BULGARIA

                          Bulgaria in the Balkans

       Bulgaria, a small picturesque country, has existed in Europe for more than 13 centuries. It is the oldest surviving state in Europe to have kept its original name, since 681 AD. Linking East and West, Bulgaria situated in Southeastern Europe, occupies the northeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. Its east coast borders the Black Sea. About half of the country is mountainous. The capital is Sofia. We found Bulgarians are warm and friendly people.

      The ancient crossroads, inhabited from eons ago, remembers many old civilizations and  is the cradle of Slavic culture. Also bordering the Black Sea is Romania, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia.

      The country boasts beautiful beaches, fertile plains of the Danube in the north and the mountainous Balkan Range inland. In the small villages nestled in the valleys, carts and not cars are the main mode of transportation.

      Declaration of Republic was made in 1946, hastened by communism. In 1989 democratic changes began and a new constitution written. Hundreds of churches and monasteries have preserved the Bulgarian spirit over centuries of turbulent history. Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007.

      Ruse, (locally spelled Rousse) located on Bulgaria’s northern border and on the south bank of the Danube is an important, lively, port city. Dating back to the first century AD, Ruse is the country’s 5^th largest city. It sports an attractive town square and pedestrian area.  The highlight of the city is the Russian Orthodox Church (Sveta Trotsa) built in 1632. It is Ruse’s oldest surviving Ottoman-era building. Because of the rule/law that no building be higher than a mosque, many buildings are partly underground. The church has well preserved 16^th century crosses and icons as well as murals. The stain glass windows are in the towers. The bell tower was added in the 19^th century and at 650-feet tall it is an easy landmark. The first pipe organ was installed in Ruse.

      The city sports Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture. The 1892 Battenberg Palace houses the Ruse Regional History Museum.

      The river boat let us off in the small city of Lom  The scenery was much like that of the day before. However we did see more gypsy carts traveling along the road and people working in the fields. Small houses were clustered together. We also saw many sad looking stray dogs. It seems when people were relocated from the rural areas to the cities many just left their dogs. I’ve always thought that was a cruel thing to do. At the fort we saw a stray with a tag in his left ear which indicates he had been neutered

Good to Know:

In restaurants 10 % tip is customary.

 If one says cheers, one must look the other fellow in the eye, or it is considered an insult.

 In Bulgaria a nod of the head means no and a head shake means yes.

Yoghurt originated in Bulgaria.

 Bread is always on the table.

Bulgarian cuisine reflects Turkish, Greek, Arabic and western influence.

Rakiu is a brandy-like drink that must be sipped. 
 Mastika is similar to absinthe, is taken with food and is very strong,           
 Boza is a sweet-sour non alcoholic drink 
 Ayran is a yoghurt drink that can be either hot or cold.