We learned more about how to catch a cheap taxi.  Mira told us that the cheap taxis have more writing on the actual sides of the car.  The taxis that try to rip you off have very little or no writing at all.

We took a taxi out to Golden Sands, a resort area with better beaches, with our guide Mira.  The taxi ride took about 20 minutes and only cost 11 BGN.  We walked around for awhile, until it started raining so we ducked into a restaurant.  We had some traditional Bulgarian treats ordered for us by Mira.  After the rain, we went down onto the beach.  Sunbeds were expensive and it was getting late, so we just sat on the sand.  The bugs pestered us pretty wickedly, so we didnt end up staying on the beach long.  Golden Sands is a very touristy, yeah its a word, part of Varna.  So be prepared if you enter.  Many locals sand in the streets giving out pamphlets to the many bars and restaurants.  Warning: if you dont acknowledge the girls working, the get pretty upset.  So a kind, no thank you, goes a long way here.

Mira took us to a restaurant where her brother works along the ocean.  It was called Sardinia.  Another warning: the menus are in Bulgarian only, no English menus.  So we just had Mira order for us and it turned out pretty good.  I was feeling a bit strange, i went home a little early, while the girls went out for some drinks.

Golden Sands in Bulgaria is lively and has many bars and restaurants. We went HB so only ate out a couple of times but the food was good. It is also cheap. There is a casino, bowling alley and plenty of shops. We went bowling and it was very small and a bit dirty but it was still a fun night. You get charged to use the toilets in Bulgaria so make sure you have some change on you.

The Hotel Odessos in Golden Sands is close to the bars, shops, restaurants and the beach. The rooms are small but adequate. They have a small balcony, single beds, telephone, shower, W.C, hairdryer, TV, minibar, safety deposit box and air conditioning. There is an indoor pool, fish-shaped pool, pool bar, sauna, jacuzzi, hairdresser and a gym. The hotel was small but lovely. The activities in the day were very good. I would definitely go back again. The only thing that lets this hotel down is the food and the service we got at meal times, or should I say lack of it! No one came around to ask us if we wanted drinks meaning we had to eat our meals without one and although the food was nice, it was always cold.