www.dotcomhunter.com Travel tips to European Countries: Bulgaria About the county Officially known as the Republic of Bulgaria or Bulgarian Republic, B ulgaria is a beautiful mountainous country lying in Balkan Peninsula in Southern Europe bordering the Black Sea to the east, Serbia and th e Republic of Macedonia to the west, Romania to the north, Greece and Turkey to the south. Bulgaria also borders Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia along the sea. The largest and the capital city is Sofia. The country may be very small in area but it is rich in anc ient culture, picturesque locales, down to earth and friendly people who provide the warmth and hospitality of old days. Bulgaria is known as “Land of Roses” due to the largest production of roses here. Alth ough Bulgaria is known mostly for its sea resorts much of the actual country can be explored in great mountain regions, with many ski reso rts a perfect destination for skiers. With unique customs, spectacula r crafts, colorful festivals, folklore and so on Bulgaria has it all to take the imagination of visitors by surprise and excitement. Population & Languages The population of Bulgaria is roughly 7.4 million and the official l anguage being spoken is Bulgarian. Turkish and Roma are also spoken by considerable percentage of the population. Electricity The voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. The types of plugs used are Round pin attachment plug and "Schuko" plug and receptacl e with side grounding contacts. Geographic Location It lies in Balkan Peninsula in Southern Europe bordering the Black S ea to the east, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, Ro mania to the north, Greece and Turkey to the south. Bulgaria also bo rders Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia along the sea. B ulgaria is strategically located near Turkish Straits making it the control point of key land routes connecting Europe to Middle East an d Asia. Climate The climate of Bulgaria can be termed as temperate with hot and d ry summers and cold and damp winters. Summer temperatures average around 75°F (24°C) and winter temperatures average about 32°F (0 °C). The ideal time to visit Bulgaria is summer. Local Customs Like any other country Bulgaria has its own customs too and normal c ourtesies should be followed. Handshaking is customary. Dress should be conservative but can be casual. Souvenirs from home country are A gift from www.dotcomhunter.comwww.dotcomhunter.com appreciated if invited to home. Here is Bulgaria, a nod of the head means ‘no’ and a shake of the head means ‘yes’. Tipping up to 10 to 12 percent is customary for all services including restaurants, bars , clubs, taxis etc. Attractions Sofia * St. Sofia Church * St. George Rotunda * Alexander Nevsky Cathedral * National Ethnographic Museum Mountains * Village of Momchilovtsi * Pirin National Park * Rila Monastery Travel By Air – The national airline of Bulgaria is Bulgaria Air. Other intern ational airlines operating from Bulgaria include Bulgaria include Aerof lot, Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, El Al Is rael Airlines, KLM, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, MALEV Hungarian Air lines, Olympic Airlines and Swiss Air. Sofia International Airport EAD (SOF) is the biggest airport which is like six miles east of Sofia. Oth er international airport is Varna International Airport (VAR) located i n the western outskirts of the city about five miles from Varna. Sea -The important international ports are Bourgas and Varna along the Black Sea. River – Ferries can cross into Romania from Vidin to Calafat. By Rail – Sofia is connected to Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest, Thessa loniki, Paris, Vienna, Munich and Berlin through frequent services of trains. Duty Free Items 1. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco 2. 1 liter of spirits and 2 liter of wine; 50g of perfume and 100g of eau de toilette 3. Gifts and personal use items. Prohibited Items Un-canned goods, meat or dairy products, Narcotics, pornography, fi rearms, ammunition, weapons, eggs, plants, endangered species, fire works and alcoholic beverages that contain more than sixty per cent alcohol. PPPPP Word Count 653 A gift from www.dotcomhunter.com