One Man in Bulgaria

Varna Summer was ending on the 24th September and my thoughts turned to another trip into the Bulgarian hinterland. Autumn approaching, I decided that I would not make a tentatively planned trip back to Veliko Tarnovo but would venture further afield. I had previously booked my return journeys on line where tickets are issued for the outward and return journeys. This service is not available for all journeys which is why I found myself at the ticket office in Varna Railway Station on the 21st prior to the public holiday. My plan was to depart the following Monday.

It is 07:25 hrs as my train pulls out of Varna station.  The carriage is more typical of ours in the UK this time, a single row of seats, aisle and two seats together. More spacious than ours with arm rests and plenty of storage space, though I have never travelled 1st class in the UK. This time we are heading west almost across the length of Bulgaria to the capital Sofia. At first the scenery looks similar to my previous journeys but changes as we split from the route south and head along the line of the Central Bulgarian Mountain Range.

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!

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.