Writing from Kavarna, Bulgaria. Eleven Twelve

Once again...sorry that the photos that accompany this post, are totally out of order. Hope that my commentary helps you make sense of them. It is also difficult to edit a written post. Still...better than nothing. kx


Sitting in accommodation at a ritzy resort. Sublime to the ridiculous would be appropriate.

Calm departure from Istanbul and its ancient walls, past the government propaganda banners and back into the rural areas. We stopped for tea at a park in the middle of a large rural town, 99% men. Bikers that included women were a definite novelty. It was lovely to have a couple of older men want to talk to us, in sign language, about the bikes!
Before we reached the semi-isolated Turkish/Bulgarian border  Nicko led us onto a dirt road that eventually led to a family-run restaurant. An enterprising family had turned a stream into a trout farm, built an ever-expanding restaurant over the top and were now building a concrete hotel. The 80 yr old matriarch, dress head to toe and headscarf, greeted Nicko like a long lost son. She sat with us for the majority of the meal, gave us extra bottles of water and towelettes. She even blessed us with sprinkled water as we left.
Next was the border. The usual long wait. 1 1/2 hrs. BUT we were not complaining. Primoz had to take the luggage van through another border, one with 6 lanes. 35 degree plus, and he did not arrive at our hotel until 10.30 pm. We had been asked to take a change of clothes on the bikes in case this happened. A nightmare...especially if there were children in the waiting cars. One of our border officials was young and friendly. During a brief conversation about Oz, I quietly said....”and there are no border crossings!” He grinned widely with an understanding smile!
Our evening stop was at a UNESCO listed town that used to be on an island but now has a causeway. Big mistake. Nessebar is the Dubrovnik of Bulgaria. Any historic ambiance has been horribly swamped by tourist over-kill. Fortunately, at our clifftop restaurant, incredibly crowded, our waiter was a star and hats off to the kitchen staff. I returned the next morning for an uncluttered look. I actually found some interesting sights, and was also fascinated by the elegant dress of some, at 7.30. in the morning.
Today was an easy ride to Thracian Cliffs Golf Resort. On the way we stopped at a beachside cafe for a real cappuccino. Our first real seaside since we started. And of course, this is the Black Sea. I was reminded that we were in Bulgaria when I spotted some more of that quirky street art.
After a meander along a bushy secondary road, we started to see prominent limestone cliffs. Through a grand entry and Voila, this very large, fancy place beside the sea and those cliffs. They provide buggies to get you around as the place is so big. You call them at the reception.
However, our introduction was a memorable lunch over-looking the deep blue sea. Quite special.
A buggy took us down to the sea where I swam in the Black Sea off the Bulgarian coast. I did think that was a hoot.
Tonight Nicko has booked us a table for dinner, beside the said sea. Photos to follow.