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Bulgaria
Summary: Located in southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey, Bulgaria is mostly mountainous with lowlands in the north and southeast. With a history dating back to the 7th century involving the Slavs, the Turks, and later with the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, Bulgaria is in the continuing process of moving toward stable a political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime.
Capital: Sofia
Time Zone: DST +0300 UTC
Population: 7,262,675
Languages: Bulgarian, Turkish
Power: 230 V, 50 Hz
Currency: Lev
Climate: Bulgaria is temperate, with cold, damp winters and hot, dry summers.
- Currently 46º, Mostly Cloudy
Recent Headlines:
Hellenic Petroleum acquires Opet Aygaz Bulgaria - Energy Business Review - Nov 07 3:30 AM
US Ambassador to Sofia Flies aboard F-16 in Bulgaria's Graf Ignatievo Air Base - Novinite.com - Nov 07 7:13 AM
Hungary, Bulgaria and South Korea to pull out of Iraq - Summary - EARTHtimes.org - Nov 07 9:07 AM
Kevin Kruger leaves Saturday for Bulgaria and Lukoil Akademik - Las Vegas Sun - Nov 07 1:46 PM
Bulgaria Holds Two New Mobile Phone Operator Tenders by End of 2008 - Novinite.com - Nov 02 6:16 AM
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 Sofia: Founded in the 4th century BC, Sofia has architecture with Byzantine influences mixed with Greek, Turkish and Roman. Interesting sites include the 14th century frescos in the 5th century church of St. George, the nine domes of the Bouyouk Mosque, and shopping along Vitosha Boulevard with its art, wines and food, while people flock to Mount Vitosha a few miles to the south for skiing during winter and hiking during the summer. |
 Veliko Târnovo: Split by the Yantra River and gorge, this university town was once a capital of the Bulgarian Empire from the 12th to 14th centuries, and shows off its sights like the ruins of the Tsaravets Citadel and the Royal Palace ruins, home to 22 Tzars. As well, the local university guarantees a lively nightclub scene and fairly cheap hostels and hotels, with cobblestone streets that are memorable. |
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Public Toilets: Public restrooms can be expensive, so time your beverages carefully.
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Yes or no?: For the local residents, shaking their head from side to side means yes, and nodding is the same as saying no. Trust that it only gets confusing if a local recognizes you as a tourist and tries to nod "your way".
Exchanging Money: Don't exchange money anywhere except for legitimate places: banks, or exchange offices. A foreigner won't recognize that they've just been passed counterfeit currency.
Handshakes: Through many parts of Europe, cheek kissing is common practice, however, that is locally reserved for close friends as handshakes are more commonly used.
When To Visit: Spring is the best time to visit, with good weather and cultural festivals to attract an interested visitor, from folklore to fire-dancing. The first Sunday in June is the Festival of Roses in Karlovo and Kazanluk.
Food: Traditional meals will include spiced meats, potatoes and beans, with salads or yogurt soup on the side. Breakfast can start well with cheese pastries called banits or other breads, and the night can end well after a glass of rakia or mastika.
Phrases: Yes = Da, No = Ne.
Tipping: As Bulgaria becomes more accustomed to foreign tourism, tipping has become more standard, at 10%-12% for most services. It is customary to leave the tip on the table in a restaurant, and the service industry takes pride in delivering good service as part of their jobs.
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