The Sakar Hills Wine Festival
On a 54-km circular cycle ride from Camping Sakar Hills in Biser in the very far southeast of Bulgaria, we rode through Ljubimets, Jerusalem, Kolarovo, Balgarin and Harmanli. All was as it ever was in these places except Kolaravo in the centre of Bulgaria's wine producing district. Several wineries exist in the area, including two in the village itself, one of which was holding a festival filling the normally sleepy village with cars, a coach and three Bulgarian-registered motorhomes.
Margaret, ever on the lookout for a bargain, wandered in and around while Barry watched the bikes. After a short interval Margaret was seen returning holding a paper plate containing cheesy nibbles and fruit tartlets, then halted by a severe-looking woman. They seemed to be in earnest conversation until Margaret abruptly handed her the plate and continued out. What had happened? There had been a queue at one stall where people where filling plates with all kinds of goodies so Margaret had joined them. Restricting herself to just a few items, her offer to pay was refused, which seemed like a generous arrangement. However, Margaret was soon intercepted by the woman who explained that the food was only for guests. Asked how one became a guest, the woman replied that she needed a ticket. Asked the price of a ticket, the woman replied 'twenty lev' (equivalent to €10 euros or about £9). Instead of the money she was handed the plate. So we never got to sample the wines!
Margaret, ever on the lookout for a bargain, wandered in and around while Barry watched the bikes. After a short interval Margaret was seen returning holding a paper plate containing cheesy nibbles and fruit tartlets, then halted by a severe-looking woman. They seemed to be in earnest conversation until Margaret abruptly handed her the plate and continued out. What had happened? There had been a queue at one stall where people where filling plates with all kinds of goodies so Margaret had joined them. Restricting herself to just a few items, her offer to pay was refused, which seemed like a generous arrangement. However, Margaret was soon intercepted by the woman who explained that the food was only for guests. Asked how one became a guest, the woman replied that she needed a ticket. Asked the price of a ticket, the woman replied 'twenty lev' (equivalent to €10 euros or about £9). Instead of the money she was handed the plate. So we never got to sample the wines!