Out of Balkans - Page 3

Gate Keeper · 24th April 2018, 23:50

Thank you Hristo for sharing this. A fascinating view of where you live.

Gate Keeper · 25th April 2018, 06:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrissim

On 21 of April this year a friend of mine took this stunning photo of my home town Samokov. From a drone

:

Good morning Hristo, is there a YouTube link to the drone video? A non commercial drone license in Kenya is 1000€. I would like to have a drone but without a license, the penalties are deportation, or prison and heavy fines. Thank you for posting up the photo

hrissim · 25th April 2018, 18:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gate Keeper

Good morning Hristo, is there a YouTube link to the drone video? A non commercial drone license in Kenya is 1000€. I would like to have a drone but without a license, the penalties are deportation, or prison and heavy fines. Thank you for posting up the photo

Good evening Phil!
Unfortunately no drone footage available. The only one I found is this one.
I don`t know what are the law regulations over here regarding to drones.

Take a look what I "shot" last weekend in Rhodope Mountain:

Gate Keeper · 26th April 2018, 04:58

Good morning Hristo, those guys gives me the creeps along with the snakes and the spiders. I can’t stand the sight of them

The grass in the meadow and bush in the forest here, is quite thick and I have to wear high boots to protect myself from the snakes and the other creatures. I will have a look at the footage later, thank you for sharing and do keep posting

hrissim · 28th April 2018, 05:52

Last weekend was the first MTB event for 2018.
Well organized by a friend of mine with a doctor, offroad support and mobile bike service.

Went there in Friday, back to home late Sunday.
The place /Varvara/ has mineral water springs, beautiful forests, interesting trails for biking and railway, which is one of the last still in usage narrow gauge line in Europe.
The bike trails were cleaned voluntarily.

Some photos from the event.
me in action:

after action satisfaction /beer, moon, stars, mineral water, friends/:

An еxcellent weekend.

Bluejon · 30th April 2018, 16:33

You certainly have some very stunning scenery there Hristo,many thanks for sharing your superb photos,keep up the good work Sir.

Regards.....John.

Roverlike · 1st May 2018, 06:32

You were so close, but not close enough. If you visited Split, Roman town more than 1700 years old with surrounding cities from similar age, we could meet up.
Have you been on Krka waterfalls in Croatia yet?
Also have you visited Varna in Bulgaria?

hrissim · 1st May 2018, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluejon

You certainly have some very stunning scenery there Hristo,many thanks for sharing your superb photos,keep up the good work Sir.

Regards.....John.

The pleasure is mine, Sir!
You now, when I see your photos - this is enough for me - no need to see the place with my own eyes

Mine are taken with a mobile.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roverlike

You were so close, but not close enough. If you visited Split, Roman town more than 1700 years old with surrounding cities from similar age, we could meet up.
Have you been on Krka waterfalls in Croatia yet?
Also have you visited Varna in Bulgaria?

I was in Split and in Zadar in 2012, but just for couple of hours - magnificent towns!
I`m a Bulgarian and I have been to Varna several times. I`m traveling a lot and there are no more than 5 towns in my country that I haven`t visited yet.
No, I haven`t been on Krka and its waterfalls unfortunately - I even didn`t know of their existence

It would be very interesting if you share your travels and visits in this thread - you are welcome!
The aim of this thread is to show the World how beautiful is our Peninsula

Cheers!

Gate Keeper · 1st May 2018, 10:16

Beautiful photos Hristo. You look as though you have lots of healthy living in your free time. Have you heard of the Bulgarian Mafia, do they still exist? Years ago, I was asked by St. John Ambulance in the UK to go to Varna. One of their members was being held captive in a mafia run hotel in the city. He had got into trouble, when he slept with a prostitute and woke up to find he had been robbed of money and his passport. Unknown to him the hotel he was staying in was owned by the mafia and he ran up lots of debts. He had driven out to Bulgaria with his brother from the UK for a holiday and when the debts were not paid, the mafia smashed up their Merc and his brother managed to escape and raise the alarm. The police were corrupt and he could not go to them. The chap I brought back then had a mental breakdown, threatening suicide. He shouted to the street below his balcony obscenities whilst in a state of not wearing any clothes. When I met him, he was tied to a chair and gagged in his room with a minder.

I had to meet with the mafia and pay off his debts and protection money in order to get him out of the country. Had I not paid, they went through with me, a list of how much each body part was worth. The reason St. John Ambulance got hold of me, is that I used to do that sort of work freelance. I wonder if the authorities in Bulgaria have managed to eliminate the mafia. Most of the time, tourists and visitors never ever see that side

they see the beautiful culture and the beautiful country

hrissim · 1st May 2018, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gate Keeper

Beautiful photos Hristo. You look as though you have lots of healthy living in your free time. Have you heard of the Bulgarian Mafia, do they still exist? Years ago, I was asked by St. John Ambulance in the UK to go to Varna. One of their members was being held captive in a mafia run hotel in the city. He had got into trouble, when he slept with a prostitute and woke up to find he had been robbed of money and his passport. Unknown to him the hotel he was staying in was owned by the mafia and he ran up lots of debts. He had driven out to Bulgaria with his brother from the UK for a holiday and when the debts were not paid, the mafia smashed up their Merc and his brother managed to escape and raise the alarm. The police were corrupt and he could not go to them. The chap I brought back then had a mental breakdown, threatening suicide. He shouted to the street below his balcony obscenities whilst in a state of not wearing any clothes. When I met him, he was tied to a chair and gagged in his room with a minder.

I had to meet with the mafia and pay off his debts and protection money in order to get him out of the country. Had I not paid, they went through with me, a list of how much each body part was worth. The reason St. John Ambulance got hold of me, is that I used to do that sort of work freelance. I wonder if the authorities in Bulgaria have managed to eliminate the mafia. Most of the time, tourists and visitors never that side

they see the beautiful culture and the beautiful country

Hi, Phil!
Since we joined the EU mine country is far from what it used to be.
The Mafia still exist - even it rules in our country. BUT...
But the Mafia now is very hidden - they are not anymore interested in things like your sad unfortunately experience. They are interested in master/steal the EU founds

They play in big.
Our prime-minister is ex-mafia member - we all know that there is no ex

Now Bulgaria is far from what it used to be. Just always and everywhere keep an eye on your things.

Thats all. I`m traveling a lot and I know what was and what is now - huuuge difference. We are fighting mafia/country with a protests - I`m a regular participant. And there is a hope as we got out of power one prime-minister and his government /slave of Red Mafia/ in 2013/2014.
This is deep and long topic far from the aim of this thread.

Here in Balkans we have what to show the visitors - plenty of stunning Mountains, 4 seas, lot`s of Monasteries, Medieval towns and more cultural and historical places. At last through here the humans are populated the Europe

Here I`m with a friend of mine /the owner of mentioned 313bhp monster/ and his children in Rila Mountain 2 years ago on:

... one of Vapa lakes:

26th April 2018, 04:58	#24
Gate Keeper This is my second home 4X4 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Nairobi Posts: 20,056 Thanks: 8,286 Thanked 7,017 Times in 4,160 Posts	Good morning Hristo, those guys gives me the creeps along with the snakes and the spiders. I can’t stand the sight of them The grass in the meadow and bush in the forest here, is quite thick and I have to wear high boots to protect myself from the snakes and the other creatures. I will have a look at the footage later, thank you for sharing and do keep posting Last edited by Gate Keeper; 26th April 2018 at 09:07..

28th April 2018, 05:52	#25
hrissim Gets stuck in 75 MK1 2.5 V6 Saloon Join Date: May 2017 Location: Samokov Posts: 781 Thanks: 372 Thanked 423 Times in 240 Posts	Bulgaria Varvara MTB Last weekend was the first MTB event for 2018. Well organized by a friend of mine with a doctor, offroad support and mobile bike service. Went there in Friday, back to home late Sunday. The place /Varvara/ has mineral water springs, beautiful forests, interesting trails for biking and railway, which is one of the last still in usage narrow gauge line in Europe. The bike trails were cleaned voluntarily. Some photos from the event. me in action: after action satisfaction /beer, moon, stars, mineral water, friends/: An еxcellent weekend. __________________ Don`t drive faster than your guardian-angel can fly! Last edited by hrissim; 28th April 2018 at 05:55..

30th April 2018, 16:33	#26
Bluejon Cumbria & N/Lancs Regional Secretary 2003 Rover 75 Saloon [Royal Blue] + 1999 Rover 75 Saloon [Duo-Tone Bacchus/Zircon Silver] Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cumbria Posts: 3,089 Thanks: 2,242 Thanked 1,656 Times in 769 Posts	You certainly have some very stunning scenery there Hristo,many thanks for sharing your superb photos,keep up the good work Sir. Regards.....John. __________________

1st May 2018, 10:16	#29
Gate Keeper This is my second home 4X4 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Nairobi Posts: 20,056 Thanks: 8,286 Thanked 7,017 Times in 4,160 Posts	Beautiful photos Hristo. You look as though you have lots of healthy living in your free time. Have you heard of the Bulgarian Mafia, do they still exist? Years ago, I was asked by St. John Ambulance in the UK to go to Varna. One of their members was being held captive in a mafia run hotel in the city. He had got into trouble, when he slept with a prostitute and woke up to find he had been robbed of money and his passport. Unknown to him the hotel he was staying in was owned by the mafia and he ran up lots of debts. He had driven out to Bulgaria with his brother from the UK for a holiday and when the debts were not paid, the mafia smashed up their Merc and his brother managed to escape and raise the alarm. The police were corrupt and he could not go to them. The chap I brought back then had a mental breakdown, threatening suicide. He shouted to the street below his balcony obscenities whilst in a state of not wearing any clothes. When I met him, he was tied to a chair and gagged in his room with a minder. I had to meet with the mafia and pay off his debts and protection money in order to get him out of the country. Had I not paid, they went through with me, a list of how much each body part was worth. The reason St. John Ambulance got hold of me, is that I used to do that sort of work freelance. I wonder if the authorities in Bulgaria have managed to eliminate the mafia. Most of the time, tourists and visitors never ever see that side they see the beautiful culture and the beautiful country Last edited by Gate Keeper; 1st May 2018 at 10:20..

24th April 2018, 23:50	#21
Gate Keeper This is my second home 4X4 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Nairobi Posts: 20,056 Thanks: 8,286 Thanked 7,017 Times in 4,160 Posts	Thank you Hristo for sharing this. A fascinating view of where you live.

1st May 2018, 06:32	#27
Roverlike Avid contributor Rover, few of them Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Split, Croatia Posts: 235 Thanks: 254 Thanked 117 Times in 82 Posts	You were so close, but not close enough. If you visited Split, Roman town more than 1700 years old with surrounding cities from similar age, we could meet up. Have you been on Krka waterfalls in Croatia yet? Also have you visited Varna in Bulgaria?