Memorial in Plovdiv to the Cossacks who evicted the ottomans from Bulgaria 5th Aug

Street statue, Plovdiv 5th Aug

... and another 

The main drag Plovdiv. Work was under way way to make this a pleasant pedestrianised area, 5th Aug

.and a very pleasant park close to the centre, 5th Aug

Street scene, Plovdiv 6th Aug

and another, 6th Aug

One of several "house museums", worth a visit, Plovdiv 6th Aug

A Plovdiv pussy

From the Plovdiv fort there is a good view of a rising River Maritsa Aug 6th

.. there were lots of cats!

Roman amphitheatre, still used for performances Aug 6th

..find a good knee and she's got to sit on it! Aug 6th

Wedding parties turned up at this spot outside the registry office every 15 minutes, all accompanied by a motorcade with blaring horns.

I took the photo of the bridesmaid, and this other girl appeared in it! Aug 6th

Then it rained! This caught everyone by surprise. I haven't seen so many wet tee shirts! Aug 6th

Statue by the river

... and the river Maritsa, close to overflowing in Plovdiv Aug 6th

...which it actually did 4 Km up river, where we were camping. You can just see Tilly waist deep in murky water Aug 6th

The best view of Leipzig Hotel, Plovdiv, Aug 7th

meanwhile, the council had just watered these flowers Aug 9th

Flower seller, Plovdiv Aug 9th. We bought the same flower from her every day

Still too deep to reach, but getting closer

Nearly there, but the water still came over my wellies

monastery at Bachkovo Aug 10th

monastery at Bachkovo Aug 10th

Tilly leaves Camping 4 Kilometre, Aug 10th

Hotel Avion, Plovdiv - an excellent little hotel. Holiday Inn, come and see how it should be done! We had the round windows at the top, but the floods had put the lift out of order.

and our suite (part of) only 55 Euros a night (discounted because they took pity on us)

Cafe Rose - attached to Hotel Avion. The food here was brilliant

Our documents drying, after we eventually got back in to Tilly

One of the very friendly Avion staff. I gave him the last of my English ale before we flew to Vienna.

minaret - we were shown round th mosque by a very friendly imam 

Another rugged statue near Plovdiv!

Cathedral in Sofia, not far from our hotel. There are 8 Kg of gold leaf on the roof (so we are told)

Returning to Sofia again, this time in a low loader, with Tilly on the back. We must deposit her with Customs at Sofia airport before we are allowed out of the country. And these people think they are joining the EU in 18 months! The officials still have a Soviet mentality, but the people are way ahead of them culturally.