Plovdiv is the second largest city in the country, the bus stopped outside the metropolis and off we jolly well set.
We were informed that a lot of the day would be spent walking on ancient cobblestone streets.
So heeding that advice I left my slingback stilettos in the hotel and donned sensible walking trainers. I am glad I did.
Considering the city was built on a plain surrounded by mountains, there were an awful lot of fucking steep streets!
"So come my friends we go left here, to see some interesting museums about the areas history" said our leader.
"Really?" said my lens. "Seriously? I think you should go right and experience the moment"
I always follow the lens, well not always, sometimes I follow the voices in my head.
So fellow Hivians, if you want to turn left may i suggest you close this post now
I went right, hope you will join me.
So agreeing to be back at the meeting place in a three hours time off I went, no doubt to later hear about " lovely stone head, blah blah blah some of the broken pottery was lovely, blah blah blue, Thracian ornaments, regional costumes blah blah zzzzzzzzzzzzz".
I am glad we are all different. Otherwise there would be vast hordes of unwanteds cluttering up my snaps.
Oh! and I love vegans too, as long as these fussy eaters are about it just means there is more meat for me to eat.
I digress. We are heading for Kapana, the old town, the beating heart of culture and art. (most of the snaps will later be found in the wonderful #streetart community)
There were a few abandoned properties here and there. Weirdly all securely locked up, and I was dressed to smartly to be chancing ripping the arse out of my shorts or Tee shirt.
Stuck the lens through a normally easily climbable window. Bollocks!
You know, if they posted these dead people posters up on doors in the UK every day tripping umbexer would be kicking them in or smashing windows to get in to get their goontube content.
Guess this mobile phone shop has been shut awhile.
Quaint little back streets, quiet, very few tourists about, locals at work, pre lunchtime lull.
"My life is brilliant
My love is pure
I saw an angel
Of that I'm sure"
"Yes, she caught my eye
As we walked on by
She could see from my face that I was
Fucking high
And I don't think that I'll see her again
But we shared a moment that will last 'til the end"
(James Blunt)
and you can fuck off as well!
So leaving the old town behind my wander took me to the more brutalist architecture of the "modern town"
The buildings took on that stern, functional, and solid communist style and architecture.
A rather grand and imposing central post office, which also includes several non post office enterprises.
The former headquarters of the Communist party, in use since the late 60's. Near the entrance a mosaic from the same period.
The Military Club, rebuilt in 1928, In the thirties and forties, the venue for grand balls concerts and performances for the elite. Still in use today, but now the plebs are also allowed in.
The story behind this monument. A Bulgarian soldier Gyuro Mihaylov, he died in a fire during an Ottoman attack, because he refused to leave his post after the soldier who was supposed to relieve him never arrived.
Tsar Simeon’s Garden, a sleepy little park just across from the post office, worth a mooch enjoy the locals, people watch.
Invade their space, snap away like a pap.
When worlds collide , ancient, modern and dead
No, I am not feeling it, no songs for or about you. Besides the bus awaits, I am slobbering at the chops to hear all about museums and shit.