Where are we now?

What a difference a year makes. This time last year I was visiting Ruse and made welcome by Димитър Димитров and his family at the Lombardi Family Hotel. Not only did I get to explore this city sitting on the edge of Bulgaria with the icy Danube marking the border but I also had a fantastic Christmas dinner in the midst of his friends and family. I wrote briefly about my visit in my post on my departure from this same city heading north to Romania at the start of my train journey across Europe. Pyce (Ruse)... Winter and Summer I still have much to write about and many photos for you to see both of this and other locations in Bulgaria.

Returning to Varna and a cold icy January I had many more experiences of local life. My friends and neighbours in Neofit Rilski street, from Jordan, Proprietor of "Candles" Restaurant at the top to the girls in Te-Art Studio, who cut my hair and encouraged me to pop in for coffee so that they could practice their English, opposite. But most of all my neighbours who had become fast friends as they included me in the "Garage Club" where we would meet to drink Rakia and eat salted fish, cabbage and other locally produced delicacies. I have much to include of these experiences during my stay in Bulgaria. I just noticed that I have not told you about the "Tall Ships" Regatta last year!

February and March seemed to be long cold months this year, or perhaps my bones are getting older. Time spent attending concerts and operas in Varna town centre. Baba Marta Day saw a particularly cold week. My posts contained "IN BULGARIA"  (onemaninbulgaria,blogspot,com) above give descriptions and photos of the various events mentioned here. Trips to the harbour and to some exceedingly good youth performances of "Mama Mia" and "Rock of Ages" in contrast to the musical events at the Varna Festival and Congress Centre. An organ recital and a stunning concert presented by the Kazakhstan State Folk Orchestra. Of course we mustn't forget the Independence Day celebrations too. No time for boredom here.

The improving weather in April gave rise to a spectacular air show by the Bulgarian Fleet Air Arm celebrating its anniversary. I also ventured further afield exploring the outskirts of Varna and the surrounding countryside, my guide a local man who lived a few doors away and still had the old family home in one of the almost abandoned villages. Sadly he died shortly afterwards. Another neighbour took me to a vantage point on the other side of the harbour whilst a third introduced me to a local hot water spring supplying a swimming pool. Meanwhile the modernisation of the coastal resort continues apace. Will it be ready for the summer season, time will tell. Many of the photos here have not been published before. I still have much to complete in my journal of life in Bulgaria. Improving weather in May and June gave rise to trips to other parts of Bulgaria. I have written about some and still have one or two things to add.

My next big adventure started on the 1st July July as I leave Bulgaria destination Spain I think. Well for the moment it is.
"IN EUROPE" (onemanineurope.blogspot.com) is recording this epic train journey through Romania, Hungary (which I have nearly completed) on to Austria, Italy, the French Riviera and down to Madrid. A detour to Bratislava whilst in Vienna (Wein), the discovery of the vast ancient port at Ostia which served Rome until the river took a turn are but some of the highlights I have to tell you about. Not forgetting Florence and Salerno and a short stay in Marseilles, France too.

My current train journey ends at Atocha railway station in Madrid, Spain. I discover that my ticket includes the local journey to El Escorial. I am to spend a couple of weeks with Jose Luis and Teresa. If you followed my blog tenerifebybus.blogspot.com, "IN TENERIFE" at the top of the page, you will have met them before, if not I will introduce them now. They were my landlords when I rented an apartment in Los Abrigos for a year or so. We became very good friends as they showed me around the island and took me into their family. As stated my intention was to spend a couple of weeks at their house in Los Arroyos near El Escorial, then do some travelling. I was to sorely test this friendship as my stay extended to six weeks until they returned to Tenerife whist I stayed on to continue my treatment for a dislocated shoulder.

Now you may think that August to December would have given me plenty of time to update my blogs. Well you would be wrong. I have even more to tell you about now. Trips to the hospital three days a week for physiotherapy encouraged me to purchase one of the "Tarjeta transport publico - Consorcio Transportes Madrid" cards. We are in zone C3 about as far out as it goes so it cost me 89.00 Euros for 30 days. This is, in fact, a bargain. The bus fare into Madrid is 4.50 Euros. This card allows unlimited travel on the buses, both Madrid City and outlying districts, the metro and local trains. Well I had to take full advantage of this wouldn't you!!!  OK it's not a bus or a train, you'll have to wait and see!

One thing Madrid is not short of is palaces. I went from one end of the line to the other when I boarded the train in El Escorial to visit the palace at Aranjuez. About 60Km either way from Madrid. If you are the King you don't want a hunting lodge you want a palace! No photography is allowed but you can download Apps which guide you around the respective palaces for the princely sum of £1.80. Viewing the Royal barges here reminded me that I have not updated my "IN THAILAND" site (onemaninthailand.blogspot.com). I had visited the Royal barges there too. Between general sightseeing, exhibitions and visits to parks and buildings there are many treats in store for you. Some photos have already appeared on my timeline in Facebook. OK so I weakened!

"Ah", I here you say, "When will this come about?" Have faith my faithful followers for tomorrow, Wednesday 20th December I will return to Atocha railway station to board a train bound for Narbonne in France. The following day a train will transport me to Toulouse and from there I will arrive in Les Cabannes, complete my journey on foot to a small village called Aulos. 55 inhabitants in the 2010 census. Here I hope that I will be relatively free of distractions over the next six months in order to complete my Magnum Opus, we will see. The album associated with this post contains some photos that I have not published previously or a taste of things to come;
2017 Where are we now - the photo album. In the mean time: