A Faded Yambol Shop Sign

There are many of these old and faded shop signs around Yambol. This one is for a second hand clothing shop. There are countless second hand clothing shops in Yambol, but in this case the sign has lasted longer than the business which is no longer there. 

Look Out! A Speeding Yambol Sledger

As I made my way up the steep snow covered Borovets Hill in Yambol I had to jump out of the way of a speeding sledge coming down. I just caught the back end of the sledger as I saw him disappear uncontrolled down the hill. I don't know what became of the sledger, I just hope he didn't hurt himself when his run ended. As you can see I was quite a way up the hill with at least one kilometre climbed. I just wish I had a sledge to do the same thing.

The Yambol Buggy Rider's House

Over the last two weeks snow has been around and so has this buggy which I see sometimes but hear often. It is a teenager who just goes out on it for the fun of it. Skidding has now been perfected and now a fine art on the snow and ice clad roads of Yambol. I just happened to pass his house where the buggy was parked outside so I now know where he lives. An ideal form of transport in the snowy conditions we have at the moment.

Fancy An Ice Cold Coca Cola In Yambol?

No need for refrigeration for a cold coca cola in Yambol. In fact the chances are that the contents of this fridge outside is frozen solid inside or more than likely empty with temperatures reaching - 22C a few nights ago. This picture was taken only 50 metres from our home next to the main Yambol hospital.

Yambol Trees Taller Than An Apartment Block?

Well of course these Yambol trees are aren't taller than the apartment block - It is down to perspective, but you knew that already. I just like the snow covered trees against the backdrop of the apartment block. Mind you, you do get a better perspective of he size of the trees with the chap walking by to the right. They are in my opinion a grand pair of trees and perhaps taken for granted as people walk by and not notice them.

Yambol's Snow Covered Traffic Lights

Snow has sat on this set of Yambol traffic lights for a few days now, it hasn't budged with the temperatures well below freezing during the day. Also they remain amber and it is quite entertaining seeing the traffic doing 'The Dare' when approaching this junction and lots of near misses and horns sounding. I'm not sure why many traffic lights in Yambol are part time.

A Yambol Man On Crutches - Ice And Snow To Blame

Snow and ice cause accidents as I caught site of one such Yambol man who was walking back form the hospital on crutches. You can guarantee that you will see many people will be incapacitated with winter here and ice on the ground. I had to feel sorry for him, he obviously couldn't afford a taxi and had no smile on his face for the photograph as he approached me. However he did cheer up a bit when I explained to him his picture would be on the Internet for the world to see. Funny how he didn't really care that hew was pictured with crutches!

A Yambol Child Travelling By Sledge

The first snow of the New year brought about many different forms of transport in Yambol this weekend. And to be quite honest this was the only was to travel with over half a metre falling in one day! This was also the first time I have ventured out for a week having a bad back. Not the best environment for back treatment, but pretty.

Yambol's Zlaten Rog Apartment Block

With forefront of the Tundzha River and houses lines on the banks you can see the massive 'Zlaten Rog' apartment block complex. Many a time I have attended parties there and visited the Disco called 'Vermont which plays entirely Bulgarian Pop Folk (or Chalga) music. It looks impressive from a distance and although looks a long way away only takes ten minutes to walk there from this position.

A Yambol Bee Keeping Shop

Yambol and the surround is well known for its bee keeping and honey products. You will find many stall that selling local honey, but where do they get their equipment? The shop is located adjacent the Tundzha River on the south side of Yambol. Having been inside and had 'a nose' it is one of my favourite shops to visit from a point of interest in bee keeping. This is not the only bee keeping shop in Yambol, but the demand is there so perhaps they will survive the recession.

The Yambol Russian Club

Tucked away round the corner for the man Yambol Post Office, this little place is the Yambol Russian Club. Russians in Bulgaria out number any other foreigners here and is increasing. There is still a great relationship with the former USSR due to warmer weather, cheaper housing and of course beautiful women. I've never seen anyone go in or out of this place, but it must be used perhaps as a drinking establishment a the Russians do like their vodka!

A Yambol Tobbaconist Shop

Cigarettes are going to almost double in price this spring in Bulgarian, so what are the cigarette firms going to do to compensate the drop in sales? Simple put their marketing in you face. This is already in place in many tobacconists and supermarket retail outlets in Yambol with advertising boards and even video screens with cigarette ads being played in prime places where customers wait at the check out. This picture is a typical scene of advertising Victory cigarettes. In fact the shop is actually made completely from advertising materials. There is more than one of these shops in Yambol.

Yambol's Pop Folk Singer Elena Yankova Remembered

Just south of Yambol city centre I saw a plaque for Elena Yankova who lived between the years 1825 - 1901. The road was named after her and this sparked my curiosity - I found out from local knowledge that she was a Yambol folk singer who had a big repertoire of songs which were published by her son Kolev. The over 200 songs were published posthumously some 12 years after her death. I find it so heart-warming that these Yambol folk remembered in this way. I assume she lived in this street all those years ago.

A Yambol Ice Cream Stall In Winter

This ice cream stall may seems quite a strange sight to see in mid winter in Yambol, but with strange weather here it is no surprise. It may not be trading today as it is cold again, but only recently with temperatures reaching 20C + in December and January, 'Sledled' was been sold here and in other locations in Yambol city centre. This particular ice cream stall is just outside the entrance to the Yambol Town Park.

Yambol's Town Park - Bracket Mushrooms

Mushrooms like unpolluted environments and Yambol's Town Park is just that. This is the reason these fine specimen bracket mushroom are in such good condition in mid winter. Mushroom hunting was a big hobby of mine in the UK, I just don't get much time to do it here but when I do there is a massive variety of fungus with many being edible. The nature in Yambol is in good form for a city.

A Yambol 1st Floor Outside Toilet

These are a favourite of mine but this outside toilet has a difference. this is an elevated outside toilet with a view. Being on the 1st floor is not common, but having a satellite dish as part of the construction is. Another advantage is that is is a well ventilated area although not exactly private as you can see form the vantage point of the shot from the public street. I just love outside toilets, so practical and of course being so high up mean that there is good gravity to take deposits away.

Yambol's Town Park - Gymnast Figure Statue

Yambol's Town Park holds many surprises and I had missed this figured statue of a gymnast until now. It is placed outside the municipal building in the centre of the park not easily seen unless you are on the path to the building. The ring she is holding is not complete, I'm sure this is due to weather elements rather than vandalisation elements. A fine figure it is like most Bulgarian women I see here.

Yambol's Town Park - A Ruined Restaurant

A walk to the north end of Yambol's Town Park will present a ruined restaurant that hasn't been in action for at least 15 years I am told. A lovely setting in the summer season. It was also used as a lively disco on occasions and no complains from neighbours as it is totally isolated in the park environment. Such a shame is is now in complete ruin.

Yambol Water Fountain - Dry

Every since first coming to live in Yambol I have only seen this water fountain working a handful of times. Today is a normal day for the fountain which is stone dry. I presume the fountain is not broken, but just not operating to save on water and electric in these hard financial times. No doubt we will see it up and running again in the summer, it makes such a difference and a happy feeling when working.

Mid-Winter In Yambol City Centre - True!

It is lunchtime and it is mid winter in Yambol city centre, but you wouldn't think so looking at all these diners eating outside on this sunny warm day. We are having a heat wave in January and the best thing form most people is the saving on heating which is the most expensive commodity during the Bulgarian winter. Not doubt normality will return to Yambol's winter soon, but we are all enjoying the warm winter days right now.

A Wonky Yambol Children's Slide

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Just before this picture was taken a few Yambol children were playing on this particular wonky slide. They were well used to the tilt and had just as much fun on this as they would have on a non-wonky slide. Because of the frequent earth movement in this part of the world, including earthquakes, you will find many things on a tilt.

Children's Fresco On The Back If Yambol Advertising Boards

As you walk along the pedestrian only path through to the east end of Yambol you will never see the back of advertising boards unless you deviate from the main path. It is a pleasant surprise you will get if you do and look at the back of one of the advertising boards. This simple children's fresco of humanised animals really does capture the walk back in time in Children's dreams. It took me back to Peter Rabbit and Co., something I hear nothing of in this age of Hi-tech kids entertainment.

Nightgowned Models In Yambol City Centre

It was -3 C when this picture was taken in Yambol city centre and I had to look twice when walking by this particular shop. I really thought that these models were real people at first sight and couldn't believe they were wearing these outfits in this extreme cold weather. A little giggle set in when I realised that they were manikins! I laughed even more when realising that the male manikin on the right could easily be mistaken for a gay with the nightgown draped over him!

A Yambol Tree With Two Faces

This tremendous tree stands just outside Yambol's city centre Elementary School, but looking at the shapes it creates looks like something from a horror movie. It was only when I got the picture back and downloaded it that I realised how threatening it looks as if it is preying on the passers by. From spring onwards the threat ends and a glorious green canopy takes form. A tree of two faces it seems.

The End Of Murphy's Bar In Yambol

Murphy's Bar in Yambol city centre has been around for for as long as I can remember. what I can't understand is why the place hasn't shut done years ago. The reason is simple, every time I walk past the place it is empty! I can't say I'm sorry to see it close down it just reminds me of the types of restaurant pub type of places that serve junk food and sterile beer at ridiculous prices in the UK. Whether this was opened initially to attract expatriates from the UK is a mystery, but the business has failed totally in any case.

A New DIY Fashion Jewellery Shop In Yambol

One of the busiest and colourful shops in Yambol this Christmas was the new DIY jewellery shop that has opened. You can't fail to noticed the bright coloured beads in the window when you pass and like many others we went in to see the massive selection on show. The beauty is that you can create you own beautiful unique jewellery very cheaply. The shop was packed when we visited and sales were doing well. Great to see that this is doing well and a hobby that is very popular with Bulgarian minors and adults alike.

A New Christmas Light On A Yambol Lamppost

Having mentioned before that Yambol reuses all their public Christmas displays year in year out, I found one that was new! It is a simple moon shaped star tapped into the Yambol lamppost wiring to light up at night when the light goes on. I think it actually looks just as effective against a clear blue Yambol sky and like the idea that it is not a gimmicky American ‘Father Christmas’ style display, but a more classical format of the travelling Bethlehem star.

The Back Of Yambol's Billa Supermarket

What an eyesore! This was taken from the lovely Yambol's Town Park overlooking the River Tundzha. A few years ago this would have been pure nature. The horrible red back of the Billa supermarket is now resident here and a blot on the landscape. Supermarket tactics of an out of town shopping place where access in the main is by car. There are enough derelict areas in the town centre to be developed but supermarkets choose scenic venues for their trade. By the way I avoid shopping here and prefer the local small Bulgarian grocers that give a better personal service and don’t rush you though like cattle.

Subsidence In Yambol City Centre

This picture shows of subsidence in Yambol City Centre and is probably cause by exisiting underground work done on the subway that routes its way under the main road. People are still casually walking the path even though it look like further subsidence could easily take place. No warning signs up at all of this earthmoving incident. A children play area is just beyond this and could be affected later on. Another though was whether this was a mild earthquake that caused it?

The Lone Yambol Accordionist

Walking in the Yambol City centre this morning I caught the sound of an accordianist. It took a good couple of minutes to reach the source fo the music as the sound travels far on the flat concrete paved area of Yambol. A lone accordionist was playing and singing traditional folk music. There were no crowds today and his earning seemed to be zero unless he had recently gathered earning up and pocketed it. The musical talent in Bulgaria is widespread.

Husky Dog Weather In Yambol - Not!

Husky dogs are very popular in Yambol. I would say that out of ten poeple walking dogs two would be walking a husky. Well the winters in Yambol certain make Husky at home, but this year it is not Husky weather in Yambol with temperatures soaring to 15-16 C on New Year Day!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!