General.
Long overlooked by the rest of Europe, modern day- Bulgaria was once the home of the Thracians, a Mediterranean people with much of the sophisticated culture of the neighboring Greeks. In the middle ages, Bulgaria managed to finally escape the influence of the Byzantine Empire, but it was short-lived, as the region was overrun by the Ottoman Turks. In 1908 Bulgaria emerged as an independent country again, but two disastrous world wars ended in the country falling under Soviet influence until 1990, when it shed 44 years of Communism. Today, Bulgaria has made the transition to a stable European democracy, a status that became official in January 2007 when Bulgaria joined the European Union.
Bulgaria is situated on the black sea in south-eastern Europe, in the heart of the Balkans. Across the Danube river lies Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia are on the western border, and Greece and Turkey lie to the south and south west. Bulgaria has a warm climate, beautiful scenery, a rich and ancient culture and is in close proximity to the main centers of Europe. The scenic indented coast line which stretches some 360km with its clean azure waters which lap vast swathes of superb sandy beaches, attracts thousands of tourists each year.
Apart from sun, sea and sand, the country also offers skiing in winter and mountain trekking and golf in summer in its mountain resorts. The resorts of Bansko in the Pirin mountains, Borovets in the Rila mountains and Pamporovo in the Rodopi range being the most popular. Bulgaria’s second city, Plovdiv as well as the capital Sofia, offer a gateway into this region.
Bulgaria has a moderate climate, with some Mediterranean influences in the south and along the coast. In the coastal region, the average daily temperature by the sea during summer high season is 28-30 degrees and 18-20 degrees at night. The sea water temperature reaches 22-25 degrees. The cities of Bourgas and Varna are the main travel hubs on the coast (See section Travel Details or more information).
Practical Information.
Bulgaria is a small country with approximately 8 million people, of which roughly 2/3 live in urban centres. The largest city is Sofia, followed by Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas and Ruse.
Bulgarians are of Slavic origin, and constitute roughly 85% of the population. The largest minorities are the Turks (9%) and the Roma (4.5%). Orthodox Christianity has been the official religion since 865 and attending an Orthodox service is an unforgettable experience for the visitor.
Bulgaria is cheap compared with western standards. The Bulgarian currency is the Lev (Lv). One Lev = 100 stotinki. Notes come in denominations of Lv50, 20, 10, 5 and 2. Coins are in denominations of 1 Lev, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 stotinki. The Lev is pegged to the Euro at a rate of approximately 1.95.
The current exchange rate to the UK Pound Sterling is approximately 2.50.
In most towns there are ATMs that accept standard international credit and debit cards. Check with your bank/card provider whether you will be able to use your card abroad. Cash is still most widely used, although credit cards are increasingly being used in hotels, restaurants and retail outlets.
A handshake is the normal form of greeting. Note however, that in Bulgarian culture one shakes the head to indicate yes and a nod means no!
If you learn a few words of Bulgarian before you travel you will get a very warm welcome. Although this can seem daunting, as Bulgarian is written in the Cyrillic alphabet, once you have mastered the alphabet, most words are pronounced as they are written. English, German, French and Russian are spoken in major tourist resorts and hotels. In restaurants, hotels and taxis a 10% tip is customary.
The dialing code for Ravda is +359 554. Bulgaria is on Eastern European Time: GMT + 2 (+ 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October). Electricity is 220 volts AC, and plugs are European standard 2-pin.
For further and more detailed information about Bulgaria Visa requirements, History, Travel, Politics, Health, Environment, Religion, and a wealth of other practical travelers information and tips, I would like to recommend Lonely Planet’s “Bulgaria”, or “Eastern Europe”. These books can be purchased from any major book store for approximately £15.
Food & Drink.
Bulgarian cuisine has been heavily influenced by Greek and Turkish cookery as well as local Balkan traditions. Fresh vegetables and fruit form the basis of much of Bulgarian cooking, and pork, veal and chicken are popular meats. The price of food in restaurants is exceptionally low compared with western standards and the quality is excellent.
Ravda has several restaurants and taverns which offer good food and drinks. All the major hotels in Ravda also have restaurants which cater for every need.
Nessebar has a huge selection of top quality restaurants which serve a variety of national dishes, as well as western European standard dishes. Beer, (pivo or bira) is very popular and is served everywhere in bottle or draught form. The leading nationwide brands are Zagorka and Kamenitsa, and there are some regional beers such as Shumensko and Pirinsko. Bulgarians like their coffee, and it’s normally drank very strong and sweet. Bulgaria also produces a good selection of red and white wines.
For more information see www.bulgariawines.com.
