Balkan Bucket Bonanza

[Squire_Dawson]

Very good. Very, very good.

[Bucketeer]

^^^^ One of my first ports of call.

The directions you gave me are indelibly etched in to my brain. I just hope all the B's are still there.

I have plenty much excitements. Not long 'til I get to meet my one true love.

 

 

I just hope it doesn't ruin me for all other cars in the same way raisin and biscuit Yorkies ruined me for all other chocolate bars.

[The Moog]

You got that jag! Pure disgustingness

[Bucketeer]

It was just as foul as you described, if not worse.

Horrific/10.

[Lord Sterling]

Bucks - There a reason I couldn't visit this thread, it reminds me of how much I miss France. Damn, to be there again.

 

I really wish I could be there again. I'm glad your having a great time over there. There really is so much chod to see/spot.

[Mr Lobster]

Accrington used to have an Aixam dealer who seemed to sell quite a few of them so they were (relatively) common around these parts a few years back.

[Bucketeer]

As anyone unfortunate enough to have suffered through previous posts on this thread will know, I spent a while in Bulgaria recently. Well I'm back now, so expect more poor pics of commie chod (occasionally sprinkled with laydeez) and the odd tale of bargain basement debauchery, rubbish cars bought from blokes in the woods and other related and non-related dullness.

 

I went for a little stroll this morning to pap some run-of-the-mill Bulgoshite and get back in the Bulgospottingz groove before I bring the 'A' game.

 

 

 

 

 

Shite Row (with added stray dog)

 

 

 

I make absolutely no apologies for the likelihood of many pictures similar to the one below in the near future.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE LOTS OF BEIGE LADAS, THIS IS NOT THE THREAD FOR YOU.

 

 

Postbox guard kitteh says - That's it for now. Go Away.

[Bucketeer]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Pillock]

Just read through several pages of this, not quite sure why I've missed it before.

 

I'm confused though; the Italian wives and being offered bed and food, and wandering the countryside, and just sort of happening on cool stuff. You never actually said which film this is a script of.

[hairnet]

OMG barkas pick up!!!

 

*must hire transporter*

[Bucketeer]

I've been feeling a bit rough for the last couple of days (and not all of it due to over indulgence). This, coupled with a bit of a loss of my spotting mojo means piss-poor blurry photos, some with digit intrusion too. ENJOY.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You never actually said which film this is a script of.

It's really not fun and frolics 24/7 but I wouldn't be living like this if I didn't enjoy it.

I live off absolute peanuts and a lot of the places I've stayed I do some work in exchange for bed, food etc.

 

When I come back to Bulgaria I work in a backpacker hostel. At the moment it's really not like work at all though due to the very small number of guests we get in winter. Essentially I have this whole place to myself most of the time. Which is nice.

 

 

We also have some proper shite AV equipment and appliances here, just to get even further away from car spots.

 

 

 

I didn't know 16rpm was even a thing.

 

More spots'n'shit soon, if and when the mojo returns.

 

In the mean time, bucket of kittehs say - Go away, we're sick of your face.

[xtriple]

Just read the last 5 pages - so jealous! But, I lack courage (and a passport!) to undertake anything like this. Plus, I'm not keen on walking!

[Bucketeer]

Nothing much to report at the moment, just a few more spots to keep the engine ticking over.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the first red Zil I've ever seen.

 

I had never realised how much the Lancia Lybra resembled a Fiat Marea until I saw this one in person. The rear especially (which I helpfully neglected to photograph) looked almost identical.

[hairnet]

seen the estate version of that here

[RoadworkUK]

Fantastic stuff. That home cinema setup is the dogs bollocks.

[Bucketeer]

That home cinema setup is the dogs bollocks.

 

Only the best shit here.

 

 

 

You should check out the high* quality cooker I'm currently staring at whilst typing this and waiting the inevitable two hours while it warms up enough for me to cook my tea.

[catsinthewelder]

 

 

 

 

I think I'm in love

[mat_the_cat]

digit intrusion

 

Is this always a bad thing?

[Bucketeer]

Nothing much of interest to report again so a few scabby spots will have to do for now.

Oh and I bought a half share in an old Skoda on Saturday night DURING a Bad Manners gig at a local bar, so I'll put some photos up when I go and see it for the first time.

 

 

Check out the forest arches.

 

 

 

 

Flaming Niva.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obligatory beige Lada shot.

 

 

 

 

Lovely shiny Lancer Estate.

 

 

And in the 'save the best until last' tradition, have an eye-feast on this GAZ 3102. Only the third Volga I've seen in Bulgaria.

 

 

 

Cat in a planter sez - That's your lot, piss off before I call the police.

[Skizzer]

I want to live in Bulgaria now.  I think.

[hairnet]

that niva looks recent..........

[Bucketeer]

Funny you should say that Skizzer. A very lovely lady I met last weekend and am now pursuing/perusing runs a property firm here and was telling me that one of my favourite houses in town is currently for sale. It's the one in the picture below with the balcony directly above the tunnel. A perfect vantage point above the main road through the region to sit and perv over all the VAZ, GAZ, ZAZ, UAZ and ZIL action whizzing past below.

 

[Skizzer]

Excellent! Good luck with the lovely lady, and the balcony too if it comes to that.

[Bucketeer]

There's not much to update about the old Skoda I drunkenly bought half of recently. I still haven't seen it yet but the good news is that at least I now know where it is. The bad news is that it turns out to be parked up in a village about 50kms away. I'll take a walk over there when I get a couple of days free but I can't do it at the moment as I have a group of 16 ladies from a knitting group staying at the hostel this week for a knitting exhibition in town. EXCITING* TIMES.

I also skillfully managed to miss the annual Trabantfest here last weekend but I did manage to see the 3D laser mapping show and fireworks later the same day, celebrating Veliko Turnovo Day.

Not my pictures.

 

 

 

Lonely Bulgarian Beetle says 'check out a few rubbish spots from today whilst I look for a lady beetle for some NSA fun. Must have a GSOH, cute thorax and curvy exoskeleton.

 

 

 

 

All of today's spots were grabbed at or near my new favourite place to sit in the sun and relax - by the side of this roundabout.

 

It has (almost) everything. You get to see all the old chod and watch the lovely BulgoChix saunter past and it's also where all the boy racer nobz come for some drift action in their fucked E36 BMWs. Amusingly, this guy in the old Passat also did about five laps of the roundabout just after I took this photo, trying to drift using his handbrake before a loud clatter preceded his exhaust falling off.

 

The modified Ladas seem to be coming out of hibernation now the weather has markedly improved.

 

 

No mods with this one but I just love the mustard colour that a lot of the older commie cars (especially Ladas, Wartburgs and Moskvitches) come in.

 

WORST STARSKY AND HUTCH REPLICA EVER.

 

And because, even if no-one else does, I know RichWeazle and myself adore them so here's another UAZ 452.

 

Not so lonely Bulgarian Beetle says 'That's your lot, you can leave now. Can't you see I'm getting busy with my new ladyfriend. Stop watching me. Bugger off you pervert.'

[Bucketeer]

As an addendum to the modified Ladas I papped yesterday, here is one I spotted today just up the hill from me that has also just come out of hibernation. It's a bit too spangly looking for me but is undeniably very well executed and finished. I heard it growl and pop on it's way past just now and it definitely has a lot more than the original Lada powaplant under the bonnet. I shall be quizzing the owner at the first opportunity.

 

Also, I've spotted this one previously but got it again today as it's one of my favourites. More spangly paint but it just seems to really suit it, as do the wheels and chunky winter tyres.

 

And just opposite the green 1500 was another previous spot but one I haven't seen since I was last here two years ago. It's really good to see this lovely Mazda 929 coupe is still going strong(ish).

 

In unrelated news, I got a right grilling from the Bulgarian immigration and police this morning. They took all my details and reminded me that if I stay here for more than 3 months I have to register and get some sort of naturalisation paperwork done. I didn't tell them that I've been here for 2 months and 28 days so far. Or that I was here for a year, two years ago. Apparently I need all sorts of paperwork to register, like proof of a property I own over here. I did try to ask if the receipt for my tent counted but they either didn't understand me or had no sense of humour. Or both.

So I'll soon be an illegal immigrant here again then. Bloody Britishers coming to Bulgaria taking all our . . . . etc. etc. etc.

[Bucketeer]

Operation: Get To Shitefest is well underway now. I've been checking out the classifieds looking for something suitably rubbish to make the Bulgaria-Wales-Bulgaria journey in/on but nothing within my currently mega-meagre budget has really tickled tickled my plums yet.

With this in mind, I decided to change tack slightly and see if I can buy one the numerous cars I see around town that were in the exact same place two years and clearly haven't moved in that time.

 

First up was this beige Aleko. The same tyres are flat and it defo hasn't moved since last time I was here.

Measures taken - note under windscreen.

 

 

I was speaking to the woman in the shop across the road from this Volga and she confirmed it hasn't moved in years.

Measures taken - note left on wall in hallway of towerblock.

 

 

This also hasn't moved in a very long time.

Measures taken - none, I came to my senses just in time and realised I really don't want it, however cheap it is.

 

 

I know the neighbour of the guy who owns this 929 that featured here recently. It has moved a couple of times in the past year apparently. It's bloody lovely but likely to be far too much dolla for me.

Measures taken - phone number left with neighbour to pass on to owner.

 

 

There's a very old mustard Volvo up the other end of town that's been dormant for a long time too, so I'm going to take a walk up there later today.

 

Anyway, have a few spots from any recent time I haven't been drunk or hungover.

 

 

 

 

 

Bonus photo-bombage from the first Rover 600 I've seen over here.

 

 

I've also started recruiting hostel guests as sub-spotters, papping old shite they see to save me the energy.

Two French guys that were here last week grabbed these two shots.

 

 

And this one was volunteered by a Japanese girl, taken a few weeks ago.

 

There was also a very interesting Russian guy here, who is traveling the world on his YBR125. His blog is here - http://ybrtravel.ru/

Probably a better read for Russian speakers but the pictures are also good.

His bike was like an overloaded donkey, it looked enormous until you actually saw that underneath the panniers, boxes and various other crap strapped to it, it was actually a little 125.

 

I spotted my first Stork of the year a couple of days ago, and in accordance with Bulgarian tradition you have to tie your martinitsa (red and white bracelet given on March 1st) to the nearest tree immediately. I was in a rather nice spot when I saw the Stork, so I think my martinitsa has a better view than most.

 

 

Hopefully that will bring me some shite-buying luck.

[hairnet]

 

love the pic of the skud and the A8

 

decadence

[HMC]

Brilliant, Can't wait to see what you end up with!

[KruJoe]

Wonderful stuff Alex. Very jealous.

There seems to be a few of those 4x4 Tercels knocking about. I reckon you could do worse than seeking out a less-than-completely-rotten example for your trip here, they're making good coin now due to their sudden rarity. Then find a cheap 90's 5-series for your ride back. Cash win both ways.

[skoda_fan]

Recent thread updates perused with jaw-dropped amazement. Never mind wondering how many ten year old Daewoos are still on UK roads, you sir are living the dream and then some! Ante upped x1000!