Day 70:
We had met at
10 in the morning, but as it was predictable, nobody had woken up at that time.
So was necessary to wait a bit more until all the people were stand up,
including myself (usually the leader of the Lazy…). Continuing with our
SICKLY PLANIFICATION of the trip, we did our bags and bought some food as we
went along. While I was going to take a rented car (a shitty long Renault Clio, in Sara Rent) for the newcomers with Iva
and Miera, Pacas was offering an AMAZING TOUR EXPRESS around Sofia city-centre
(Cathedral, Russian Church, touristic market…) to Moly and Viga. Nearly ready,
we had lunch before depart, and did a BOTCH reparation in the VW Golf motor
(only with my hands, teethes and some rubber...McGyver is a newbie). Yeah, we were finally ready to drive!
ON THE ROAD: FROM SOFIA TO BUCHAREST
Having in
mind that we had booked night in Bucharest, and it was 14.00 on the clock when
we started the cars to move on… ok, we wouldn’t have so many stops that day…
Fortunately, a hot sun was rising above us, and the first kilometers were over
one of the few highway stretches in all the country (from Sofia to Varna). It
relaxed the driving at the beginning, while crossing through Stara Planina
mountains (a loooong range from west Bulgaria to east Bulgaria). There we could
enjoy some nice views and the snow in the road verge. The traffic was quite
heavy, and from time to time, a crazy Bulgarian driver passed us with violence.
Usually, a big black 4x4 BMW or Mercedes. Mafia? Yeahhh...
Once out of the highway, we found the authentic
Bulgarian roads, with its lovely BIG holes. That pavement was much more older
than my car, but anyway, we enjoyed the long west-to-east northern lands crossing.
That is an area that we rarely would have the opportunity to visit again. It
was interesting to see this forgotten Bulgaria, with isolated villages and
industrial cities in the middle of nowhere (Pleven). A bus which was
driving in “beast-mode” entertained us for a while. It passed us like a crazy
devil, and was doing the same with the rest of the cars. Overtaking from the right side
or from the left one, no matter at all!. In a straight or in a curve, who cares?
We tried to follow it as hard as we could, seeing its madness. But some passing
was impossible to replicate… it disappeared in the horizon… crazy fucking bus!! The
newcomers were very surprised after seeing that, but I think it was because they
were exactly that… newcomers!
We arrived
to the city of Ruse at night. Danube river it’s there, marking a big natural
frontier with Romania. We paid 6 € to cross the long bridge, and 3 € in
Romanian taxes. Not so expensive. In Romania the roads surprised us: perfect
pavement, wide, clean and signposted. Why is SO BIG this difference between
Bulgaria and Romania??? Maybe are true all those rumors which say that the
European funds are controlled (or strongly influenced... as you want) by the Mafia in Bulgaria, and they use them to
their own benefit. I can’t know exactly what the reason is, but it’s really
strange.
One hour
later we entered to Bucharest. We simply followed the road until we were in the
middle of the city. Once there, we stopped and asked for the street of our
Hostel: “It’s just there”, said a young man, pointing the other side of the
street. “It’s impossible to be so lucky… there are 2 million people in this
place, it’s impossible…”, I thought. But yes, we had stopped just in front of our Hostel,
less than 100 meters. We, lucky bastards!!
Bucharest at night:
Good morning with Kamenitza! |