Walks In Balchik

Walking and not only, any travel, offers a great chance to observe what is happening around us, in the small space, right next to us, micro let's say, but also in perspective, macro, as far and wide. Here macro is not taken in its photographic sense even if besides the walk only photography still counts!

Make a point of looking around and up and see what you can find to get shots of that otherwise you may miss.

This is one of the recommendations made by @tattoodjay for those who prefer walking and are used to sharing impressions and photos in his community, Wednesday Walk, every Wednesday, like this one today.

Among dozens of walks I made in Balchik I have chosen a few images that I think are worth seeing and memorizing in this little travel diary.

For a more exact location of the place of this walk, I have to say that Balchik is a small town, a resort on the Black Sea in Bulgaria. I have to say that I live in the south of Romania, in Bucharest, and in order to do some of the most pleasant walks of my life I have to drive almost 300 km, which is not so easy if I take into account some realities. I know that only half of this distance is highway but I like the other part more, the local roads, less comfortable, but which let me see the places more closely. On top of that, my age and the age of my car I can say are more hindrances than encouragements to hit the road! However, the aforementioned are still not an insurmountable obstacle, thankfully!

_{The sea in front of the resort is lined with such jetties that let you go forward into the water without getting your clothes wet. For walkers and fishermen, but also for a solitary rest under the sun and listening to the waves.}

Balchik is located in a small bay on the Black Sea. A white pier with a gazebo at the end can be considered the middle of the resort, it is the place called Nomad.

_{On one side it is bordered by a small port from which grain is exported.}

_{On the opposite side, you can see the next resort, Albena, with its white, modern hotels and long beaches.}

Balchik has only a few small beaches and for this reason, it is preferred more for walking and resting. However, those who want to sit in the sun by the sea find a place here too.

_{This young mother wanted her baby of just a few months to hear the waves and smell the breeze. Of course, the baby doesn't understand anything now, but I think he will be a sea lover all his life!}

_{Another mother, more mature and who, unfortunately, cannot be seen in the photo because she was covered by the image of her boy, wants in such a beautiful way to get her children used to love both the sea and reading. Wonderful!}

The Balchik has abundant vegetation. The climate is almost Mediterranean and this is one reason why I choose to travel here every year, usually twice a year, at the beginning and end of the year.

_{Wild flora and so beautiful, I would love to have such flowers in my garden.}

Balchik has, apart from the sea, a very special place which is often the main reason why many tourists choose to travel here.

Botanic Garden Balchik includes the Architectural park complex "The Palace", Protected Area Botanic Garden-Balchik, Garden "Nursery" and Expositional Greenhouse.

_{The Palace is a large domain that belonged to the kingdom of Romania and where, by the will and under the supervision of Queen Mary of Romania, a castle, six villas, and a huge and beautiful garden were built.}

The gardens surrounding the Castle are very extensive, they were laid out in the 30s of the last century and because of this, the trees are imposing. Greenery is the master here.

_{Old stone crosses underline the Orthodox Christian faith of the Romanians and the fact that Queen Mary wanted to be buried in this place after her death. The Queen died in 1938 and her heart was buried here for only two years, until 1940, when the domain passed into Bulgarian possession.}

_{The villas built here were dedicated to the six children of the queen but they did not enjoy them very much because after 1940 the region of southern Dobrogea, where Balchik is located, was retroceded by Romania to Bulgaria.}

The remaining gardens of the Queen were transformed into the Botanical Garden. A well-tended and attractive botanical garden.

_{One can easily see the taste in the landscaping of both the Queen and the architect. All we can do is enjoy the view!}

_{Flowers, strange flowers! Could they be onion flowers?}

_{People and flowers. Groups of tourists come in waves and fill the botanical garden. It's early June and not all the plants are mature yet.}

_{There are many springs in these gardens. They have been captured and sent in different directions, and are both pleasant to look at and useful for watering plants. On either side of this small canal are, as if on guard, huge cypress trees!}

_{All walks come to an end, even this one that was so enjoyable. Still, the feet hurt.}

_{The end of the walk, like any end, should be accompanied by a flower, as our colleague @dswigle has long been trying to teach us by saying #alwaysaflower!}

Balchik Series
Below are all the episodes:

_{Feeling The Sea
My Friend, The Cat
Sea, Sun, Cats, and Souvenirs
People and Cacti, Botanical Garden in Balchik
Summer
Feeling The Sea (Two) - Balchik (Episode Six)
Balchik Lavender
Wild Nature In Balchik
We eat, drink and have a good time
Before The Castle
The Black Sea
Balchik and the Queen's Castle}