Nathan and I are happy to be at the hotel in Oryahovo after 50km of "horror ride".
The property is newly renovated, very clean, has standard air conditioning and very friendly staff with English and Nathan also gets a room without advance booking.
After showering, we drive up to the village in the evening. Without luggage, the steep climb is no problem. We find a small family restaurant, where the grandma is still cooking. Very tasty and very reasonably priced. Nathan has his birthday on 15.08 and wants to celebrate him with friends from Bucharest.
So he does not get any further with us, but leaves tomorrow morning by ferry from Oryahoro to Romania and on to Bucharest. Too bad. It was nice to have a conversation partner.