Back to Bulgaria, via Niš

30/07/2019

Hi, it’s Annie again!

The morning began being woken up on an overnight bus going through border control into Serbia. Not all was bad as one of the border controllers looked a lot like a younger Jeremy Renner! However, more bad luck struck again as I began to panic that I would loose control of my bladder whilst still on the overnight bus with 1 hour left till our stop. The panic rose as I had to take a stopper as I feared I would - in no delicate manner - poo myself! Once I had taken the stopper I thought the troubles had past... I was wrong! I then became worried that I would loose control of my bladder and the driver did not seem to posses the key for the toilet! This was when me and Emma P decided to strengthen our friendship by her quick thinking resulting in me peeing in a sour cream and chive Pringles tube whilst she held a towel over me, blocking me from any innocent eyes. Definitely a backpacking experience I had not planned in having! Nevertheless, Tory and Ellie helped me laugh it off! 

We then arrived late in Niš as the bus was late arriving yesterday and there was a hideously long line of traffic! Ellie also realised that she had left her phone in its pouch on the bus by accident a few minutes after it had left, though the people behind the desk were happy to help and set up a taxi to take Ellie and Tory to get the phone as the driver of the bus had found it! All was not lost as we found a bakery which some of us tried new food such as Pita Krompiruša, and I decided to push the boat out and have a plain donut!

Us girls then went off on some free time to spend our money as we wouldn’t be able to change it back into euros. Me and Emma P got some new shorts as all our clothing we cleaned with travel wash has yet to fully dry! We then later got some sandwiches from the same bakery we visited for breakfast, yet I got the added experience of taking out all the cheese and tomato in my sandwich as I’m a disastrously fussy eater (the child all mothers hate.) 

After lunch in the park within the fort we visited the gift shop to get presents for others back home. We then grabbed an ice cream to enjoy on our way to get food for our tea as we wouldn’t be arriving at our next hostel till 9pm. Tory found this time to acquaint herself with the selfie-stick!

Once we had picked up our backpacks from the bus station we decided to remind Ellie about her phone with “have you got your wee pouch” (in a Scottish accent of course) to ensure we had no repeat of the morning! We then had a four hour bus journey to Sofia, where the border guard read out all our English names weirdly but admiringly.

After we arrived at the hostel though we soon realised we wouldn’t have a key for our room door. After we had calmed the highly stressed Gaby we ended up getting a key from reception, crisis averted. We then had wraps for tea in the girls room and quickly showered and went to bed. Tomorrow we’re spending the morning in Sofia, and then getting the train (another mode of transport!) to Zlatitsa, where we’ll be spending the night in a Neolithic hut!