So far 2024 has been an interesting year for me... and I didn't have high expectations. It started the same as always, with good and bad, but I can say that something special happened, usually, I used to make two trips to see the sea yearly, but this time was different.
Now summer has just started, it's the beginning of July, and I've already managed to make three trips to the sea. For me, the sea means the Black Sea in Bulgaria and, more specifically, the resort of Balchik, where I've traveled dozens of times until now. It is a place with important connections with Romania, where I live. It's a place that was a favorite place for Romanian painters in the last century because of the special light they discovered here.
Something special happened this year with the trip last week. I traveled with some friends who wanted to see more of the Bulgarian coast and because of this, I traveled more than I rested in Balchik.
My friend's curiosity made us follow a path hidden in the vegetation that led us, after a rather dangerous descent, to the seashore.
I forgot to mention that we saw a sign that said "Fish and Barbeque", which led us to believe we would find a restaurant, but I first saw a pier and the typical facilities of a small fishing harbor.
No one worked there but it is for fishermen and there is also a small mussel farm. It's certainly being worked especially for the needs of a restaurant. Cos I've seen the terrace restaurant, so the Fish and Barbeque inscription is a fact.
We saw a quaint and attractive restaurant but, unfortunately, we did not try to see the culinary offer. The place was an unexpected discovery and our visit there remained only one of recognizing this fishing village.
It didn't look like a fishing village, or, at least, not a fishing village as I knew it to be, with poor people and houses and signs of hard labor, life, and hard work.
The similarly built and decorated modern houses look more like small holiday homes for fishing and sailing enthusiasts.
The place was sparsely populated and we had no one to talk to and nowhere to ask about the status of the small village.
However, the amenities I saw made me think it is a tourist village and maybe a vacation spot for sailing, fishing, and sea enthusiasts.
This was a pleasant discovery for me and a great surprise and we didn't know how to do everything to get to know this place better. We should have stayed and eaten because I am sure the seafood is good quality.
On my next trip to Balchik, I will come to see again this fishing village that boasts "Fish and Barbeque"!
In the distance, you can see the Bay of Balchik, the final destination.
I love the Bulgarian Black Sea coast especially because of the almost Mediterranean climate. I know that as long as I can move I will return to this place, every year.... and not only in summer.
