tv The Travel Show BBC News July 3, 2018 3:30am-4:01am BST
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rescuers have made contact with 12 boys and one adult who've been trapped in a flooded cave in thailand for nine days. they're now trying to work out how best to bring them to safety. if enough water can't be pumped out, they'll need to dive through floodwater to escape. the president—elect of mexico says he's already spoken by phone to president trump about his plan to boost the mexican economy, and cut down on migration. andres manuel lopez obrador has previously been publicly very critical of president trump. he won a decisive victory in sunday's presidential election. germany's interior minister horst seehofer has withdrawn a threat to resign, after talks with chancellor angela merkel. he said they'd reached agreement on tougher border controls. mrs merkel made a deal with other eu leaders to process the high numbers of migrants arriving from north africa. more than 200 firefighters and soldiers are continuing to tackle moorland fires across greater manchester and lancashire as they try to contain the huge wildfires burning across areas near bolton and saddleworth moor.
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it comes as most of britain continues to swelter in the heatwave. the met office says last month was the driestjune on record in large parts of southern england. and scotland experienced its highest temperature ever recorded — 33.2 celsius in motherwell. danny savage has the latest. the full extent of the damage to the moors above bolton is astonishing. several square miles have been destroyed by fire. the bbc was given permission to fly a drone over the area. the flames burned all weekend and tonight, it's not getting much better. we've still 29 fire engines. we'll still be having significant operations through the night protecting local homes and we will be back to having in the region of 29 fire engines all day tomorrow, so there's still a huge task ahead of us. it's still a major incident and still will be tomorrow. helicopter pilots have reported seeing people try to deliberately start new fires, which has infuriated the mayor of greater
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manchester. i think itjust beggars belief, doesn't it, to hear that people may have been coming on to this land over the weekend adding to the burden of the emergency services and basically taking risks with people's land and property. it's just an unbelievable state of affairs. and as this heatwave continues, there is concern that there could be more hosepipe bans in the coming days. not because there's any shortage of water, but demand has risen so much over the last couple of weeks that utility companies are struggling to get enough treated water through the system and into our homes. northern ireland is the only place so far to have implemented a hosepipe ban. tankers used to supplying an altogether different type of liquid are now moving water around. in north—west england, united utilities has messaged its customers, appealing for them to use less water in an effort to avoid a ban. but the weather outlook is not on the side of
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the utility companies. there's at least two, maybe three weeks of dry weather ahead. people are of course enjoying the sunshine. this is a very different summer. last month was the driest on record in parts of england, and saw the hottestjune day ever in scotland. danny savage, bbc news, bolton. now on bbc news — the travel show. this week on the show: i'm in bulgaria to get an exclusive look inside one of the most extraordinary abandoned buildings in the world. dora, it's... it's incredible. i discover an unusual way to go shopping in sofia. i'll take blue. and uncover treasures near the black sea coast. 0h! we are starting off
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this week in bulgaria's beautiful capital, sofia. this vibrant european city is the perfect place for a break, laid—back, affordable, and picturesque. with its roman, byzantine, and ottoman sites, it's packed with culture and history. but for much of the 20th century, bulgaria was part of the eastern bloc, and under communist rule. as you walk the streets, you can find reminders of the communist era everywhere. one of the strangest is found at your feet. all across sofia there are shops called kleks sunk
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beneath pavement level. so these shops might seem really odd now seeing as they are close to the ground, but it is an interesting history. they were basements and bomb shelters. after the fall of communism, people needed to get resourceful. there was not much money going around and people had to use their basements to sell things. i'll grab some mnms! it drops down another 2—3 metres there. he's got another step to step up to see me. blue or... i'll take blue! after the iron curtain fell, kleks were some of the first private businesses in bulgaria, symbolising the country's move towards capitalism. recently, kleks have taken a modern twist, and many have become art galleries, restaurants, and even speak—easys. sl is a speak—easy bar in one of sofia's characteristic bomb shelter basements. you can see the thick walls because these are the remains and the basement is as it is. ok, ok, ok, this is cool. this is a typical bulgarian drink? yes, rakia is a very,
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very common drink in our region. but we want to have it in another usage, let's say, we want to have it in a cocktail. well, then sign me up for one rakia cocktail please. enjoy. the perfect combination has tomato juice and spices. wow! oh, that's nice. there is an ongoing debate about how to make bulgaria's communist era
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buildings relevant for the 20th century. —— 21st century. and today, i'm travelling to the centre of bulgaria to a place that's lain forgotten for decades that could become one of the most popular tourists draws in the entire country. with me is dora ivanova, an architect. she's an expert on the site. i'm excited. it has been a long time i have wanted to come here. wow, it's massive, isn't it? at 70 metres high and 60 metres wide, buzludzha looks out over the balkan mountains. completed in 1981, it was built as an iconic national monument to glorify the nationalist party. —— the communist party. it's here because this was the birthplace of the bulgarian socialist movement. this is powerful, powerful architecture. following the collapse
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of the regime, the building was abandoned, and later shut off to the public as it fell into disrepair. recently, the only people to have seen inside are a select group of photo—hungry urban explorers who have broken in illegally. this is a really big deal today. the travel show is the first international tv crew to be allowed through the front doors. we are very excited and lucky to be able to do so. are you ready? oh, wow! here it is. me first? welcome. it's seen better days, hasn't it? definitely. it cost the equivalent of $35 million in today's money to build buzludzha. since it was abandoned, the years, they haven't been kind. dora, it's... it's incredible.
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there's some work to do, obviously, but it's still very impressive. look at this. 50 square metres of mosaic inscribed on top. there is the symbol of communism, actually, the hammer and sickle, you can see the workers below it. so there is a mosaic on the ceiling, but the entire perimeter is also covered in a mosaic. we have actually more than a thousand square metres of mosaic inside buzludzha. out of all of these, which one is your favourite? over there, the people defeating a dragon. and the dragon represents capitalism, the monarchy, and fascism, all the enemies, and it's defeated by the communist people. when the monument opened, thousands came from all over the country to marvel at its beauty. there were sound and light shows and talks from well—known communist artists and poets. one person who remembers that time
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well is bedros azinyan. he and his father were the official photographers for the building. bedros, you were here and you saw this room and this building at its best. what was that like? really, all that's left is mosaics and the mosaic on the ceiling. here and here are the rest. all of this white is now gone. and what do you feel seeing what it has become? time could be running
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out for buzludzha. if the roof collapses, the walls will go too, and the building will be lost. there is now an urgent debate about what exactly to do with the monument. those who remember the repression and hardships of the communist era would like to see it destroyed. others want it restored to its former glory. but dora is working on a proposal to preserve it as a museum to discuss the past. it was built to represent and glorify the communist idea. we do not want to do that nowadays. we just want to know the history and to understand why it was built. but, if we keep it intact and leave the symbols in their present condition, i think it will be much
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more powerful and meaningful for the next generation to understand. it'll be a symbol of much more than what it was. communism was a symbol of bulgaria and the ups and downs and rollercoasters of bulgaria and what it went through. there is no doubt it is a powerful, controversial, and iconic building, and so it feels worthy of preservation in whatever form for me. but ultimately it is down to bulgaria itself to decide how it remembers its past going into the future. sofia has some great, fancy restaurants, but if you're looking for something more close to home, this is the spot for you. this is the outskirts of sofia. she has been serving traditional bulgarian food for over 30 years. it is like grandma's kitchen in here. if there was one dish that everyone visiting bulgaria should try, what is the dish? sign me up.
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that sounds amazing. i will get one pacha. pacha is served all year round, hot in the winter and cold in the summer. and here it is. it looks like... it looks like ice cream. it's extremely rubbery. so... it is quite chewy with mystery crunches in the middle, and very garlicky, but melts in your mouth. it is actually kind of good.
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still to come on the show. simon's here with tips on copenhagen on a budget and how to find the best beach breaks in croatia. and i head to the black sea to meet a team making some amazing underwater discoveries. so stick with us for that. there we go. if you are travelling to bulgaria, here's one tip for getting around. hey! can you take me to central station, please? so, one thing that's very important to know in bulgaria is this flick of the head, it means yes, and this means no. it's a little confusing, but a must—know tip if you come here. let's do it! welcome to the slice of the show
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that tackles your questions about getting the best out of travel. coming up, my advice on coastal croatia, and cheap stays in copenhagen. but first, if you're planning to drive in france this summer, be warned that on 400,000 kilometres of secondary roads, the speed limit is being cut from 90 to 80 kilometres an hour. there is no grace period, so from the july i, fines are being imposed. someone has to pay for all the new signs. next, robert coomber is taking his family to croatia for the first time this summer. he asks... of all croatia's fine coastal cities, my favourite is split. metropolitan life thrives
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amid the ruins of the fourth century palace of the roman emperor diocletian. split has a perfectly good city beach, but if you want to be a little quieter, head for the islands. an hour offshore by ferry, the island of solta is picturesque and charming. and at the end of your stay in split, take a trip to the port of trogir, from where it is just five minutes by road to the airport. next, owen peek has been invited to a wedding in new york, and he wants to combine it with a trip to havana. but, he says... i have since seen myriad confusing advice about travel between the two countries that have had historically frosty relations. we are uk citizens and appears to be regular flights, and all of the rules i've seen so far suggests that you cannot travel from the us to cuba
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for tourism, even if we are not us citizens. owen, your confusion is understandable because the rules on flights between the us and cuba keep changing. until one year ago, many individual tourists could fly from america to cuba on what was called a "people to people" basis. that has now stopped and if you are a person subject to usjurisdiction — which you are if you are a foreign visitor in america — you are not allowed to routinely use those flights. but fortunately that rule only applies going from the us to cuba. so i would suggest that you fly out to havana, then to new york, then back home, and you should not encounter any problem. now here's a question from philip gilliam. we are a family of three going to denmark in august. the accommodation seems to be a bit of a nightmare. it seems very expensive in copenhagen, so i was wondering
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if you could help us, please. we are struggling to get anywhere at a reasonable price. accommodation prices in the danish capital are challenging. i reckon for corresponding properties in other european cities, you typically pay 50% more to stay in copenhagen. happily, the youth hostel network offers a lower rate and high standards. in general, the further you go from the city centre, the lower the coast. you might also want to consider spending some of your time across the bridge in malmo, in southern sweden, where, in my experience, hotel prices are significantly lower than copenhagen. if i can help you with your travel enquiries, please get in touch. just e—mail thetravelshow@bbc.com. i will do my very best to find you an answer.
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from me, simon calder, the global guru, bye for now and see you next time. welcome to varna on the bulgaria's beautiful black sea coast. this is the bulgaria's summer playground. but besides enjoying the beach, if you are a little bit more adventurous, you can go beneath the surface and discover what is hiding. we're meeting a group of divers here today and they're taking us out on the boat. hey! nice to meet you. you too, you too. welcome on board. happy to be here. today i'm heading out with diver svetlo ivanov and his team. he's promised to show me a shipwreck just a few miles off the coast. the black sea got its name not from its colour but by its reputation for being a very dangerous sea to cross. below us there is an uncountable number of ship wrecks, and that's a draw for divers and tourists from around the world. svetlo and this fishing boat actually have a special connection
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with the wreck. today we are going on a ship which was discovered six years ago and it was discovered by accident. this fishing boat brought back with the nets. the boat that we are on now, it was fishing, the nets snagged, and they found the shipwreck we are going to. yeah. we went down there and we found it. the water here in the black sea can be very cold, so a thick wetsuit is vital. it's a magical experience descending down and suddenly seeing the shipwreck appearing. this particular ship is a cargo ship called the swift.
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it is thought that it was british made in 1884 and sank in unknown circumstances in 1933. ships in the black sea are far better preserved than in other seas like the mediterranean. the black sea is actually more like an enormous lake that funnels into the mediterranean through the bosphorus, creating conditions that keep the wrecks intact. it is incredible down there. you first go under and you see all these incredible moonjellies, the white jellyfish, just floating around you. and that is all you see for about the first minute as you are pulling yourself down along the line. and then all of a sudden the shipwreck looms out of the green depths. but it was incredible down there.
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there are countless shipwrecks to explore along the black sea coast. mostly they are from the last 100 years or so. but i have arranged to meet a group of bulgarian underwater archaeologists who are making some ground—breaking discoveries that are farfar older. nayden prahov is part of the centre of underwater archaeology in bulgaria. they have been working all across the black sea, but today they are planning to explore a site at the bottom of lake varna, just inland. diving in bulgaria, i did not picture it being just next to this, here. so what brings us to this particular location today? for most of the divers, it will not be a perfect site to dive — exciting, interesting, attractive — but for us, it will be beautiful. it is thought that in this unlikely location was a bronze age settlement. today, the team is looking for evidence. the diversjump in, they give the ok symbol, they get handed the dive flags
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to make sure that no boats close to them. like nayden said, it is his first time on this site. i know the feeling of being on a site the first time when you do not know exactly what you are going to find, especially in a situation like this, where they are looking for a rtefa cts, thousands of years old. the team here, together with the centre for maritime archaeology at the university of southampton, and experts from across the world, have recently made some groundbreaking discoveries thousands of metres under the sea. they have uncovered what is thought to be the world's biggest cache of artefacts from greek, roman, ottoman and byzantine periods. thanks to the conditions here, incredible details have been preserved, even coils of rope. it goes to showjust how important the black sea has been for seafaring over the ages. after almost an hour underwater, the divers resurface. they have found something special. wow.
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so we have... bone. this is like rock, though. this is really old. which means people did live here in the bronze age. yes. that is a big find, then. i just can't get over the fact that right next to trash there is all of this treasure just hidden from the eye. just a few metres down. you are only down four metres. and there are all these things from the bronze age just laying around. it is amazing. yeah! some of the team's other findings are shown museums along the black sea coast.
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we are just arriving back to shore. when i woke up this morning i did not think i would be able to hold something that normally belongs in a museum in my hands. that is it for this week, but next week we have a food fiesta for you asjo tries her best to beat the italians at their own game at a pizza eating contest in naples. and ade goes vegan in london for a day. this is good. a tour bus around london eating food that will keep us around forever. so try to catch that again if you can. a reminder that you can follow us on social media. but from me and the team here bulgaria, goodbye. good morning.
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the summer of 2018 is shaping up to be quite memorable. june may be a distant memory, it looks as though the statistics will make it go down in history. this was glasgow last week, june 28 in motherwell, where we saw a high of 33 degrees. we thought that was the hottest june day on record, but it was the hottest day ever recorded in scotland. quite incredible. it looks as though there is little in the way of significant rain in the forecast not only throughout this week but perhaps into next as well. high pressure stays with us, subtle differences. more of an easterly breeze will bring changes and it does mean that first thing in the morning there will be a bit more cloud along the north sea coast and it will be a little bit fresher as we go through the day.
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further west, with a little more shelter we got that warmth and those temperatures yet again are set to respond. highest values likely of around 27 degrees, that's 80 fahrenheit, a little bit cooler along the east coast. perhaps a little more pleasant for many. as we move out of tuesday into wednesday, the high pressure releases its grip a little. there's still unlikely to be any significant rain in the forecast, largely quiet, but perhaps a little more in the way of cloud around and the threat of a few sharper showers across southern england. very hit and miss but i'm sure they'll be welcome news for gardeners and growers out there. as a result of that cloud, temperatures are degree or so down. looking at a high of 20—26 degrees. still a dry story into thursday for most of us, but look at this, a weather front, something we've not seen for some time, introducing more in the way of cloud across the northern isles into the western scotland and maybe northern ireland but no significant rain i'm afraid in the forecast. maybe a few isolated showers
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and the risk of a few showers just threatening across the far south. the highest values still of 17—28 degrees, that's 82 fahrenheit. the wind direction looking likely to change again as we move towards the weekend and that will allow those temperatures to climb, with more of a southerly 29 or 30 degrees not out of the question again somewhere in the south. the high pressure establishes itself as we move out of the working week into next weekend. that means that things stay dry, settled and relatively sunny. if you haven't already got the message, it looks likely that the rest of the week will stay often quite sunny, very warm for many with little in the way of significant rain. take care. welcome to bbc news — broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. my name is mike embley. our top stories: the moment 12 young boys
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and their football coach are found — alive — after being trapped deep underground in a flooded cave in thailand. a left—wing anti establishment candidate is to become mexico's next president. lopez obrador has vowed to crack down on corruption. the german interior minister has dropped his threat to resign after chancellor merkel agreed to tighter controls on immigration.
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