Day 31 Topolovgrad/Jambol in Bulgaria to Havsa/Edirne in Turkey

The boys have at long last reached their final country: Turkey.  Bob continued down the Red Route 7 and entered Turkey en route to Edirne.  Whilst Mark left Topolovgrad and via Svilengrad and Kapitan Andreevo, left Bulgaria at a border crossing where enormous (yet similarly sized) flags of Bulgaria, Turkey and the EU were flying.

Edirne is the first major city in Turkey the traveller from Bulgaria or Greece will pass through and might be described as one of Mosques and Minarets.  Indeed, it is especially beautiful and contains the 'finest mosque in Turkey' - according to Bob.  As Mark cycled out soon after 5pm, the calls to prayer of repeated Mujhuaddin could be heard.

Back in Topolovgrad, Mark had met Archie the pet Macaw.  Now in old age he has lost most of the feathers on his chest - something of a metaphor for the Imperial Hotel whose green coloured swimming pool looked less than inviting than it did last night.  The steak that tasted like 'veal substitute' should have been a clue.  And what's the betting that this place used to be a 'People's Rest and Recuperation Centre' back in the Communist days.  But last night it was a true haven in a country where the past is mouldering away.