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Loading up to leave Iasi<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>VFR departure from Iasi<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>The city of Iasi, Romania<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Downwind departure from Iasi<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Heading south across the forest from Iasi<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Rolling hills in north east Romania<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Crossing a town in northeastern Romania<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Acres of glass houses in Romania<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Romanian town<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\nWe were flying this leg VFR as Alex had suggested a detour to sight-see over the Danube delta. Several danger areas and restricted areas were active along our route, but ATC gave us clearances to pass through all of them, with a few restrictions on where we could fly. We headed south along the border with Moldova; underneath it was all tiny fields and tiny villages. As we approached Galati, and turned east to parallel the border with Ukraine, things started to become more developed and industrial. We received clearance through the airspace around Tulcea and headed out to admire the delta.<\/p>\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nFrom here, it was a simple matter of following the coast down towards Varna. As we approached the border ATC wanted us out to sea a little way, to enter Bulgarian airspace over one of their set entry points; the reasoning behind this wasn’t terribly clear. As it was we were forced to stay closer to shore than they wanted due to a pair of large emerging thunderstorms that we had to thread our way between. Nobody seemed to mind.<\/p>\n\n\n
Industry in Romania<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Port city on the Danube<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>City on the Danube delta<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>The Danube delta<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Agriculture on the Danube delta<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>The Black Sea coast<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Marine infrastructure on the Black Sea<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Looking out at Burgas, Romania<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Coasting in over the Bulgarian coast<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\nVarna have strict, and pretty low level, VFR routes that have to be followed in and out of their airspace. The ground along this part of the Black Sea coast was high and we skimmed the terrain until we suddenly shot out over the top of a high ridge and saw Varna and the airport laid out before us. We were put straight on to a right pattern for runway 27. A follow-me car met us as we taxied in past a long row of regional airliners, and led us to a parking space just in front of the terminal; holidaymakers waiting to board their flights looked on with interest.<\/p>\n\n\n
Low level across Bulgarian fields<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Black Sea cliffs<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Passing the deserted-looking Balchik airport<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Approaching landing at Varna<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\nThe handlers, Fraport, met us at the aircraft. This German company have taken over most of the Greek airports, and raised prices for light aircraft to obscene levels. When I saw that they run Varna I was worried, but in the end my fears were unfounded. The handlers were friendly and efficient, and the prices were very reasonable for an overnight stop at a large airport. It was clear that not many small airplanes come by, as we noticed the fuelers and a couple of other airport staff taking surreptitious selfies with Planey! We fueled up on arrival (fuel prices, sadly, were not in any way reasonable) and then headed in to the city and the “Hotel Boutique Splendid”.<\/p>\n\n\n
Final approach to Varna<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Holiday airliners lined up behind us<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>The colourful Varna terminal<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Giant room at the Hotel Boutique Splendid!<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\nVarna has been populated for millennia, with the oldest evidence of settlements dating back 100,000 years. A Roman city covered 47 hectares here and our first stop, after an abortive attempt to visit the archaeological museum, was the ruins of the Roman baths. Not much remains, but from the sections that are still present, it’s clear they were an enormous and impressive structure. From here we walked down to explore the beach and the very quiet port, bumping into a wedding party taking photos by the quayside, by one of the beautiful sailing vessels moored alongside. <\/p>\n\n\n
"Restaurant Godzilla"<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>The archaeological museum<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Streets of Varna<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Varna has many stray cats, some well-fed.<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Roman bath ruins<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Roman bath ruins<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Roman bath ruins<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>A ship-shaped restaurant<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Fishing on the harbour<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>A bulk carrier, in from Singapore<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Sailing ship in Varna harbour<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Idle cranes - the port was very quiet<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\nA walk through the park took us into the center of downtown, so before dinner we stopped in to see the cathedral. The second largest cathedral in Bulgaria, it was opened in 1886, and is visually stunning from both within and without. We finished the evening with an exceptionally good Italian meal at a restaurant near the hotel. Without a guide, we decided not to try and figure out traditional Bulgarian food!<\/p>\n\n\n
Downtown Varna<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Downtown Varna<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Downtown Varna<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>A cathedral in Varna<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Inside the cathedral<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Exploring the streets of Varna<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Exploring the streets of Varna<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Varna cats near the hotel<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>The view over the cathedral from my room at the Boutique Splendid<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Dad and I left the hotel some time after 8am and took a taxi back to the airport. This time I had called the handling agents in advance to let them know we were coming, and we were met on arrival. The Fraport rep led us rapidly through the crew channels to the departure doors, and eventually a bus turned up to carry us the very short distance to the aircraft. Since we arrived the apron had emptied out and only a couple of lonely aircraft sat out on the ramp. We pre-flighted and started up, earning ourselves a small telling-off from ground control that we hadn’t called for start-up. Of course, information like “you need to call for start-up” is something contained within the AIP package of a country, and Bulgaria choose to hide theirs behind a registration wall. I applied 3 weeks ago for access, and never heard anything; so they have nobody to blame but themselves!<\/p>\n\n\n
The colourful terminal at Varna, from the front this time!<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Waiting for the bus; why can't we walk?<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Departure from Varna<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Black Sea views<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Mountains in northern Turkey<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>