With Motorcycle to NORDKAP-Norway
Day-1 : 04 July 2016  Monday
from Istanbul to Ruse (BG)  >>>>Total distance : 620 km

I started to prepare my stuff days ago prior to my departure. As technical tools I also added tyre prepare kit (I wish not to need them at all during my trip).

I did put also my rain gear and also gloves which I had bought for my Silk Road trip to Uzbekistan. I finished all my preparation on the 3^rd of July.

This time, I decided not to make any hotel booking in advance. I will act according to my mood and the conditions at all. If I am happy and the roads are good to ride I will go further, otherwise I will stop somewhere on the way. For this trip I have also added one tent, one mat and sleeping bag. So I feel safer. It can give some unexpected things but I need to try this version, too.

I made a short breakfast at home and I departed around 07:30. I took the highway TEM from Istanbul in direction to Edirne. I followed the route up to Hamitabat and then I decide to use country roads in order to enjoy riding. I followed the instructions of the Garmin Zumo 660. It took me really through small villages in order to make the route shorter.

Around Kavaklı just before Kırklareli I took again the regular streets and the highway to reach to Edirne. From the peripheral roads I took the direction to the border “Hamzabey”.

Hamzabey is the name of one of the border passes between Turkey and Bulgaria. 

Before reaching to Hamzabey I filled my tank at Lalapaşa town.

It took only 15 minutes to complete the procedures at the Turkish side. Then I passed through the Bulgarian side which was also reasonable. The roads are good and well covered. The maps of Bulgaria were not downloaded in my Zumo 660. I have got only

The maps of the North-East Europe which does not cover Bulgaria and Rumania as well.

I asked some people at the border how to go to Ruse (with the Turkish name Rusçuk).

I followed the instructions and found my way very easily. After Hamzabey (Lesovo is the name of the town at the Bulgarian side) I followed: Elhovo, Yambol, Kotel, Omurtag, Targoviste, Razgrad and finally Ruse. This is a very nice road through the country side and with a few nice curves for motorcycles.

According to the suggestions I also stopped for lunch at the junction where the road deviates for Kotel-Omurtag. There is a popular barbecue restaurant at the road junction.

Chicken barbecue and salad with “ayran” (drink of yoghurt) is only 4.-Euro.

The weather was very nice. Just 200 meters before reaching the Hotel a heavy rain started in the city Ruse. I did not changed and I preferred to hurry to the hotel. I stayed at the Grand Riga Hotel. It is a tall building constructed many years ago and they have renovated it. It is also cheap in price. 78.-Leva is the price incl. breakfast and closed garage for the motorcycle. It is roughly 40.-USDs.

The map of the down town Ruse.

View from the Hotel Grand Riga:- Tuna River

View from the Hotel Grand Riga:- Tuna River and the city

View from the Hotel Grand Riga:- Tuna River

View over the city Ruse.

 

The bank of the river Tuna.

Piers at the side of the river Dunav.

Piers at the side of the Dunav.

Floating Restaurants

One of the streets of Ruse down town.

 After the rain slowed down, I went out from the Hotel and walked down to the bank of the river Tuna. I enjoyed my walk there and took some pictures of the Tuna. Then I walked to the main square of the city Ruse. Svoboda is a big square and there are restaurants, cafés and bars around it. There are also some important government buildings like Court of Justice and the town hall. At one end there is a big hotel. There is “Monument to Freedom” in the middle of the square. I set down in a restaurant called “Happy Bar and Grill Black Mamma”. I ordered a beer a few sushi rolls and a fish with sauce. At the end I took a Crème Brule. Later on I walked through the streets and ended up my day in the Hotel Grand Riga.

Conclusion : Ruse is a Bulgarian city at the river Tuna and might be used as overnighting purpose from Turkey to the North. Hotel Grand Riga is offering closed garage and good prices. The location and the view from the hotel is very well.