Hello All,
I realise it's not the destination numbero uno for independent motorbike travel, but does anyone know a bike friendly place (where you can park securely and make a bit of a mess with chain lube and stuff) in Sunny Beach/Bulgaria?

I would not mind spending a few days on the beach and since I'll pass right by it...

Cheers
buebo

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Projekt Balkan
www.buebo.de - Der tägliche Wahnsinn

Hi,
I can't help you with the sound of the surf, or the sea breeze blowing through your hair, if you've got any, but we do have a camp site in southern Bulgaria, where you would be welcome to do maintenance work on your bike. Can even offer you a concrete hard standing to work on, lots of hot water, and good toilets. It may be that we are on your route, anyway, and you could do your work at our place after you've been to Sunny Beach.
Look us up at Camping Bulgaria at Sakar Hills
Cheers,
Martin
Sakar Hills Camping

buebo

I was heading for Suny Beach for much the same reasons as you last year, when I found myself riding past The London Pub in Burgas: quite central, close to the waterfront; VERY bike-friendly -- thank a guy called Pete who rode through a couple of years ago. All the local ex-pats loved him so much, there's a warm welcome there for all bikers. They should be able to point you towards a workspace, but more importantly, you'll be able to eat some good English food*...

*I'm kinda joking. But the breakfasts were delicious;-)

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www.BesideTheSeaside.eu
---I'm back. Now what?---

Thanks all for the nice replies!

Martinjeffes: I read all about your Campsite already and I might hit you up on my way back from Istanbul. I'll contact you later about that, no real idea yet when I'll be passing through.

Mike: London Pub in Burgas, I'll check it out.

The thing is, the bike's not really in need for a thorough maintenance, just the stuff that needs to be done occasionally but riding through Europe I have the feeling that most Hotels and Pensions in the so called tourist hot spots take a rather dim view of the smelly biker messing around with his bike in their parking lot. Might disturb the legitimate clientele or something

Then again I'm not Captain Sensible, so what the heck?

See ya!

P.S.: Still open for suggestions

__________________
Projekt Balkan
www.buebo.de - Der tägliche Wahnsinn

For the "whatever it's worth" file, I've changed oil, adjusted and replaced chains, fixed flats and done other routine maintenance in hotel/pension/hostal/hostel/restaurant/campground parking lots all over Europe and North America. Also on the sides of highways, in rest areas and gas station parking lots. No one seemed to care---or at least, if they did they kept quiet about it. I do not leave oil spills or used bits and pieces, and I do my maintenance in faraway corners, not in front of main entrances.

It took me a while before I figured out how to change out oil and filters without even dribbling. After that, it was easy to learn to spray down my chain and conduct other essential business without leaving a mess behind. And I try to make a point of not spending hours and hours at it, or spreading parts and tools far and wide. I figure that by the time someone's taken notice, I'm almost done.

I do not tend to stay at five star hotels, please note.

As far as Sunny Beach and the rest: I was absolutely appalled at Sunny Beach, which concentrates everything that is depressing about tourism along one short section of coastline. I liked Sozopol a lot, but I probably would have stayed in Nesebar if I'd had some reason to be closer to the mass touristic experience of Sunny Beach. Burgas didn't really do it for me.

If you do end up in Sozopol, befriend the (ethnically) Russian souvenir sellers where you park just before entering the old section. They'll be happy to try to speak English with you, happier still if you try to speak a word or two of Russian, and they'll eagerly help with any logistical or practical problems you've got. I don't know how it really works, of course, but Russians are widely reviled in Bulgaria (as elsewhere in Eastern Europe), and these guys seemed pretty happy to be treated as human beings for a change. Also, they claimed never to have spoken with an actual American before, and tried to shower me with tacky gifts.

Hope that helps.

Mark