Joyride to Varna

A weekend excursion to Varna, a coastal town of the Blacksea coast in Bulgaria. Perhaps not really a good period to go there in May as it was still cold and occasionally raining. Que sera sera as I will go again in Summer. After all, Varna is just 300 ++ km from the border ....... We decided to hit the road early in the morning and the driver was again, me. We survived the journey despite a few hours sleep night before, hitting several potholes and risking life by overtaking long trukcs. Yet, it was still a joyride. If Priscilla played ABBA, we had house music all the way ... at least it kept me awake ... lol .. At the border of Romania and Bulgaria, separated by Danube river.

Half way, one of us desperately in need of toilet but two others joined the bandwagon later. The best and only option was an open air toilet in the nature. Told ya, dont drink mineral water on long trip.

En route to Varna, the scenery was picturesque .... If u wonder, i think the yellow plants were rapeseeds. Not sure though.

We stopped over in Balchik, about 30 km from Varna. Above is the rooftop of Queen Mary's Summer Palace. My friend told me that the Romanian government gave the Palace to Bulgaria and in return, the Bulgarian built a huge Embassy for Romania in Sofia (the capital of Bulgaria). The Palace is small but has such a wonderful garden. Will put that in my next entry ...

Refreshing moment at the hotspring pool by the sea. Great tourism product which is badly maintained. Somebody (not me) definitely needs pedicure real soon.

I really thought swan could only be found in fresh water lake but I was wrong. This pic is the hard evidence. Or is it because the water in black sea not as salty as it should be.... I'll taste it next time ...

Beautiful spring blossom in the park, parallel to the Sea and also adjacent to the downtown.

Varna is a heaven for imitation label products. Name it, you will get it plus the prices are terribly cheap. No oh no, not for me ... If i cant afford the original i just i dont buy. Simply cant imagine how one could brag about wearing label items if one knows it is fake ...

Deserted cold beach in Golden Sand. Still not the season yet ....

The black sea.