Skalitsa's Bulgarian Gite is no longer for sale.
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
You can see in the picture the local storks that are now to waiting for their offspring to arrive. The sight of them in flight is so graceful.
March 2010
nb The fruit trees still aren't planted due to the wet soil. this is still planned and they should hopefully be in before April whether permitting
February 2010
We have decided to plant trees in the area that was producing other crops in previous years. The reason for this is less maintenance in terms of care attention and watering. Most of our guests kindly do this while they are staying there and enjoy it as part of the vacation.
The surround is still in dormant mode right now apart from the snowdrops, but with March in sight we expect the colours to arrive with a flourish.
June 2009
The garlic has been harvested and the rest of the crops are doing very well. All planted on time this year, the guests are really enjoy picking the Skalitsa farmhouse produce when here and of course the sweet strawberries that are now well into their second crop and twice as big.
The weather has bee fantastic during June so far and all guests have been sitting outside under the shade of the vine trellis until dark listening to the change of natural day sounds transcend into night sounds of the Skalitsa countryside. The nature here is something else.
May 2009
Well as you can see the garlic and the tulips have come into their own over the last month or so. So have all the other crops as the growing season has started. The strawberries will ready for picking in a few days time. Of course all this is free to guests that stay here. We have been very busy over Easter and had to cancel quite a few guests that wanted to stay. We knew it would be a rush now the warm weather is here. We are not fully booked for the next two months, but have a few slot during the peak summer months still vacant.
It is beautiful in Bulgaria right now and still more to come as nature has woken up. We just wish we could spend more time in Skalitsa, life it too short.
February 2009
Having now have visitors right up until Christmas, we spent some time during the festival period in the farmhouse ourselves. We had to book ourselves in thought at three parties wanted to use the farmhouse during this period.
We have had just two guests staying up until this month, both were looking for property in Bulgaria and intend to return in the spring as they think prices will fall further with the recession.
All the garlic (940 bulbs) are now planted and green shoots are already aroudn 10 cm high. they wil be ready for eating in March. the onions are due in any day now, it's just wating for a dry spell.
The vines have been pruned and should show signs of shoots very soon.
All for now. Chiao.
September 2008
Firstly we have to send out a big apology to all those who wanted to stay in the farmhouse in August. We really did need a coupel of weeks holiday and it had to be done on a first come first serve basis so gain we are sorry that it was alredy booked when you enquired.
Our last guests were there for tow weeks, they were Kerry and Dale from Wales, who luckily booked and confirmed their reservation early. It was touching 40 degrees on some days they were there and they had their sun cream handy.
Galia and I stayed there for two weeks and wound down by eating, drinking, talking, walking, cycling and fishing (as you can see). We had a great time and lots of visitors as there is so much to do and lots of news to catch up with from the neighbours.
Ivan int he shop who seems to be doing well since he had a serious illness. He is back at work int he bar but taking it even slower now. The shop/bar is going up for aution in the 15th of this month and shouldhave new owners soon after. Maria is going to work in Yambol during the weekedays and Ivan will stay at his farm across the road from the shop. Lots going on here.
So looks like September is now upon us and we have more guests arriving on the 3rd!
August 2008
Out last guest left but wasn't very happy at all, it was back to England and this was something that wasn't good to look forward to that one bit. It was back to Skalitsa to look and buy for a property in Skalitsa as the village was fantastic was the last thing I heard.
This gave us a chance to spend two weeks in the farmhouse barbeques every other evening and we loved every minute as I can now work there with the Internet connection. But our time came to an end as Yambol called and more guests due.
July 2008
July just suddenly came into play and the goings on in skalitsa continue their rustic ways. There was some bad news from the local shop as Maria's Ivan spent some time in hospital as he was poorly. He is due back on the 9th July and we all wish him a speedy recovery.
There is some good news though, the crops this year are forecast, very good. the sliva or plums are being shaken out of the trees as we speak to make the famous rakia. A bumper season is in store in all produce from the Skalitsa land.
Salads galore at present with all the shopska salad ingredients available direct off the land. What a wonderful array of food to choose from at the moment.
Don't forget, we have vacancies throughout August at the moment, but we are already getting inquiries from interested parties right now.
We ourselves have decided to take some time off and stay there up until August after our current guest leaves
June 2008
Is it really June already? Another set of guests arrived and enjoying the local community. 'They have all the time in the world for you and the patience of saints' was the comment after the first few days. The tomatoes, peppers, garlic and onions are doing very well under the now climbing and grape filled vines. Looks like the good season for growing is continuing. The roses are now in full bloom and should continue to bloom ovfer the next 6 months. The first year here we had roses still in bloom during December!! The scent from the honeysuckle during the day and especially in the evening is overpowering something that adds to sitting outside in the evenings after watching the sunset.We have made enquiries about internet connection in Skalitsa Farmhouse, many people have asked whether we can get it. Well we can but are haggling on the prices at the moment.We plan to get it installed this month subject to price approval from Galia fingers crossed.
Just heard that our current guests like it so much they want to stay an extra month. Not only that they now have the fruits of the land to pick everyday as part of the perks there. Can't blame them really.
So we are booked up until the 25th July. We might spend a week there ourselves for the last week of July before the August hgih season starts, that is if we can squeeze in....
News:
*****WE NOW HAVE INTERNET CONNECTION AS OF 18th June 2008*****
May 2008
Well summer looks to have kicked in and guests continiously arriving at the farmhouse. At the moment it is watering and land maintence twice a week as the growing season is in full swing.Our current English guests last week and now they have their first experience in Bulgaria. The weather seemingly hotted up for them the very next day next day. There had been rain every day for ten days previous to this week. By golly everything looks vibrant and green right now. Some say May is the best month to see Bulgaria - but then each month has something else special to offer!
We have now added a DVD player alngside the television and some new electrical equipment in the kitchen and now are fully booked right through to July. Looks like I won't be spending much time in Skalitsa this summer then!
April 2008
Looks like a bumper season for crops in Bulgaria this season after a disaster last year. Our current guest are from Germany and have less problem with the language here that the Brits. Many of the older generation Bulgarian folk speak a little German, in fact so do I, so no problems there then. We have put a new fly screen on the main front door, basically from request made and the fact we wanted it there before it gets too hot. Now in place, a totally fly free environment.