Some visitors might look down on the pictures displayed here. I do not worry about that, the point of this blog is to give a flavour of Yambol as it is on a day-to-day basis. It's not the prettiest city, but has a personality unlike many other cities and towns. Change is the name of the game here, so pictures you see now will be dated very soon now that Bulgaria is in the EU.
Deperate For A Camera
My digital camera is so used now that I can't take sky of pictures because of internal marks on the lens. Would anyone like to donate a digital camera which perhaps they have no use for? I'll cover postage costs.
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Just off the centre of Yambol is a house that once used to be the home of a Yambol family. It is ripe for renovation being in a good convenient location. Why this hasn’t been done up until now is a mystery. Perhaps a block of apartments will replace it soon is the more likely.
Here is another view of the not so new Yambol Business Centre with the small block of apartments in the foreground. Somehow this massive building now has mellowed down a bit and doesn’t seem too intrusive and dominant as it was. Once the greenery around it has developed it will blend in even more.
This vast Yambol shop used to be a restaurant that served barbecued fish. It is now another shop that sells beds and sofas added to the countless other shops that sell these goods. I think I’d prefer it as a fish restaurant as there aren’t any about that I know of and it is just around the corner from where I live.
Yambol is now well into the growing season and the trees that looked dead a few months ago now have gone wild in greenery. Many trees have luscious growth at ground level as well as on their upper branches like this on pictured here.
Bulgarian is famed for its roses and perfume made from them. In fact over half thew world's supply of distilled rose comes from Bulgaria to be made into perfume and other cosmetic products. Yambol therefore is no stranger to roses and as a visitor you can't fail to be inpressed with them. There are millions of roses blooming right now in Yambol and the whole city is alight with colour and scent. I have just taken a picture of one that is on a municiple space set aside solely for roses.
This is a typical grave that you would find in Yambol's cemetery. The picture of the husband and wife buried there with the details craved out. A little windowed box space at the base of the headstone to keep memorabilia and an old storage can where lighted candles are placed to protect against the wind. We quite often attend to my partner’s family graves tidying up, lighting candles and paying our respect, just like most other families do from Yambol and Bulgaria as a whole.
This is an entrance to a Yambol town house only a few doors away from where we live. The house is empty, it has been for years but the entrance remians intact and full fo charactor. The birds are cut out from metal witht he typical rising sun design of the gate. As you can see the shrubbery is invading as it always does with vacant property in Yambol and surround.
Another fine example of the types of bicycles that are being ridden around Yambol nowadays. Both with carrier room for vegetables and two litres bottle of beer to be transported home after being bought from the local market. No locks needed as they stand in the middle of a pedestrian walkway. Bulgarian cyclists park bicycles like they park cars -Anywhere. No doubt sitting in a street cafe a few yards away whilst cooling down from their ride.
Not being a film or theatre going buff I don’t have much interest in what’s on at the Yambol theatre week in week out. Even if it were in English I still wouldn’t bother. Most people here would taker time look at the posters displayed on forthcoming plays and events at the Yambol theatre. It is a lovely little display on the more than pleasant pedestrian promenade.
This is the entrance to Yambol's cemetery where memorial posters are placed on anniversaries of the deceased family members. The photographs always tend to show them at their best usually taken when they were much younger if they died old. This is a good way to remember these Bulgarian folk who now are no longer with us.
Yet another bank that has opening in Yambol. From just a handful of bank four years ago, Yambol now has around thirty and are encouraging credit to be taken out with big campaigns on TV.
Yambol’s main library doesn’t look like a library at all from the outside. What’s more the library sign that says ‘Biblioteka’ in gold Bulgarian writing hasn’t yet got an English version alongside, yet! Having been inside the library situated on the 1st floor, it has a distinct library smell and a very helpful librarian. Grafitti has spread it's filthy wings again as you can see.
Rounded styled buildings in Yambol seem to have been the fashion in recent years. This still holds with this particular building, which is the headquarters of the Democratic political party for the Yambol district. I doubt whether there is a round table in the building though as politics doesn’t hold everyone as equal anymore or every has done thinking about it again!
Most of Yambol’s road sign are now being replaced with International sterile signs and has lost their individuality. It is nice still to see there are still original Bulgarian road sign albeit in poor condition. They give the same message but with more character and less aggressive. These Yambol road signs will all be obsolete very soon now. Shame.
We visited Yambol's Sara supermarket today for a change. It is the first big supermarket that was built there. It is more expensive than the other big supermarkets in Yambol now, so its popularity isn't as great as it used to be. At least there are no crowds when we go there, we only bought our daily bread and a beer there anyway before we went home.
In Yambol you are not allowed to walk around the shops with personal luggage. You have to leave it in lockers that are provided in many shops. This nice neat nest of lockers is in a Yambol Vilton supermarket. A good idea not only for preventing shoplifters having somewhere to hide goods, but saves you having to carry stuff around with you. I always forget to pick my luggage up when I leave though!
Another view of Yambol's Tunzdha River looking south. This stretch is only 200 metres from Yambol city centre, but untouched and unspolt left for nature to take control. I often pass this view crossing the bridge from the lower bazaar to the mains pedestrian walkway uphill passing the Diana Hotel. A lovely walk, just a pity about the amount of cars that travel on the road looking the other way.
Not being a fan of cars, especially modern cars, they do have more personality the older they are. This one was spotted in Yambol today. Not being an expert on makes and models, I don't have a clue on this on. Anyone care to name the make and model. It is in excellent order.
Outside one of the many 1 leva bargain shops is a poster that is still advertising on a Christmas theme. I'm sure it will still be there for the coming Christmas. And why not it save on poster paper, very colourful and is still in very good nick. Besides there is a white van that parks right in front of it most days so you can't see most of the time anyway!
A bar called 'Caramel' is situated on the south Elhovo road about 2 kilimtres from Yambol city centre. I often walk past it but never go there for a drink. The reason is that there is another Yambol drinking fountian that works just outside. In fact most people like me, drink from the fountain and ignore the bar. Not a good place to put it for this business.
By the side of Yambol's city centre park there is a big blow up slide for children to play on. It is not there all the time, mostly at weekends when the children are about. You have to pay, but not a lot around 1 leva for fifteen minutes. Nice to see bright colours and happy children in Yambol centre.
This is a picture of Yambol's Turkish Mosque taken from a south view. In the front of the turkish mosque is a little park with a memorial focal point where many Bulgarians will sit and eat snacks. The stone work is typically Turkish style and is a complete contrast in comparison to other structures in Yambol.
Yambol’s only sex shop as far as I know has been here for a few years therefore it must be making business even in a recession. I have never been inside the place, but know a few who have. They buy stuff there as a birthday or name day present as a joke, well that’s what they say. I don’t think I’d ever go in the shop unless someone dares me with a bribe.
This was the poster that showed what the new commercial business centre in Yambol was going to look like when completed. I n fact it does look exactly as the poster shows. It remain on show next to the complex, perhaps the poster will be changed at some point advertising cigarettes, credit companies or beer.
I found this coat of arms on a poster outside the disabled club. The motto of Yambol says, “Coming from the remote past, going to the future.” Not too sure what the future holds for Yambol right now, seems a little confused at the moment.
A school opposite the main Yambol hospital has some interesting architecture with the building with a rounded wall. It certainly creates a warm atmosphere as opposed to the straight sharp edged building you normally associate with a former communist country. Add the pink colour and this enhances the warmth even further.
The Ladas of Yambol are a dying breed. Every ten cars you saw in Yambol a few years ago eight might well have been Ladas and it would take you quite a while to find ten cars! Now the volume of traffic and the amount of modern western European cars imported it quite a turn around. So when I see a broken down Lada I feel quite sorry for it. This particular Lada will be fixed very cheaply and last longer than many other makes of cars that increasing continue to pollute Yambol.
Sometimes a simple object like a tree gives a big impression. In Yambol today this tree just stood out from all the other trees in the area. Its health, colour and grandness just took my attention; it had to have its picture taken. The shade of green is quite unique to this variety of tree, fir I believe.
The funfair is in Yambol and the bumper cars are my all time funfair favourite. Not much of a queue so not waiting involved, the troul eis there are no other drivers that you can bump into! No fun on your on so I gave it a miss. Perhaps there will be more people taking up bumper car driving seats this evening. The funfair seems to attract mainly gypsies from what I see here each year.
Teh Facade may look like a restaurant or night club, but it is the entrance to a secondhand clothign shop which I have to frequently hang around outside for as I get too bored inside. Yes, Galia is in there when this picture was taken hunting for the best baragains. Flamingo ins't the name of the shop by the way. this part fo Yambol is becoming quite posh area with many new buildings and developments taking place here. This is good and safe area to live situated about 3 km south of the city centre.
Playing ball on the beach
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This appears to be a father and son paying ball on Tamarindo beach. They
were having as much fun as the dogs playing in the surf behind them.
The beach app...
The Tower
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Ok, so you all think it is too early for Xmas lights. Then I will save them
until next week. Perhaps a view of the Tower of London across the Thames.
Temp...
Rocks, the other view
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Same area as in yesterday's photo. As you can see, there's a dam which is
used for electricity production. Recently some fish were introduced to the
area ...
Witty's lagoon
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This is the beach at Witty's Lagoon, a short drive along the coast west of
Victoria. I'll tell you a little more about Witty's lagoon tomorrow with a
few m...
Temple Door Art Thailand
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This beautiful piece of art work was photographed at a Buddhist temple in
Kuiburi, Thailand. I am unsure of the process used but it appears almost
burnis...
Fall Colors - IV
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One of the prettiest trees in our yard but it is almost bare now.
It's been raining since yesterday, and cold too! Ready to dry out and warm
up a bit!
Arc de Triomphe
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Yes, this is *Les Champs Elysées*. Yes, the street is amazingly empty... But
if you look carefully, you will notice a lot of policemen (including the
famo...
Black iron
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These are the doorways and windows of the Museum of the Filipino People just
off the porch created by the colonnade which I posted on Monday.
[image: doors...
Crystallized Ginger
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We've had some much needed rain over the past few days and the garden has
suddenly started to perk up.
This is one of the few gardening successes that I h...
whats underfoot
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I took this shot at my entrance into the hospital. That was a day of first
snow. Thus the picture looks doubly symbolical : the accidental pick
happened ...
Take Me Shopping
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Take Me Shopping, originally uploaded by Em Dy.
We rode this shuttle daily while we were in Guam because it took us to all
the shopping Guam has to offer...
Where in the World is Waldo?
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Where is Waldo?
He is high above on a San Francisco rooftop!
Note: Where is Karen? I will be visiting mainland China for the first time
in the next two we...
Street Series # 31
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This street is in front of Emmaus barnehage in Rosenli area. It is a quiet
street, nice for walking, running and taking children out to burn calories.
Autumn Memories Of The Canadian Rocky Area
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Right now, it's all I can do... it is definitely a mix of Autumn and Winter
here in the Rockies.
[image: Photobucket]
[image: Photobucket]
[image: Photob...
New Chamber of Architects
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The old three-cornered complex of "Escuelas Pías de San Antón" with church,
convent and the beautiful foutain Galapagos (fuente galápagos) will be
cleared...
Pagoda
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This bee 'hive' is near the Rose Garden in Stanley Park. Everything you ever
wanted to know about pollination, but were afraid to ask, is set out below.