Storyline: 2024 Fall trip to Europe
The reason for this short visit was very sad.
(The four photos from the mountains are given to me by Vanya, curtesy Ivo and his friend. Ivo’s last photos.) Continue reading “Sofia as always was nice, but…”
Plovdiv, Koprivshtitsa & Balchik
Storyline: Bulgaria with Alex
Concluding our “Bulgaria with Alex” storyline with journeys through a few more cities we visited over the years. Continue reading “Plovdiv, Koprivshtitsa & Balchik”
Pirin sings
Storyline: Bulgaria with Alex
The title of this post is after festival held in the Razlog area of the Pirin mountains every summer “Pirin pee” (pronounced pe-e). Continue reading “Pirin sings”
A hike to the highest peak in the Balkans
Storyline: Bulgaria with Alex
They say the feeling of time is subjective. For us in these Covid days, it is well obvious with the pace of some events changing fast and then others dragging on for ever. Continue reading “A hike to the highest peak in the Balkans”
Rila Monastery & Melnik
Storyline: Bulgaria with Alex
It is a strange combination for a one-day visit, but that’s exactly what we did in June 2018, accompanied by Alex’s sister and brother-in-law. Continue reading “Rila Monastery & Melnik”
Sofia – Part 2
Storyline: Bulgaria with Alex
Everyone is soaked to the bones. A lady gets in the bus and asks “Do you know where this bus goes? I just got on to shelter from the rain.” Continue reading “Sofia – Part 2”
Sofia – Part 1
Storyline: Bulgaria with Alex
It is 39°C in the mountains and hotter in the city. Some occasional clouds ease our hike and make it tolerable. Continue reading “Sofia – Part 1”
Veliko Tarnovo
Storyline: Bulgaria with Alex
We dance to the rhythm of the English song a Bulgarian restaurant entertainer sings. It is almost dark and the beauty of this city is on full display with the flickering lights of its houses perched over the steep hills chiselled by the river Yantra. Continue reading “Veliko Tarnovo”
The village
Storyline: Bulgaria with Alex
We left Milan’s apartment and Lyulin, the Sofia suburb where he lives, the day after our landing (still 7 hours jetlagged), for a semi-deserted village with about 10 inhabited houses mainly by retirees from the nearby cities. Continue reading “The village”
Bulgaria – Alex’s first impression
Storyline: Bulgaria with Alex
Although born in England and brought by his parents to Canada at the age of 14, Alex’s first time crossing the Ocean back to Europe wasn’t to his homeland, but to mine. Continue reading “Bulgaria – Alex’s first impression”
A dash through London
Storyline: 50 years later
Yes, we just dashed through London, which was not in our focus for this trip. Continue reading “A dash through London”
National Railway Museum, York
Storyline: 50 years later
April 23, 2018
Our luck with the sun has expired. After a rainy and dull day in Durham, today wasn’t looking promising either. It was museum time! Continue reading “National Railway Museum, York”
A day trip to Durham
Storyline: 50 years later
Some of my fondest childhood memories are of vacations in Northumberland: Alnwick, Seahouses, the North Sea seashore, the Farne Islands, Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh castles, Lindisfarne (Holy Island) and the Durham city centre. Continue reading “A day trip to Durham”
Don’t miss out on York
Storyline: 50 years later
April 24, 2018
York is a happy city and we love it. With its incredible architecture, lively pubs and cafes, restaurants that cater to any budget and diet, street performers on every corner, vibrant markets, museums, art and entertainment, beautiful parks and gardens and the river meandering through the city, there is something for everyone. Continue reading “Don’t miss out on York”
Settle – Carlisle line and Giggleswick
Storyline: 50 years later
April 20, 2018
After saying goodbye to our wonderful hosts in Keswick on a dry and promising morning, we hopped on a bus that took us through some lovely scenery and small villages and dropped us off in the centre of Carlisle. Continue reading “Settle – Carlisle line and Giggleswick”
