Kempinski Htl Grand Hermitage Golden Sands

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 ...

... us all out at 9.30 to go and drink on the beach together.

We really haven't seen anything in Varna just sat on the beaches during the day and drunk at night time. We have in the end enjoyed our time here in Varna just there aren't many stories to tell or write about, it was just like hanging out with our mates from home. We didn't even manage to take a single photo.

To Istanbul we go.

... breakfast for the grand total of $24A for the night – 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.

... I invited them back to the hostel for a bbq we were having later that night. The BBQ at the hostel was fantastic. They cooked mountains of food on mesquite coals. Every time a plate was finished, another was brought out; the food was so good I couldnt stop eating. Washed down all the great food with several pints of the local brew beer communista--a fitting name for a beer from a former soviet country. After dinner the hostel owner, Daniel, mixed up a ...

... way to the beach. Crossed the road and took it 7 stops going in the right direction. From there the directions were pretty spot on and before we knew it we were being greated by our lovely hosts and settling in to our new home. The bliss was short lived as when we asked about transport to Bucharest the next day things got tricky. 'You can take this train to here and then the next day... or you can take the ...

Kraimore is a tiny beach village where locals go when they want to spend time at the beach. They hate tourists in Kraimore. You go into a shop, bar, restaurant and they ignore you, are rude to you, short change you or serve locals first. Might have been nice if they weren't treating us like **** 24/7.