Our last day in Romania and despite having had a brilliant time we’re looking forward to moving on into Bulgaria.
Constanta, our home last night, looks like it’s going to be a massive resort judging by the development that is going on, miles and miles of apartment complexes being built and advertised with prices seemingly starting at about €40k. Today is a different story however with everywhere half built and completely shut. It does appear to be popular as a Friday night wedding venue though, with bride, groom and their guests conducting their ceremonies along with priests and entourage in half finished complexes with hastily erected neon Mr & Mrs signs; what must they have thought with two scruffy Englishmen peering in at them.
So we left the campsite at just after 8am heading towards Costinesti for breakfast. Whilst in season it looks like it could be a busy little resort but we couldn’t find a single coffee shop near to the Black Sea that was open. So we headed off to Mangalia the last town in Romania before the Bulgarian border, and hurrah we found a really great cafe overlooking the sea.
Much to Andy’s warped humour he found it very amusing that the “peasants omelette for 2 ” came all on a single plate placed before him. When I asked where mine was, the waitress shrugged and threw a knife and fork at me. Thankfully Andy shared.
A few miles after Mangalia we arrived at the border to Bulgaria. We queued for about half an hour and then with little personality the border guards waved us through.
What a contrast the Bulgarian coastline is to that in Romania. It’s beautiful, commercialised but nice. Bulgaria, surprisingly to both of us, seems a more affluent country, better cars, towns that look more European, no horse and carts, well dressed people and not a stray dog in sight. The road to Varna and then onto Sunny Beach was magnificent. We would drop down towards the sea and then climb up out of the towns though sweeping bends and tight hairpins to be presented with a view of the next sea side town. The temptation to stop and keep taking photos was great. It’s a pity the road surface wasn’t as good.
Arriving at Sunny Beach at about 4:30pm, we pulled up at a cafe and started searching online for a place to stay. Sunny Beach is a huge tourist destination and is akin to Benidorm. Oh the dilemma; camping for £25 or fully inclusive at a cheap hotel on the strip for £40; Knowing how much could be drunk on a Saturday night, the decision was easy.