Bulgaria

Varna (Muggers Paradise)

Constanza compared to this place is a picnic, an hours journey from albena the largest population centre and port in bulgaria on the black sea(which the greeks called it for its nasty weather rather than its colour).

Nice city if their had been more police and less pickpockets. Cops 1 Muggers 45 they must just have the large police station for effect or maybe they spent the annual policeing budget on it. When you get to the bus Terminus they call it bus station but its just a side road opposite the cathedral, no photos as I wanted to come back with my camera and me intact.As the coach pulls up, the main door is swarmed with 20-30 excited to see you gypsies, not the bandana with gold coins crystal ball wielding type more like the large well built russian army knife wearing type.As you descend from the coach they push wads of news paper wrapped in a few notes offering you to double you money avoid at all costs, but that's only for distraction as you push through the crowd using the hand and valuables in your pocket as picked up in Constanza(which is a little hard to do with a dirty big video camera hanging out of you). And as a unfortunate german found out when three of the locals helped him to reenact the that scene from jaws when he got off and got dragged along the side of the coach hanging on to his video camera strap we didn't stick around to see who won.And as the bus was mainly german, screaming NEIN! as you pushed through the crowd worked for us.We felt hands every now and again in the empty pockets but carry on regardless.Once you get past these guys with out them dragging your hand out of your pocket your home and dry (just about).These guys are not gender specific male or female your a walking wallet. And swinging digs is not to bright hence the russian army knives. Where are the cop's you ask probably in their big police station playing hide and seek (well we only found one so they have to be good at it)

As you leave the Terminus at a fairly brisk pace, you wander into a great little market in a park where you can pick up all sorts of souvenirs,silver, and an assortment of genuine fake clothing and brick a brack. No hassle here as the pick pockets and the stall owners seem to have and understanding if you have anything left after the bus stop its their chance to try to get it off you.Nice people, and "No" in bulgarian is neigh or NEIGH!!! if they keep following you around the market.

Then its on to the main shopping district lots of shops,banks,and fast food but very little of interest that you cant get in the market except kentucky fried chicken and Mc Donalds.Theirs also three jewelery shops well worth the visit. Which leads us to credit cards which they just don't have the facility for except for banks who would allow you to withdraw cash if you had your passport with you but as explained earlier not the place to come with a passport, we wanted to be able to go home at the end of the holiday. And you can forget ATM's except in the resorts.

The cathedral and the museum a well worth a look too.

The best tip we can give you on this place is get off the bus at McDonalds the stop before the terminus and avoid the hassle.