For the "whatever it's worth" file, I've changed oil, adjusted and replaced chains, fixed flats and done other routine maintenance in hotel/pension/hostal/hostel/restaurant/campground parking lots all over Europe and North America. Also on the sides of highways, in rest areas and gas station parking lots. No one seemed to care---or at least, if they did they kept quiet about it. I do not leave oil spills or used bits and pieces, and I do my maintenance in faraway corners, not in front of main entrances.

It took me a while before I figured out how to change out oil and filters without even dribbling. After that, it was easy to learn to spray down my chain and conduct other essential business without leaving a mess behind. And I try to make a point of not spending hours and hours at it, or spreading parts and tools far and wide. I figure that by the time someone's taken notice, I'm almost done.

I do not tend to stay at five star hotels, please note.

As far as Sunny Beach and the rest: I was absolutely appalled at Sunny Beach, which concentrates everything that is depressing about tourism along one short section of coastline. I liked Sozopol a lot, but I probably would have stayed in Nesebar if I'd had some reason to be closer to the mass touristic experience of Sunny Beach. Burgas didn't really do it for me.

If you do end up in Sozopol, befriend the (ethnically) Russian souvenir sellers where you park just before entering the old section. They'll be happy to try to speak English with you, happier still if you try to speak a word or two of Russian, and they'll eagerly help with any logistical or practical problems you've got. I don't know how it really works, of course, but Russians are widely reviled in Bulgaria (as elsewhere in Eastern Europe), and these guys seemed pretty happy to be treated as human beings for a change. Also, they claimed never to have spoken with an actual American before, and tried to shower me with tacky gifts.

Hope that helps.

Mark