25 June 2010

Pliska Castle flooded by mud


"Belorussian- English family was first volunteers in flooded archaeological preserve in Bulgaria.
Information. Old city Of Pliska. Bulgaria. Capital of Bulgaria 681-893 A.D. At present - national Historico- archaelogical complex and museum under the open sky. The modern town Of Pliska is located in 3 km. The family, who recently moved to the town just a mile away from the museum learned about the tragedy from the newspaper: “We greatly love the newspaper “Forum”, it has a lot about culture and traditions of Bulgaria”, Katya says, “I don't know Bulgarian very well, however, since this is one of the Slavic languages, much is understandable. And here we see an article about our local castle - after very strong rains the storages, where all historical findings are assembled, there are two meters of mud! And government does not still separate money, waiting for a commission, but aid is necessary to museum now, and it does not have no money and no people. I showed the article to my husband and we decided to go to look if it is possible to help”. Together with them went to aid Rumen Atanasov, Bulgarian. “About the calamity he learned from my new friends Daron and Katya. This will sound commonplace, but I love my country. When i understood that the aid because of the absence of money was necessary, I decided to help even just a little”. Rumen - a tourism operator. To share with people all the beauty and interest of his native land - was his childhood dream, which he now made his job. Katya and Daron Martin (Balders) with their two-year-old daughter and new friend Rumen worked in sticky liquid mud - saving the long-standing labor of archaeologists, which so strongly suffered from the recent cloudbursts. Daron and Rumen worked shoulder to shoulder with the museum workers, they carried mud from storages and washed clean archaelogical findings. “Our hearts was crying when we saw, that in the depository the workers by the shovel load removed mud to the wheelbarrows, then check by hands if there are any valuable pieces, and they roll the wheelbarrows outside, and wash valuable pieces in water. Before the flood everything was tidily sorted in packets and boxes.

Everything now was mixed. Even small findings in small plastic packets are entirely dirty now. It's ok to wash the mud clean, but the archaeologists still have to spend so many months to bring this all into order! ” “Although we have a lot to do at home, we'd rather go and do something out of order and do something good. Furthermore, everyone knows that Bulgaria - a tourist country, it is necessary to take care for its natural and historical values, this will benefit the entire country. We want to invite guests. Here , in Bulgaria a lot of interesting things and the weather is beautiful. ” Two weeks after the flood were not still carried out the tons of slime. Neither state nor community gave means to the correction of situation. However, there was people, who gave their time to help. And unfortunately, writes newspaper Forum, first ones were not Bulgarians. During “voluntary action” during of the week a few students of the secondary school of near town Novi Pazar were caused to clean strolling lanes, local communities sent three people on one day. 4 people were hired for the personal means of the complex. Chief manager of the museum says: “I am very grateful to newspaper Forum for the truthful material, which was published and started the ball rolling for this moral support and real aid from the people. I literally was nearly crying when this family appeared in front of me with the newspaper in the hands and declared, that they do not want pay, they want simply to help”. “We haven't helped much, only two days. But, as Rumen said, if one hundred like us would come, all in the day would be done. However, we in no case no one reproach. We greatly enjoy to live here. People are very friendly and open”. In spite of heavy situation, museum is open for the visitors."

Our story of voluntary help for a Great Castle Pliska and a one great community. We are not heroes, we just wanted to help.

Madara Horseman


Went for a stroll around Madara Horseman today. This is a most amazing place, the Madara Horseman dates back 100's of years and is carved into the rock face.

The rock face itself is a massive imposing piece of beauty.

This is a very popular tourist area in Bulgaria with many places to visit, there is cafe's and restraunts close by also.

You will need to sit and rest after walking the many steps to reach the top of the area.

The view from the top is wonderfull, it looks out to Shumen and you can almost see our home in Pliska.

Anyone wishing to visit the Madara Horseman will be trully amazed by it.

24 June 2010

A New Life in Bulgaria


The move from England was made in November 2009.

We flew to BG, I stayed for 6 days then I flew home to collect 2 cats, Baggie & Cleopatra.

I then drove 3500k's across Europe with my father and the two cats in a Renault Laguna.

We had already purchased the home a few months prior while visiting here on our quest to find a new home.

We decided on starting Self Catering Accommodation for people visiting Bulgaria for holidays.

We have now been here in Pliska, Bulgaria, the first capital of the country for 7 months now and love every day of our new life.

We have made many friends and even changed our business ideas.

We have one friend who operates a company offering Bulgarian Excursions http://www.viastars.eu/ we have made websites for people and online shops.
We are changing our ideas everyday and just want to enjoy our new life here in Bugaria.