Yambol is not the prettiest City in Bulgaria, but it does have a unique character which is now in the process of being captured by camera. What you see now in Yambol will be short lived in a world of change, especially with the EU strangling the heart and soul of Bulgaria's culture with directives and uniform regulations.
The Tundzha Hotel in Yambol, quite posh inside with their own restaurant and disco facilities built in. Not my favourite place, to up market for me! But many visitors never go anywhere else because of its location. Right next to the park and the town centre is just across the main road.
Typical way of telling driver to avoid a manhole that has just been repaired, just stick a branch of a tree there. It is kind of pretty, environmentally friendly and definitely Bulgarian.
Today like most day, I noticed change in Yambol. In this instance a new graffiti appeared overnight. This is becoming a regular feature now in Yambol for the new generation of Bulgarian, the virus is spreading from western Europe, what a shame there is no antidote other than communism.
The Grand Theatre/Cinema in Yambol town centre. Many a concert held there from National and International performers. One of the best kept building in the town.
This is a Yambol cobblestoned street which has a paved walkway on the side. The owner of the house where it runs by decided to dig up all the paving stones and set up a growing area for more vegetables. Most people walk in the road and don't use the pavement, so it is not doing any harm and lets be honest the vegetable patch is in better condition now that what it was before!
These fine Yambolian Garden gates are seen daily. They are painted in the Bulgarian colours of red, green and white to give that distinctive blend of Bulgarian pride. Of course what is beyond those gates is a garden of produce you could die for.
This is a Bulgarian Vilton supermarket only built tow years ago. It's only a smallish one and other massive supermarkets have been built locally taking away many local Yambol customers. If we have to go to a supermarket we use this because it is small and on the way back from work. The other thing about this was the limited number of car parking spaces, only around 10 to cater for the supermarket, the bar, the flower shop and the hairdresser built within the complex for too small so traffic problem galore on the street running past it.
This the the lower end market by the bus station. It was caught very early in the morning today so not fully manned. There is all local produce sold there most from small holding in Yambol and the local villages. some of the out of season food os driven up from Turkey or Greece, only a couple of hours drive from the south.
This car is seen regularly in Yambol as I walk to and from the town centre. If I am quite honest if there was a choice of car I would love to own one of these rather than you big 4X4. It is cheap to run and oozes character. Don't you love it?
These just suddenly hit me as I walked by the big appartment blocks by the big dual carriageway. They must haved been two metres tall and planted by the aprtment block dwellers. They also find a space for flower and produce no matter where they live, this time in a public block of grass. I see them sometimes with used two litre beer bottles watering them.
Typical cobblestone made roads of Yambol with a big arching cambers. The ill-fitted drain and huge potholes are all part of the unique character of these roads. Furthermore, the number of accidents with pedestrian is negligible due to cars having to go at a snails pace.
The Junction looking westward. I have spent much time watching cars jump red light here! Turn left and you head towrds Benkovski a well known gypsy ghetto, (its not that bad, been there a few times). turn right and you head toward the town centre, straight ahead is the hospital and the road behind to Sliven a bigger and more posh town north of Yambol.
You've seen "The Riders" cafe headquarters in a previous picture. now we have "The Riders" van parked across the road on the pavement as most cars and vans are in Yambol.
Today I was passing the Kabile Hotel, only built last year. It is a prominent feature in this part of Yambol town centre. It has been said that it is mafia owned, that's all I will say on the matter from fear!
I love bicycles, they come in all shapes and sizes, I caught this one just at random with a typical top box carrier. I bike here is as popular as it has every been and it is a shame these old bikes are being replaced slowly with heavy, cheap and characterless mountain bikes, which incidentally aren't real mountain bikes!
A new bulgarian wall was being repaired in Yambol town, done of course very much in the Bulgaria way. The construction is a work of art in itself. All this on a public street that remians untouched as there isn't any crime in these town areas. tis will be standing for a week for the concrete to set and will remain as it is.
One of the many Sport Lotto shops based around Bulgaria's Yambol town. this one is run by Galia's friend Dora. It is like Kew Gardens inside with all the plants Dora maintains. It is her home from home!
In Yambol there is The Riders club, the equivilent of Hell's Angels but much nicer people. This is their headquarters called The Riders Cafe. It is just a few minutes away from the town centre.
Next to the market at the high end of Yambol is an interesting mural symbolising Yambol's past.
Another new bank in Yambol, they are breeding fast and making Yambol become a sterile town without character. This bank was a lovely street cafe a few weeks ago!
Just a sample of the glorious trees that Yambol town centre has, the dominate much of the town and are looked after well by the community.
The Global telephone shop in the newly built square on the upper part of Yambol next to the fruit and vegetable market (bazaar).