//Day 29 /09-04-22 /Varna-Nesebar

Today was probably the best cycling day thus far.

After exiting Varna via busy road and big bridge I cycled most of the day on relatively small road with limited traffic through the hilly coastal hinterland. The price to pay for the beautiful views, cycling through some pine tree forests was that some hills had to be conquered. I climbed 1500 meters divided over 4 hills, with the highest point 470 meter (nothing compared to the climbs I wil do within a few weeks : 1700 M). After every climb I was rewarded with a kilometer long descent. My only remark would be that there was room to improve the road quality. Today it was also perfect cycling weather ; sunny, blue sky a nice 22 degrees. Tomorrow and the day after rain is expected together with a drop of temperature….

The last 10 K I had to leave the hills to descent to the coastal town called Nesebar where I planned to stay for the night. Nesebar has 2 sections ; an old town on a peninsula (in the past it was an island) and the newer part. Both sections are prominent tourist desitinations. The newer part is build full with hotels, resorts and apartments. All closed and boarded up. The small streets of the old town are full with tourist shops, bars, restaurants,….Most them also closed and preparing for the tourist season to start. Although most of the tourist attractions were closed there were quite some tourists walking in the small streets. During summertime the place must be packed and definitely a place I would avoid.Today I could stroll though the the small streets and the views without caring to much bumping into other tourists.

My walk brought me to the little fishing  harbour, again with most shops, bars and restaurants closed. Except a a small fish place  which sold fried Whitebait. The shop was operated by a nice lady who directly understood what I wanted : a cold draft beer and some whitebait….which I consumed watching the moored fishingboats.

I walked back to my hotel. On the way I met some local men playing card in the sun.What else to do if there are no tourists around….

The owner of the hotel told me that dinner options would be limited as it was off-season. During my walk I had asked the few restaurants in operation if they would be open this evening. They were all closing around 18.00, a little bit early to have dinner for my taste. I passed a restaurant called  “Adamo” just around the corner of my hotel (where I am the only guest) and asked if they were open.The  almost toothless man said they were open all year and until late in the evening. Problem solved. My first question this evening is to ask the man if the name of his restaurant has anything to do with the Belgian singer Adamo…Will let you know tomorrow. 

Tomorrow the road will bring me to Sliven, some 120 K direction Sofia. I know that the weather will not be as good as today. But if the views and road are the same as today I will be a happy man, rain or not.

Lessons learned :

• One should not descent to fast on bad road.
• I spend not enough time at the Black Sea but to check out how to avoid the concrete tourist resorts.

Song of the day :  Empire State of mind - Jay-Z and Alicia Keys