July part 2.

I wrote this last week so it might need some updating... but I can't do it. It's too hot. I'm melting.

12th - 24th Lucy and Gib

Lucy and Gib were here for nearly two weeks which was great as it gave us plenty of time to relax and potter about at home as well as go out on a few day trips. 

Evening stroll

In Sofia we met up in the morning and all got the bus back to Chirpan together. We just arrived home and were giving them a tour of the place when suddenly we heard a loud crash on the roof. We looked out to see it was hailing - but this was no ordinary hail! It was LITERALLY the size of golf balls. It felt like the world was ending!! Thankfully it only lasted around 10 minutes and we didn't suffer any damage (except a couple of broken buckets and a hole in our tent) but some friends got dents in their cars and roofs! 

The size of this hail!

So anyway, Lucy actually visited here when we first arrived, over two years ago, so it was nice to show her around as she can really appreciated the change - we were still in a tent the last time she was here and the spare room was just a muddy hole! 

The first few days we chilled at home and in the garden - reading, chatting, eating, drinking and swimming in the sunshine. More lovely, long, balmy evenings under the vines. We are getting far to used to this life! One afternoon it started to drizzle slightly (although was still hot) so we played Monopoly in the kitchen. We went to the Friday market and showed L & G the sights and sounds of Chirpan.  

Hammock time

BBQ

Sunset view from the kitchen

On Saturday afternoon we ventured out and went for a look around Stara Zagora. We managed to track down the massive socialist monument that Pete and I hadn't visited before but I've wanted to for ages. It was very impressively huge and the location offered some fab views out over the city and the hills. We then explored the centre and got an ice-cream before heading home.  

Monument in SZ

With views of the city

The weather was set to get a bit rainy over the next few days so on the Sunday we had a games day in the kitchen whilst it rained and stormed outside - we played so many games, it was so fun! It felt like Christmas! 

Games day

Walking in the drizzle

Sunflowers are already over

Pretty chicory - only out when the sun is in

On Monday we got up early and set off for a night in the mountains (mountains are always lovely, even in the rain.) We headed first to Asenovgrad and visited Asen's fortress. We then followed the road into the Rhodopes and went to The Wonderful Bridges. This place is stunning and was made even more magical with the low lying clouds over the trees. We'd bought a picnic which we ate on top of the bridges - a very scenic lunch! We were also lucky with the weather as it had been day all day and only just started to spit as we set off to our guesthouse. We went to the village of Orehovo and went to the same guesthouse Pete and I had visited last year. Unfortunately the owners did not offer to cook for us this time, so we headed to the shop ang got some sausages, veggies and bread to cook ourselves, on the grill. We had a really fun night drinking a few glasses of wine in the cosy communal area in the guesthouse.

The stunning Rhodopes

Asen's fortress

On the drive

Tree huggers!

At The Wonderful Bridges

Carrying Lucy over the river

Lunch with a view

Mountain village - Orehovo

A beer in the centre

Pretty village

Cooking in the guesthouse

Dinner time

The weather was much brighter today and we started the day with a strong coffee and a stroll around the village. We then drove to the pretty and traditional village of Kosovo for a little look around before heading to Bachkovo Monastery. After looking around the monastery we went in search of a walk that I'd read about to a large waterfall in the mountains (I love a waterfall!!) We found the walk easily and it was a beautiful trek into the mountains, passing an abandoned communist camp, stone ruins, open meadows and a tiny chapel surrounded by ancient trees. We also passed the waterfall but it was completely dry - never mind, it wasn't really hot enough to swim anyway! We walked for over an hour before decided to turn around and head back home. Another amazing trip in the Rhodopes - we are so privileged to live so close to these enchanting mountains. 

:-) Everyone in Kosovo

Bachkovo Monastery

Hiking from Backhovo

Sheep in the woods

Chapel in the woods

It was hotting up again for the rest of the week so there was more time just relaxing at home. We also all did a bit of work in the veggie garden - Lucy did a fab job of clearing some of the beds and Gib painted the walls of the patio area with lime wash. Tomatoes, peppers, chilies, sweetcorn and aubergines are all still doing really well. Beets and carrots are still in the ground but don't seem to be growing much as it is too dry (they are still very tasty and great for pickling though!) Salads and cucumbers are past it - although the chard is still going strong - and the courgettes are still coming but only in drips and drabs now. Sadly all my brassicas got eaten by black fly so I'll have to try again with them. I think we will be able to get another round of fast growing vegetables late summer as the autumn is so warm. There is no harm in trying anyway, so soon I will try planting more salads, spinach and maybe even beans. (Any advice appreciated!) 

Veggies

Aside from lounging at home we had one day out at the hotel swimming pool. That evening we set up two double beds in the campsite and had dinner and a bonfire up there. It was a great evening playing guitar and singing around the fire before sleeping out under the stars. As everyone has already asked I will mention that we didn't get attacked by bugs at all, the mozzies are only really bad around dusk so no one was bitten whilst sleeping out. We had covers anyway! It was soo lovely waking up in the shade of the pine trees, Pete and I definitely want to do this more often! 

Oh, we also bought and fitted a fan in the kitchen
 - it has changed our lives!

Setting up beds for the night

Camp fire area

Dinner in the orchard as the sun sets

On the Saturday we went out on an adventure day to find the 'Marble Lake' that I'd read about. It is an abandoned marble quarry that was supposedly full of water and good for swimming - although we were slightly skeptical. It was less than an hours drive and when we got there we were surprised to see several other cars parked. As it turns out there were, perhaps, 20 kids there having BBQ's and swimming. Some of them were jumping off from the sides too which looked like great fun so we got involved! We spent all day jumping in and swimming and picnicing, it was amazing. The place is very beautiful and surreal too and the water seemed pretty clean (although the same can't be said for the surrounding area which was, sadly, quite littered.) We jumped off from the first two tiers (the second one being just over 5 metres) but some of the boys there were doing some very scary and dangerous jumps from over double that - it was hair-raising just watching them! It was such a good day out and in the evening we went for a lovely meal at a traditional restaurant in Chirpan.

Marble Lake

Jumping in!

Besties! :-)

We were all feeling quite sunned from the last couple of weeks so on Sunday we hung out in the kitchen and Pete and Gib baked some bread rolls. Lucy made some courgette pakoras and for dinner I made a huge Indian feast for the last supper. The next morning we were all up early to drop L & G off in Chirpan for the 7.30 bus. What a fantastic couple of weeks we had and how sad it was to see the last of our friends visiting this year go. Thanks Lucy and Gib! It was our absolute pleasure having you here and you are always welcome again (as you know!)

Walkies in the heat of the day

Making bread and pakoras

So, that is our friends-visiting-extravaganza over for this year! What an incredible summer we are having and what amazing friends we have coming out to see us and this gorgeous country we live in! Now it's time to get on with some bloody work.......... !! ;-)

That's all for now folks. I'm off to have a cold shower. xx

Byeeee!