<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/640/view-from-bedroomoct12" rel="attachment wp-att-643"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-643" title="view-from-bedroom(oct12)" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/view-from-bedroomoct12.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="150" /></a>The longer we reflect on our holiday with Martin &amp; Kate the more we realise what an incredible couple they are. Of all the places they could have settled in Bulgaria they chose a small village at the end of a road. A village that had one bus out per day and a shop that has metal shelves around the room but very little stock. The villagers are aging and once they get over 80 most are leaving to be nearer their families who left years ago to live in towns and cities. It is a peasant society in the country and it is easy to see how Britain must have been prior to the industrial revolution. Although the summers are blistering hot there are plenty of lakes and reservoirs around so there is no shortage of water and the farms look fertile. There are no fences so the shepherds move their sheep, goats and cattle across fields without fear or favour of trampling sown crops. Why farmers accept this is unclear.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/640/topolovgradoct12" rel="attachment wp-att-641"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-641" title="topolovgrad(oct12)" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/topolovgradoct12.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="200" /></a>The towns and cities are a significant contrast to the countryside although the utilitarian communist period has left most cities devoid of architectural statements there is a significant cafe culture and the shops are modern with all essentials and luxuries readily available. Many of the larger stores are multinationals from other european countries - Lidl, Baumax and CarreFour but no sign of Tesco or Sainsbury. There are still some quirky shops, for example a shop in Topolovgrad that sells only cleaning materials, mainly washing powder.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/640/topolovgrad-streetsceneoct" rel="attachment wp-att-642"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-642" title="topolovgrad-streetscene(oct" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/topolovgrad-streetsceneoct.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="150" /></a>We enjoyed the cafe culture and spent many lunchtimes sitting in the shade, eating (see the food posting) and drinking.

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