Well, that was fun. Spent 2 hours circling the airport while they had a couple of attempts at clearing the runway of snow. The pilot was beginning to tell us that if we didn't hear the airport had opened in 5 minutes we were diverting to Budapest, but in 3 minutes the good news came through.

It's not too bad on the ground, but I think away from town, which has an army of snowploughs and gritters, I imagine things will not be great. Have to head south tomorrow, if we can get to the Pernik turnoff 20 miles out of town I'll be okay, but getting there is the issue... Instead of using the cheap coach I've come ot an arrangement with the doorman/fixer at the hotel and I'm taxiing down. Much more expensive but quicker and a better road from Sofia

In the meantime, I had the usual hassle with the hotel. It's a soviet era hulk and I like it cos it's a just a little bit crap in every way. I think I strangely enjoy the countless ways customer service is thwarted. I can go to good hotels anywhere, but this is a bit special in a Fawlty towers kind of way.

Today, it's -8, but there's a biting NE wind. The first room I'm allocated faces NE and the window doesn't close properly so the room is freezing, especially as this is the room where the heating doesn't work at all. I go to the desk to complain and they give the look, the one that says that my problems are no concern of theirs.

Sorted in the end, but I fear for someone who isn't prepared to be a pain in the arse.


keep to the Fen Causeway