Holiday week!

Monday

 

After finishing the last blog post we rushed into Chirpan. We did a bit of shopping (beer and meat) and then went in search of the train station - we hadn't been there before. We found it easily - it was a big old concrete building, very 'Eastern European' looking, and to add to this feeling a huge storm started closing in. We were slightly early though and my friends, Lucy and Patricks, train was slightly late, so by the time they arrived the sun was shining. We went home and had a lovely evening eating BBQ food, catching up, dunking in the swimming pool and drinking around a bonfire. Perfect!

 

Chirpan trains station

BBQ and pool!

Tuesday

 

It was a beautiful sunny day today and we decided we would go and look around Plovdiv (about 40 mins drive from us and the second biggest city in Bulgaria.) It was meant to be really nice and me and Pete hadn't visited yet either so I was looking forward to it! The city was gorgeous. After eventually finding somewhere to park we headed straight to the old town, where we discovered a Roman amphitheatre as well as beautifully painted traditional Bulgarian houses. The old town is on one of Plovdivs two hills, and on top is a crumbing fortress with huge boulders. It was very intersting and pretty. We then cam down the hill to the more mordern centre of Plovdiv, where we were surprised to find loads of very trendy clothes shops and cafes. So different from village life!! We walked around for a few hours, stopping for food and drinks - oh we also came across a Roman stadium which was only half uncovered as the modern city has been built on top of all the these Roman ruins! Amazing!! So pleased to find such an interesting, cultural city so close to us! :)

Up the rocks to the old town.

Lucy, lovely views and Petes funny nose!

Roman amphitheatre

Around the old town ^^

Trendy new town ^^

Mosque from Ottoman Empire

Just hanging out on a Roman Stadium!

Back at home we were feeling pretty knackered after a days walking, but had another lovely evening doing a BBQ. This last week must have been firefly mating time or something, because just as it gets dark there are hundreds of them out in the garden! It is incredible - tiny flashing dots EVERYWHERE! So we watched them for a while and then when it got darker we watched the amazingly bright stars.

 

Wednesday

 

A much more mellow day today. Pretty much the whole day was spent reading, eating sunbathing and splashing in the pool. The only thing I did was get Lucy to help me plant our tomatoes - they were getting too big for the pot! At some point in the afternoon it was time for gin and tonic and then we went into Chirpan to show Lucy and Patrick the charity shops we'd discoverd! After a very successful shopping trip we stopped for a cocktail and then headed out for dinner at Flamingos - a cheap and cheerful local restaurant. A speciality in Bulgaria is offal so we decided we would all order a few small dishes each and have a offal tapas feast! It was delicious - we had it all, from hearts, to tounge, to gizzards! Yummy. In the evenign the weather had turned and the heavens had opened so back at home was got cosy in the tent and decided to play scrabble whilst drinking copius amounts of red wine. Great evening.

Lots of this today!

Lucy did help me, but she was already in the pool by this point!

G & T time

Offal feast

Scrabble time

Thursday

 

A slightly late and very wet start to the day but we had planned to visit Buzludzha - a huge old decaying communist building a couple of hours drive away. We didn't set off until nearly midday and it was a horrible grey and rainy day. But it was okay being squashed up in the van (all 4 of us up front and the dog in the back!) When we eventually arrived at Buzludzha it was really the perfect setting - grey clouds disguising the massive concrete structure. I can't really explain how epic this building is, me and Pete visiting whilst travelling 2 years ago and it was just as awe inspiring the second time around. These great mosaics of communist leaders just left to decay! Anyway I can't really describe it so here's some pics... (oh also its set amoungst incredible mountains.)

views

 

After Buzludzha we followed the winding road down the mountain and stopped to look at a very golden church and have a coffee in Shipka. As it was quite a long drive we weren't back in Chirpan until after six, so decided to stop for dinner before heading home. A slightly less exciting dinner as we were all so tired and the food wasn't as good as the night before! Back in the tent we layed out all our rugs and duvets and snuggled up to watch films!

 

Friday

 

Friday is market day again so went all off to market in the morning. We did the usual veg shopping and went to see the chicks and ducklings! We also went to a little cafe for lunch - we hadn't been before and discovered they did pretty good sandwiches and chips. :)

 

Back at home we had a chilled afternoon, relaxing in the Sunshine. We did give Lucy a wash (the dog) and then took her for a walk where she got all dirty again.

 

We had planned to visit the Discotheque in Chirpan this evening, which apparently doesn't start going until about 1 in the morning. We had yet another delicious BBQ - massive burgers this time - and sat around drinking alot of beer. When it got a bit chilly we decided we'd start a bonfire and then when it got to about 11.30 we decided to sack off going clubbing as the bonfire was too nice! The boys went to bed slightly earlier and me and Lucy stayed up drinking gin and having a girls night!

 

Washing the pooch!

 

Wild Orchids and walking.

BURGER!

Saturday and Sunday

Most of Saturday was spent being hungover and chilling out at home some more - it's been such a relaxing week! In the evening Patrick and Lucy very kindly treated us to dinner - we went to Flamingos again and ate more delicious offal! As we were all tired and had an early start in the morning it was another movie night - complete with pop corn. :)

Sunday morning we went early to Chirpan to have a coffee before taking Patrick and Lucy to the train station. On the way out from our house it was raining a bit so we wanted to leave Lucy Dog in the house. We managed to lock her in, but hadn't realised that the window was open, so just as we drove off she came bouncing out and chasing the van the road! We stopped and tried to get her in the van but she wouldn't stop running - she thought it was a game! In the end we decided we would leave her (the previous owners never tied her up and said she always made it home herself.) After saying goodbye to Patrick and Lucy we quickly drove home and were very happy to find Lucy sitting by the front door - what a good dog! We spent the rest of the day getting building materials in SZ and preparing to start work again tomorrow. :(

What a FANTASTIC week!!!!!

Some sunset shots from an evening stroll.