Well this is the page for my home in Bulgaria, I had been working away from the UK for some time and I had to get rid of my mobile home in the New Forest whilst I was away, so I thought it was time to find a home. I looked in a few countries but in the end picked Bulgaria, this is the story of what happened and it will be updated as time goes by.

After several years working overseas I had been trying to get a week off so I could visit Bulgaria, but every time I tried I would be offered a job! Anyway it turned out I was working in Sweden and they told me I was not needed for a week in Oct 2006, everything in my life is planned at the last moment so this would be no exception! Ok get in touch with agent in Bulgaria, I want to see the following homes, get my flight details back to UK, fly back to see my daughter, ok while here book flights, oh bugger got to go Luton on Wizz ok no problem will drive down, book car park, book insurance, book everything now time to pack, now I don’t pack a lot when I travel, one shirt, undies, socks per day so now I am packed and ready to go!

Ok in car driving down to Luton, but then hit traffic so was starting to run abit behind time, got to car park with just over an hour spare, things are looking tight as I have to get a bus to airport, but ok still manage it, dash into departures looking for the check in desk for Sofia, could not see it so asked the lady on the Wizz desk, with a response " Oh we don’t have a flight to Sofia today, we have one tomorrow" I have never felt so stupid in all my life, I had got to the airport 24hrs before my flight! Right its a hotel then, off I go to the hotel info place, "can I have a room for the night please" her response " all rooms in Luton are booked tonight, I have a room in London for £80 but its a hostel" They must have rich dossers in London that’s all I can say, anyway bugger that, sleep in airport. I found the airport very nice and open few good shops and even an open smoking area, if anyone asks me do I know Luton airport I will tell of course I lived there

OK one long 24 hrs later I am getting on the Wizz aircraft, I found it ok but the seats seemed to be close together, I only have little legs but my knees seemed to be pressed into the back of the seat ahead, other than that no problems. One thing I did notice was when we landed some people started clapping, must be something from the old Eastern block. Wizz land at an ungodly hour in Sofia about 1 am, and I still have 200 km to go to reach Vidin!

One thing to look out for in any place in the World are taxi drivers, most are the scum of the earth, Sofia is no exception in this matter, the rate should be to town about 6 lev ( 1lev = .50 €) I was being asked for upto 40 lev, I did kick off with some of them some of my words they did know very well, others must have been the first time, but I am happy if I can be of help in spreading little used English words to the mass of International taxi drivers. I found an honest taxi driver to take me to the bus station, and for him being honest he got 10 lev tip. OK the bus and train station in Sofia are right next to each other, first train was about 6 the bus about the same, and just coming from living in Luton airport I did not want to live in Sofia bus or train station, in the bus station is a taxi office so I asked as best I could the price to Vidin, after a short while the price was agreed at 206 Lev about £70. It takes about 3 to 4 hours to drive the 200 km due to the poor roads, but this is due to get better once they do a main highway from Sofia to Vidin is done, the trip was very uneventful as it was dark and I was very tired and nodding off. We arrive at Vidin at some silly hour, and the hotel the taxi driver dropped me off at was full, so time for a wander around town it was still dark and cold but I found a cafe that opened about 7am so was drinking coffee and hoping to get warm, I would have got warm if they had any heating on, I was sat at a table with a little sign on, later on my visit I found out it was a non smoking table, but no one told me off at the time!  

On my travels around the town I found the agents office, and waited and waited in the end a lady turned up and I asked for Kristina, sorry no one of that name here, turns out I am in the wrong agents with a similar name, so I phone Kristina and she comes to collect me, as I was so tired it was arranged that I would call into the office later that day and talk about things but first time for a hotel for some sleep. I found the hotel very nice but only one of the staff spoke a little English, but it was clean and you could not ask for much more. I only have a business card with the name and fax/phone number on, but its in Bulgarian, so next time I go over I will get it in English and post the details on my site, I may even get some photos, in case anyone needs a hotel in the area.

Well here is an update I have found a leaflet  in my bag and the Hotel is called Hotel Vidin, how original, its on Kniaz Dondukov Str. 15 and the phone/fax number is +359 94 606 938. In the leaflet they have lime green, orange and purple rooms, I have only stayed in purple rooms, I hope they never put me in one of the others, you would have to be on drugs to stay in one of them

After a sleep and shower I get back to the office mid afternoon and started taking about the homes I had come to see, I had one house in mind that took my eye whilst looking on the web, but was told in the office the owner had decided not to sell, well I nearly lost it, I think I did show my disgust but did not give them a hard time like I do with taxi drivers, the other homes for one reason or another were put aside . But I did make my point that the time to have told me was whilst I was in the UK, not after travelling many miles and living in Luton bloody airport. That out of the way we arranged for Stefan to drive me around to see some homes the next day, we also disscused the need to set up a Bulgarian company as that is what you need to do if you buy a house with land, you dont need it if you buy a flat, I decided to call my company Flogit & Legitt, so that was all set in motion as I needed this no matter where I bought my home in Bulgaria.

The love of paperwork for places overseas is overwhelming, its the same in France a bit of paper with a stamp on and people love it, I have so many bits of paper for bank accounts, company and house its no wonder people are worried about the loss of trees in the World.

In the night I visit a restaurant opposite the Danube (I will get the name next time I am over) I would describe it as very seventies in style, and its very popular with the locals, they even have a menu in English and what a menu page after page, I picked the pizza very nice and a good price, they even gave me a small bottle of wine on my way out as it was my first visit, very nice of them, the only bad thing I can say is the toilets were not upto standard, but I am not sure if they belong to the restaurant because they are not inside it

Right here we go, after a good nights sleep off with Stefan he interfaces with the builder, shows people around the homes and takes pictures of new homes for sale, he seems to like getting his car in the photos, as on nearly every photo I have seen its got his car in it, even the one on top of this page has a bit of the rear on, he is a Chelsea supporter but all in all a nice guy, think I will have to show him what the European cup looks like. Off we go out and about over the pot holed roads, the first few we looked at just did not cut it for me, we then drove back to Vidin as he wanted to show me a house but the owner had the keys, so we pulled up outside this guys house and out popped a very nice old man, off we went, the man told me via Stefan that if I wanted the house or not it would not be a problem, which I thought was nice of him, the house itself was ok it needed a bit of work but had damp downstairs also next door had put his goats right next to the fence, now even in October the smell was about but can you imagine in summer! Mind you if you liked the house I am sure a shotgun would solve any problems with goats. Time to get the old guy back to Vidin, but he was chatting to some old mates and I think Stefan got a bit fed up waiting, but he may not have seen them for some time so what the hell. Back to Vidin then out again into the green fields, looking at another house but again did not do anything for me. At about this time I cant remember who phoned who, but Stefan had a phone conversation with the office, he then said we will go and look at this house not far from or location.

We arrive outside the house above looks good, the garden was no more it was a jungle, and the bloody trees right outside the house blocking the light out, Stefan asked if I liked it and I said yes lets have a look around, but the keys were at the office so he suggested we hop over the fence, now hang on but do I look like sodin Rambo, but ok showing true English grit I climb over the fence. I liked the look of the place, ok it needed work and Bulgarian brick work leaves a lot to be desired but its back to Vidin for the keys

Back at the house again we go in

Middle floor: Looks ok, needs a tidy up and paint but other than that nothing.

Top floor: Nothing has been done here, it’s all brick walls, window frames are in but no glass, and of course the wooden framed roof, I will say one thing about Bulgarians that is they are very practical in thinking, as they had no use for this floor why do anything with it

Ground floor: Needs a good tidy up and painting, needs a few walls knocking down, but we did find evidence of water getting in, nothing bad as the walls are fine but at some stage water has got in. Stefan was talking to next door who happens to be a farmer and we think it was due to the heavy rains in the summer hitting the bone hard ground and down the slope into the house as he had the same problem. On my second visit I think we found the problem but more of that on my Jan page

After the visit we popped into the village cafe for a coke, nice little place and good prices 2 cokes,  1 coffee, packet of local cigs and a snack thing for Stefan all for the huge price of 2€, how I am going to afford the costs out here I don’t know. On the way back to Vidin all that was going through my mind was yes/no, I could see the potential of the place, and I was not looking on things as an investment but as a home, but I would not mind anyone offering a lot more than what I paid for it, but once I get the house done my way, why would I want to sell it?

In the office I made an offer and this was accepted by the owner, so no going back now deposit paid and in a few weeks its mine, but first all the paperwork to do, stamp this, sign that, visit the Judge

So time to head back to the UK, I had 3 types of transport to pick from train, bus or car to Sofia, I picked the train as my flight was to be 6am the next morning, why I do things like this I dont know, but no point in getting a hotel for the night in Sofia as I have to be at the airport by 4am!

The train station in Vidin is very basic, I even spotted people walking over the train tracks!

The Train

Made by Skoda

In I pop to the ticket office with my one word of Bulgarian "Sofia" ok I know two "Vidin" the lady behind the desk did say a few words to me to no avail, later on my trip I realised she may have been asking if I wanted 1st class, so out came my ticket that of course had to be stamped

 Now only one train in the station so I am going to have a good guess that it’s the Sofia train. I make my way to the train as I don’t have a clue what time it’s leaving, cos I can’t find a timetable! A man was standing by the train so I asked in my flaunt Bulgarian "Sofia" his response was "Da" and  shuck his head, this had me confused  for a moment as I know da is Russian for yes, oh bugger that’s 3 words I know now. Anyway I realised one of the most confusing things in Bulgaria is people shake their heads for yes, and nod for no, it gets even more confusing if they know that Europeans do the opposite and compensate by doing it the European way.

After a while the guard came around asking for tickets, so I got my nice stamped ticket out and handed it to him, he seemed a little concerned and  made the point I was in 1st class and I had a 2nd class ticket, now how did I miss that? It must have been because it was the only cabin with the door hanging off and heating on, so I paid him the extra £2 for 1st class of course I got another bit of paper with a stamp on.

If you ever get the chance try the train I know it seems to ramble on for ever but going into mountains is something else, the views are brill, and watch out for the station masters with big red hats, and for £5 1st class you cant complain just look for the cabin with the door hanging off

Back to the airport, so go sit in the cafe at arrivals lots of smoking, coffee and cakes, time is getting late and I still have a long while to wait for my fight, anyway the cafe started closing down for the night, so I thought I would go and have a sleep in departures, no chance of that told you cant come in the airport is closed! After a little while an English speaking lady arrived and explained that they had an El Al flight and for security they closed departures, now here I am wearing a Bahrain t-shirt, but it could of been worse as while I was out there I did try and get hold of a Hezbollah one, if I had got one,I could very easily have been wearing it, so would have been some very nervous people getting on the flight

Ok being Mr diplomat I head back to arrivals, after a short while who should pass me, none other than the people getting off the El Al flight and the police not in sight! I cannot understand the logic of tight security if you are getting on the flight, but if you are getting off none

Thats it for this trip I will try and get my other trips and bits and bobs on as and when

Post Oct