ABOUT BULGARIA
Bulgaria is situated in South East Europe on the Black Sea coast, bordering Romania, Macedonia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and is set to join the European Union in 2007, Bulgaria landscape is varied with mountains valleys and gorges, the climate in Bulgaria is temperate, the four seasons are clearly defined, southern regions have a Mediterranean climate with average summer temperatures of 30oC, the average annual temperature in Bulgaria is 10oC, the population of Bulgaria is in excess of eight million, Bulgarian is the native language, however English, French and German are spoken in the popular tourist areas and restaurants, the capital of Bulgaria is Sofia, the currency is the Bulgarian Lev, Bulgaria has some ancient festivals and customs that are still celebrated to day, fire dancing in May is an event to celebrate the arrival of summer; walking barefoot across hot coals in the small villages and mountains, although this custom can also be seen in the tourist areas, other festivals consist of music and dancing, colorful costumes and face masks.
Bulgaria has a history dating back centuries, information can be found in the many museums, monasteries and historical sites, due to the poor infrastructure not all historical sites are accessible, of the sites that are accessible many are not advertised or maintained properly, the Valley of the Roses in Bulgaria is a must see, situated in the heart of the country shielded by mountains, there are also national parks and nature reserves well worth a visit during a stay in Bulgaria, wine production and grape growing plays a very important part in the Bulgarian economy, the south of the country provides the red wine while the north of the country produces white wines.
Bulgaria is a developing country and in recent years has seen an increase in tourism; winter tourism is dominated by the ski slopes in Borovetz, Bansko and Pamporovo, accommodation in the mountains and villages consists of chalets, hostels and bed and breakfast guest houses, while the black sea coast is a popular summer destination with its golden sands and crystal clear waters, purpose built resorts along the coast provide easy access to the beach, many of the hotel rooms have a sea view, despite the development of many hotels and commercial centers along the coast Bulgaria has managed to retain its stunning backdrop of mountains, Bulgaria is however providing a different kind of experience for the visitor to Bulgaria, mountain villages and small towns are encouraging rural tourism, visitors can experience the Bulgarian way of life, mix with the locals and enjoy the flora and fauna that Bulgaria has to offer, mountain biking and bike touring is also gaining in popularity as is mountaineering and hiking, nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts won't be disappointed with the activities that are available throughout the year in Bulgaria.
Bulgarian cuisine is particularly diverse, being influenced by the Turkish, the Greeks and the Middle East, the warm climate makes Bulgaria ideal for growing a wide selection of fruit and vegetable and salad is served with every meal, Bulgaria also produces a good variety of dairy products.
