Day 6: Thursday 13th October 2022 (9-17 rainy and overcast)

Start: Sibiu, Romania

Finish: Ruse, Bulgaria

Currency: Bulgarian Lev

Temperature: 9-17 degrees, Rainy and Overcast

Welcome back my Literary friends!

This morning we were up at 6.45am for a 7am breakfast, with the bus departing Mercure Sibiu (Airport) at 8am. Breakfast was a broad buffet including excellent miniature croissants, bacon and eggs as well as a full traditional Romanian spread of pickled vegetables, meats and breads.

The winding drive alongside the Olt river between Sibiu and Ramnicu Valcea was stunning. Tall mountains reach toward the grey sky as rain, coats everything around us. Our first stop is around 10am at a petrol station in Ramnicu Valcea where many people bought snacks and took the opportunity to use the one bathroom available!

After another two hours of driving we stopped at a very small service station about an hour out of Bucharest. We then drove around the far outskirts of the city and down to the Danube crossing to the border of Bulgaria. 15 minutes at the border crossing and we were on our way! The hotel tonight is the Dunav Plaza located on the central square of Ruse. Rooms are comfortable and the bathrooms are clean and well maintained. We had to hand our passports over for photocopy upon arrival.

We followed our guide Kaan for a 45 minute walking tour around the square before disbanding to exchange leftover Lei and find dinner. Our group decided to settle in at the Happy Bar and Grill for steaks and salad. By 7.30pm I was ready to return to the hotel and found a few little Baklava for dessert at a bakery across the road, at a store named ‘Baklava’. Several others opted to go out for a few drinks at local bars.

Accommodation: Dunav Plaza, Ruse, Bulgaria