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Right, I’m just off to the train station to make my way to Veliko Tarnovo.

While walking there I went past a large garden gate and was taken aback by a huge bang like a sledge hammer bashing into it, followed by an almighty roar and a large paw protruding under it. I had a peek through a hole in the adjacent fence and was greeted by a very menacing looking rottweiler which wouldn’t have looked out of place in The Omen. I made a split-second decision on the sturdiness of the fence and then gave Rex a little whistle, I don’t reckon he was too impressed.

Patsy Parisi (or was it Philly?) just walked past me. So that’s 2 (Paulie Gaultieri was the other one remember) Sopranos lookey likeys I’ve seen now in Bucharest. There must be somet going down. I wonder what the skinny is?

There’s definitely more stray dogs in Bucharest and Romania in general than anywhere else I’ve been so far. If I was to help one of them and take it into my home as my own, would that make me …. drum roll please …. wait for it …. nearly there …. Dan Petrescu(e). Ohh geez man, that’s so bad it’s great.

The train journey was okay, if a bit hot and sweaty. There were 2 blokes on the train who’d been at the hostel and my seat was with them so that made time pass a bit quicker. Funnily enough I’ve been to both of their home towns.

One fella a bit younger than me who was from Dusseldorf and a film buff which gave us some common ground. The other was a retired bloke in his early 60s from Malmo who spends 4 months a year there, 4 at his other home in Spain near Alicante and another 4 travelling just about everywhere, his passport stamp collection is most impressive. I asked him what his job was previously, he said it was related to weaponry (specifically explosives). I’m saying he’s an arms dealer.

This hostel I’m staying at is pretty good value. It’s €6.50 a night in a 10 bed dorm and another €2 per night for breakfast and a light evening meal with a beer. They also picked me and the Swedish bloke up for free from the station.

The evening meal was some sort of Bulgarian broth with potatoes in it, not bad. The best bit was that a lot of people eating didn't want their beer. Sometimes you just have to stand up and be counted, I duly obliged for 3 people.

There were an older (60s) set of couples from Devon who were spending a night here on their way to Varna. I like people from round those parts, they're normally warm and friendly. If I could get a decent job there it's somewhere I'd like to live when back in Albion.

You may remember that I mentioned Schmap were interested in potentially using one of my photos on Flickr for their New York City guide. Well I have them permission and they picked mine to use, goodo. Here’s what it would look like on the iPhone.

I’ve just counted 11 fresh mozzie bites in a variety of annoying places, liccle b@stards.

I can’t be bothered tonight as it’s quite late, but first thing tomorrow morning I need to figure out how the chuff I’m getting to Istanbul. There may be complications relating to funny Bulgarian ticket office opening hours and then trains possibly being off due to the floods in Istanbul. I’ll deal with it all tomorrow though.

Lastly, big shout out for Clure R over in da New of Z who has got an accounts job paying the equivalent of 35 large Sterling. Nuff rezpect.

The picture is of a rather large football boot (I suppose you can see that can’t you) in Bucharest, not really sure what it’s all about to be honest.