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Elsa Peters living a new life in Bulgaria    General Boards    My Diary by Elsa Peters  ›  SEPTEMBER, 2010
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Elsa Peters
September 10, 2010, 8:37pm Report to Moderator

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Friday,  10th September

I am back from beyond.    Tomorrow I will load pickies of the wonderful caves I have explored...tonight I have the complication of cameras etc...LN.. I am Ok and apoligise for the delay......
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Elsa Peters
September 11, 2010, 6:15pm Report to Moderator

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Saturday 11th September

So on Thursday we set off heading for the two famous cave sites roughly about 200km from home.  We set off at about 12ish and headed past the thermal springs of Djebel and off to Ardino taking the scenic route over the mountains...it's a road I've travelled before but I have never driven.  So off we went.  We firstly had a discussion as to whether I needed new tyres of not (well not me, the Beast) but it was a holiday so I thought that there wouldn't be many police out on the road and I was right.  Now local roads seem to want to keep the police employed so they are out in mass....I only saw one police car in the whole of our travels.

Through Ardino and stopped for lunch in Banite which is a spa town but the outside swimming pool with water slide is now empty despite the hot weather...season over for another year by the looks of things.  So next stop was Pamporovo and for a ski resort as with all of them, they look better with snow than without it.  The snow gives the hotels the fairy-tale appeal.  Next on to Shiroka Luka where Bulgarian houses have been renovated and look very picture postcard and it very much felt as though the holiday season had closed down...hotels closed, churches closed so nothing to keep us there.  Did spot the stone man on the street with his bagpipes (picture below) and lots of pretty bridges and stone houses with stone rooves and so we left.  Moving on to the next village the heavens opened and a thunder and lightening storm with huge hailstones helped us on our way.  Thank goodness for the Beast and not Beauty....I think we should have needed a periskope to have got there in the little one.  Bulgarian roads don't have drains on the sides of the road and rely on nature and unfortunately nature can be a little slow off the mark.  

Eventually after much deliberation and finding more hotels that were not open for business so stumbled on the one in the pickie.  We were given a room, very comfortable with shower and the only thing missing was a hard hat since the loo was built into the eaves.  No permanent damage done and so after a few beers and a not too substantial snack since we had eaten well at lunchtime, we hit the sack ready to go caving on Friday....and now this is going under a separate post.  It has started to thunder here so I might be saying LN and will continue tomorrow....



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Elsa Peters
September 11, 2010, 6:43pm Report to Moderator

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Saturday continued

Breakfast was a cold platter with a boiled egg and the food and drink for the evening before came to the princely sum of 35 leva approx, the room was 40 leva so the whole thing worked out to about £35.  Very reasonable,  very clean, very modern with a nice dapper man as mine host.  There were several Bulgarian families staying having come from the Black Sea for somewhere quiet.  

So we set off after breakfast and managed to get on the first tour of the day.  Entrance fee three leva each and we learnt later from the second guide in the next lot of caves that this was a vertical cave and the second one a horizontal cave.  Now me not being a cavologist I was expecting stalagtites and stalagmites in the first one and not one was to be seen but as the second guide explained, you only get them in the horizontal caves so you live and learn.  I could have gone to my grave never knowing that

Started to really thunder...will finish tomorrow...LN



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Elsa Peters
September 12, 2010, 5:35pm Report to Moderator

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Sunday 12th September

I seem to have got behind with daily postings but just to finish off last night.  We went through the caves but n the second one we were told strictly ' No photos' but we managed to knock off a few as seen below.

Our journey home was via Smolian and Zlatograd (another reconstructed town) and we arrived home at about 8.00 but driving that far really knocked me out.  In the UK I could go for miles without feeeling tired but the roads here leave a lot to be desired or have I mentioned that before.....!!!!

Today has been a bit of a cold one again but I'm assured it will be sunny tomorrow and I hope so or the petchka goes at full blast.  The cows managed to get in again so it was fence building time this afternoon just to keep the little buggars out.  I went to my 'ladies circle' at my restaurant this morning and came away with a bag of tomatoes and very welcome they were too since the cows had eaten mine.  Poor D of Samodiva's garden was stripped bare by the mayor's cow so he wasn't too pleased about that chasing the little beauty down the street and protesting loudly to the mayor.

Cooked a lovely supper tonight with Dom's onions, Sika's onions, my chilli peppers, local sausages and lots of fresh crusty bread washed down with the local brew.  Finished off with bananas, grapes, honey and natural yoghurt and what could be nicer.  Anyway, back to the beer and a few of the other caves just to keep you happy...

LN...off to sorce the tiles for the bathroom tomorrow and the bath should be coming this week....bliss....



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Elsa Peters
September 14, 2010, 1:47pm Report to Moderator

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Monday 13th September

The men were right....beautiful sunrise and got hotter as the day went on.

Went to Kardjali, forgot to pay my internet bill but am still connected so that must be done tomorrow.  Got fruit from the market and bought my picture for the kitchen and managed to get through that it didn't need wrapping which the lady was very worried about.  It now sits in the kitchen on the table and is waiting for one of my men to get a suitable fixng into the stone wall.....

Completed the main reason for going....I ordered the tiles for the bathroom walls and found some really rather super ones for the bathroom floor.  This isn't going to be a wetroom like the downstairs shower room so I have had very big ones that the sales person was rather worried about so he phoned Bekir just to make sure that it wasn't a problem.....everything arrives on Wednesday.....bath, panels, tiles and tile cement....

Super was a chicken, mushroom thing....very tasty with.....chippies from the potatoes from the market....lovely flavour and cooked to perfection....washed down with a little red from a new wine box...not sure if they are a good idea or not or if limited to a bottle you drink more or less....I'll have to do the maths.
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Elsa Peters
September 14, 2010, 2:07pm Report to Moderator

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Tuesday 14th September

Woke at 7.00 to the pitter patter of tiny hooves (sheep) on the dry earth.  The cold and rain of Saturday and Sunday has done nothing to water the ground and I am still watering.  I have some replacement tomatoes started but I have the feeling that they will never be big enough or ripe enough to make a meal out of.

I had an owl sitting under the hat on my chimney this morning....didn't manage to take a photo but looking at it through the binoculars it had vivid green eyes and was fluffled up.  As the morning warmed up he flew somewhere so I'm wondering if he has taken to being in there during the night.  It has a very screachy call but if it manages to keep the mice away, it's cheaper than a cat and I don't have to change a litter tray.

Did the house through today and felt better for it.  It's marvellous what you can achieve with a broom and a mop.  Polished my kitchen window sill with my beeswax and really must make some more....I'm running out and you can't get it here.

We ran out of nails again so off I went for another two kilograms....what a way to buy them.  The smell of the anti-insect stuff that they paint on to the wood is all over the house.  The room timbers have all been treated and they are now nailing down the ceiling/loft flooring and boy does it look good.....only the bathroom to go now and three doors to make....

As for me....I am waiting for Pepe to arrive with her daughters.  She was coming to see the house today for the first time but it looks like it's not going to happen....well, tomorrow is another day.  My visitor is attacking the garden with a pickaxe and removing tree roots....well he does get fed and watered....well.....as for me....suppose I better go and get some glasses for the men....they have a bottle of beer getting warm.

Supper in the slow cooker....sweet and sour pork already bubbling so that it will be ready for when I return from taking the men home.....

LN....posted early....
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Elsa Peters
September 15, 2010, 8:37pm Report to Moderator

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Wednesday 15th September

So my bath and all the extras didn't arrive today as promised but this is Bulgaria....but will arrive tomorrow or so I am told.....

My Beauty has a slow leak in the front near side that was spotted tonight and drew a strange mixture to fix it.  The village mayor decided that he had just the tool for the job and I told him that the cigarette lighter that he intended plugging it into didn't work so he decided to bring his car up against mine and in went the air to the tyre.  What a crowd we drew...my stara mush, the mayor, the sheep farmer, the young village 'lad', my builders, the world and all his friends were there to confirm that my cigarette lighter didn't work.  I subsequently went into the garage to rescusitate my spare that had definately seen better days only to be told that I needed a new one so they are getting me one for tomorrow.  Unfortunately I left my phone at home and my builders were calling and decided not to answer themselves as my phone rang in the kitchen....eventually I got them home, Beauty is in the garage tomorrow and so is the Beast for a tyre swap and tracking....so let's see how much that will cost me...

My owl is still resident in my chimney....I went to take a pickie today but realised that my card was full and by the time that I'd sorted it....the bird had flown....tomorrow I shall be there with camera at the ready.....

LN....I am tired tonight so off I go....sleep tight peeps....
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Elsa Peters
September 16, 2010, 6:56pm Report to Moderator

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Thursday 16th September

Beautiful morning, beautiful start, men on time and ready for action.  Sally decided to paint the upstairs bedroom and so I stripped out the lounge and asked him if he would do it afterwards which he did.  Poor Bekir has had a hell of a job with trying to connect up a two way light switch that came with no instructions and for which the cabling hadn't been installed.

My bath came this afternoon minus that bath panel and several of the boxes of tiles damaged so not a good time for the delivery man.  He now owes me two boxes and a few spares and that is going to be sorted on Saturday.  I do love the new tiles though.  The wall tiles are plain white with a basket weave pattern on them and the floor tiles are a lovely mixture of grey and white with a hint of pale lemon in them to match the upper landing tiles.  Good choice.

Supper of chilli sausages with pasta with fresh fruit and yoghurt to follow...wash up and then washed it down with local beer.  

My owl is still nesting/ resting in the chimney and tomorrow I might even get a picture of him.  Unfortunately I haven't got a good enough zoom but with binocs he really is a cutie....

Night for now....all's cool in my little corner of the planet....LN.
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Elsa Peters
September 17, 2010, 8:01pm Report to Moderator

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Friday 17th September

So I have had advanced warnings that my signal strength is 'very poor' so I refuse to go through the agony.  Men have had a very good day, whitening walls and inserting door frames while I have had a day of getting the Beast retracked and a spare for Beauty so that I at least feel that I should be on the road with both.  I also stripped both beds and aired mattresses.  It was such a beautiful day at a steady 27 degrees.

Angela comes out on Monday, my guest goes back on Monday and it's swap over time with me feeling like one of those reps that meet you on package tours.  Should I stand there with a sign...maybe.  When I picked up Mikey B there was a lady with a sign that read   'Walking women' and when they emerged from the arrivals most of them had on brogues, had very short haircuts and carried rucksacks.  The 'walking men' had long flowing locks, beer guts and glassy eyes from the flight.  Bet the walking women didn't meet up with the walking men. I'll look out for them on monday.

Went to the Pizza restaurant in Djebel tonight and ended up with Veal liver lightly fried with port grilled sticks, tomato and onion salad and cheesy chips. Beer and fanta orange and total bill, 21leva....not bad at all.  Called into my little shop by my restaurant tonight and they commented on the fact that I had bothered to get dressed up in BG.  Black slinky jeans with studs down the side and a flowing black top down to the knees.  New handbag from the pound shop and did I feel good...bet your sweet life I did.  Bought eggs for breakfast and a bottle of wine that is now empty and bin bound....and I'm now signing off and hoping for the best...LN with fingers crossed.
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Elsa Peters
September 18, 2010, 7:36pm Report to Moderator

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Saturday 18th September

So who got it right today....three men working while I gave myself a ....pedicure.  Removed old nail varnish, got a bowl of shower gell and hot water and sat in the sun to read a book with toes suitably sunk.  Got the scissors and cocktail sticks out, did the business and then repainted with a subtle shade of coral.  It was about 30 degrees today and even the wind was warm when it got up this afternoon and I have added another layer to the suntan.

Unfortunately the quiet spell didn't last for long...Sally had been wielding his long handle brush covered in limewash so I ended up removing the excess from the floor tiles, sweeping through and finishing it off with the mop.  Yet to be tiled upstairs and then only the bathroom to do...everything just seems to be so quick.

My guest goes home tomorrow, well to the airport ready for a Monday lunchtime flight and I am making my first trip in the Beast to Sofia and then on to meet the monday flight when Angela comes out....one out /one in saves on fuel.  

Supper of pork with onions and mushrooms in a pepper cream sauce with pasta followed by pineapple and natural yoghurt.  It's a tough old life but someones gotta live it.

LN...I am knacked despite the easy start to the day....busy day tomorrow...LN
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