Day 5 - Central Bulgaria

Last day before moving on. I'm catching the 7.30pm overnight coach from Veliko Tarnovo (just up the road from here) to Istanbul, arriving 6am. Ticket in hand, bought by friend 60BGN (say, £25?). From drop off, I then have to schlep across the Bosporus to catch the high speed train to Ankara at 10.45am. Plenty of room for error in all of this but it's not the end of the world if it goes wrong somewhere.

I shall be sorry to ship out of Bulgaria. Sure, it's poor for the most part, grubby in places and not very well built as a rule but It's culturally very rich, a beautiful country with some very generous people (both locals and ex-pats). 

I've read a lot, eaten well, caught up with some good friends and been able to relax like few other places I know. But it's time to move on. Off into the unknown. 

Last of the sun across the Stara Planina mountains

Reading list from this week below. I recommend all but one. Make of it what you will;

The Neutronium Alchemist - Peter F Hamilton

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley 

Blood Red Snow - Gunter K Koschorrek

Does The Noise In My Head Bother You? - Steven Tyler

Book of British Common Sense - Al Murray