Bulgaria with Noodles

Maybe some  people in the UK can remember J.R. Ewing and O.J. Simpson, so this just shows that the most reputable individuals in America always go by their initials. AJ is an old friend from our days in Shenzhen. He says that things have got a lot tougher for expats since our departure, with the Chinese government tightening the screws and making life harder for foreigners living in China. Well, AJ did not find life too tough in Bulgaria. I collected him from the airport in Sofia and then we had five or six days in and around Daveri, doing all the fairly obvious things, such as a wander around Elena, a walk around the lake in Palitsi and a trip to the Ruhovtsi waterfall, as well as playing badminton and croquet.  No, I did not bother with another touristy visit to Tsaravets, as I have already seen it so many times, but of course AJ had to see it. We did, however, manage to fit in a walk with the VT Walkers and it was good to see some familiar faces.  If you have not alr...

Dear AJ, I have not heard from you for a while. Nothing bad, I hope? Well, your first-ever visit to Bulgaria is now less than a month away. I have a long list of things for us to do, but of course this will be subject to your approval. Lots of games of badminton and country walks with a naughty Jack Russell, in order to counter the effects of my dear wife's excellent (and very substantial) cooking. Some sightseeing in and around Daveri, as well as plenty of wandering around Veliko Tarnovo. VT is a most beautiful and unusual city. You will love it! We might also go on an organized walk with a group of people, mostly retired expat Brits, who call themselves "the VT Walkers" (yes, very original). We can also go on a free walking tour of VT. On the subject of food, you will be pleased to know that Bulgaria is a very cheese-friendly place. As well as Kashkaval , the standard cheese in these parts (it is a bit like Cheddar or maybe Edam), there is Izvara (a sort of cottage che...

Dear AJ, I have checked at the Sofia railway station and the left luggage place costs five euros per day per bag. So, if my Maths are any good, then to store two bags for four weeks would cost you two hundred and eighty euros. That is rather a lot! Plus you have to factor in the cost of getting the bags to Sofia. And how would you get it to the railway station? Well, I could store it for you for free, but I hope that you would reimburse me the cost of the petrol (and a round trip from Daveri is about 600 kms!) I have told my dear wife that you will be arriving on 4 th  September and, as you can appreciate, ladies always like to stick to the schedule. However, if you were to arrive on Wednesday, 2 nd  August, I was planning to drive to Sofia on that day anyway because I have to take my friend Peter back to the airport. So I could collect your bags on the 2 nd  of August and then I could put them into the loft of our apartment in Veliko Tarnovo. I could also make sure that ...

Dear AJ, When I read that you were planning to go to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I was deeply troubled and then I felt that I just had to write to you, begging you to reconsider. I am therefore enormously relieved and pleased to know that you won’t be going there. Praise the Lord! Now we need to think of where you will be going for August, before you come to us in early September. Well, about a week ago I was fixing the fence in the garden. It was a very sunny, hot day and suddenly I felt terrible. I thought that I was going to vomit, I was so dizzy and weak. It really was bad! I am therefore not going to recommend anywhere hot (and yes, it will be  very hot  in August, especially in North Africa and Southern Europe.) Here are my recommendations! (1)              Poland and / or the Czech Republic. Prague is beautiful (a bit touristy and expensive, alas) but there are plenty of other interesting places there...