Album 11

The photographs in this album relate to my posts "The wheels on the bus go..." and "Pernik - cold and coal" published on the 28th and 29/01/2016. Scroll down the page to read the comments or click on a photo to enlarge and the thumbnails will display along the bottom of the screen.

The view from my hotel window on arrival in Pernik

Wandering around the square outside the hotel,
the temperature was well below zero...


... this weekend on even years ...

... the action will take place here tomorrow ...

... some rivers were frozen
on the journey here ...

My single room...



I travelled by bus from Varna to Sofia then a local bus to Pernik

At the end of my stay I returned to Varna by train.
These tickets were issued at Pernik station, one local and one from Sofia.

A foggy Friday morning in Pernik...


... the river in daylight ...

Snow clearing in preparation for the festival

... the Palace of Culture with a festival stage in front...

... the "SurvakarskonSelo" - Survakars Village ...

... craft stalls ...

... an early morning stroll ...

... and all you can eat ...


... lunch I think, I'll come back later ...

... cow bells and sausages ...


... traditional 'mummer' headdress decorate the stall ...


... returning to the pedestrian "Krakra Pernishki" ...

... decorated 'workshop' masks line the route ...

... created by children ...




... a colourful sight to line the route ...

... the Mining Directorate at the
top of  "Krakra Pernishki" ...

... very 'communist' imagery ...

... the drinking fountain ...

... "St. Ivan Rilski" church and the
 Municipality building ...


... looking back down the pedestrian avenue
  "Krakra Pernishki"...

... note the miners' lamp ...

... no gas the? ...



... the entrance to the Municipality Building ...






... a local cafe/bar, nice in summer ...

... miners 'cottages' ...

... the Historical Museum ...

... interesting imagery of the 'pop' culture here ...


... apartments built for the mine workers ...


... a 'watch tower',
I don't know what it is for ...

... families living in very poor conditions ...


... street architecture ...

... the entrance to the Mining Museum...



... entrances to the shafts ...
... once a working coal mine now a
homage to those who laboured here ...



... narrow gauge electric trains ...

... ferried miners and equipment ...



... coal would be hauled out in these 'tipper' wagons ...



... Electric locomotive 'Siemens' ...


... coloured lighting creates atmosphere ...

... typical 'workings' ...


... narrow gauge mining railway switch ...


... dry masonry with metal supports ...


... a bomb shelter ...




... early workings, canary in cage ...

... brackets for power and comms cables ...


... drill for blasting a coal face ...


... mechanism for loading the wagons ...





... additional wooden roof supports ...


... flanged wooden flooring ...

... seat and 'endless' machine ...

... rubber conveyor belt ...


... wagon and 'gallery' loader ...



... to add to the discomfort floors were not level ...


... a gallery loader ...


... a gallery loader with raised scoop ...


... gallery loader C-153 ...

... a mining harvester ...







...  a constant threat - monitoring ground water levels ...


... a junction in the seams ...

... a pit pony ...

... pit arches and props ...

... a coal face, electric winder and signal panel ...

... another face with manual supports and conveyor belt ...



... mean beasties, chain coal cutters ...


... watch your ankles! ...

... emergency equipment store ...

... coal face with metal stands and chain conveyor belt ...



... hydraulic stands used here ...



... mechanised mining ...






... polygon wooden supports ...


... saying a prayer in these dangerous places ...



... electrical equipment constructed to exacting safety standards ...






... mining lamp, can't afford a stray spark ...

... signal panel ...

... different types of mining lamps ...

... mining draining system ...






... some important data ? ...


... hmmm,  I must have wobbled, methane perhaps ...




... fresh air, part of the massive air pumping system ....

... exit through another tunnel, I hope that the gate is open .

My first visit to the
 'Historical Museum' ...





... iron spearhead, V century BC
found in Staro Selo village...

... planning for the museum ...

... a carved wooden panel, possibly a door? ...

... well laid out exhibition rooms ...

... an information panel ...






...  the military history wing ...


... from bone ...

... to metal ...




... to gun powder ...




... at this point I heard drums and bells?
 A quick exit.

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