The Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak

The Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak

The Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak is a UNESCO World Heritage site in central Bulgaria. But first, perhaps, it is worth putting this into context.

The Thracians were Indo-Eurpoean inhabitants of the Balkan Region from about the 10th Century BC through til the 1st Century AD.… Read the rest

Space Jam

Space Jam

Usually a fan of beautiful rather than bizarre, this Russian Soviet monument, looks more like something from Space Jam than from Bulgaria’s Communist past. Locally referred to as simply as the Socialism Monument, even ‘bizarre’ does not quite describe what stands before me.… Read the rest

Shipka

Shipka

The Shipka Memorial Church is a Bulgarian Orthodox Church located in the city of the same name. We are middle of Bulgaria both figuratively and literally, having just crossed the picturesque Balkan Mountains from north to south. We are on our way from Veliko Tărnovo and the Etar Ethnographic Outdoor Museum to the Kazinlak Tomb.… Read the rest

Etar Ethnographic Outdoor Museum

Etar Ethnographic Outdoor Museum

As we arrive at Etar Ethnographic Outdoor Museum, it seems like just a few old huts along a small, albeit picturesque stream. However, as we enter this busy little slice of history, it’s clear that it is much more than it seems.… Read the rest

Veliko Tǎrnovo

The sites of Veliko Tǎrnovo

Arriving in Veliko Tarnovo is like stepping back in time. Arriving in the early evening at the end of a long travel day, my travel companion Charlotte and I are keen to get a little exploring done before the day is out.… Read the rest

Tsarevets Fortress

Tsarevets Fortress – the Gate at sunset

Arriving through the cobbled streets of Veliko Tărnovo the first site we behold as we check into our accommodation at the Yantra Grand Hotel is Tsarevets Fortress. Tsarevets, the hillside fortress of this medieval capital, spans the horizon, across the river and over the green gorge, laid out before our eyes.… Read the rest

The Palace Downtown

The Palace Downtown

It hasn’t really felt much like Ramadan this year, if anything can remedy this it is Iftar at The Palace Downtown. Actually work restrictions in the office remain, as do equivalent on camera requirements for working from home.… Read the rest

Banksy

Balloon Girl

Banksy. The pseudonymous artist first emerged on the graffiti art scene in Bristol around about 1990. His works gained in popularity through the 1990s and continue to feature striking and humorous images occasionally combined with words or slogans.

Banksy’s art often combines humour with anti-war, anti-capitalist, or anti-establishment messages.… Read the rest

Al Marjan Island

Al Marjan Island

Double Tree by Hilton, Al Marjan Island. We return. After visiting last September and quickly figuring out how to lose time doing very little and yet a lot, we return to Al Marjan Island for some R&R.

Road trip

Setting out on our road trip I have work calls to attend so the screens are permitted in the back of the car.… Read the rest