checked in to the old but comfortable multi storey hotel, complete with pool and ...

... to need to stare, but I felt so sad for this woman. It must be so uncomfortable and yet she was there to pray. I wonder if she prays for healing or help or if she just doesn't really think about it anymore. It's hard to imagine it would be the latter. As I stood in the church praying, I saw another woman, bent with age, bowing in front of the image of Christ on the Cross, over and over, laying her head against his feet...I began to weep. I don't know what it was, but I started to ...

... ankles. Three blocks later we managed to shake him off but Sarah still has nightmares about the incident! So what's good and bad? In Romania, Brasov and Sigishuara were both beautiful with some great dracula-style castles nearby, and some wonderful hiking opportunities. Ceascesu's Palace in Bucharest is breathtaking but apart from that the city is well noted for its hustlers and dogs and in summary is a shithole. In Bulgaria, Sofia, Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo were fun but not jam ...