One Man in Bulgaria

Earlier in my stay here in Varna I attended an Opera/Ballet at the open air theatre in the park.  A production of the ballet 'Giselle' performed by the Russian Ballet gave me a chance to see inside the 'Opera House' as it is referred to by the locals or the 'Drama Theatre' as it is shown on the map.  We have walked past this building on a previous tour of the town centre but it takes on an aura as night falls and the lights come on. The whole area has been improved and pedestrianised, the new fountain has been completed and makes the area even more attractive. It is very affordable to attend theatres and other productions here a ticket in a prime position is only 20 Levi (£7.50). We join the gentle throng at the steps of the building....

Sometime friend, sometime foe and sometime neither the Bulgarian navy, has under different guises sailed from and defended the harbour in Varna both as a strategic and commercial port.  Hopping off the No. 20 bus, not in front of the museum but next to the roundabout on ul. "Devnya".  The railway station is just ahead of us on the left but I want to venture a short way up ul. "Preslav" just off the roundabout.  The home of the Bulgaria Navy is situated here in its magnificent dome topped Headquarters here. It now flies the flags of Bulgaria, the EU and NATO so we now are friends. A while ago during the "Cold War" we were foes, during the World Wars both and occasionally neutral. That is why I am so surprised when people are shocked that nations spy on each other "friend or foe" and have done since time immemorial. It is now interesting to see from the other sides perspective.

I set off today with my camera with the intention of visiting a particular museum located in the grounds of the 'Sea Park' as I have discovered that the park is commonly called. I thought that I would catch the Number 82 down into the town as it ran down to the railway station and, if I got off at the top of the hill I could make my way to the park by a shorter route.  I find that the advantage of travelling by bus allows the discovery of fascinating things along the way such as this take on the 'concrete jungle' located as it is on the corner of a street in an area composed of high rise concrete apartment blocks along side modern shops and apartments too.