See the Alexander Nevski...
by conservomat
See the Alexander Nevski cathedral and shop the trinket and textile markets around it. I live here, so it's hard to pick any single moment. Meeting and marrying the woman of my dreams would be the best thing that has happened to me here, so that will do for this answer.
The worst thing is the outrageously flagrant disregard for the law by the new mafia class and the fact that most ordinary members of Bulgarian society respect and envy them. But don't worry, they don't mess with tourists--they have better things to do. Watch out for pickpockets, though.
Informal References & Relations
by Scarlie
The family relations are very complex and in some parts of the country there are words for ALL possible relationships within a family. Here are a few which are popular and in wide use.
"Mama" & "Tate" - ma & pa
"Batko"/"Bate" & "Kaka" - Older brother and sister. Used for people who are slightly older, but in the same generation. Please note that "kaka" is an exremely important reference for all Bulgarians so do not make jokes or laugh about it in any way. If you do, you'll not only insult the people but also damage your own standing among them.
"Chicho"/"lelincho" & "lelya" - uncle and aunt on the father's side. Also widely used for non-related adult men and women (i.e. neighbours, family friends, etc.), generally one generation older than you.
"vuycho" & "vuyna" - uncle and aunt on the mother's side.
"baba" & "dyado" - grandma & grandpa. Also widely used for non-relatives, two generations older. "Pra-baba" and "Pra-dyado" are the great-grandparents.
IN-LAWS
"zet" & "snaha" - son- & daughter-in-law. "Zavryan zet" is a folksy derogative for a man who lives with his wife's parents.
"tust" & tushta" - father and mother-in-law, parents of the wife
"svekur" & "svekurva" - father and mother-in-law, parents of the husband. Also used after the divorce (with an ex- preffix, of course)
Note: Svekurva i snaha don't get along, and tushta i zet neither.
"kum" & "kuma" - the witnesses of your wedding (similar to Best Man and Maid of Honour, but in Bulgaria those are married to each other)
"kumec" & "kumica" - people to whose wedding you have witnessed (i.e. been Best Man or Maid of Honour)
INDIVIDUAL IN-LAW RELATIONS
"dever" - husband's brother
"zulva" - husband's sister
"balduza" - wife's sister
"shurej" - wife's brother
"badzhanaci" - husbands to two sisters
"eturvi" - wives to two brothers
"zet" - sister's husband
"snaha" - brother's wife
The Bulgarian word for nepotism is 'shuro-badzhanashtina" - i.e. something you share with your wife's brother and the husband of your wife's sister. ;-)
Sport in Vitosha mountain
by peter_dimov
Vitosha - the mountain next to Sofia. Maybe a bit crowded, but it's right outdoors from Sofia. It provides places for hiking, walking, cycling, mountain climbing (alpinism), skiing in the winter. There are many hotels and chalets with different accomodation and prices. Regular mountain equipment; warm clothes even in summer
Boyana village
by denise_BG
Boyana is situated in the outskirts of Vitosha and is one of the best quarters of Sofia. There you'll find the small Church of Boyana which is a "world masterpiece" and is included in the Unesco list of the world cultural heritage. The frescoes were made by an unknown artist in 13c.
From the center of Boyana you can reach the Boyana waterfall (1h-1.5h climbing) and look at Sofia from above.
Pints of Guinness and cheeky barmaids
by CliffClaven
You can't visit any major city in eastern Europe these days without finding an Irish pub. In Sofia the haven for the thirsty traveller is Murphy's, just off the city's main shopping street, Vitosha Boulevard. Great Guinness, cheeky Bulgarian barmaids and facilities so clean that people travel from all over the city just to use them. Oh, and the Guinness is half the price it is in London.
Update - July 2004:
When you walk into a pub at half past eight on a Saturday evening and there are only five customers, you begin to wonder. The toilets are as good as they always were - but where are the crowds, the atmosphere, the fun....???
Update - August 2005:
Another Saturday night and the place was heaving. Okay, there were a couple of World Cup games on: the locals moaning as their team went down to Sweden, and the expats marvelling as the Scots held Italy to a draw. And there were two Irish diplomats, testing the Guinness in the corner.
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Bulgaria is the land of roses
Former Royal Palace
Sofia main train station
my pizza
