May 26, a sunny morning in Plovdiv.

The weather has been damp with downpours, none of which we needed to be out in. Locals are complaining and we have been wearing our lace-up shoes and leather jackets.

Leaving Kerkini Lake at 6.30, we had a taxi to Lethotopos, where we waited in the wrong spot for the bus. Another bus driver set us right. We actually needed to be going the other way! So to Iraklia and another bus to Serres. The taxi driver took us to the station (the bus to Bulgaria is a substitute for a train), BUT the bus doesn't go on Tuesdays. I had paid him, but asked him to wait till we got establish with the bus. He was a useful back-up in the negotiations. So the we asked him to take us to a small hotel, and wait while we were sure of a booking. Not only did he then carry our bags in up the steps, but he wasn't going to charge us another fare! This was typical of the help we received in Greece. Of course Neil paid him again. So an unexcpected night in Serres. Got a haircut and hairdresser warned us of seismos and Richter 6. Apparently near Sofia there was an earthquake.
Visited the local museum, an old church, seeing stones and statues from 12th C back to 4&5 C BC, all locally found and all seen when the old guy put the lights on for us!

Long damp bus ride. Danielle of the hotel (spelt XOTE and anothe character for L not on this keyboard) was very helpful. Next day, the duty lady heard we had come from Greece. In effect she said, "Waht did you want to go there for? Greeks are no good, always thinking, scheming how to get the better of you. Not like us open-hearted Bulgarians." So there you go!

Neil among the big soviet style buildings of government.

Guards, not as fancy as Athens, but very Ruritanian.












And statues that reminded us of the Burgers of Calais.              

Morning in a square. People going in and out of Church. National Celebration Day of the Cyrillic Alphabet.

                                                                         
Michail. When we established that we were not Austrian but Australian, he said he'd pay a French waltz!  We get that Austrian thing a lot and responses in Deutch.

Ah Mah, with personally chosen name Lampros after an interest in Greek History. Solar panel salesman for Europe from Shanghai. Met id delightful Chinese restaurant.

Neil says...
Surprised to hear a steam chime whistle as I waited for Sandra to come back from the Ladies. Just time to run up the platform before it pulled out. But what a start to our train journey Eurail 2012! Wonderful!

Old way. Seen from the train.




Today, the Roman ruins of Plovdiv. Last night, at the excavated end of the stadium, saw enacted a Roman wedding. The stadium runs under the full length of the main street.