Varna

My memories of Varna are, I admit, a bit hazy! We did nothing cultural other than see the cathedral, which was beautiful (although we didn't actually go in). Our original plan was to stay two nights...we were there for a week. It was probably our least cultural week of our entire trip, but we had fun adn thats all that mattered! We stay in Gregory's Backpackers which was great fun. ALthough having spoken to some non-Brits they felt they were a bit outnumbered. On the other hand, I met so many nationalities while I was there, andthey all loved it! The only downside of this hostel was that it was so far out of town. But they offer a great shuttle bus service and were so useful. Their system of credit at the hostel is great, until you come to pay and you realise what a bill you've racked up in a week on take aways, internet, washing and, of course, the bar bill! Yes, they have a bar that was open til 1 I think, although we didn't stay til then - we were already steaming ahead in the centre at one of the many bars along the beach.

I even went to a David Morales gig which cost me 20lv to get i (I was horrified, thats a fortune in Bulgaria - same price as the ticket for our 13-hour train journey with a proper bed from Burgas to Sofia!!) But I had fun - I was with two Australian guys, and we got seriously pissed off with the whistles that people were blowing at full volume. One of them then ended up having a debate with some random Australian who then challenged him to a race in the sea (about 400m) He then gave up half way through, got out and ran round. Which then ended up in a huge row between them. And then they decided they'd have a pool challenge instead. By this time it was about 10am, we were all completely pissed and I was knackered. However, I had to be the ajudicater, whcih I wasn't pleased about, especially as they were all getting so stroppy with each other!

Because we'd only booked two ngihts we had to keep moving around within in the hostel - one room, another room, the tent, the double room. The night of the tent was the night I didn't sleep so I didn't get to make the most of that! But we really did have a fantastic time, and the couple who owned it were wonderful.