Today was a very long day (in fact I'm writing this the following day as I was too exhausted to do it last night). Our boat is still docked at Rousse and after breakfast, both Terry and I got on the bus to Varna on the Black Sea. Terry wasn't feeling too much better but wasn't going to miss another day of sightseeing. It was about a three hour drive (with comfort stop) to Varna which is very popular with overseas tourists, especially from Britain. We first visited the Varna Archeological Museum which has some beautiful exhibits dating back to the beginning of civilisation in Europe.
It is really beautiful here on the Black Sea, but because it has no surf, held little interest for Terry. We had lunch in the Baba Vida restaurant which is a stationery “old sail boat”, with lovely atmosphere. Most of the men were more interested (not Terry) in the topless and naked women (and some men) sunbaking on the beach. Terry and I went for a walk along the pier and on the way back I went down to the water, just so I could say I'd put my hand in the Black Sea and a small wave washed over my feet. Never mind. I fared better than another lady from our group (in her 80s) who fell right in and had to find a change of clothes.
We then boarded a boat which took us for an hour cruise out from Varna and back again to see the city and surrounds from the water. It was very pleasant and nice to have the sea breeze on this hot day.
Our bus then took us to see the Romanian Queen Maria's park which was designed and arranged between 1924 and 1936. This was a very “touristy” place and we had to run a gauntlet of tacky souvenir shops before the entrance to the park. We were hot and we had to wait for ages to get into the toilet (as usual), so we were a little fed up by this time. It was then a two hour bus ride back to the boat which had during the day moved on to Silistra.
When we arrived back, about 7.00 pm, the pier and boat entrance were highly decorated with balloons. We had dinner, and then learned the reason for the festive mood. The pontoon at which we were docked was being blessed by an Orthodox priest after being recently constructed by the owner of the hotel in front of which it stood. It was a very big occasion, with media there to cover it. The blessing ceremony was wonderful to see. The old priest dressed in all his regalia was quite a spectacle. Then there was Bulgarian folk dancing by some children accompanied by a small folk band. They had more singing and the best was someone unknown to us but who sounded exactly like Frank Sinatra. The evening was capped off with some spectacular fireworks over our boat. So we were very lucky to be here for this occasion – but it was a very long day!!
It is really beautiful here on the Black Sea, but because it has no surf, held little interest for Terry. We had lunch in the Baba Vida restaurant which is a stationery “old sail boat”, with lovely atmosphere. Most of the men were more interested (not Terry) in the topless and naked women (and some men) sunbaking on the beach. Terry and I went for a walk along the pier and on the way back I went down to the water, just so I could say I'd put my hand in the Black Sea and a small wave washed over my feet. Never mind. I fared better than another lady from our group (in her 80s) who fell right in and had to find a change of clothes.
We then boarded a boat which took us for an hour cruise out from Varna and back again to see the city and surrounds from the water. It was very pleasant and nice to have the sea breeze on this hot day.
Our bus then took us to see the Romanian Queen Maria's park which was designed and arranged between 1924 and 1936. This was a very “touristy” place and we had to run a gauntlet of tacky souvenir shops before the entrance to the park. We were hot and we had to wait for ages to get into the toilet (as usual), so we were a little fed up by this time. It was then a two hour bus ride back to the boat which had during the day moved on to Silistra.
When we arrived back, about 7.00 pm, the pier and boat entrance were highly decorated with balloons. We had dinner, and then learned the reason for the festive mood. The pontoon at which we were docked was being blessed by an Orthodox priest after being recently constructed by the owner of the hotel in front of which it stood. It was a very big occasion, with media there to cover it. The blessing ceremony was wonderful to see. The old priest dressed in all his regalia was quite a spectacle. Then there was Bulgarian folk dancing by some children accompanied by a small folk band. They had more singing and the best was someone unknown to us but who sounded exactly like Frank Sinatra. The evening was capped off with some spectacular fireworks over our boat. So we were very lucky to be here for this occasion – but it was a very long day!!
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