Bulgaria.
One of the most unique countries in all of Europe, and a bulwark of the enigmatic Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria borders Romania to the north, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, and Greece and Turkey to the south. Historically, this has been a very tough neighborhood. But imagine, if you will, a nation the size of Tennessee that was able to keep its unique and vibrant culture alive despite 500 years of Ottoman rule. Nothing says more about Bulgarian pride and endurance than this astounding fact.
Geographically diverse, Bulgaria’s beautiful landscape ranges from alpine snow-capped peaks to mild and sunny coastal areas, from the continental Danubian Plain in the north to the valleys of Macedonia and the lowlands of Thrace. Visit the Pirin Mountains in the winter or the Rhodopis (home of Orpheus) and encounter a beauty that is reminiscent, yet softer than Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Take a train to the Black Sea in the summer and experience a joie de vivre reminiscent of the carefree south of France and the buzzing hedonism of Biarritz.
After 50 years of communist rule, Bulgarians young and old have decided to live for today, as they are not discouraged by the impoverished state of their economy, following the transition to democracy. 84% of the population speaks Bulgarian as their first language. Bulgarian is a Slavic language as complex as German but as mellifluous as French. A couple hundred words in Bulgarian will allow you to get around fairly well in other countries with Slavic-based languages, such as Russia, Serbia, Ukraine and a host of other Central European states. In addition to Bulgarian, Turkish and Roma are spoken by nearly 10% and 4% of the population as first languages respectively. Many Bulgarians, young and old, have given up the formerly mandatory study of Russian and have taken to the English language.
Bulgaria has a rich culture with an enduring passion for song, dance and visual arts that traces its roots back centuries before the first Europeans landed in the new world. Even today young Bulgarians retain their passion for old traditions. Go to any village festival and you’ll see acrobatic dancing, hear the fascinating tonalities of Balkan music and indulge in culinary and sartorial traditions that make this European culture stand out from the rest.
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