Bulgaria - Aviation Museums and Collections

As mentioned before, part of the reason for going to the Batak dam in southern Bulgaria - see earlier post - was to visit the Bulgarian Aviation Museum situated next to Plovdiv airport, near Bulgaria's second city. The large collection of airplanes dating back to World War 2 types, takes you through the decades right up to recently used Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23's. All of the airplanes are parked outside; an air conditioned building houses exhibits going back to the founding days of the Bulgarian Air Force a century ago.

All very inviting if aviation and former Eastern Bloc planes attract you. To me the visit, the sunny weather and the three hours spent walking around, was most enjoyable!

Below are a few pictures, but to see the full size picture click on the links provided below so as to enjoy the airplanes in proper format. Thank you for looking.

Bulgarian Aviation Museum

Arado Ar 196

The Arado was used in World War 2 by the German Navy and some were provided to the Bulgarian Air Force for reconnaissance purposes over the Black Sea.

MiG-23

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a Russian built all purpose airplane provided to most of the former Eastern Bloc / Warsaw Pact / Communist countries of  Europe.

For more pictures on the Krumovo Museum Collection click here

The collection of aircraft next to Burgas airport on the Black Sea coast, also warrants mention. A mixture of military and civilian aircraft.

Burgas Airport Collection

Mig-21

Antonov An-12

For more pictures on the Burgas Airport Collection click here

Below is the link to my entire Airplane-Pictures portfolio:-

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photographer.php?p=6981

Bulgaria - Our natural surroundings

A View on Nature - by Joan.

Having been here for 14 weeks now, we have settled in well. Cleaning ablutions / shower blocks is new to me but I've hopefully got the hang of it. Of course it helps when the facilities are so wonderful, ask anybody who has stayed at Camping VT - everyone praises the whole campsite.

I particularly enjoy the wildlife, when we arrived the Sparrows were just beginning to nest, mainly in the eaves of the ablution block roof, they have had two broods (perhaps three) and a wonderful site to see the hoards of young playing and flying together. The dawn chorus is now a lot less, but the crickets are still noisy. The 'song of the frogs and toads' have also become less. The different varieties of butterfly are amazing, from black, orange, yellow, to tiny ones that are lilac in colour. 

Sparrow in the eaves

Then there are animals that are not on my favourite list one of which are snakes. I am told there are four different kinds in Bulgaria, the one I came across was a Snog, or grass snake, it was sunning itself on the steps by Fifi the motorhome. I came along this one and we both saw each other at the last minute, I jumped and the snake scurried off to the wild flower bed at the side, I think we were both in shock, the snake was about 18" long. I was told that was small and they grow much bigger, but harmless thank goodness, or so they say. I asked Marius to cut the grass around the wild flowers!

The snake steps

The wild flowers are very much kept and encouraged to seed and the flower borders have blossomed under the hands of Mira the gardener, the whole site is gradually maturing. I hope we can pick some walnuts from the tree just by Fifi before we leave. We have also a peach tree with ripening peaches, this is under the walnut tree, we are keeping a close watch on these waiting for the time to pick them.

The Walnut tree

The wildflowers as seen from Fifi the motorhome's windows

The Apricot tree under the Walnut tree

Still only small, but ....

.... wonderful Apricots ....

.... by the dozen.

We watched them ripen over the past two weeks and they have not disappointed. Peaches or Apricots, at first we weren't sure, only small in size but totally organic and free of charge (Marius does not do organic because of the inflated price).

This part of our 'Adventure' is a wonderful experience and we have met the most interesting people both fellow travellers and local people. We often speak of the 'university of life' and this is again coming to the fore after 14 weeks on site.

Fifi with awning and screens deployed - privacy!

How we update the Blog - from inside Fifi!

All next to a field of sunflowers

Bulgaria - Batak dam

We planned to see more of Bulgaria during our 'off days' from duties at Camping VT and decided to head south to the shores of the Batak dam. The Batak dam is in the Rhodope mountains southwest of Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second city. It also gave me (Marius) the opportunity to visit the  Bulgarian Aviation Museum situated next to Plovdiv Airport. Joan was so excited at this most interesting visitation, showcasing the past and present history of the Bulgarian Air Force .... that's overstating it, but you get my drift don't you?!

Fifi was duly readied for the journey and we set off Thursday 6 August after a quick stop at Kaufland supermarket for some groceries and essentials such as Tonic water and lemons - yes it would be used as mixers for sun downer drinks.

The journey to Plovdiv, our first major way point, took three hours bearing in mind that country roads here in Bulgaria do not allow for fast travel - more so in a 3.5 ton motorhome.

Seen on the way was this sight so reminiscent of a man's world -

Shed, generator, windsock and airplane. Maybe a fridge inside?!

In order to plan for the visit to the Aviation Museum, we stopped in the car park to get the entry times, layout and time needed to do justice to a visit. I also met the museum Director, a most helpful lady who has been there 20 years and seems to know a thing or two about aircraft.
Information thus gathered we set off on the last leg to Batak dam where we arrived at 4pm outside the reception hut. This is where we met Chris the owner and manager of Eco Camping Batak, Bulgarian born but with an American accent second to none, telling us how he spent some years working in Texas - he did not quite have the Texas twang though. He showed us to a spot with wonderful views across Batak dam which improved even further after a V&T for Joan and G&T for Marius.

View over the Batak dam

Dusk over Batak dam

Dinner was cold meat and salads with fresh bread from the deli counter and bakery bought earlier. All enjoyed watching the setting sun and dusk over the dam.
I woke early as usual and could see the makings of a magical sunrise over the dam which got me dressed and with camera in hand I walked down to the water's edge - and waited. The results did not disappoint.

Early dawn over Batak dam 06:02

And then sunrise 06:37

What a way to start your day! It turned into a glorious sunny day which lead to some kayaking before the sun became too hot. Chris has a few kayaks for hire and we opted for a four seat version as this allows more space and somewhere to put a bag with camera and other goodies.
The waters of the dam was smooth as a mirror, no wind, little other activity and we thoroughly enjoyed our hour or so rowing to a nearby island and along the edge before returning at 10:45. Of interest was the cormorants perching in trees on the island and how their droppings had completely not only discoloured the branches, but also resulted in the trees being devoid of any leaves. It gave it all a surreal look - see below.

View of the campsite at 150 yards

Trees for cormorant perches

Campsite in the distance

By early afternoon a breeze had started little ripples across the dam which would have made kayaking a wet affair, but it had no effect on other boating activities.

Jet ski / water craft and skier

Family boating

We spent a most memorable two nights on the shores of the Batak dam and the campsite is well recommended, being one of a group of 'Partner Campsites' as is the case with Camping VT.

We departed on Saturday morning early, just before 07:00 in order to be at the Bulgarian Aviation Museum by 09:30 - and it was duly done. We had breakfast in the 'van in an empty carpark with birdsong as accompaniment and a Mil Mi-4A transport helicopter as neighbour. 

Fifi the motorhome in the aviation museum carpark

And where are the airplanes? All in good time!

Bulgaria - A Pictorial

We have collated some pictures showing what we see as we travel between destinations. We hope to share with you here some sights and insights on the traveller's road.

Our friends Charlie & Mira in their lovely garden.

Mira amongst her flowers and Charlie on the cushion

A field of wild flowers between Elena and Kotel

Gravestone next to the road - he was only 29.

Weather and views around our campsite.

Early morning mist in the valley

Cloudy sunrise

The pool at Camping Veliko Tarnovo

Tents huddling under a rain laden sky

Next to Burgas Airport, this collection of old Bulgarian military planes and a civilian airliner.

Antonov 2 biplane

Tupolev 154 airliner

MiG-21 and MiG-17

Heavily soiled Antonov 12

> Click here to see my portfolio of Airplane Pictures <

Economic diversity

Gas pipeline at Burgas

Grill and Beer in a supermarket car park

Silos next to a town

This vineyard near Sliven