Got back on Monday evening from near Varna so I thought I would update you a bit. Lots of building work going on around St Konstantin and I cannot see uit all being finished by the summer. Albena - they are still working on the building near the spa centre but the new Flamingo Hotel near the centre looks almost complete. Varna is even worse than last year for parking, lots of jeeps or similar around. Only 1 rainy day out of 10 and 1 cloudy day, we were walking the dog on the beach at Kranevo and Albena at 6.30/7pm on a couple of evenings and I have 'lines' only on my arms though from wearing t-shirts. The shopping malls are open in Varna but very empty, a friend (on the 'wealthy' side for Bulgarians as her husband works for a German company) said they are always like this and when we popped in to buy a car seat for a child they certainly were and quite expensive goods in them. There is building work in Kranevo also but the restaurants on the beach were quite busy with Bulgarians eating and still a good price for a great meal. The Georgian in Varna was also good value. Fly tipping is taking hold around Varna, partly as there is a new landfill site and the rubbish is not always secured properly on the lorries and it blows off.... but it is now 50 leva a ton to get your rubbish disposed of (know this as friends house renovation has rubbish waiting to be collected).

Went to the spa pool in St Konstantin and the indoor one in Varna, certainly needed it after horse riding, found a small stables at Kichevo, they use western saddles, which are more comfortable, 20 leva for 1 hour through the forests, was wonderful, we went twice. Nice chap who runs it, think the website address is http://www.westernadventure.biz he will take you on longer rides but we felt that as it was several years since we had ridden it was best to be cautious!

Only the Druzhba (sp) open in Albena and renovations being carried out at the Gergana, from the large sign we saw it seems the Albena Beach hotel is now the Gergana also. St Konstantin had more places open, probably because of the spa pool there but still not much going on, possibly as their Easter is not until the 26th April, last year there were a lot of Romanians at the Gergana but our holidays were the same then.

Stil bargains to be had at times, got a lovely pair of purple leather shoes (yes its my favourite colour) for £24.

Good flights with Bulgaria Air, no problems at all timewise - in fact arrived home a bit earlier than expected, I just wish they had a little more leg room.

Nels