Balkan Bucket Bonanza

[chaseracer]

Those yellow things are quite big by Bulgo-taxi "standards".  Some jokers in Sofia seemed to consider a Hyundai Atoz or Kia Picanto to be perfectly adequate.

[Bucketeer]

The last couple of weeks have been pretty hectic as I currently have many fingers and toes in many pies. I always keep the camera with me but thought I hadn't spotted much during this time. I just checked and I have about 60 or 70 spots and other crap that I need to dump, much of which I don't recall taking. My camera is experiencing the electronic equivalent of 'touching cloth'.

 

So, enjoy*.

 

Industrial Zone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've been doing a bit more work out towards the mountains and I've been getting up there via the medium of train.

Which means more 'head out of window' frolics. Note the open door for smoking out of whilst on the move.

 

In keeping with the Bulgarian health* and safety* ethos, this was the back door to the train. Very safely kept shut with high tensile security string.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unsure as to whether this is a genuine 131 Supermirafiori or an aspirational Tofas.

It definitely needs un-gashing either way.

 

 

Following on from last year's drunken purchase of an old Golf from a guy I met in the woods in France, the other week I agreed to buy a sort of house. Whilst tipsy. For cash. From the neighbour of somebody I was paving over a cesspit for.

 

500 Leva or just under 200 quid gets me my first ever step on the property ladder/snake.

It needs a little bit of work.

 

 

The accompanying plot of land looks big enough for maybe 20 rusty old Ladas.

The road leads to a village of six houses and then terminates there, so the peak traffic flow is around 5 cars per day.

 

 

The view across the road isn't too bad either.

Looking left and right.

 

 

 

'My' road has some potholes you could actually go potholing in.

 

 

 

There is also an acceptable amount of tat scattered around the villages and countryside out this way.

 

 

 

 

There is also a place nearby known as the Balkan shipyard (200+ kms from the sea).

I met an Isreali guy here who is building a sailing boat to take him and his wife to Polynesia next year. The boat was tiny, I really don't envy them. He was a bit funny about me taking pictures of his boat, so I didn't.

I did get some shots outside the 'shipyard' though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plenty plenty much more to come very soon in a possibly slightly less dull second part.

[hairnet]

delta want

 

dont think theres a twink in that 131 so not supermira

 

horn for the green truck

[Jon]

That grey Mercedes 308 camper on the previous page is a beautiful shot and I'd have been really hard pushed to pin down which country it had been taken in; a guess would've been somewhere in Asia, I reckon. Plus I love the design of the semi derelict factory entrance above, which looks like it should be the entrance to the Industrial Zone on Crystal Maze.

 

Good luck on the house build! Just don't turn your back too long as I reckon it wouldn't take long to see that land filled with a Talbot motorhome and half a dozen Sambas.

[Vin]

Ah, Fiat Talento, the short wheel base version of the MK1 Ducato...

 

 

 

[Junkman]

The house needs a bit of wallpapering.

[Bucketeer]

Part 2

 

More spots.

 

 

 

 

First time I've seen a Charade saloon.

 

[Bucketeer]

Part 2.5 - The 'I pressed post accidentally halfway through my last post' edition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hold tight, tedium fans. More to come.

[Bucketeer]

Part 2.9

 

The 'Photobucket is a stroppy tart' edition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chaseracer commented about taxis earlier and I've been meaning to pap a load of the grimmer taxis round here. In lieu of that I grabbed a few taxi shots yesterday, not very shite but just a rough representation of what's kicking about here including, as CR mentioned, some of the littler taxis.

I did see a Smart taxi a few months back but the titchiest about generally are of the Atoz/Tico/Fiesta ilk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And for Hairnet, a Dacia Solenza ex-taxi.

 

 

 

 

And happy Bulgarian Independence Day to everyone for the day before yesterday, I know you'll all have celibrated it in your own special way.

 

 

[Junkman]

Why don't they chose cars with space for passengers as taxis?

A bit like the English when they can't afford a London cab.

[Junkman]

And when is the housewarming party?

[Bucketeer]

Part 3 - The Final Insult

 

I've recently discovered that my camera has a decent video function and in my never-ending quest to plumb the depths of dull I've taken to filming some action* in town. I went out on Tuesday and filmed at a few different junctions. These videos have been uploaded to Youtube so you can have a gander if you want but be warned, nothing much happens. There's not even any particularly interesting shite. It's something I could quite happily watch but I guarantee not everyone/anyone will be as enthralled with traffic.

 

Also bear in mind these were taken on Tuesday, which was Independence Day, so there is much more tourist and less big old Russian truck than on a normal working day.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Hym5V5KTSE

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sYBJuwdLPk

 

I have more of these should anyone be terminally bored enough.

 

 

 

That grey Mercedes 308 camper on the previous page is a beautiful shot and I'd have been really hard pushed to pin down which country it had been taken in; a guess would've been somewhere in Asia, I reckon. Plus I love the design of the semi derelict factory entrance above, which looks like it should be the entrance to the Industrial Zone on Crystal Maze.

 

Good luck on the house build! Just don't turn your back too long as I reckon it wouldn't take long to see that land filled with a Talbot motorhome and half a dozen Sambas.

 

Yeah, the old factory is awesome, I will be back to take more pictures. Even the wrought iron fences just look so cool.

The Merc camper is by the river here and the background bamboo semi-structures were built last summer by visitors who didn't realise how bad Bulgarian winters get. They survived upright until November.

Oh and Ed is always welcome to invade my yard.

 

The house needs a bit of wallpapering.

 

Is that an offer?

[hairnet]

Part 2.9

 

The 'Photobucket is a stroppy tart' edition.

 

And for Hairnet, a Dacia Solenza ex-taxi.

 

 

 

not happy its not a sandero althought he clio saloon was good

 

Why don't they chose cars with space for passengers as taxis?

A bit like the English when they can't afford a London cab.

 

bit like here theres only one passenger apart from driver blerk

And when is the noels house party?

Da.

[hairnet]

HOT DAEWOO ROOFBOX ACTION

[mat_the_cat]

I'm so pleased that the photos aren't what the thread title suggests.

[garethj]

Absolutely spiffing work, as ever.

 

Congratulations on the new house, I guess with a couple of grand to spend you could become the Squire of Bulgaria?  Is there some kind of chod exchange that could be done between there and the UK, a truck going over with some marginal MoT fail cars and coming back with a Skoda and Lada Niva?

[The Moog]

International Shitefest at Bucketeer Kushta?

[Junkman]

^^

YOW!

Bring your own beer and house if you want to stay overnight.

[hairnet]

International Shitefest at Bucketeer Kushta?

  ôð.

 

Ñ‚Ñ€ÑÂñòð ÑÂõ ýðÿрðòø.

[Junkman]

Úþóð?

[Bucketeer]

I've been spending a lot of time camping up at the new house shack hovel ruin so I'm overdue an update.

I'll ease gently in to it with some recent spots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you've made it this far, congratulations. As a reward, have a DAEWOO Musso.

 

I'm sure, like me, you've all been poring over the Finnish newspapers of a morning at the breakfast table and can't failed to have noticed this article.

 

Lada are going to attempt a come back in Finland. Apparently they stopped selling cars there a few years back when they only managed ONE sale for the year.

 

I saw this graffiti outside a restaurant in town.

 

Non-standard Lada Section

 

 

This is not just any old 1500 S.

 

It's a HOLIDAY.

Check out the perfectly aligned stripe on the petrol flap.

 

Turbo*.

 

Bicycle/bollard reflector for grille badge.

 

Looks fairly ordinary . . . .

 

. . . . .but wait. It's only a bloody URBO SPOR! The pinnacle of the range.

 

 

 

Other Stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a souvenir shop, among the usual Ferrari and Porsche stuff.

 

AstraKitty sez ORL VOXALLZ R CUMFY.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, an old picture of Veliko Turnovo.

This is within throwing distance of Lady Bucket's front door. I'll get a picture of the same spot now, to contrast, when/if I remember.

[oldcars]

Great post. I so want a Aleko.

[320touring]

epic work!

 

I particularly enjoyed the Seat Toledo

[DVee8]

Great as always..

 

How is the shack coming on?

[Skizzer]

This is just the BEST thread.

 

I am also very admiring of your country residence, which I'd somehow missed previously.

[hairnet]

fecker!

 

must find a bag of lev somewhere...............

[panhard65]

Looking at the new abode I can only think of one thing missing. It needs an MG ZT parked outside, now where is that spare raffle ticket !

[Bucketeer]

How is the shack coming on?

 

I haven't done anything to the country residence yet. I've been camping up there just because it's a thrill being on a beautiful little part of the planet that is all mine. I spend hours dreaming about how I'm going to fix it up, what I can grow on the land, spending winter nights up there with just a cat and a fire, etc.

I have been busy collecting materials and stuff for the place though, in preparation for when the current cold snap finishes and the promised 'gypsy summer' arrives and I can crack on. I'm currently busy taking down a barn for someone nearby in return for all the bricks, roof tiles and wood. I also rescued this woodburner/oven from a local who was going to throw it out.

 

 

Which came up alright after I gave it a quick fettle.

 

I've made a chaise longue, a bookcase and a shoe rack out of scrap timber from around my land. All essentials. I mean the roof and windows and removing the garden from inside the building can be done later.

 

Anyway, here's a few more photos.

I'll maybe start a thread about it on the other channel/open forum.

 

Looks good from this side.

 

 

 

Rather serendipitously, I did a weekend course in building with cob earlier this year which should help me with the walls.

 

I also discovered when I did a more thorough recce of the site that this bit to the side of the house wasn't actually the end of the land. . . . . . . . .

 

 . . . . . . but in fact an overgrown track leading through the jungle to here.

 

More room for rusty Ladas!! This is also where my hay bale workshop will be.

 

Anyway, enough house waffle. It's exciting for me, but only me I reckon.

[Tayne]

No, the Autoshite Bulgaria HQ is exciting for all of us.

[The Moog]

To true.

 

We can be international playboys (and girls) vicariously through your international pad, xtriples Bentley and Taffs bed post notches... It's like a lidl James bond lifestyle