Where is Bulgaria?

Bulgaria , located on the Balkan Peninsula in southeast Europe , is the most stable country in the region. The country has been spared the turmoil of unrest that most of its neighbours have experienced while on the road to establishing democracies. The population of Bulgaria is approximately 7.6 million. Bulgaria is a country occupies a relatively small area - 111 000 sq. km, but blessed with great geographical diversity. Three mountain ranges run through the country (Stara Planina-The Balkans, The Pirin and the Rhodopes) offering wonderful conditions for skiing in the winter. The Black Sea borders the country to the east, with 354 kilometres (218 miles) of coast line.

    Some interesting facts to Bulgaria:

• Economic structure - Bulgaria is a politically stable country, and the introduction of a currency board in 1997 stabilised the country's economy. Reaching year of 2007, Bulgarian laws are improving and changing in accordance with the laws in the countries  of the European Union. Bulgaria has one of the most liberal foreign investment laws in the region. Foreign investment typically assumes one of the following forms: establishing a joint venture with existing companies, state-owned or private; acquiring a company through privatization; setting up a new (green field) venture; or making a portfolio investment.
• Bulgarian Economy - Bulgarian economy is a free market economy. Economically Bulgaria can be qualified as a developed industrial-agrarian country and an attractive place for active tourism and sport-lovers because of its incredible natural recourses.The main industries with a great importance for the country are food-processing, wine and tobacco industries as well as the plant growing and the stockbreeding. Bulgaria produces and exports the best tasting and nitrates-free agricultural products - vegetables, fruits, tobacco and dairies, as well as its famous wines.Bulgaria with its unique climate and natural recourses is home for Bacillus Bulgaricus and number one yogurt in the world, which is believed to be the main factor for the long life of the Bulgarians.
• Political system: Parliamentary Republic,Head of State: Georgi Purvanov, 

  Prime Minister : Simeon Saxe–Coburg Gotha.In 2001, a new government was elected by the people of Bulgaria , the NDSV, which is headed by the former Tsar of Bulgaria - Simeon II, exiled in Spain at the age of six. Under the NDSV government, Bulgaria has made great strides on the road to European integration. Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004, while December 2007 is the target date for integration into the European Union. In 1999, the Bulgarian currency - the lev was tied to the German mark and subsequently the Euro. This has helped the stabilization of the Bulgarian currency and improved the economic conditions in the country.

• Population  -  The total population is about 7,8 million people with the highest concentrations living in the major cities or towns of Sofia (the capital), Plovdiv, Pleven, Stara, Zagora, Sliven, Varna and Burgas (the last two being cities at the Black Sea coast which boasts 378 km (220 miles) of sandy coastline.

• Capital: Sofia
• Official language: Bulgarian
• Religion:  Bulgaria is predominately a Christian country - 86.6% of the population is Eastern Orthodox, 13% are Muslims. The Bulgarian Church is autonomous and headed by a Patriarch.

• Ecological country - Bulgarian nature will fascinate you with its fantastic creativity, squeezing so much beauty onto such a tiny land - curious rock formations and mysterious caves; sunny seashores with golden sands, quiet coves and romantic capes; majestic mountains with fiery peaks, mirror lakes and shady woods full of scent. Nestling at the heart of Central Europe, Bulgaria is a land of unspoilt natural beauty, where time has been known to stand still. It is a country of great contrasts. The mountains are an important part of Bulgarian legacy and national spirit. Throughout the centuries Bulgarians used these natural fortresses to hide from the persecution of foreigners. If Bulgaria didn't have mountains, maybe today there wouldn't be people calling themselves Bulgarians. Bulgarians now live in the valleys; these people enjoy looking up but prefer living in the cities.Rugged snow-capped peaks and soft green slopes, cool forests carrying the aroma of herbs and wild fruit, quick-flowing rivers and crystal-clear blue lakes, mineral springs and bioreserves, rare plants and game, large climatic and ski resorts and small picturesque villages with living traditions and folklore - every Bulgarian mountain has its own characteristic appearance, fascination and beautiful name Forests cover more then one quarter of the country's territory. The edelweiss which grows in places difficult of access in the Pirin Mountains and the Balkan Range, is one of the rare plants growing in the country. Bulgaria is famous for its oleaginous rose which bloom in the Valley of Roses. The Bulgarian tobacco brands are world - famous. The Bulgarian fauna is no less interesting, with almost 13 000 animal species and subspecies, or about 14 percent of all European species. Fishing is possible in lakes, dams 

• What is the cuisine?
  Bulgaria is a renowned producer and exporter of wine to more than 70 countries in the world.  On the territory of Bulgaria there are 12 wineries producing a variety of excellent wines.Bulgarian food is close to traditional European cuisine. A traditional Bulgarian menu includes bread, yogurt and fresh milk, cheese, tomatoes, paprika, potatoes, onions, beans and fruits, grappa and red or white wine. Food specialities include: Shopska salad - prepared from diced tomatoes, fresh cucumbers, green peppers, topped with feta cheese and seasoned with olive oil and parsley Mlechna salad - prepared from strained yogurt seasoned with olives, crashed walnuts, finely diced garlic and parsley Tarator - cold served soup from yogurt, fresh cucumbers, seasoned with walnuts, garlic and dill Sirene po Shopski - feta cheese, diced tomatoes and onion topped with egg and cooked in pottery Kebapche - minced meat rolls seasoned with traditional spices and fine herbs and barbequed Kuyfte - minced meat balls seasoned with traditional spices and fine herbs and barbequed Shish Kebab - grilled skewered meat, onion and paprika Banitsa - baked pumpkin pastry filled with cheese or meet Creme Caramel - delicious dessert prepared from fresh milk, eggs and caramelized sugar, similar to the classic French creme brulee.
• Information on some traditional Bulgarian dishes
  The variety in Bulgarian cuisine is based on the long history of the country, as well as on the long-lasting migrations of the tribes that founded Bulgaria more than 1300 years ago. The close contact with Turkey and Greece have helped form very attractive and to some extent an exotic national cuisine, including some dishes which cannot be called national but which are typical of Bulgaria only. If you are invited to someone's home or choose a good traditional restaurant you'll be able to sample what's best about Bulgarian cuisine; plenty of fresh vegetables, eaten raw, roasted or stewed with meat in terracotta. Lots of garlic, onions, oil and spices. Bulgarians like their salads - a salad and rakia (Bulgarian spirit/schnapps, usually made from grapes) are the obligatory start to the meal. Be warned, this stage of the meal can be a very drawn-out process lasting up to an hour.
• Official holidays: January 1st – New Year’s Holiday;
  March 3rd – National Holiday;
  Easter, and the first Monday after Easter;
  May 1st – Labour Day;
  May 6th – Gergyovden (Saint George's Day), and the Day of the Bulgarian Army Day;
  May 24th – Cyril and Methodius Day;
  September 6th – Unification Day;
  September 22d – Independence Day;
  November 1st - National Day of the Bulgarian Revival Leaders; December 24th ,25th, and 26th – Christmas Days;
• National currency: Bulgarian lev (pl. leva). Fractional coins are called 'stotinki' (100 stotinki = 1 lev). The exchange rate against the euro is fixed at Lv 1.96/EUR 1. Credit cards are not widely accepted except in larger hotels and restaurants that cater to foreign tourists. ATMs are widespread and take major cards.
• Air transport: Balkan Air Tour and British Airways operate direct flights from London to Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Balkan Air Tour fly 4 times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday) from London Gatwick.  Currently, outbound flights on Wednesday and Sunday touch down for 1 hour in Paris.  British Airways operate daily direct flights from London Heathrow. A flight lasts between 2 1/5 and 3 hours. If you are travelling to the Black Sea coast you will have to take an internal flight from Sofia to Varna (approx. 45 min). During the summer months there are internal flights to Burgas via Varna as well. Inexpensive bus and train service to these two cities is also available, albeit it takes longer than flying.  During the tourist seasons (summer & winter), Balkan Holidays organises 1 & 2 week holidays from up to 20 regional UK airports at cost sometimes equal to the cost of a scheduled flight. 

• Trains: Bulgaria is linked by train to Istanbul, Thessaloniki and Athens in Greece, Belgrade, Bucharest, and points on such as Budapest. Veliko Turnovo is on the route of the Orient Express from Bucharest to Istanbul.

• Taxi:The Sofia Airport taxi cabs are recommended. Arrangements can be made in the arrivals lounge and in the VIP lounge. Private taxi cabs charge higher fares. The fare (especially for longer distances) is negotiable. Foreign currency is accepted at the day's or a negotiable exchange rate. Taxis in general in Bulgaria are very inexpensive with a average rate of 0.2 Euro/KM. Careful with taxis in Beach resorts. Here the per KM rate can be as high as 2.0 Euro/KM.
• Banks and currency exchange: Many local banks and bureaux de change operate in the capital and across the country. Major international banks also have offices here. Banking hours: 9 a.m.-3 a.m., Monday to Friday. Foreign-exchange offices are open until 6 p.m., and some around the clock.
  Currency exchange at the airport on arrival or departure, and in the larger hotels, is also possible. Do not exchange money in the streets or outside banks and bureaux de change despite the bargain rate offered: you risk being cheated.
• Telecommunications: International direct-dialling access code for Bulgaria: 359, for Sofia: 359 2. Telephone lines in 63 countries of Europe, Asia and Africa are directly dialable from Mobikom or BulFon cardphones (require different phone cards). Inland and international phone, telegram and fax services are available at the Sofia General Post Office and at local post offices in the capital and in the country. Essential phone numbers: 0123 operator service for international calls (to places where no direct dialling is available); 120 wake-up service; 121 operator service for inland long-distance calls; 140 telegram services; 144 directory enquiries about business lines in Sofia; 145 directory enquiries about private lines in Sofia; 1286 car breakdown service (Sofia), 146 (rest of country); 150 ambulance service; 166 police/traffic police; 160 fire brigade; 175 weather forecast; 180 speaking clock.