We had the usual hotel breakfast, lots of cheese, cold meats, sausages and scrambled eggs, along with pastries. No muesli or cereal though. The hotel was clean, a bit tired, but had a lovely pair of circular staircases leading to the restaurant. We saw little of Shumen itself except on arrival and departure. Lots of grey concrete buildings, many apartment blocks. Left in convoy at 7.40am. We went to the Highway 2 and carried on from where we had turned off yesterday. It was a pleasant ride through fields on rolling hills. Mainly open countryside with endless sunflower and wheat fields. Road surfaces generally good, but some patches of rough with very big potholes.
Went through a few little villages, people out doing their chores. Some wheat harvesting being done by large harvesters with the donkey and cart going along nearby - one cart even had the genuine steel-belted wooden wheels. Just before lunch at 52ks we started our first real hill, with lunch stop being near the top. Lunch was shrimp with crab meat for on our usual dry white bread. The filling was tasty. After lunch we met a few real hills. One was 4 kilometers and quite a rough surface up and down. By then it was getting quite hot, but we had a sea breeze in our faces i.e. A headwind. We rode with Manon and Graeme. The road had a few large hills, one long steep one just approaching Varna. The last 20ks were hard work up hill in the heat and wind. Only glimpsed the Black Sea with 10ks to go, and that was downhill.
Arriving in Varna we travelled in to the Centrum along 4lane roads. Our hotel is right at the edge of the pedestrian shopping area, a 5 minute walk to the beach. We are in the 6th floor with views of sea and city. Friends are on the 13th floor with wonderful views of the sea. It was hot (36) by now so we unpacked and walked to the beach, which was crowded with all sorts of shapes and sizes lying in the sun. Then strolled along the streets to look at the shops. Had some food at a Happy Restaurant, where they also had wireless Internet. So caught up on emails there.
Varna is a resort on the Black Sea, it was used by the elite early in the last century. There are lots of shops for tourists, fake up-market goods and all. The water in the sea is warm, and clean once you get past the rubbish on the shore. Jos and I lay on the beach for a while and then had a dip.We went in a group for dinner, to a Bulgarian restaurant. Had a delicious meal, the waiter took control and brought us various dishes to share. Great company and great food! Travelled 102ks in 4.45 hours. Averaged 21.5kms.
Went through a few little villages, people out doing their chores. Some wheat harvesting being done by large harvesters with the donkey and cart going along nearby - one cart even had the genuine steel-belted wooden wheels. Just before lunch at 52ks we started our first real hill, with lunch stop being near the top. Lunch was shrimp with crab meat for on our usual dry white bread. The filling was tasty. After lunch we met a few real hills. One was 4 kilometers and quite a rough surface up and down. By then it was getting quite hot, but we had a sea breeze in our faces i.e. A headwind. We rode with Manon and Graeme. The road had a few large hills, one long steep one just approaching Varna. The last 20ks were hard work up hill in the heat and wind. Only glimpsed the Black Sea with 10ks to go, and that was downhill.
Arriving in Varna we travelled in to the Centrum along 4lane roads. Our hotel is right at the edge of the pedestrian shopping area, a 5 minute walk to the beach. We are in the 6th floor with views of sea and city. Friends are on the 13th floor with wonderful views of the sea. It was hot (36) by now so we unpacked and walked to the beach, which was crowded with all sorts of shapes and sizes lying in the sun. Then strolled along the streets to look at the shops. Had some food at a Happy Restaurant, where they also had wireless Internet. So caught up on emails there.
Varna is a resort on the Black Sea, it was used by the elite early in the last century. There are lots of shops for tourists, fake up-market goods and all. The water in the sea is warm, and clean once you get past the rubbish on the shore. Jos and I lay on the beach for a while and then had a dip.We went in a group for dinner, to a Bulgarian restaurant. Had a delicious meal, the waiter took control and brought us various dishes to share. Great company and great food! Travelled 102ks in 4.45 hours. Averaged 21.5kms.
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