#68 Tsar Asen St. (tel:547801).

Mike put us up in the little Hotel Tsar Asen, very modest, like western european hotel from the 1960s. Family run, probably the old family residence built in 1920s. Plain, austere but clean. Quiet street, trees. Tiny reception desk, probably installed as minimal requirement to upgrade from pension to the status of hotel. I think that someone spoke English About 4-6 rooms. Ours had a private toilet / shower. No public reading room or lobby, but that didn't bother us; we never hang around a hotel except to sleep. Residents were from Greece and everywhere. I remember that there were two nervous looking African guys standing out in front, looking up and down the street, wondering if they dare walk anywhere. We passed the first night, 7 PM to 7 AM in deep sleep.

Mike paid the bill so we do not know the exact amount. The Sofia web page listed the Tsar Asen as $$$ out of possible $$$$$$$, which it equated to about $18-36 USD.

Our room was small, but it had a private toilet and shower. The bathroom was nicely tiled, clean and modern with a western style toilet, but the hot water heater needed a little explanation. Also, as in many Bulgarian "bathrooms" there is no tub or shower stall. Shower water comes out of a hand-held nozzle, which is familiar to most Europeans and Americans; and the water exits through a center floor drain like the drain in a shower stall. This is a perfectly satisfactory way to shower, but the splash gets all over the toilet, floor and walls. If you shower before leaving your hotel room the bathroom is dry by the time you return.

Breakfast was served in the room on a little desk. Consisted of coffee for Mary, tea for me, toast, jelly, and big slabs of delicious goat cheese.

Mike arrived at 9 AM and we started on foot to see the town.