we absolutely loved it - we stayed in the so-called Greek neighbourhood, just by the park, we've visited it on the go last year as well, that's why we decided to come back and stay.
indeed there's a similarity to Odessa which I've mentioned as well, keeping the proportions.
what we loved most was the huge area in which you could just walk without being bothered by streets with cars, basically from across the cathedral down to the beach you can walk without crossing any street, the pedestrian in the city centre going into the park. the park had it all, for all age groups, and it's huge and the thing that sets Varna apart. the beach was more than decent for a public one and the view from the beach with the park, the hills in the background and the Galata Cape was very nice.
the pedestrian in the city centre is wonderful - the amount of old buildings wonderfully preserved and full of life, still inhabited and hosting shops and bars, so alive. the fact that they didn't intermix Communist-era buildings in the city centre is something rare for this part of the continent and gives a very nice vibe to the city.
the secondary streets in the Greek neighbourhood as well, are very nice to walk, I love the pre-WW2 architecture and Varna has plenty.
I was able to get around without any problems just using the not so great Russian I know, it was more than enough. I've also heard it everywhere around the city. several older people asked us if we're Russian and they seemed a bit disappointed we were Romanian. probably my blond kids and my wife's appearance fooled them, as I myself don't think I look Russian. anyway they are so used to Russian tourists there that by default they thought we might be Russian probably. at the playground my kids were playing with kids speaking Bulgarian, Russian, Ukrainian, it was nice to see it, parents exchanging smiles and involving in casual talk, just a normal and chill atmosphere away from the political crap.
we have a long list of things to see in Bulgaria but my wife is less enthusiastic - she wants just some sun, some beach, not a road trip
but I want to somehow also get to Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo area (Bozhentzi, Etar), Ruse, Burgas, Nesebar, Sozopol...
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