Bulgarian restraunt

My mum and step-father came on 16th to stay with us for one week.
It was my step-fathers birthday on the 18th and we was going to eat out, but where do we go.
There are loads of traditional Bulgarian restraunts near us and all looking beautifull.
Traditional decoration, good food and excellent servive. We needed to choose.
We did and we decided upon "Karatchka" quite close to use located just outside Kaspichan.
We have eaten there before and the food service and staff are superb.
Katya and I invited our friends Stanimir & Vesselina, a Bulgaria couple and good friends of ours who own the karting track in Shumen http://www.karting-shumen.com/ to join us.
They hadn't eaten here before but had heard of its good reputation.
John who is now 72 years old really enjoyed himself, eating Bulgarian food, having "Happy Birthday" sung to him by the owner Stefan & dancing with a Bulgarian singer who came to sing to him.
What a good night out and a very nice place to go. Totally reccomended to anyone who is near to Pliska.

There is entertainment there most evenings, a group of girls came for and was enjoying dancing to Bulgarian music in the traditional way. Even Vesselina, Katya and my mum joined in. Milana my daughter was also having a go at the dancing...     

Good dancing all, Hope ya have many more John...

Wine and spirit Oak cask making

Making Oak casks for maturing fine wines & spirits is a very specialised process, today I was one of those making them.

This is making the rings tight while the fire is burning inside allowing for the Oak to become softer for shaping.

Casks here in Bulgaria are made from very old traditional methods used by professional coopers for centuries.

At "White Oak" in Bulgaria the professional coopers have been making casks, and other items over 3 generations.

This was a very interesting adventure in how this process is done & I can tell you as an Aerospace engineer that it was fascinating that they don't use sealants, glues or other chemicals to keep them watertight.

Casks, Buckets, Barrels, Garden Furniture and other items can be purchased online at very competitive prices, posted almost worldwide at http://www.viastars.eu/shop 

Thanks to the guys for allowing me loose on a handmade cask.

Wildlife in Bulgaria

There is a diversity of wildlife in Bulgaria as many people know.
It is said that if a town or village has nesting Stork's that it is a good place.
Here in Pliska the first capital of Bulgaria we are lucky to have such a large and beautiful bird.

Stork on its nest in Pliska centre.

The bird now has young which are quite big already, probably soon to make homes of their own.

Dogs in Bulgaria

We was taking a walk with one of friends Salim, he is turkish and local Maestor of Pliska. His work is excellent.
A dog that we have called "Foxy" that frequently sits outside our home was talked about briefly. Why does he come everyday etc.
We know that he comes because he gets some food sometimes, of course he will come.
The animals in this country stayoutside and it seems that they dont have homes, they do its just that they are street animals, quite unlike UK where we will make sure they are inside, warm and cared for.
20 minutes after returning home we look outside our front gate to find

who we allowed into our home looking skinny, uncared for and neglected.
Our intention was to take him to a shelter close to our area hopefully in Shumen.
It was 3 days until we had chance to check this properly, but by now Butch was making himself at home here in Pliska.
We now have decided that he is a cute dog and will take him in for good.
We didnt want a dog as we have two cats.
But here he is.....
I hope people read this tale and care for animals that are left to fend for themselves.