The Blue Danube

Ruse lies on the River Danube, which is the border between Bulgaria and Romania. We parked in a side street and walked to Liberation Square; it was late afternoon by now but the sun was still out and the temperature was very pleasant. The café culture was clearly very strong here and we saw lots of Vienna-esque architecture. My guidebook evocatively describes Ruse as different to other Bulgarian towns, 'as if a little chunk of Vienna had broken off and floated down the Danube'.

We walked through the square, passing by a lovely fountain (I wished I could get in and paddle) and flowerbeds just starting to come into bloom. Some of us got ice creams from a stand and then we sat down at an outside table at a café for coffee and Coke Zero.

From the café we walked to the Danube and gazed across the river at Romania! The other side of the river was lined with green trees; it reminded me a bit of looking out over the River Guayas in Guayaquil, Ecuador, to the greenery on the banks of Isla Santay opposite. We hung around for ten to fifteen minutes before we had to return to the car. Just as we were about to head off, Emma spotted a snake in the water travelling along right by the edge. We thought it was trying to get onto land, but couldn't.

It was still light at this point, but by the time we'd got back to the car and had navigated our way back to the main road through the one-way system, sunset was upon us.