Paradise Green Park Golden Sands

... able to exchange Euro for Leva (Bulgarian currency) with an man called Mick. He lived in Moscow, holidayed in Bulgaria but worked all over the world. As an agricultural lecturer he was able to explain over coffee and cognac the oceans of mind-numbingly-boring, biological dessert which I had been peddling through for the last few days. He was also able to explain how these massive ex-soviet farms had been divided up equally amongst the comrades who had worked on them, some ...

... hues. Outside the church were strategically placed stalls selling souvenirs with several grim-faced stallholders peddling their wares. We boarded the bus again and set off on a drive of an hour and a half into the countryside on the road heading for Sofia. The countryside described by our guide, a tall handsome Slav, as being very beautiful was certainly undulating, fertile and not unattractive but lacked a little something to make it anything ...

... 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 ...

Arriving in Varna you instantly get the feeling that this is one of those places you are either going to love or hate.<br><br>We walked the 1.5km from the bus station to the hostel, still to cheap to catch a taxi.<br><br>Shona wanted to leave the Flag hostel as soon as she had arrived. We were greeted at the door by someone, a guest or a member of staff we were not to sure who. OK "greeted" might be ...

... 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.