Sozopol, 11 September

After having enjoyed a few restful beach days, living in the marina in Sozopol it was time to lift LelleBelle out of the water and put her on land for the next 7 months. 

LelleBelle and Lelle enjoying time in the marina. 

The usual trek from the bathroom..

Down....

Ah, made it!

Marina port Sozopol in the early morning

A close up

The lift with Krassi and Stassi and a number of other helpers.

Too nerve racking for Leslie who kept her distance 

Stassi, Michael and Carl supervising.

And down she goes.

Careful

Almost done.

A day of mixed emotions. Having planned this part of the trip for 3 years and never knowing what the next day will bring, let alone where we would end up, we are happy and proud to have come so far, but sad that it is over. We have already started talking about the next leg, that is the Mediterranean. But first a few more months on dry land in Sweden until November and South Africa until March.

Have heard from friends that it has been difficult or impossible to leave comments to the blog. Sorry about that but it is still possible to leave comments on mslellebelle@gmail.com which we can add to the blog.

Sozopol 5 September

Woke up to an overcast, windy but warm day with two important things to do:

Fill the diesel tank before LelleBelle goes up on land.

Cast our postal votes in the Swedish General election. 

We hired a car and drove 200 km to Varna where the Swedish consulate is situated. We also took the opportunity to use the car to fetch diesel.

Carl hard at work, doing his duty.

After the hard work of deciding who to vote for, a big plate of Black Sea mussels was called for.

Even the "new swede" was allowed to vote and needed a bowl of mussels at a seaside restaurant in Varna. Had a tour of all the places Carl and Kevin visited when they were in Varna 5 days ago.

Sozopol 4 September

This is what have learnt about Sozopol, our home for the next week. First some Bulgarian:

Hello is zdravey, please is molya and thank you is blagodaria.

Sozopol is an ancient seaside town on the southern Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

It is one of the oldest towns on the Bulgarian coast and settlements date back to the Bronze Age. The first settlement grew up on the Sozopol bay during the Neolithic era some 6000 BC. In 620 BC the inhabitants of Milet, a city in Asia Minor, made the Sozopol peninsula their city state and called it Apollonia. The state grew rapidly. Ancient writers describe the temple of Apollo as colossal, housing a 13 metre statue of the god. In 72 BC, Apollina was conquered by the Romans who razed and plundered the city. The statue was removed to Rome as spoils of the war. During the first century the city was rebuilt and Sozopol continued as an administrative maritime centre.  When Christianity was accepted as the official religion Apollonia was rechristisned Sozopolis. The city was incorporated into Bulgaria 812 AD and then became an important diocese with more than 20 Orthodox churches snd 5 monasteries.  

Sozopol was ruled  in turn by the Byzantine, Bulgarian and Ottoman empires  and incorporated in the newly independent Bulgaria in the 19th century.

Today Sozopol is a popular tourist destination with many beaches, restaurants and entertainment. 

On the island St Ivan ( John), the relics of John the Bapist were found in 2010. They are housed in the care of St Cyril and St Methodius church. Old Sozopol and the relics of John the Baptist were voted most important of "Bulgaria's wonders" 2011. During the first week of September every year the town has an art festival. Today is the last day of the festival and the town is overflowing with art and music lovers. The music from several venues can be heard the whole night through.

In and around old town Sozopol 

A restaurant overlooking the sea

Out and about in Sozopol 

Houses in Sozopol are built of stone and wood and conform to the so called Black Sea school of architecture.

  

A  typical boat from 18th century.

We have met Mikael, a German, who has had his boat in Sozopol for four years. Mikael is well known in the town and has shown us where all the good restaurants are. Here we are at his wife's favourite restaurant eating a lot of delicious food. Very sadly Mikaels wife Juta passed away about 5 months ago. 

Sozopol 3 September

Sozopol, LelleBelles home for the next seven months. Contract signed, up on land after 10 September.

Sozopol is only about 2 days travel by boat from Istanbul. Any volunteers for a lovely trip along the Black Sea south-west coast, through the Bosporous and to the Aegean Sea in early April next year?

Time to fix things, clean and scrub and polish.

One of first things to fix, the toilet. Handyman Carl on the job. Replacement of the pump. What a shit job!

Sozopol, 2 September

Today Leslie is coming.

Couldn't believe what we saw. A dog ready to take off on a moped. 

Then his master came and off they rode. 

Kevin and Carl dressed up and ready to meet Leslie who arrives by bus from Istanbul. 

Togetherness 

Travel companions. 

Tomorrow Kevin goes back to UK. 

Thank you Kevin for joining on the Black Sea voyage. Without you LB would still be in Constanta. 

But first we had a wonderful rock n roll party at George's Sala Bar where Music is Food. 

Nesebar-Sozopol, 1 September

We tried to have a swim in Nesebar but we were stopped by the lifeguard who told it was red tide and dangerous. So nothing is holding us back in Nesebar and off we go to Sozopol. 

Getting ready to leave Nesebar. 

The Nezebar harbour is not so well sheltered from swell so it was quite a bumpy night. 

Restaurant Flagman's deck behind us. That's where we had a well deserved cool drink yesterday after 6 hours of horrific rolling. 

Nesebar behind us. 

A small island protecting the entrance to Sozopol. 

Sozopol just ahead. Is this going to be last port for LB 2014 

Inviting beaches in Sozopol. Perfect place for the winter preparations. If only Leslie was here. Sigh!

Varna-Nesebar, 31 August

Varna to Nesebar. Exohilirating journey all the way to Cape Emona in quite a big sea with 2 to 3 metre and wind gusting up to 15 knots. About 5 hours of tumbling in a washing machine! Upon rounding Cape Emona we had the swell and wind from behind and had a gentle surf to Nesebar. 

Photo above shows our berth in Varna.

Lovely classic 3 masted cruiser in Varna harbour.

Kevin handling the lines and pushing off from the jetty.

Rounding the breakwater and into the washing machine! Here the fun started and the ride lasted for 5 hours.

Approaching Cape Emona and the prospect of a calmer leg to Nesebar.

Nesebar is only 1 hour away now and we are surfing nicely.

Cape Emona behind us now. We notice on the GPS and chart a number of wrecks and obstructions along the way. Give them a wide berth!

An older classic passes us going in the opposite direction. They are going into the teeth of the the sea. Good luck you poor bastards!

Cape Emona behind us and the old classic in the distance. We are gliding beautifully and beginning to think of long drinks in the Port of Nesebar.

Tying up on the jetty in Neselbar. 

The boys have their well deserved drinks in hand and begin to relax.

Interesting streets and ancient historical sights in the old town of Nesebar. 

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Local hospitality is extended to us. Ivan and his ship mates from Cybele, a classic Turkish vessel that they run charters on from Nesebar. They share their marvellous meal of local food (kebabs, roasted stuffed peppers and a glorious Bulgarian salad) and we wash it down with copious quantities of serious Bulgarian Vodka.

Carl and Kevin with Ivan. What an absolute champion character Ivan is - 70 years young and still going strong after a lifetime at sea. Interestingly, Ivan has, amongst others, had a number of stops in both  Malmo and Cape Town over the years and is well acquainted with both SA and Swedish customs. We find we have a lot in common with this humble Bulgarian man and a great conversation ensues. 

Memory from Constanta

Eckhard sent the picture taken during dinner at a Constanta waterfront restaurant. 

Carl Hannes Leslie Dick and Eckhard