retiredmartin

April 2024. Plovdiv.

An ancient city, possibly the oldest in Europe, built on seven (7) hills (remind you of anywhere ?), Bulgaria’s second city promised everything bar hand pumps.

The minibus driver was doing a tour of the city and the monasteries but we were just hitching a ride from Sofia so he dropped us off centrally in Kapana, home to sponsored art,

and more craft beer than Plymouth (though the Bulgarian definition of “craft” may not be CAMRA approved).

Kapana quarter is stunning, a rambling network of cobbled streets on different levels packed with bars and baristas.

And we were staying in the heart of it, so after dumping bags early we picked the ONLY bistro without craft, Brick House’s reviews the very definition of a “mixed bag”.

“it actually looks like a patron cartrige for a small lady pistol” writes Kalin C, enigmatically

I avoided patron belt, sticking to the healthiest meal of the trip,

paired with the national lager of Bulgaria. Kamenitza (sweet, lightly carbonated) I reckon, even though it’s not spelt anything like that.

A bargain lunch well under a tenner, and no sign of squat loos Kentish Paul. In fact, toilets were better than you get in micropubs.

Anyway, here’s a 🐦 for you to identify.