where in the world

[Sniffer]

Ivan

Zagorka

927

Shopska

One lev

This place is a religious edifice.

One of the clues is a beer

Lev is Bulgarian currency so presumably somewhere in Bulgaria.
yes
Is Zagorka the beer?
yes
Is it sort of named after the city like Budweiser/Budvar sort of is?
no
Was this place founded in 927 by some bloke called Ivan?
yes and yes
Is shopska a … I don't know … a thing, a hat or something?
you'd look a bit silly wearing this on your head

So what does that leave us with? Stari Zagorkigrad.
There is a place called Stara Zagora in Bulgaria, but that's not the answer

Sorry, I have no idea.
you're on the right lines

Great effort Sniffer but not quite there....see comments above....

Just looked up shopska.
Last time I was in eastern Europe Yugoslavia was still a country. There were a lot of Stari Grads, which I think means new town, so my guess was slightly educated.

[mapperleywhite]

Doesn't look like anyone is going to get this....?

SW - Mick I don't particularly want to set another teaser, so if no-one gets it may I nominate Sniffer to supply the next one? I really liked the effort he put in at one stage and it made me smile

What do you think?

[Selby White]

Doesn't look like anyone is going to get this....?

SW - Mick I don't particularly want to set another teaser, so if no-one gets it may I nominate Sniffer to supply the next one? I really liked the effort he put in at one stage and it made me smile

What do you think?

Sounds good to me although it wasn't me that started the game so just a player like everyone else.

[Sniffer]

Doesn't look like anyone is going to get this....?

SW - Mick I don't particularly want to set another teaser, so if no-one gets it may I nominate Sniffer to supply the next one? I really liked the effort he put in at one stage and it made me smile

What do you think?

Sounds good to me although it wasn't me that started the game so just a player like everyone else.

Right, we've got a log jam here so If MW can tell us where he was in the world I'll do a easy one to get us up and running again.

[mapperleywhite]

Ivan - St Ivan of Rila founded the monastery

Zagorka Lager-type beer perfect for a warm Bulgarian day. Now part of Heineken (don't let that put you off )

927 the year it was founded

Shopska is a Bulgarian salad made with goat's cheese and typically peppers, cucumbers and a variety of other ingredients. Very nice too!

One lev Rila monastery is depicted on the one lev note

The answer is Rila monastery.

I have been there and it's a sizeable, impressive site about 100 km from Sofia. It's considered one of the most important sites for the Eastern Orthodox church in the Balkans

[Sniffer]

Right. Easy one.

1) Bridge
2) Ship
3) Castle
4) Bear
5) Downs

[NottinghamWhite]

Right. Easy one.

1) Bridge
2) Ship
3) Castle
4) Bear
5) Downs

Easy you say

[Selby White]

Right. Easy one.

1) Bridge
2) Ship
3) Castle
4) Bear
5) Downs

Easy you say

Suspect very much Sniffer is playing at home and this one is Bristol
1. Bridge - Clifton
2. Ship - SS Gt Britain I recall visiting
3. Castle - Assume they have one
4. Bears - The rugby team
5.Downs - not sure

[NottinghamWhite]

The Downs will be Clifton Downs.

[Sniffer]

The Downs will be Clifton Downs.

AKA my back garden. Right on the roof of Bristol near the suspension bridge. People in Bristol go up the Downs.

Well done SW.
1) Clifton Suspension Bridge
2) SS Gurt Biggun but also a reference to the phrase Ship-shape and Bristol fashion. The River Avon that flows in to the city from the Severn Estuary is tidal and when it goes out it goes out out. Ship captains had to know what they were about or they'd get a cracked hull.
3) Bristol Castle. Not a lot left of it, to be honest as it was pretty much flattened in the Bristol Blitz but it is featured on the city's crest together with a ship. The Ship and Castle - or the number 2s and Arsehole as we rather rudely termed a local pub in my youth.
4) It could be the rugby team, SW, but I was thinking of Ursa, an iconic statue that was erected in an infamous underpass under a roundabout near the bus station. The underpass is known as the Bearpit and in 2013 a 12 ft tall black and white bear was erected to mark the areas regeneration. Not a lot of regeneration has gone on.
5) As NW says Clifton and Durdham Downs. A large recreational place that pays host to walkers, joggers, cyclists, Sunday League football matches, funfairs, circuses and mini-festivals.