Yambol Daily Picture

A New Christmas Light On A Yambol Lamppost

2010-01-05T18:20:00.002+02:00

Having mentioned before that Yambol reuses all their public Christmas displays year in year out, I found one that was new! It is a simple moon shaped star tapped into the Yambol lamppost wiring to light up at night when the light goes on. I think it actually looks just as effective against a clear blue Yambol sky and like the idea that it is not a gimmicky American ‘Father Christmas’ style display, but a more classical format of the travelling Bethlehem star.

The Back Of Yambol's Billa Supermarket

2010-01-04T18:22:00.003+02:00

What an eyesore! This was taken from the lovely Diana Park overlooking the River Tundzha. A few years ago this would have been pure nature. The horrible red back of the Billa supermarket is now resident here and a blot on the landscape. Supermarket tactics of an out of town shopping place where access in the main is by car. There are enough derelict areas in the town centre to be developed but supermarkets choose scenic venues for their trade. By the way I avoid shopping here and prefer the local small Bulgarian grocers that give a better personal service and don’t rush you though like cattle.

Subsidence In Yambol City Centre

2010-01-03T20:36:00.002+02:00

This picture shows of subsidence in Yambol City Centre and is probably cause by exisiting underground work done on the subway that routes its way under the main road. People are still casually walking the path even though it look like further subsidence could easily take place. No warning signs up at all of this earthmoving incident. A children play area is just beyond this and could be affected later on. Another though was whether this was a mild earthquake that caused it?

The Lone Yambol Accordionist

2010-01-02T21:37:00.002+02:00

Walking in the Yambol City centre this morning I caught the sound of an accordianist. It took a good couple of minutes to reach the source fo the music as the sound travels far on the flat concrete paved area of Yambol. A lone accordionist was playing and singing traditional folk music. There were no crowds today and his earning seemed to be zero unless he had recently gathered earning up and pocketed it. The musical talent in Bulgaria is widespread.

Husky Dog Weather In Yambol - Not!

2010-01-01T20:34:00.002+02:00

Husky dogs are very popular in Yambol. I would say that out of ten poeple walking dogs two would be walking a husky. Well the winters in Yambol certain make Husky at home, but this year it is not Husky weather in Yambol with temperatures soaring to 15-16 C on New Year Day!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A Distinctive Yambol Sportswear Shop

2009-12-31T20:32:00.003+02:00

Ever since I came to Yambol this sportwear shop in Yambol was so distintive with the kangaroo motive in place on the signboard on the street. It reminded me of kickboxing and intially I thought this was a kickboxing training centre. We sportwear is alwasy fashionable and this is one shop that continues to trade well, mind you it is in a prominent position in Yambol city centre. I've never bought from there by the way -far too expensive with designer labels.

Lanterns Out All Year Round

2009-12-30T21:06:00.000+02:00

One a mid-winter day in Yambol the summer lanterns are still out swaying in the unusually mild winter wind in Yambol. These are left out all year round in a high profile public area and are untouched by vandalism in Yambol. I see graffiti all around, but respect remains for property and public utilities theses lanterns included. They will be in use again very soon once spring arrives and evening crowds fill the street cafes again.

A New Yambol Snack Bar

2009-12-29T19:22:00.006+02:00

This snack bar opened in November in Yambol. Before then the place was another food place but out of business. This is a prime spot for people walking past in the Borovets area. The success I sure will be down to good cheap Bulgarian snack food, I really don't know why it closed down before. There are aften groups of teenagers hanging around there in the early evening after college and I always see them eating from the place.

Yambol's Mall and Business Centre

2009-12-28T20:18:00.004+02:00

Having now established itself as a popular meeting place for Yambol folk the Yambol Mall and Business Centre feels as if it has been there for ages. A bit of a white elephant when it first went up but now part of the Yambol infrustructure. If there is one thing I like about it it is the green space and seating area that is often filled up with people socialising. Not too keen of all the fashion shops that dominate the halls of the Mall though.

A Simple Christmas Stand In Yambol

2009-12-27T15:16:00.003+02:00

Well they've been here for a while these Yambol public Christmas Decorations, but I've not had the chance to see them until recently. They are exactly the same as last year, simple effective and create excitement from children and adults alike. I love the idea of reusing the same decorations rather than spending gross amounts of money of new designs etc. The number of Yambol public that take pictures of them with their kids is enormous. There is sometimes a queue to get to take pictures. They also light up an night to create an even better effect.

Christmas Puppet Show On In Yambol's Theatre

2009-12-26T16:51:00.006+02:00

The Yambol Cinema/Theatre in the town is currently showing a Christmas puppet show with poetry as the dialogue. The picture on the poster to me is not too disimilar to Pinnochio. It's not Pinnochio though and is performed by Bulgarian puppetiers and actors. It is purely geared towards the children of Yambol and is the equvilant of pantomime I suppose.

Another Paid Car Park In Yambol

2009-12-25T09:30:00.001+02:00

A new trend in Yambol is t he introduction of paid car parks. The first was introduced about three years ago and now they are growing all over town. Inevitable frowm two points. Firtly easy money form land owners and secondly the gross rise in cars owned and driven in Yambol. this one has been around but as you can see, Bulgarians don't like being charged for parking so they park 100 metres away on the public roads. The car you can see there is the car park attendants!

The New GERB Offices In Yambol

2009-12-24T21:12:00.000+02:00

Opssote the Yambol Roman Catholic Church there are the new GERB political party's offices. They used to be in a chinese owned restaurant which now is again a restaurant but Bulagrian since they relocated. The leader of the GERB party is Boyko Borisov the current Prime Minister of Bulgaria. He's doing a good job to date and a popular figure as he stopped the tax increase on homemade Rakia.

A Simple Metal Post - Cars Are In Fear Ot It

2009-12-23T20:46:00.003+02:00

It is just a simple metal post I come across quite often in Yambol, but it does a superb job! This simple post stops cars using this little track as a short cut to the main road. Such an easy solution to stop cars in their tracks in a place where they are not wanted. Imagine what damage this could do to a car it it decided to take this road. The little alley is totally dark without any street lights, but drivers know it is there so no impaled engines to date.

Yambol's St Nikolai's Church Ready For Christmas

2009-12-22T19:26:00.001+02:00

Another angle in December of St Nikolai's Church and just before the busiest time of the year which is very good for church business. Like may Bulgarians I speak to, the church is a business and always does well and enhanced in a recession as more people pray for better times ahead. We will be there on Christmas Day along with thousands of others who still have a great respect for the religious calander whilst not being fanatical about it.

A New Yambol Restaurant Opens

2009-12-21T12:13:00.003+02:00

This used to be a Chinese styled restaurant sitaution in the middle of an area called Borovets. It closed down to be become the nerve centre for the Bulgarian political party GERB, which subsequently won the National elections earlier this year. It now has returened to being a restauarant again albeit 100% Bulagrian with no chinese menus now. The GERB party had moved to new offices 200 metres down the road. We tried it out a few weeks ago, good but expensive, not our choice next time round!

Mushrooms Growing Unoticed In Yambol

2009-12-20T21:15:00.000+02:00

I don't know how many tens of thousands of people walk past this tree and didn't notice the mushrooms that were growing there at the base of the trunk. I think the species is Ganoderma applanatum but a very old one. Not edible I might add, but there are many other varieities of mushrooms growing wild here in Yambol that are. The gypsies usually are the first out to pick them and sell on the street.

A Yambol Version Of Argos

2009-12-19T10:06:00.004+02:00

I often used to shop in the catalogue store Argos in the UK, it is a massive company selling everything under the sun as bargain prices. I used to hate these shopping occasions. This little Yambol shop we recently bought from in Yambol is also called Argos and also sells cheap electric and other goods as well as secondhand reconditioned goods. I must admit my shopping experience in this Yambol shop was ten times more pleasant that the UK Argos for so many reasons I've lost count.

A Yambol Business Hit By Recession

2009-12-18T19:19:00.000+02:00

This is a business that has closed down and now stands in a real state. With recession in full swing here this is not an isolated sight you will see here. The finacial forecast is that finanail melt down will continue until March next year in Bulgaria. Hopefully may well be another up and running 'small' business once the economy picks up. I just love small businesses, so much better for most than the big ones!

A Yambol Signposted Tree

2009-12-17T19:11:00.006+02:00

If there is something that really does make me feel happy about Yambol it is the hand painted signs that are put up giving directions to shops and other complexes. This one is pointing to a shoe shop that also gives a repair service situated in apartment block 15. Somehow it just feels right nailed to a tree.

A Yambol Trunk Road

2009-12-16T17:54:00.007+02:00

A trunk raod in Yambol but not as you know it. This tree stump has been left standed after teh tree has been felled. It just sits there, I suppose they woudl have to dig quite a few metres down to uproot it and get it removed. It is a shame the tree was cut in the first case although it still has its own parking space instead of cars.

A Small Yambol TicTac Shop

2009-12-15T21:48:00.001+02:00

This small TicTac shop is in the Borovits area of Yambol and I pass it everytime I walk into the centre. It never used to have graffiti, but that is the new face of Yambol coming out nowdays. I have never seen anyone shopping there in all the years I've been here so I wonder how much money they make each week. It must be enough the running of the shop, but then I know many who are running at a loss and just trying to get throgh the recession.

A Typical Yambol Bus Shelter

2009-12-14T21:54:00.004+02:00

This is typical of many bus shelters you will see in Yambol. Rough and ready but keep the weather elements at bay wether in summer or winter. It may look empty right now, but a bus just took everyone away! It is a well used bus shelter and I am glad to report that buses are a popular way of getting around in Yambol and still relatively cheap.

Memories Of A Top Bulgarian Star In Yambol

2009-12-13T20:16:00.000+02:00

Even though Veselin Marinov, one of Bulgaria's top singing artists had performed back in November, the poster advertising his concert remain intact below the newspaper stand. Like the election posters, it will not be removed but just have another one pasted on top when the next big event comes along in Yambol. And why not, it is more insulation to the newspaper seller's hut!

Yambol Children's Play Train Carriages

2009-12-12T20:06:00.001+02:00

In Yambol there are many play apparatus for children and most of these are old but still in use. I see some modern play equipment made out of hard brightly coloured plastic materials and find these quite unattractive. These carriages are far more left to the imagination of children and encourages social ineraction witt the seating that invite children to sit together and share the imaginary train ride. It may be old and rusty but is far more stimulatong than any other modern plastic apparatus that I have seen in recent years here. Long may this set of train play carriages remain.