To Plovdiv Six

Breakfast at our ravine-side hotel was fresh and extensive, but we needed to move on.  This morning we rode over the beautiful Shipka Pass...more dense forest that looked like bear country. This region was the site of a major victory by the Russians, supporting the Bulgarians, against the Ottamans in the 1870’s. During the communist reign of the 20th century they erected huge concrete- caste monuments to the event...badly moulded and the figures look odd but the communists made their point! Sorry that I don’t have photos but we were wizzing by too fast. When we stopped for coffee on top of the pass, a large group of students were rehearsing for the following day’s reinactment of the battle. 

Another rural jaunt and then we arrived in Plovdiv at lunchtime. Crass Russian designed hotel with the worst mish-mash of colours and decor...but it was close to the old city. 

It was hot. Even locals were moving slowly. Tony and I wandered to the large pedestrian precinct and finally stumbled upon the recently excavated Roman Stadium that dates back to Emporer Hadrian...2AD. It was the first such stadium that Tony had seen and he was quite chuffed. 

Tony returned to the hotel...he was still lacking energy from his congestion...and I continued to wander. I began to note that there was some quirky street art in this town. I began a mission to track it down amongst the many narrow lanes of the old city. Much fun. 

All of the towns that we have visited have major parks and gardens. I found men playing chess in the Plovdiv Park. Impressive I thought. Also an extensive fountain which must be a real tease on a hot day. 

Our evening meal was taken in a restaurant called “ Hemingway’s.” The waiter explained  that Bulgaria was becoming a destination for bohemian artists, writers and performers and that Hemingway was seen as a prominent bohemian. It also helped explain the quirky street art.