Good morning and look it's another beautiful day
And today we are leaving Plovdiv sadly we've had great fun here there has been so much
going on so much more to see but we have to move on
we are going to visit Shipka
so alright let's pack up the car and go and see some more
Bulgarian country
I parked a little close to the wall on the other side so
I am going to have to climb
in via this side
I've arrived in Shipka. Sleepy little village.
Let's go have a look.
Shipka Hotel
Good news
I can get in
Looks very nice, look at that
A little restaurant through here
wow it's beautiful
and peacefully quiet, all I've got to do is find somebody now.
reception is a little quiet
ah, here comes somebody
good afternoon
my name is Simon I have a
reservation for tonight
single room?
yes
yeah, ok.
now let's go and have a look at my room for the night
nice sleepy quiet little hotel.
apparently there is a nice veranda outside and this is my room
okay it's got a ceiling fan, two twin beds
here's the bathroom
wash hand basin, toilet and a shower hiding in there
towels on the bed
foam mattress
and, oh beautiful view big veranda to go and sit on as well lovely
view over the hills, that's nice
oh and there is a TV
there we go so here's
our little room for the night in Shipka which I believe cost 19 euros
I don't think that includes breakfast
this will do us nicely for tonight
while we have a little look around Shipka.
Now as you approach Shipka or drive
around you'll see tucked against the mountains is gleaming golden domes
now that is a Russian style church that was built as a thank you
for something.
I can't remember what. Anyway
Wow look at that
he said sitting in the car hiding from the wind and the rain
came to the top of the hill this is about 30 minute drive from Shipka
village up a twisty twiney road I don't think there's any form of public
transport up here so you can either hire a taxi driver in the town if you can
find one maybe your hotel could arrange one because there's not much happening
in Shipka, but anyway up the top is this amazing soviet-era conference center
it's all been sitting and decaying for years now it must have been quite
amazing when it was opened when it was first when it was first built but now
it's sitting decaying it's it's one of these many things that you'll find in
Bulgaria that is a reminder of both the Soviet era when it was part of the
Eastern Bloc and of its socialist past and it's always good to remember our
history but we don't always like our history which is why the victor always
changes the history to suit his or her story but anyway this is close to Shipka
I've got a car so I can drive up here it's quite amazing to come up have a
look around there's fantastic views all around as well they're building wind
farms over there because it is really windy up here just to give you an idea
in Shipka it was 28 degrees when I came up here was only 17 degrees so I'm in
shorts and t-shirt and there was it was a bit cool and breezy out there but and
it rained so I was hanging around hoping that it would clear for the evening but
I all I can see is more more rain coming in the hills around here are stunningly
beautiful but rapidly disappearing in gray sways of rain and cloud so I'm
gonna head out soon I have got some shots of this I hope they'll be ok and give
you an idea can't get inside you're not allowed inside primarily
because it's too dangerous the thing is falling apart
maybe there'll be plans in the future to restore and make it a tourist attraction
as a positive reminder of the past that Bulgaria has suffered through and come
through and come out better the other side that will be a good spin on it that
and I hope they do because it is quite an amazing edifice and it's in the
beautiful location I mean if they put a visitor center in there and you imagine
the views from up there and the shelter from the wind but how much money would
cost on whether it'd be worth it I don't know for the future maybe because Bulgaria is
really striving to open itself up to tourism and it really does have a lot to
offer. It's history, not just Soviet history I mean I've just come from
Plovdiv which is one of the oldest places in all of Europe I mean it has
amazing history the mountains and the scenery are also beautiful there's some
beautiful hiking trails around here when it's not raining the old churches the
food is great as well and the people are fantastic and it's not very touristy-fide
at the moment you know it's got ly it's got that nice wanting to develop
they're developing nicely they're not developing wildly there's a few tours
here and there I mean like I'm sitting up here I know it's raining but I am the
only person here and a few of the places I've been to I went to the church
earlier the Russian style church here and when I first arrived when I walked up
to it I was the only person there and there's not many foreign tourists at the moment it's
school holidays in Bulgaria so there's quite a few Bulgarians travelling around which
is lovely to see and they're all so very helpful and respectful a lot of times
I'm wondering and looking confused not understanding the the alphabet and words
and there's always someone come to help and even though they struggle with their
English they try their best so I would encourage you if you're thinking up to
Bulgaria give it a go it's a little bit of an adventure but it's not difficult
and I can see light on the horizon over there and I can see a little bit less
huge rain cliff move across that way right behind there but no pictures of it
in the sunlight, and I've got to go and get my supper too.