Ivan Atanasov is the editor of the local newspapers 'Novini' (= News) and 'Sakarski Echo', based in Harmanli. Hearing about us through a mutual friend, the solicitor Nadeshda Koleva, Ivan arranged a meeting at the campsite in Biser in mid-August.

Ivan was particularly interested in the story of Nel, our one-eyed kitten, found starving and abandoned on a mountain road, who now lived with us (see above). We also spent some time describing all the many changes that have occurred since our first visit to Bulgaria in the summer of 1989, cycling from the UK to Istanbul. We also discussed the inequalities that went with the advent of capitalism into what was (and still is, to some extent), a crudely industrialised feudal society.

He gave our story a full page in the next edition of 'Novini', with a 30-minute interview and photographs of us, the motorhome and our bicycles. Fame at last – if only we knew what it said!

The image below shows the top half of the newspaper page.