Varna to Vratsa - with photographs

In order to give a flavour of the driving conditions and the beautiful Bulgarian countryside I will throw in a few photographs which may not always be in order of the progression to our destination. After leaving the new motorway and the city of Shoumen behind us we headed out on the E772 towards Bresnitsa where a detour through Pleven was planned. Great driving on decent roads with little traffic allowed us to make good progress; quite a change after driving in the UK.

Still to be seen on the roads of Bulgaria, from time to time, is the pony and cart. Unfortunately, by joining the European Community, Bulgaria will be rapidly pulled into the 21st century and such sights will rapidly disappear. Similarly, how much longer, will we see shepards minding their sheep. I have spoken to British friends who have made Bulgaria their home and they relate how, in the villages that they have chosen to live in, the village animals early in the morning, leave the various houses and as one, make their way to the grazing areas, outside the village. As the sun sets they make there way back to the village and make there way back to there respective homes; a menagerie of donkeys, goats, sheep and chickens. We passed many picturebook villages along the way and it is no wonder to me that so many people have lost their hearts to beautiful Bulgaria.
Join me in the next post and we will travel together towards Vratsa.