Thursday 4 August 2016

Visit to The God's Bridge (Bozhiyat Most), natural formation in Bulgaria



This natural formation is a bridge like arch situated in the western parts of the Balkan Mountains, not far from the village Lilyache, from where is easy to be reached by car or foot. Also there are ruins of old stone walls and several well marked routes suitable for walking.

With couple of words this place is pretty interesting, but not well known and often overlooked as touristic attraction, but regardless Ill recommend it highly to any visitor in that part of the country.

Bellow Ill post also short video from the nearby village from which The Gods Bridge can reached easily by car or foot.



The path leading to the arch
One of the side routes which leads to the brook below
Small shaded table for a moment of rest
Some of the mini-caves around the arch
Detail from the arch Bozhiyat Most (The God's Bridge)
Under The God's Bridge (Bozhi Most)
Small fountain in the centre of the nearby village Lilyache
Old school (still in use) in Lilyache
Another view from the centre of Lilyache
Cute small lake-like pool with toy bridge in the centre of Lilyache
Banks with shade in Lilyache

Tuesday 2 August 2016

Visit to Ledenika cave in North-West Bulgaria



While I've been wandering around these days, happened that I visited Ledenika, a cave in the Northwestern parts of Bulgaria, which can be reached from town called Vratsa. The place itself is impressive natural formation with some endemic species of insects living in it like the beetle "Svetlomrazets", which translates as "light-heater". This cave was never inhabited during the human history, but it was used as kind of natural fridge during the Ottoman rule over the country, because of the low temperatures just above zero Celsius maintained during the whole year.

The cave is locked and visits are allowed only with guide for 5 levs (2 pound) per person. Along with the natural curiosities there was light show too. While thing like that is not necessary bad, I don't think it contributes much to this place in particular. I'll go as far to say that I'll even like it, but only in a proper ambient, like night club, which that cave obviously is not.

Monday 1 August 2016

Eastern Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni boettgeri)


As is alreday well known I like tortoises, so while I've been in North-West Bulgaria I decided to look for some of them in the area, because in this place live only Hermann's tortoises and in particular the Eastern subspecies T. h. boettgeri. This subspecies is somewhat endemic for the teritory of Bulgaria and the areas around the country.

The animal is relatively easy to be found if one follow few simple rules. First look for places with mix pf trees, bushes and open areas covered with grass. Second, be very quiet, the tortoise is much easier to be heard then seen, and third best time is in the morning before the hottest hours in the summer, because these animals will look for cover in the afternoon and is going to be nearly impossible to be seen or found.

So, after short search I found two of them. Note when I comment the unusual patern on the shell of the second, happen that after imspection I discovered that most of the it was damaged and without the usual annual growt circles, so I assume it was victim of fire or other injury.

Friday 29 July 2016

Krivodol town library


Krivodol is very small town in Bulgaria, where I'll spent few days. I had a look around and surprisingly found some things like the town library, which many of the locals don't even know exists.

The library itself is mix between old books and things from the times of the communism and new and modern. Looks like that regulary new books are supplied here and the ambient is very pleasant and comfortable for reading and work. Also to note, the internet is very fast.

Other then that linrary I'll do a few more videos for other things from the area.

Monday 25 July 2016

Ancient ruins and ceramic in North-West Bulgaria



This area, just like most of the country has a lot of ruins and remains of ancient dwelings, spaning from early Neolit to modern times. These particular walls I believe were part of Roman baths and are probably younger then most of the other ruins.

I found the pieces shown in this video laying in the corn and sunflower fields around and sadly many times broken by the agricultural machines. It took me no more then half an hour to gather all that. Also its rarer but there still can be found laying on the ground early iron age spear heads and other weapons, but coins and other objects of collector's interest are nearly gone after the diligent browsing with metal detercors by all kind of dark balkan subjects in the last 30 years.

I plan in some of the next days to have a better look and who knows may be find something really interesting.

Saturday 23 July 2016

River fishing



I had to interrupt my walk along the Black Sea coast and wait for something, but while I am doing so I can make some videos about other stuff, like the freshwater fishing in a river, which I practiced today. I had some moderate luck and the target were some small species of freshwater fish, which are exeptionally tasty. I calculated that if one wants to feed himself with fishing with rod in these rivers, hast to do so for about 3 hours a day, best in early morning, when seems the fishes are feeding. Also some of these fishes are very good for a cold water aquarium, because they have nice looks and don't grow more then 10-15 cm.

Note that the freshwater fishing in Bulgaria is regulated by specific laws and first a licence for fishing has to be adquiered. This licence cost 10-15 pounds per year. Then the fishing is permitd only in certain periods of the year and only with fishing rods and line. All kind of fishing with nets, chemicals and others is illegal. Also each dpecies of fish has a minimal size allowed for catch, which by the way shows gross lack of knowledge of the fish biology and ecology and makes inmense damage to the fish populations and creates evolutionary pression for reducing the overall size of the fish species in general.

Friday 22 July 2016

Cape Kaliakra



After spending the previous night in the open field I went to see Cape Kaliakra. Once again I had to follow the car's road for something like 6-7 km until I reached the cape. At first I thought that is going to be a bit dull day, but the cape itself proved to be interesting place. Once I've got close the ancient ruins of the Kaliakra Castle appeared. Inside can be seen many interesting ruins of houses, churches, fortifications, wells and so on. There is even a small free entry museum, where can be seen reconstruction of the castle and exponates from the centuries past. Another interesting thing was the small chapel at the very end of the cape. That chapel and the terace next to it can be seen on the video, where I am a bit surprised, because I passed by the small door but didn't realise its a chapel and working at that. I took a lot of pictures from the place which I'll post when I have faster internet.

After spending an hour on the cape, I decided to visit the small secluded beach called Golata, which is not shown in this video, but nonetheless was nice place with a lot of visitors with cars, because the road is not really designed for pedestrians.

After that in the afternoon I headed to the next point on my route, a village called Kavarna.

In conclusion, Cape Kaliakra is one of these places that one should see and spend some time, but it has mostly historical value and the area is not the best choice for a wild camping. One interesting point is that this was the very first point where I found water fontain from where I could get free potable water since the begining of my trip, which is a big disapointment for me, because I thought the drinking water is not going to be issue in this country, but alas, I had to buy all water I needed for drinking.

Thursday 21 July 2016

Walk from Tyulenovo to Balgarevo



After leaving the bivouac I walked trough the fields along the rocky shore to the next village called Kamen bryag. After that the walk continued across bushes along the cliffs to the holiday resort called Rusalka. The way to there led me to the archaeological reserve called Yailata, which is series of ancient caves, which were inhabited during the stone age approximately 5 000 BC.

While I walked in Kamen bryag, a stray dog started walking after me and when we reached Yailata, it was already very hot, so I felt sorry for it and gave it poece of meat and water. That dog tried honestly to guard me and barked against birds and lizards and also tried to break the trial in front of me, but sadly proved to be not very loyal because abandoned me after Russian couple payed it a bit of attention.

So I passed trough the Rusalka holiday complex, which I have to say was one of the most unfriendly places I've seen on the Northern part of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and place I would not recommend to visitors.

After Rusalka I couldn't find a way trough the fields, so I had to take the asphalted road to the next village called Sveti Nikola. To be honest it was a dull and borring hour and half and then may be because it was the weekend everything in the village was closed. Then I tried again to find direct way to Kaliakra, but again I couldn't do so and I continued for another couple of hours up to the next village Balgarevo, which again looked rather unsuitable for my semi-wild camping needs and I went in direction to Cape Kalialra and pitched up my tent in some random weat field, where I spent the night.

In convlusion I have to mote that this last section between Kamen bryag and Cape Kaliakra is suitable for wild camping only if one is well prepared for a walk in thorny and covered with difficult to cross bushes, i.e. sturdy shoes and thick pants (which I didn't have) and on top of that there are no camping sites in the vicinity.

Wednesday 20 July 2016

Walk from Shabla to Tyulenovo



I departed early in the morning and kept walking on the beach nearly up to the Shabla's Lighthouse and after that I went up on the clifs until I got to the Tyulenovo village.

However to compensate that Tyulenovo village was very nice place with very friendly inhabitants. Around the vilage, before and after it there were one of the most impressive rocky shores I've seen, with a lot of smal caverns and secluded places were many foreign turists were sunbating, swimming or jumping from the rocks. When I passed the village I found place designated as "bivouac", where explicitly was written on postsign that tents can be pitched up, campfires made and there even was a chmical toilet, so despite of not walking a lot that day I decided to stop there and camp during the night.

It was pretty warm, so I didn't bother to pitch up a tent, but later on it started cooling and I decided to try my Karimor survival polytilene bag, which was a bit of disappointment, because even it breaks the wind, it keeps inside all body moisture, which makes the sleep in one of them pretty unpleasant. Also I made my self hobo stove which worked as charm and kept me warn.

Later in the evening several fishermen arrived and kept fishing until 6 o'clock in the morning of thd next day and one of them managed to catch half bucket of the exeptionaly tasty Black Sea fish called localy "Safrid". The fishermen were very friendly and asked me if I am al right, if I am cold, comfortable and so on.

All in all the experience was very pleasant and I took some pictures, which I'll post in near future, when I have faster internet and computer.

PS The tortoise shown in the video is not a Horsefields one, because I've got the English names mixed up and this species doesn't even live in Bulgaria. So, it is the Spur-thighed (or Greek), which is the largest one living in Europe (up to 8 kg), rare and treatened with extinction species.

Tuesday 19 July 2016

Walking on the beach from Durankulak to Shabla



First to excuse myself for the quality of the editing. I am doing this on my phone, where the preview doesn't work, so there are  some faults, but this is the best I can do at the moment. A bit later I'll do better video, where these issues are going to be fixed.

I walked on the beach from the Durankulak's camping site to the Shabla's one. At first I thought to pitch up my tent just outside the camping site, but later on I changed my mind and entered the one called "Holiday Houses Mezdra". Sleeping in tent costs 2 pounds per person, for which one gets showers and toilets too. Provided basic safety rules are followed also campfires and BBQs can be made. The hosts showed me also the bungalows and in general were exceptionally friendly.They are couple in they late 40s, early 50s with a daughter, called Nona, who is an aspiring journalist and her boyfriend, very pleasant young man, who works as builder. After that the hosts invited me to share a meal with them, and it was a meal, what is seen on the picture is only the beginning, later we had sausages and meatballs on grill, Bulgarian anisette, called "Mastika", beers and so on. We stayed around the table until nearly 2 o'clock after midnight and many interesting stories were told.

From all the places I ever visited on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast I'd say that this was by far the best. Very cheap, friendly people, nice sandy beach and in general all that I like in a resort. So I'd give it 10/10 from my semi-wild camper point of view.

Monday 18 July 2016

Update about the travel posts

Now I don't have access to Internet everyday and when I do have its often way too slow to update anything, so I am posting some of the videos not in a chronological order, but rather because it managed to get uploaded. For my next trip I'll have in mind to sort somehow better, or at least more regular access to Internet, so I could post daily or nearly that updates.

PS And at the end I'll stitch up these short clips together with some photos to make something like short movie.

Camping "Kosmos" near Durankulak - bungalows and short review



When I arrived in the area in search for the most northern point on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast I spent first couple of nights in one of these bungalows, which are pretty good for the price of 6 pounds per person. The price for place for pitching up a tent is about 3 pounds per night, per person and it gives you access to water, showers and toilets. Also campfires can be made provided its done in secure way. The beach is may be 50-100 meters away and is nice yellow (but not too fine) sand.

There was nothing that surprised me in a bad way and I guess I would recommend this place for people searching more secluded beaches and places around the sea coast. And about myself I liked it far better then the overcrowded and overbuilt popular resorts starting a bit further south.