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Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Black Country to Black Sea

Tuesday 26 July

It's about 10.30pm local time here in Sveti Vlas. I'm typing these words as I sit on the balcony of our room at the Premier Fort hotel. There have just been a flock of sea gulls flying over head toward the sea. There snow white wings gliding through the air, look for a minute like ghostly spectre's who are seeking out a place of rest. It is only their familiar cry that identifies them differently.

They are not the only wildlife that use the facilities of the hotel. When we attend breakfast in the morning in the outdoor quadrangle, we are not the only ones dining. In the rafters of the roof, a family of swallows have made a nest and as we eat our fill of sausage egg and bacon, the parents intermittently fly in with tit bits for the babies, who wait patiently with open mouths. Not at all spooked by the hundreds of diners below them with their own children.

This hotel is family friendly then, even to a family of birds it appears. There is entertainment of sorts throughout the day, morning gymn and yoga. Pool side darts. Quizzes and disco's for kids and adults. Art, football and other sports. There is an air hockey game that is ver popular with the kids. So popular it seems that today it broke down completely. Tokens for it are issued from reception strictly one at a time. And usually by the end of the day they are like gold dust.

Breakfast is usually pretty busy as everyone gets it included with there stay. It's pretty good, plenty of choice (as with all the meals actually). But I just wish the sausages were a bit bigger, they are literally the size my little finger. There has been a good menu that has changed daily which is really good. Although small t who is not one to experiment with food has been relying heavily on pizza and ice cream to see him through. I think we are all going to miss the food when we leave next week, and may encounter withdraw symptoms.

My sun burn has calmed down a bit today and I'm glad to say it's a lot less angrier. In the morning we took a thirty minute bus ride to the historic old town, Nessebar. It's situated on a small peninsular accessed by only one road. There are several ancient 10-12th century churches in various states of decay from ruin to fully built. There are also plenty of restaurants, bars and memento shops selling Bulgarian pottery, weaving, clothes and Rose Jam, something of a speciality around these parts so I'm told.

This afternoon we had more time for sea swimming, of course I was the entertainment for small t, so we engaged in a the usual fun and games of the seaside. We had already buried each other, and made sandcastles on previous days so now we have resorted to having sea fights that invariably involve slinging large bits of sea weed at each other. As you can imagine we are getting all kinds of looks off the other guests.

"Look de White Englash Man is making a wig of seaweed for his child again!! Come away Alexander do not look at the silly non EU persons."

Ira is eager to make the most of her time here, she knows that the days will soon pass and normality will return. At any opportunity (while we are having rest time) she is taking walks down to the beach to inplant the warm sweet aroma of the sea breeze into her memory, so that it can be recalled on those cold rainy English summer days. I don't blame her. This time is precious and for small t most of all these are the holiday memories that will live with him for the rest of his life. At least he has better ones than me. I have memories of cold rain swept days in Ryhl and Weymouth, he will have the warm clear Black Sea running through his head, and the image of his grandfathers cheeky zestful smile to recall on when he is my age.


- your intrepid reporter big T.

Location:Sveti Vlas Bulgaria

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