Saturday 5 October

 This morning we wake up in Bulgaria after sailing from Romania. We are now well into the Danube. Last night we had entertainment from our enrichment director Jonathon. He has a great voice and  it was a lot of fun listening to and joining in his songs. 

At 10.30 we have a trivia competition, covering anagrams and general knowledge, we score 16 out of 20 and win by one. Prize - box of chocolates. 

We have an early lunch as we have a hiking tour at 1.30. Our  excursion is a 15 minute bus drive to the top of a hill just outside of Silistra. It is an Ottoman fortification system used during the Crimean war. Bulgaria is in a key location and has been the subject of repeated invasions from the Ottomans, Russians, Serbia, Romania and of course the Romans. After the Second World War they were controlled by the communists who confiscated all the farms and turned them into state run agriculture. Farmers who refused to comply were either imprisoned or executed. They lost everything, including their homes and animals. Since the revolution in the late 80s when the communists were overthrown the large farms are now privately owned by business conglomerates, and the local farmers are no more. 

The fort is the last one standing of a number that were constructed to defend Silistra. After walking around the fort we head back to the ship - by foot. It is a great view over the town, but it looks a long way off. At least it is all downhill, but with many steps (326). The steps are well spaced out and we took the walking poles from our cabin. It is 27 degrees and we are feeling it.

It took nearly an hour to get back to the ship, it is time for a well earned beer.

We set sail and we have Bulgaria on one side and Romania on the other. We will sail all day tomorrow until we get to Vidin, so internet will be patchy.

After dinner tonight there is a music trivia but we bomb out with 22 out of 33.