Sunday 12th May

Well it's been a long day.  I stayed in the hotel until one thirty and caught the courtesy bus to the airport.  I'd never been to terminal two before and I wasn't sure how it was going to pan out.  There was no way to print out the boarding card on the booking, we were supposed to meet the representative at two and I was there in time and suddenly three checking desks opened and the rest of the travellers came out of their hiding places and I joined a queue, the luggage was weighed and taken and at this point we were issued the boarding card, then through security and on to baggage check and I was ready for boarding only time for a toilet stop.

The flight was good, free water for everybody and when it touched down the applause went up, typical Bulgarian response and also Scandinavian to thing of it.   There was a bit of confusion as to what to do when we got off the plane.  There were three girls with lists and I didn't seem to appear on any of them so it was out with the tour details and I now knew to find Stephan who would tell me which coach number I had to get on and he took care of getting my luggage stowed.  We were on the coach for around an hour and he talked all the way in Bulgarian but so quickly that I got none of it.  I followed the herd when the coach pulled up at a super hotel and again I joined a queue and was wrist tagged and issued my card for a double room.  I made my way to a dining room and was greeted and seated and that's going to be my table for the stay....which I think is two days.

I did take photos of the sun going down over the sea and the journey to the hotel but I can't seem to find image resizer so I have to have a search so you'll have to put up with this tonight....LN....Another day, another coach and other views....LN

Monday 13th May

After a very hectic day but settling down nicely since I am the only English person on the tour.  The guide gives all his continuous commentary in Bulgarian, I pick out some words but he's fast and furious, knows his subject well but his subjects very little.  We did a mountain UNESCO site this morning in Moderno and others in Palermo this afternoon getting back to the bus for five and then back to the hotel.  It was still a beautiful afternoon and the swimming pool was calling me so I responded to the invitation.  I asked at reception for a pool towel and told that there was a twenty two euro deposit and if you don't return it you've paid for it I suppose.  I opted for my coverall and saved my cash.  The lengths were shorter than the width because of steps at both ends suitable for children so I stuck to widths and was at it for about half an hour and felt much better for it.  I've done sixteen thousand steps today according to my Fitbit and so I'm resting on my laurels.  I'm going to apologise in advance, I've taken lots of pictures but the battery on my machine was low and it's now charging.  I thought the computer plug is universal in Europe but no, here is different and you need an adaptor and when I went to Information, the girl knew exactly what the problem was and I have one on loan until tomorrow which is when I check out anyway so I'll be looking to buy one.

Evening meal was a bunfight, huge queues on the self service and a bottle of water was two euro fifty so I reconned I could wait until I was back in the room.  Short and sweet tonight, I'll be reviewing the photos and picking out a select few.  LN....My suitcase is packed and it needs to be by the bus for eight.....I'm off to bed.....LN

Tuesday 14th May

Tonight's is a very swift reply.  Internet is not free, hotel is rubbish, arrived late, food set menu and no pudding.  Shower and bed, we have an early breakfast and departure.  LN....Promise to try harder tomorrow....LN

Wednesday 15th May

I didn't sleep too well last night.  When I went to my room after supper there was something about two inches long, black that started to make its way along the top of the ceiling.  It ceiling was sloping so much to difficult to get to but in the end I wrapped myself up in the sheet feeling rather like an embalmed mummy thinking that at least it couldn't get to me.  I woke up at four and it was still there in the same place so rested my weary head down again and slept through until the alarm woke me but not it and I was out of the room by seven for breakfast with my suitcase leaving it by the bus with others and carrying on to the restaurant.

First stop this morning was Ragusa and  I've realised Sicily is all about old churches and cathedrals with St George being claimed by every one.  It was a dull start to the day but then the weather cheered up the temperature rose and we stayed there until twelve more or less and then on to the next place.  This time Modica and again three fantastic aged mother churches, lots of very rich looking people and not necessarily on our bus.  I bought lunch from a little bistro place, the man slicing the meat and cheese before he loaded it into a bun so that you could say yea or ne...Back to the bus and an early night in the hotel after an hours drive and this time there is a view of the see but unfortunately not from my room.  I have a ground floor with a small private terrace but I think I'll be heading down to the see if only to put my toe in it.  Supper is at eight tonight, I need a shower it's been a sweaty day.  We've covered around eleven kilometers and I've done 14,000 steps unlike yesterday when I did 20,000 partly because I got let loose from the crowd, went AWOL for a while and found my way back.  LN.....I'm thinking I'll need a holiday after this....probably go down to Greece for a few days by the sea......LN  (Photos when I get home, difficult to get things done on my lap sitting on my bed.....)

Thursday 16th May

Slept well except the alarm didn't go off on the phone so tonight I must investigate why not, we have a hotel change tomorrow and must have out luggage at the bus at a most ungodly hour.  This holiday has been a hard slog but tomorrow we are off to see Taormina, a mountain town that I stayed at more years that I care to remember and then off to Mount Etna and just hoping it behaves itself.  Photos have been difficult to control to get them on to the computer.  I don't really trust the access and haven't spent a lot of time on the computer so I promise that I will put lots on when I've resized them so that it doesn't 'sqiff' the rest of the website.

Today has been about more churches, a lovely walk around Syracuse which is very cosmopolitan, markets, calamari street food for lunch and this time I didn't get lost, I have my guardian angel looking after me.  The guide gives instructions at to what time we have to be back at the bus but he doesn't bother to make sure that I understand.  I might have to give feedback, although, I doubt they get many English signing up for Bulgarian holidays.  My bad!!

And now down to supper and then an early night.  Last night I was in bed for half nine, must have been asleep by ten and woke at five so I'd had a good rest.  Not so many steps today on the Fitbit, only just over ten, must try harder tomorrow especially if I'm running from a lava trail.  LN.....Let's hope not and I'll try to do photos later....LN

Friday 17th May

It's been another long day, Mount Etna behaved itself, only a little smoke coming out of the top.  The place was heaving, we walked part of the trail resembling ants on a route march but I didn't do too much of that....too much like hard work.  We moved on to Taormina which is a mountain top village and it was good to go back and see the changes.  I didn't managed to find the boarding house that we were put into last time which must have been about thirty years ago if not more and the hotel where we used to swim had also been knocked down to make for lots of new development.  The shops have all gone high end, lots of speciality  chocolate shops, lots of tourist outlets all selling the same things and we didn't even get to see the arena when some amateur singer gave us a really good rendering of an opera classic.  I know times move on but everything is just so touristy.  

The next thing to overcome was a route march complete with suitcase to the hotel this evening.  Apparently the bus that we had been allocated for the holiday was too big for the road to the hotel but I'm not convinced and  tomorrow we'll have to find the bus for the last day of our travels.  We also have the final day's checkout, and we might again be wheeling our wares through the highways and byways. It's turning into quite an adventure trying to avoid the Italian traffic.

Again no pictures but I'll go through them on Monday  and Tuesday and publish the best.  LN.......I might even find time when I'm waiting for the plane....LN

Saturday 18th May

Tomorrow we are going to the airport so last night in an hotel.  I'm looking forward to going home, just one night in Sofia and then a steady drive home.  I thought that we were going straight to the airport tomorrow but it appears that we are going to have a conducted tour of Catania before going to check in.

I'm back in the hotel and have fiddled around with getting my camera to connect and managed to find a few photos to add to tonight's efforts.  I need to study them to locate them properly but thought I'd give you a taster.....there are lots to choose from and when the battery on the camera ran out I used the phone so even more to try and recover.  

So here goes....I've got to get ready for supper, it's not a choice, it's 'presented' but breakfast this morning was good with lots of choice and boy do the Bulgarians put it away....Anyway....LN.....I'll be home soon.....LN

Just a few more from today, Messina and mountain village

Messina was really interesting with a fantastic cathedral and towered automated clock and I even photo-ed the script to go with it.  Not really much else to see, three cruise ships docked into the crescent shaped harbour so there were lots of people around all speaking different languages but pleased to say that English was more understood than most.  Unfortunately I'm in the habit of chipping in with Bulgarian so had to hold myself in check...The mountain village that we visited afterwards is home to the film 'The Godfather' and most of the souvenirs from there have Marlon Brando's face on them and there is a tribute to Francis Coppola, the guide guiding the filming.  As I said, just a few more...  

Sunday 19th May

Slept well but woke up early.  I'd got packing to finish and just a few things to sort out.  I was down for breakfast at eight, managed to get everything that I wanted before it all went and even stole an orange to take with me for mid morning.

The tour guide plan got into disarray.  The luggage had to be in reception by ten, we were supposed to have the luggage transferred to the bus by the hotel but the bus couldn't leave because he'd run out of tachograph time and it rather threw a spanner in the works.  Several new plans were hatched, one was almost dispatch but there was no trains running since it was Sunday it was shelved.  The second was to transfer the luggage to the bus but it wouldn't leave for the airport until two meaning that we had four hours to kill.  We were opposite the beach except swimwear was already on the bus by the time this plan came to light so we just hung around in the resort, walked the town and were very relieved when it was time to head to the airport.  The gate opened not long after we arrived, baggage drop was swift,security was very efficient,plane loaded quickly, very turbulent when we started and I'm sure we had a tail wind, there wasn't even time to drinks run, only perfume purchases before we touched down.  The luggage was slow to come through and by the end of the holiday more people were trying out their English and I was joking in Bulgarian.  I've swapped phone numbers with several of the guest and have been invited to meet one if them in Zlatograd next week end.

I got stung with the taxi fare from the airport to the hotel.  I phoned the number I had for the shuttle but no response so did the other.  I've now got new instructions to contact the driver via WhatsApp, he works twenty four seven.  So supper over, time to get my head down to prepare myself for the drive down to home tomorrow.  LN...It's been a full on week,  I'm tired and happy and would use this company again.....LN