The Road from Merdanya

To Zlataritsa, east of Gorna Oryahovitsa and Veliko Tarnovo. My brother lives in the forested mountains east of the Z-word, so we’ve driven this road several times in two weeks. It’s long and straight, perhaps a Roman road, with mature trees on its sides. Bro tells me that many roads in Bulgaria are bordered with trees that can provide food, in season, fruit and nut trees. And the result is a calming and shaded drive. 

We made the journey for the last time this afternoon, delivering Bro to the 10km track to his village in those mountains; we drive north to Ruse tomorrow, take the bus to Bucharest on Monday and a flight to Bristol on Tuesday. 

The fine weather broke last night, with a monsoon-like downpour. The same happened today when we dropped Bro off. The views remained lovely one side of the road down the mountain, but full of doom on the other – Extras. 

I don’t know when we’ll be back.