One Man in Bulgaria

It was on my last night in Plovdiv I discovered that, here in Bulgaria, you cannot book a taxi in advance. Don't worry, reception will get you a taxi in the morning. My train was due to depart at 07:24, I hoped that this was the case.  This album consists of some 160 photographs taken from the train on my return journey aboard the 8631 Plovdiv to Varna express so I obviously made it.  I didn't take any photos at the station as I was too busy trying to grab a hot drink and cheese pastry to take with me. Not enough hands!

It was a couple of lines on the local tourist map which resulted in a change of pace this morning visiting a place not found in most guidebooks.  Having arrived by train I had not idea where Plovdiv airport was in relation to the guest house. The very supportive staff here 'phoned a taxi company to find out how much the trip would cost. 12.50 Leva - to expensive? Not to me, a foreigner.  Shortly after a taxi arrived and we set off out of town. A 20 minute journey if memory serves and we pulled up in a rather desolate car park. Some desolate barrack buildings and a couple if men in service uniform, it all looked a bit bleak and I wondered if I had made a mistake. Too late, the taxi had departed having agreed to return in three hours. Even after I was directed down a road to my left it only compounded my sense of doom as I approached the gates with no one in sight.

Day two of Plovdiv in October started with a taxi ride down to the post office.  My guide book says ' a whole day can be spent in Plovdiv, they are having a laugh! Perusing the detailed map of the area supplied by the guest house made me realise that I was not going to be able to see it all no matter which area I concentrated on. Having purchased some picture postcards the day before I decided to start my day at the at the Main Post Office and work backwards. I had seen the building in the distance from the Roman Theatre the previous evening and was under the impression it was further away than it actually was hence the taxi. I was dropped off more or less where the photo was taken and, as you can see, already stumbled on the ruins of the ancient city.

After a continental breakfast I emerged from the guest house for my first view of Plovdiv. The booking had mentioned that it was situated in the heart of the old town and this was certainly true,  'ul. Saborna' runs from top to bottom. Cobbled streets and historic buildings surrounded me.  I had decided to walk up to the top of the hill and start my tour from there.  Passing several notable buildings including the 'Icon Museum' I proceeded slowly up the hill. Be warned the old town is not an easy place to get around if you are not nimble on your feet. A few yards and I was at the junction of several 'roads', the tourist information office across from me. At this time of the morning it was relatively quiet and I proceeded on up the hill passing more beautiful buildings as the road became narrower, eventually little more than a lane.

I had spent the previous days researching bus and train journeys between Varna and Plovdiv, ultimately deciding upon a rail ticket mainly because it happened to be raining and I could do this on the BDZ website. It was to cost 37.20 Lev or £14.47 return. My train was due to depart at 16:00 hours as this is currently the only one which can be booked on-line however it has the advantage of being a direct route. A local internet cafe printed off two copies of the ticket. I have always done this as a precaution in case I loose one. On the appointed day I caught the Number 20 bus from the top of the street which dropped me opposite the station.  Conveniently I could grab something to eat at a cafe there as no refreshments are available on the trains.