Welcome to Bulgaria ! Another day, another country and another early start……we are both a bit tired today, so Hazel has decided to stay onboard whilst I set out to see Belogradchik Rocks and Fortress. Leaving our port at Vidin we traversed some plains before heading up to the Balken foothills.There are a lot of derelict buildings left over from the communist era, but plenty of wildflowers along the roadside.

As we wind our way up the hills we get the first glimpse of our destination. It’s like the limestone Kast country, but red due to iron oxide.

The town is spread on the lower slopes, with unusual rock formations towering over them.

It looks a bit of a scramble up, H did well to stay onboard.

Halfway up we pass thru a doorway. Not much of the original fortress remains, so we have to use our imagination, especially with all the animals our guide “sees” in the rock shapes.

Upwards, our guide wants to be the first up top !

The last bit is a real scramble, but the views are worth it.

Going down is as challenging as climbing up, just fewer calories

Then it’s back on the coach to the boat via the Epigraphic Center which has a display of mainly Roman objects and gravestones on display. There are over 300 Roman sites in the area.

Tomorrow we have a full day tour organised and will have to pack in the evening. The next day we will leave the ship, do a day tour and then be dropped off at our hotel in Bucharest. Apologies if the blog gets a bit delayed…..at the latest it will start again onboard Prime Thyme and the River Wey in the UK. Meanwhile a game of Piggy Ear continues in Tasmania between “Mini” Cooper and “Cyclone” Rosie