Plovdiv

I’m successfully in Plovdiv but again I say it aint easy in Bulgaria compared to Turkey that is.

So…set off at 8 am from the worlds least helpful hotel in Sofia, not that I left feeling negative about Sofia, there were more than enough positive experiences to make me feel as if I got a lot out of it.

Taxi to the bus station. This time I didn’t have a ticket so the first chore was to work out which buses were going to Plovdiv. Easy you are probably thinking. But in fact this is the scenario…nothing is even in roman letters. You can’t recognise any place names and no-one wants to be helpful. Eventually I find someone who directs me to the right window and I’m able to get myself a ticket for a bus leaving in half an hour. Next trick…find the right bus. This I do by braille really. It’s an old run down bus. I ask the driver if it goes to Plovdiv and he grunts at me with a cigarette hanging out his mouth. Found someone else who confirmed that the bus was going to Plovdiv. Take my massive case and my ordinary case to check in and lovely driver labels it but refuses to put it on the bus. I note everyone has to get their own luggage on bus so I follow suit…thinking I want to go back to Turkey!!! Anyway, all was OK, I was on the bus and off we went to Plovdiv.
Got myself a taxi knowing I was too early for check in at the hotel but plan to leave cases and go out and about. The man at the hotel just barked 2 O’Clock at me. O…K!!!

Anyway left my luggage and found a tourist office to supply me with a map and off I went with very heavy bag over the shoulder. All Ok, fossicked about and got back to hotel after 2pm. Walked in and he said ‘passport’, I said it would be nice to feel welcome!! He started to tell me all his guests were welcome and I said it didn’t feel like that (clearly I was over it!!).

The long and the short of it is that he has been charming ever since and can’t do enough for me. Think I might do a bit more challenging!! I told him I had to get to the ‘other’ bus station to get a ticket to Velika Tarnovo and he said it was a long way, don’t worry he will get the ticket for me. I was exceedingly grateful and will wait to see how that works out!!

The afternoon has been spent getting a handle on Plovdiv and visiting the Roman Amphitheatre and Roman Stadium and walking the streets. It is a lovely town as those of you who have been here know but very hard on the feet with the very uneven cobble stones. Me being paranoid about falling has to stop frequently to look up and ensure I’m not missing anything as it is eyes down while walking.
I had dinner in the hotel restaurant and again my “NBF’ couldn’t do enough to help me.

I know this sounds negative and it isn’t as negative at all, just to give you some insight into the difficulties I face every step of the way but in equal proportions there are people who are charming, friendly and helpful. Libby said that they are learning to come out from the Iron Curtain and be open to strangers and I think that is a very true observation…that is exactly what it feels like. From what I hear from other travellers Rumania is even harder so can’t wait for that!!