Author: veggiegirlmarlow
-
Bulgaria- Roses and Trains 2025
Day 5 – Plovdiv It was noisy last night but we managed to get through it with ear plugs and the white noise machine. When we asked reception if there was going to be a party tonight they said two! A wedding and a prom. Here’s a tip for you – don’t come to Bulgaria…
-
Bulgaria- Roses and Trains 2025
Day 4 – Stara Zagora wanderings /Plovdiv This morning we decided to walk around SZ to see the main sights before we headed off to Plovdiv. As today and Monday is a national holiday to celebrate the invention of the Slavic alphabet (invented by Cyril) we expected to see lots of people around. On our…
-
Bulgaria – Roses and Trains 2025
Day 3. Buzludzha monument walk No time for a vibrating machine workout today. A hike in the Bulgarian mountains beckoned and we wanted to start early to avoid the afternoon rain that often bubbles up in these parts. Sandwiches were made, rucksacks packed and it was back to Shipka. This time we took the long…
-
Bulgaria- Roses and Trains 2025
Day 2 – Rose Valley Today we were on the hunt for the famous Bulgarian roses. They are grown in the valley between Stara Zagora and Kazanlak and in the past have been a huge source of income due to the price of the rose oil made from them. It’s around now that they bloom…
-
Bulgaria – Roses and Trains 2025
Day 1 – Stara Zagora Another week in Bulgaria beckons. This time to explore a couple of things that caught our eye last time we visited, namely Rose Valley and a train journey into the mountains. Due to a very busy week, my packing resembles a teenager’s cocktail made from the contents of his…
-
Australia and Vietnam Revisited 2025 – postscript
Oma passed away today. It was a privilege being part of Oma’s 100th birthday celebrations with all her family in Adelaide. Oma, you inspired so much love and caring during your life. Time for a rest now. ❤️
-
Australia and Vietnam Revisited 2025 -cat Ba/Hanoi
We spent our last full day in Cat Ba making use of the hotel facilities and wandering about in a leisurely manner. A welcome relief before hitting the chaos that is Hanoi. Should you decide to visit Cat Ba at this time of year I would definitely recommend the Flamingo. Go for a sea front…
-
Australia and Vietnam Revisited 2025 -cat Ba/night kayaking
I have discovered that Vietnam does indeed produce its own wine. It started in French colonial times but had a boost when Australian wine companies got involved in the early 2000’s. Most grapes are grown between the Central Highlands and the coastal areas of Central Vietnam. So now we know. And it’s perfectly quaffable. Today…
-
Australia and Vietnam Revisited 2025 -cat Ba/Lan Ha boat trip
Yesterday we pottered around, getting trips sorted, drinking coffee in the sunshine (we had a couple of hours of sunshine – hurrah!), using the onsen and generally relaxing. Today was the day of our cruise around Lan Ha bay. Lan Ha bay has now become a Unesco site alongside its more popular sister, Halong Bay.…
-
Australia and Vietnam Revisited 2025 -Cat Ba
Our drive from Ninh Binh to Hai Phong (where we caught the ferry) confirmed my views that this part of Vietnam is a fairly unattractive part of the world. I know it was cloudy and wet and that doesn’t help matters at all, but the views were either row upon row of concrete service buildings,…
Middle-aged flash packers 