Situated in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula in south-eastern Europe, Bulgaria is a crossroad of the major tourist routes from Western Europe to Istanbul and the Middle East on one hand, and from Northern Europe to the Eastern Mediterranean on the other. It borders to the north with Romania, to the west with Yugoslavia and Macedonia, to the south – with Greece and Turkey and to the East – with the Black Sea.
Bulgaria's hands-on experience with free-market capitalism is alive and well in Sofia, as the surprising number of small retail businesses attests. The down side to having all those consumer choices is that retail locations - particularly those within the city center - tend to turn over with dizzying frequency, making any sort of authoritative compilation impossible. Hence the following should be seen as merely a work in progress, like the Bulgarian economy in general.
Bulgarian dishes and drinks have their devotees even among the most refined gastronomes and tasters. Bulgarian yoghourt is an industry and the Great roasted red pepper - an attraction. Anyone who has tasted a Bulgarian apple, already knows why Eve was tempted by this fruit.
Unfortunately, milliards of people all over the globe have lived their lives without ever tasting Bulgarian wine. World-wide ignorance has veiled the fact that none other than our ancestors, in the person of godlike Dyonisus, discovered wine. And, doubtless, the importance of this breakthrough goes far beyond the invention of the wheel and the discovery of fire.
It is a pity that very few foreigners know how to cook original Bulgarian meals. But for this, the world would have been a much cosier place to live in.
Under this heading we are going to offer you recipes from all parts of this country. You have to fulfil them strictly. Everything else is easy and pleasant because Bulgarian cooking is the creation of an agrarian people that had no time to linger round the fire and that knew the value of products.
Each dish is related with a particular myth, belief or ritual. It is part of the wonderland tale.
You have the opportunity of not only varying your diet, but also impressing your guests offering them something original while garnishing it with some wise and exotic story from the Balkans.
MONASTERIES
The Bulgarian monasteries keep a rich culture and alert national spirit throughout the centuries.
The bigger monasteries in Bulgaria are: the Rila, Bachkovo, Troyan, Preobrazhenie /Transfiguration/, Kilifarevo, Kapinovo, Cherepish, Rozhen, Ivanovo, Plachkovo, Aladja, Zemen, Dryanovo, Sokoloski, Glozhene, Kremikovtsi, Dragalevtsi, Gorni Voden, Kuklen, Arapovo, Batoshevo, Lopushanski, Maglizh, Etropole, “St. St. Kirik and Iolita”, Shipka monastery with a memorial Church, etc.
CHURCHES IN SOFIA
East-Orthodox churches have a historic significance for the development of the Bulgarian spirituality and for preserving the Bulgarian national identity. Temples to other religions – Catholic, Protestant, Judaism, and Islam co-exist in close neighbourhood for more than a century.
The “Alexander Nevski” memorial Church is the biggest on in the Balkan Peninsula. It is downtown Sofia close to the Sofia University and the “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” National Library. It was built in the beginning of 20 c. by the prominent Russian architect Pomerantsev in memoriam to those killed in the Russo-Turkish war of 1878.
The “St. Nedelya” Church is in the city’s ideal center on the “St. Nedelya” square, dividing the main city traffic artery of two streets: the “Vitosha blvd. And the “Knyaginya Maria Louisa” blvd. Built in the period 1856-1863 onto relics from the ancient Roman town of Serdica; destroyed almost completely in a political coup in 1925 and later fully restored.
The Bulgarian’s aesthetic sense and conception of the
world makes him create art out of any material - wood and
clay, wool and copper, silk and silver. Applied crafts have
gradually emerged from the narrow frame work of strictly
domestic life to become an art which breeds art
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| Climate |
Conditions will vary depending on when & where visited. Coastal areas enjoy hot, sunny summers although sudden blustery thunderstorms are not uncommon. Winters are usually mild but can suffer from particularly cold spells strong enough to freeze the Danube. Inland, summers are warm to hot with cold winters. In mountain areas summers are sunny but cooler & winters cold & fresh with snow |
| Local Time |
From 31 Oct 04 to 26 Mar 05 GMT +2
From 27 Mar 05 to 29 Oct 05 GMT +3 |
| Health |
A reciprocal health agreement for urgent medical treatment exists with the United Kingdom. In order to obtain treatment some proof of United Kingdom residence will be required. Further details are available from the Department of Health International Relations Unit, Room 518, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2NS |
| Customs |
Import
Allowances
a) 200 cigaretts or 50 cigars or 250gr of tobacco products
b) 1 lit of spirits and 2 lit of wine
c) 100gr of perfume
d) Gifts up to a reasonable amount
Currency
a) 200 cigaretts or 50 cigars or 250gr of tobacco products
b) 1 lit of spirits and 2 lit of wine
c) 100gr of perfume
d) Gifts up to a reasonable amount |
| Passport & Visa |
The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate
Required, but NOT by the following:
1) Holders of National Identity Cards issued to nationals of countries who have signed reciprocal agreements with Bulgaria
Passports must be valid for 3 months beyond period of intended stay
The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Bulgaria
2) For stays up to 90 days within a 6 month period by nationals of: Austria, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain & Sweden
3) For stays up to 30 days within a 6 month period by nationals of:
a) United Kingdom
b) Andorra, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Ireland Rep, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, New Zealand, Switzerland, United States & Vatican City
4) For a stay specified accordingly on the basis of acting international agreement by nationals of: Croatia, Czech Rep, Hungary, Korea (South), Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia & Tunisia |
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