Bulgaria

The country

Situated in the south-east of Europe, Bulgaria has borders with Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Yugoslavia, and Romania, as well as a coastline on the Black Sea.

Bulgaria has a long and fascinating history, dating back to the first permanent settlements in 6000 BC. It is home to the world's oldest gold treasure, the birthplaces of Spartacus and Orpheus, Thracian tombs and monuments, Roman amphitheatres, Byzantine fortresses, and Ottoman architecture. The First Bulgarian Empire began in 681 AD, after the Bulgars settled in the region, having migrated from Central Asia.

The city

Sofia , with a population of 1.2 million, is both exciting and lively, and yet small enough to be welcoming and easy to find your way around in. The local people are friendly and hospitable, and will do their part in making your stay enjoyable and memorable.

Things to do

Nearby Mt. Vitosha offers activities all year-round: in the winter good and remarkably cheap skiing, and trekking and hiking in the summer. In the surrounding area lie lakes, monasteries (Rila monastery is Bulgaria 's largest and most famous), waterfalls, and traditional villages.

Sofia has many beautiful churches, statues, parks and monuments that are well worth visiting, as well as all the things that you would want from a capital city: museums, cinemas, art galleries, clubs, discos, and bars. Sitting at an outdoor cafe in summer watching the world go by is one of life's minor but unmissable pleasures.

The food & drink

Bulgarian food is an interesting mixture of Turkish, Mediterranean, and European cuisine. Local specialities include kebabche (grilled spicy meat), meat and vegetables cooked in earthenware pots, cheese and yoghurt made from sheep's and goat's milk, stuffed vine leaves, and lots of salads. Sofia also has plenty of pizza, Chinese, and some Indian restaurants. Bulgarians are rightly proud of their wine, the production of which dates back to the 6 th century BC. Now the fifth largest wine exporter in the world, Bulgaria produces many excellent red and white wines at very reasonable prices. The local beer is also cheap and very drinkable.

The cost of living

One of the benefits of taking the CELTA course in Sofia is the cost of living. Here is a sample list of approximate prices: 1lv = GB 0.35 approx/US$0.65 approx

  • Tram/trolley-bus ticket: 0.70 lv
  • Internet bar: 0.50 lv p/hr

Meal in restaurant:

  • Canteen: 4.00 – 7:00lv
  • Traditional Bulgarian: 5.00 – 10:00lv
  • Pizza: 4.00 – 8.00lv
  • Hotdog from street vendor: 1.50lv
  • Pint of draught beer in a bar: 1.40lv
  • Loaf of bread: 0.70lv
  • 1 kg of white cheese: 3.00lv
  • 1kg of potatoes: 0.80lv

The climate

Bulgaria has a temperate climate with snowy winters and hot summers. Sofia 's generally favourable climate is one of its main attractions with average temperatures of 28°C in July and August and 3°C from December to February.

The language

Bulgarian is a South Slavonic language closely related to Macedonian. Like Russia, Macedonia, Ukraine, Mongolia, Belarus and Yugoslavia, Bulgaria uses the Cyrillic alphabet, developed in 863 AD by brothers Cyril and Metodius, who were born in what is now modern-day Bulgaria.

Getting around in Sofia , however, is not a problem as many locals speak some English and menus in bars and restaurants are often in both