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.
Just a typical scene of a Yambol block apartments seen from street level. They work and are really expensive in Yambol now. They are in short supply but you wouldn't think living in one of those would appeal unless you are in Bulgaria. Air-conditioning systems seem to be the fashion now with many having already been installed as you can see.![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_ul6oo-qwgDu9shHy4pw-v5ZdElXbOUdEyIk3sO8QZdHE-WdNoncxS8AV8WQG0eAeyzYqh8LwMpJOuuK1HLSdGgVwWiJo9k1_i326KboVQZgux5jIE_YKzD_ImK3yhpiXKAQo1x8OL_CJqRXnjstAg=s0-d)
This just caught my in eye as I looked above me in Yambol today. An assortment of telephone cables which seem to have no order. How the technicians work out whose is whose is a mystery, maybe they don't!
This Yambol truck scared the life out of me as I turned around the corner to come face to face with it. It is of course a truck for carrying logs. this one was parked in a residential street with learner plates on. the truck is hand painted, normal on this truck with a personality within.
The massive police station in Yambol. the lady walking towards the building reported me for taking this picture and I was approached two policemen in plain clothes moments later. Luckily I could explain in Bulgaria why I was taking the pictures for my picture blog. Afterwards, they explained their disappointed as they thought I was a reporter for a newspaper!
This two boys are Gypsies and their favourite place for begging is just outside the St Nikolai's Church in Yambol town centre. Business is good for them right now with tourists all around. Even in the winter I see them there, Bulgarian folk are a generous bunch and regularly give money and food to these two gypsy boys. There are usually other Gypsy children begging that hang around this area but not today.
This old car has been parked here for as long as I have lived here. I see it day in day our year after year. It hasn't budged with it's obsolete number plate and vegetation growing around. It is strange no on does anything about it, especially so as it is parked just outside the Yambol police station!
Just 200 metres from the town centre within a block of apartments is a caravan, this used to be someone's home, probably a place where a security man stay whilst building is going on in neighbouring buildings. Notice the set of stacked stones on the left to keep it 'stable.'
There are Bulgarian driver and then there are Bulgarian kearner drivers, I can't think of anything worse driving on the road! There are loads on the road in Yambol right now.
Next to Yambol's town centre park is a newspaper kiosk, this is used frequently. Before you can buy your newspaper or magazine, the owner has to be looked for and found sitting in the park most of the time in the summer months.
Nothing held back here as the advertising is made on an enormous scale providing some insulation to the apartments at the same time. The residents get a small payment for agreeing to have this there and they are the only people in Yambol who don't have to see it!
A massive commercial complex is being created in Yambol right now. It has been ongoing for the past year and was formally a old apartment block. It is being renovated and developed into a Commercial Centre right in the heart of the town next to St Nikolai's Church.
A Yambol shop whose entrance is a metre above ground solves the problem by sticking a box and some metal steps for customers to enter. The box is used for storing the ice cream freezer parlour.
This is the back of a factory in Yambol where the workers grow their own food. This is typical of the other side to the industrial area of Yambol. Gardening in their break times in normal. the food goes back to their families when harvested. A good balance of industry and the environment surrounding it.
Another bicycle picture in Yambal. This time the cyclist is taking a chair home with him after work. Again no gears, no brakes, hand painted green, the same colour as his garden fence.
Here is my favourite shops in Yambol's lower bazaar; the hardware store. They sell everything for a smallholding and that's the appeal. Inside, there are even more goodies including seeds and animal feed. I could spend all day there. I might even ask for a job working there one day.
On of the many trucks that carry the logs to households in and around Yambol. This is a common sight this time of year when winter fuel is bought before the prices go up int he autumn. I just love the chunky chap charactor of the truck.
In the heart of Yambol town centre you will find the 17th Century covered bazaar. Outside, you will see this shop set up and a reminder that the Black Sea Coast reports are less than a hours drive if you own a black Mercedes or two hours if you own a Lada.
If you want fast food in Yambol this is one of the options. Sitting opposite the Dublin Bar
Another new bank in Yambol town centre - Yuk! But one of the nicest front to any shop just such a pity it's a bank!
It was the colour of this Skoda car that caught my eye parked in the centre of Yambol today. The classical shape of a car that appeals. It is such a simple car, purely practical with no frills which is why it appeals to me so much.
I found a couple of litter bins in Yambol today. they are situated just outside the town centre in the park grounds of the church but use by Bulgarian walking past the road adjacent. They aren't new but well used, looked after and respected. they look new because they had just been recently painted. They may be only litter bins but oh how refreshing it is to see such a site in perfect condition!
This is the popular Dublin Bar in Yambol, frequented by many English here, in fact the central meeting point of British expatriates once a month. The reason? The food is mainly deep fried, the staff all speak English and the theme is Irish which is close enough to be a home from for most Brits. A 'Little Britain' right in the heart of Yambol. I personally avoid the place like the plague, for the simple reason I'm in Bulgaria!
A delivery van in Yambol centre, notice the bulgarian parking here, one car on the pavement the van side on to the kerb, normal in Yambol. These vans are full of character and should have names like Ivan or Hristo as they have personality. Unlike the white transit van brigade - YAWN!
A newspaper stand abandoned in the centre of Yambol. No doubt it was the four hour break at lunchtime when this picture was taken today; or there wasn't any news in Yambol today!
Here is what see everyday, it's Yambol's attractive St Nikolai's Church. A fine building in the heart of the town amidst a well kept park. The church is often used by many especially on religious festive occasions. One of the priests of this church is my next door neighbour.