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Good eveing all and today, after a change of plan, from Romania. We decide given we had some spare time to head up here and then on to Brasov in the mountains. Anyway first things first Veliko Tarnovo was lovely. Our first night there we went out to a nice place for dinner and had some local, very filling, Bulgarian dishes. The portions could probably had fed three times as many people. On our way back to the hostel a magical moment of the trip happened. As we were walking along we say some strob lighting up ahead and wondered what was going on. As we made it over the hill to get a good look we realised that the 3 thousand year old fortress was being lit up in some kind of light banaza. It was amazing. it lasted over 5 minutes and went through different patterens along with different colour lighting. We all agreed that this totally unexpected incident was right up there (and maybe even in the number 1 position) with what we have witnessed whilst away. Not until later did we realise how lucky we were as the fortress is light up very rarely and no one is told in advance.
Well after that evening we woke up full of spirit and headed out towards the Fotress and then on around the mountains of Veliko Tarnovo for day of hiking. The Fortress was beautiful and we saw the excecution rock. Where people where literally walked of the edge of a cliff! Savage. We climbed a fair number of step and reached the chapel at the summit with some very suspect fresco's inside made from charcoal. From here we had a wonderful panaramic view over all the surrounding mountains and the river meandering its way past us. With the distance we could see it was no wonder the fortress was attacked numerous times and occupied by varing races over the millenia.
From the fortress we walked around the old town and after many wrong turns over the river to the central monuement. Then we headed up the hill toward the university which was situated on the side of a mountain. We all agreed that the views at this uni would have been good but walking there from the town everday would have been murder.
After our 5 or 6 hours of walking we return to the warmth of the hostel and spend the evening making new friends and playing cards.
Anna here,
We got up this morning to have a big breakfast to keep us going though our travelling day. We found out that unlike everywhere else you have to buy a ticket for trains in Romania in advance and the ticket office is no where near the train station - helpful! Ended up having to take a taxi to the ticket office and have it wait for us to have it take us the the train station after (which turned out to be way out of town in the middle of nowhere!). Today was first bad experience of trains as it turned up near 2 hours late but finally made it to Buchurest at 7pm. Hostel is nice with a big kitchen so saved some money and cooked pasta for dinner. We did however have our first true terrifying moment on the way back from the shops. Now, all over Europe you get loads of stray dogs and even though they are a bit maingy they are pretty docile and ignore you. However, Romanian dogs are mean! We had 4 scary barking dogs charge at us baring their teeth. I have never been so frightened and had to try really hard not to break into a full on sprint away from them. Steve was bringing up the rear and i think he genuinely thought he was gona get rabies! I will not be amused if there are more tomorrow as if there are i am not leaving the hostel! now over to steve for something i am not very proud of and would like to pretend never happend lol!
Steven here now. Right when we were waiting an hour and a half for our delayed train we did have a little bit of entertain in the form of Anna. Tom was explaining how you could work out the direction from where the sun is in the sky and Anna came out with her "blondest" moment of the holiday saying that she could and i quote "walk round the sun" so that the direction was different, but of course when you move the sun also moves in the sky so the direction stays the same. We all thought it was pretty hilarious that Anna had said it!
Also thanks for the message Ellie. Hope your enjoying school. Maybe in a few years your be travelling around Europe and I will be reading your blog!!
Bye for now from us all!
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