tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15644041274335587982024-03-14T06:33:03.928-07:00Tourism in BulgariaMiguelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15377923711073272597noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564404127433558798.post-76857295208169195692012-05-17T02:10:00.003-07:002012-05-17T02:15:33.225-07:00Sunny beach on the Black Sea - BULGARIA<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear reader,</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you still wonder where to go in Bulgaria during the summer? </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Sunny beach</strong>
is the biggest resort, with the longest and widest beach strip, with hotels
spread along the beach and among the dunes, the sunniest resort for the
sunniest people.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This fine
beach resort was awarded the prestigious Blue Flag International prize for
proven ecological advantages.<br />
Sunny Beach has more than <em><strong>100 hotels, 2 campsites, over 130 catering
establishments: restaurants, taverns with folklore shows, bars with floor
shows, night clubs, casino, discos and cafes</strong></em>, providing culinary pleasures and
a good mood. Every conceivable opportunity for <strong><em>sports: surfing, water skis and
parachutes, hang-gliding and banana, sailing, yachts, paddle boats, cutters,
scooters, rowboats, tennis courts, beach volleyball, playing grounds,
mini-golf, skittle alley, bowling, riding ground, fitness halls, sports
tournaments for amateurs and professionals.</em></strong></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfIJ7rWpQo4/T7TAI80nV0I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/yJNf_F1MzCY/s1600/11_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfIJ7rWpQo4/T7TAI80nV0I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/yJNf_F1MzCY/s400/11_10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A genuine children's paradise - plenty of fun and games, <strong><em>children pools,
slides, carting, Rolba water slide, inflatable trampoline, sport schools. In
addition: special discounts, children's menus, 24-hour kindergarten, etc</em></strong>. You
can find - <em><strong>a wide semi-circular bay facing east an over 8 km long beach strip,
30-60 m wide fine golden sand, natural dunes ,a clean and gently sloping sea no
dangerous fish 1700 hours of sunshine from May through September.</strong></em>
- The average daily temperature in summer is 27°C.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Still there? If I was you, I will book my flights to <strong><em>one of the most famoust tourist destinations in Bulgariia</em></strong> NOW! </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564404127433558798.post-14580111346474130492012-05-06T01:59:00.000-07:002012-05-17T02:16:46.353-07:00Places to visit in Bulgaria (all seasons)Despite its small territory, this country has collect some amazing natural and historical sites. The clam climate allows the country to be visited during all seasons. Summer is a perfect place to visit <strong>Bulgaria's summer resorts</strong> and if you are a beach fan, this is the place where you can enjoy long sandy beaches and the warm waters of <strong>Black Sea</strong>. When skiing is your passion, the winter resorts are ideal for you. The months from November to March can offer you over 2 meters snow cover, as well as the tracks have different difficulties for beginners and <strong>professional skiers</strong>. <strong>Autumn and spring</strong> are two much beautiful <strong>seasons in Bulgaria</strong>. They are perfect time for sightseeing. The nature is colorfully decorated and weather is pleasant. If you are enthusiast about<strong> hiking and trekking, Bulgaria' mountains</strong> can offer you high mountain treks and steep slopes. <strong>Religious tourists</strong> also will find amazing <strong>monasteries and churches</strong>. There are so many things which you have to visit besides the great summer and winter resorts. Here are some ideas which attractions to visit during your vacation. (<em>see the video below</em>)<br />
<strong>-Sofia</strong><br />
<strong>-Bulgarian mountains</strong><br />
<strong>-The Black Sea</strong><br />
<strong>-Historical monuments</strong><br />
<strong>-Orthodox churches</strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-AVMwhYyQY&feature=related"><strong>Video</strong></a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564404127433558798.post-69289940642541451072012-05-01T13:06:00.001-07:002012-05-17T02:17:42.385-07:00More to know about Bulgaria<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In <strong>Bulgarian
culture a nod of the head</strong> actually means “no” and shaking the head from side to
side means “yes.” This has confused many tourists over the years and led to
some comical, and not so comical, misunderstandings.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bulgaria is
one of the <strong>oldest European countries</strong>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bulgaria
and Denmark were the only two countries to save their Jews during the holocaust.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only
nations in the world that use the<strong> bagpipe</strong> as an instrument are<strong> Scotland,
Ireland and Bulgaria.</strong></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vs9atMnb0Mg/T6BAIuRLaAI/AAAAAAAAAFo/maKCUFMEg1M/s1600/51-rW2TUP+L__SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vs9atMnb0Mg/T6BAIuRLaAI/AAAAAAAAAFo/maKCUFMEg1M/s1600/51-rW2TUP+L__SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Name
Days</strong>" are celebrated in addition to birthdays in Bulgaria. As a matter of fact,
most Bulgarians value their ‘Name Day’ more than their birthday. A Name Day, or
"Saints Day" is celebrated by people named after a particular Saint
(eg. everyone named Peter celebrates Saint Peter's day).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>A ticket
for the city</strong> bus</span> and for the subway in Sofia costs about 30 Euro cents. <strong>A one
month pass for all Sofia public transport lines costs</strong> 19 Euros. Sofia enjoys
four different means of public transport, as tram, busses, trolley busses and
underground. It covers most of the city from 5 a.m. till midnight.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Making a
toast when drinking liquor is de rigeur. When toasting, raise your glass and
lightly clink it with all the others present, while looking the people<strong> with you
in the eye (to not look them in the eye is rude) and saying, (naz drave) (good
health to you).<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are
around four thousand<strong> mapped caves in Bulgaria</strong>.</span></span></div>
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<em><strong>The Devil Throat</strong></em> </div>
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<br /></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564404127433558798.post-59496383281477526672012-04-08T09:11:00.003-07:002012-05-17T02:19:43.724-07:00Interesting facts about Bulgaria! Did you know?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">The Rila
Cross</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">, a wooden cross with 140
microscopic scenes from the Bible featuring more than 1,500 figurines, the
largest of them no bigger than a grain of rice, was carved by a monk over a
period of 12 years.</span></div>
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<b>Lactobacillus Bulgaricus,</b> the bacterium that is responsible for giving
Bulgarian yoghurt its unique flavour and consistency, can be found only in
Bulgarian air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>The Voyager</b> spacecraft, launched in the 1970s on a voyage to meet and
communicate with other planets, carried a laser disc of ten songs believed to
be representative of Earth. One of these songs was the Bulgarian tune Izlel e
Deliu Haidutin from the Rhodopes region.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">The famous <b>Bulgarian
rose-oil</b>, produced in the region of Kazanlak, is a component of French
and of other world-famous perfumes.</span></div>
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<b>The largest bay</b> is the Bourgas bay at the Black Sea coast. It
stretches 31km into the land. At its widest, it measures 41km, and its
deepest point is 25m.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">The only
Bulgarian volcano</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">, long extinct, is Kozhukh (281m above sea level). It is not far from the
southwestern town of Petrich.<br />
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<b>The longest river</b> running across Bulgarian territory alone is the
Iskar (368km).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 1.5pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">One of the most famous <b>opera
bass singers</b> (Boris Christov and Nickolai Guaurov) and the <b>beautiful
soprano</b> Raina Kabaivanska are Bulgarians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>The highest waterfall</b> is Raiskoto Praskalo (Paradise Sprayer) at 124m.
It is not far away from the Botev peak in the Balkan range. The total number
of falls in Bulgaria is nearly 300, 70 of which are looked after by the
state.</div>
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<b>The largest lowland</b> in this country, and in the Balkans, is Upper
Thrace<b>.</b> Plovdiv is the metropolis of the region. It is about 180km
long and 50km wide. </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">Its overall area is 6,032 square km.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 1.5pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">Elias
Canetti</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;"> was born in Bulgaria. 1981
Nobel Laureate in Literature for writings marked by a broad outlook, a wealth
of ideas and artistic power. 1905-1994. Place of Birth: Rouse, Bulgaria.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br />
<b>The oldest tree</b> is an oak growing in the village of Granit in the
vicinity of Stara Zagora. Its age is estimated at about 1,650 years. The
crown of this oak tree covers 1,017 square metres; the circumference of its
trunk is 7.45m and its height 23.40m.The tallest tree is the 62-metre
Baikusheva Mura (white fir) in the Pirin Mountains. Its age is about 360
years.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mRviVs1jANg/T4G4Ug3JTbI/AAAAAAAAAFE/U8sp1bt1IMA/s1600/16855024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mRviVs1jANg/T4G4Ug3JTbI/AAAAAAAAAFE/U8sp1bt1IMA/s320/16855024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The greatest number of <b>mineral springs</b> is to be found in the town of
Velingrad (more than 70).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; mso-cellspacing: .7pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 100%;">
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<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 1.5pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">The
inventor of the first electronic computer</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;"> John Vincent Atanassoff is of Bulgarian
origin. Professor John Atanassoff, together with graduate student Clifford
Berry, built the world's first electronic digital computer, at Iowa State
University, between 1939 and 1942. The Atanassoff - Berry Computer
represented several innovations in computing, including a binary system of
arithmetic, parallel processing, regenerative memory, and a separation of
memory and computing functions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fcsar95Lk7c/T4G4ldBhQhI/AAAAAAAAAFM/icXNJ3x6aes/s1600/an.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fcsar95Lk7c/T4G4ldBhQhI/AAAAAAAAAFM/icXNJ3x6aes/s1600/an.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b>The longest mountain range</b> is Stara Planina, known also as the Balkan
Mountain (530km). The whole peninsula is named after it. The highest are the
Rila mountains; the peak Moussala rises to an altitude of 2,925 m above sea
level. This is the highest point in the Balkans. The first written evidence
of the peak being climbed refers to King Philip II, the father of Alexander
the Great.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #00000f; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">The largest coastal lake</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #00000f; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;"> is Varna Lake, covering an area of 18 square km. It
is also the deepest at 19m.The largest glacial lake is Smradlivoto in the Rila
Mountains. It covers 21.2 hectares. The highest glacial lake is Popovoto, in
the Pirin Mountains, situated at 2,715 m above sea level.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The mightiest karst spring</b> is Glava Panega in the vicinity of the town
of Lovech. </span><span style="color: #00000f; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">Its average capacity is 4,178 litres per
second.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #00000f; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;"><br />
<br />
<b>The longest cave</b> is close to the village of Bosnek, in the Vitosha
Mountains near Sofia (over 15km). Six underground rivers have cut labyrinths in
its galleries. As many as 4,000 caves have been investigated and mapped in
Bulgaria.<br />
<br />
<b>The lowest temperature</b>, measured in an inhabited locality, was
registered in the winter of 1947 in the town of Tran, west of Sofia (minus 38.3
degrees centigrade). <b>The highest temperature</b> was measured in the summer
of 1916 in Sadovo, near by Plovdiv (45.2 degrees centigrade).<br />
<br />
<b>The most rain</b> was recorded on 21 August 1951 in the neighbourhood of the
port of Varna, where in only 24 hours there was rainfall of 342mm. By way of
comparison: the average annual precipitation for the country is 650mm.<br />
<br />
<b>The longest lasting fog</b> occurred in December 1948 in Sofia (29 days and
nights). At that same time, the fogs in Plovdiv and Lom stayed for 28 days. The
capital of Bulgaria is also its foggiest city (33 days annually on average).<br />
<br />
<b>The hottest mineral water</b> is found in the village of Separeva Banya,
near the town of Dupnitza - its temperature is 103.8 degrees centigrade.
According to some sources, this is the hottest spring in Europe.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The tallest cactus</b> grows in the botanical garden of the town of Balchik,
at the Black Sea coast. The height of this 'hedgehog' is 7 metres.<br />
<br />
<b>The last lion</b> in Bulgarian lands was killed during the campaign of the
Persian king Xerxes (as evidenced by Xenophon).The last lynx was shot in 1941,
in the Rila Mountains.The largest bear in Europe fell victim to man in 1936, in
the neighbourhood of Brevets, a resort in the Rila Mountains. This record was
recognised at an international hunting exhibition in Berlin.<br />
<br />
The last recorded <b>snake bite</b> that led to a human death occurred in 1936.<br />
<br />
<b>Bison</b> in Bulgarian lands disappeared as early as the Middle Ages. In
1961 the reserve near the town of Razgrad acquired two pairs of bison, and
settled them in the Voden forest. Nowadays there are several dozen bison in
different Bulgarian preserves.<br />
<br />
<b>The largest amphibian</b> is a turtle, which was caught and then set free
near the town of Krumovgrad in 1987. It weighed 5kg, was 35cm long, of the same
height, 29cm wide and 100-120 years old - i.e., at the age limit of European
fauna. Another turtle of similar dimensions was caught some 80 years ago in the
neighbourhood of Kotel, a town in Central Bulgaria.<br />
<br />
<b>The rarest animal species</b> is the Black Sea seal, of which only 5 or 6
specimens are left now. They inhabit the caves along the shoreline around the
Black Sea capes of Kaliakra and Masslen.<br />
<br />
<b>The farthest migration</b> is that of the eels, which live in Bulgarian
rivers, but spawn as far away as the Sargasso Sea, east of Florida, U.S.A. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #00000f;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #00000f; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;"></span></strong></span></span></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1564404127433558798.post-49700749035974252782012-03-31T06:17:00.001-07:002012-05-17T02:23:01.404-07:00Tourism in Bulgaria<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Tourism in Bulgaria <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Why Bulgaria? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgaria" title="Bulgaria"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Bulgaria</span></a></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">is
one of the most visited tourist destinations <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">in </b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Europe" title="Southeast Europe"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Southeast Europe</span></a></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
famous with its inexpensive, good food, friendly people and beautiful nature!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">General Information <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Time</span></strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bulgaria</b>
is +2 hours GMT. Get the </span><a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=238"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">time in Bulgaria now</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">History </span></strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">- read about the long and rich </span><a href="http://www.bulgaria.com/history/bulgaria/index.html"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">history of Bulgaria</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">( </span></b><a href="http://www.bulgaria-embassy.org/History_of_Bulgaria.htm"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.bulgaria-embassy.org/History_of_Bulgaria.htm</span></span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> )<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Read more about the<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Culture in Bulgaria: (</b></span><a href="http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/bulgaria.html"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/bulgaria.html</span></span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Religion: Orthodox<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Language: Bulgarian<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The weather in Bulgaria</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> is not too extreme. Unless you </span><a href="http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Bulgaria/Climate"><span class="itxtrst"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: darkgreen; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">visit</span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> for skiing, summer is the most
comfortable time in Bulgaria, with low humidity and temperatures averaging 75°F
(24°C); winter temperatures average around 32°F (0°C).<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Airports</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Sofia, Varna, Bourgas<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Harbours</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <i>on the Black Sea</i> - Varna, Bourgas, Balchick,
Nessebur; <br />
<i>on the Danube</i> - Vidin, Lom, Oriakhovo, Nickopol, Svishtov, Rousse,
Toutrackan, Sillistra<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Monetary unit</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">: LEV (BGL) (1 BGL = 0.5 EURO), with bank-notes
(bills) of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1, 2, 5, 10, 20 50 and 100
leva<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Explore
Sofia <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QjZYq3a6p5E/T3b8NABzbxI/AAAAAAAAACE/NNzrhk0B_wE/s1600/sofia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QjZYq3a6p5E/T3b8NABzbxI/AAAAAAAAACE/NNzrhk0B_wE/s400/sofia.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
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</v:stroke></v:shapetype></span><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sofia </span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">is the </span></i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_city" title="Capital city"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">capital</span></i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
and </span></i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_and_towns_in_Bulgaria" title="List of cities and towns in Bulgaria"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">largest city</span></i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> of </span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgaria" title="Bulgaria"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Bulgaria</span></i></a></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
and the </span></i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Largest_cities_of_the_European_Union_by_population_within_city_limits" title="Largest cities of the European Union by population within city limits"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">15th largest city</span></i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
in the </span></i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union" title="European Union"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">European Union</span></i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> with a population of 1.2 million people</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Most popular
places in Sofia <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Vitosha
mountain</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">, located only few kilometers from the center of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sofia </b>is a natural decor of the city.
Its stone river, and numerous of ski tracks chalets, hotels, picnic places,
cable lines and the highest peak Black Peak (290m) makes the mountain a
favorite place for many people from Sofia or other tourists and an attraction
for its visitors. At tre area of the mountain is the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nature Park Vitosha</b> - the 1st Nature Park in Bulgaria and some
nature reserves. The mountain is very popular destination for ski or walking
tourism.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zOIKd7F0Qns/T3b869uEu0I/AAAAAAAAACM/tfPddpTA_S8/s1600/vito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zOIKd7F0Qns/T3b869uEu0I/AAAAAAAAACM/tfPddpTA_S8/s400/vito.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-language: NL; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape alt="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Sofia-vitosha-kempinski.jpg" id="_x0000_i1038" style="height: 35.25pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 35.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75"></v:shape></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vitosha<o:p></o:p></span></i></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">Everybody in Sofia knows <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eagle’s bridge.</b> It is a starting point
of many explanations how to reach a place in Sofia. Probably the reason is
because many public transport buses have a stop there. The bridge is built in
1891. It is a symbol of freedom because at that place for the first time in 1888
the prisoners from Diarbekir are welcomed (in that Turkish town figures from
the Bulgarian National Freedom Movement of the 19th century have been sent in
exile).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2blvTBp2Av8/T3b9qhCv5aI/AAAAAAAAACU/IMQvxfcqcAQ/s1600/eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2blvTBp2Av8/T3b9qhCv5aI/AAAAAAAAACU/IMQvxfcqcAQ/s400/eagle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Eagle’s Bridge <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Neo-Byzantine-style <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Alexander Nevski Cathedral</b> is one of the most famous monuments in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sofia</b> and is named after the Russian
saint </span><a href="http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Nevski_(grootvorst)" title="Alexander Nevsky (Grand Duke)"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Alexander
Nevsky</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> who became famous by the expulsion of German knight
orders of Russian territory in the 13th century.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In the crypt of the cathedral is an exhibition space
where </span><a href="http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icoon_(schilderkunst)" title="Icon (painting)"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">icons</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> are displayed in the ninth to the nineteenth century.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The architect of the cathedral, Pomerantsev, at the
building include Italian marble, Brazilian onyx, African carvings and alabast
of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bulgarian</b> and Russian masters of
that time, was used. The building covers 3170 square meters, is 75 meters long,
50 meters wide and 50 meters high.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jYW_Qrw3bfw/T3b-Hfc4esI/AAAAAAAAACc/wX4yUI4UGO0/s1600/cathe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jYW_Qrw3bfw/T3b-Hfc4esI/AAAAAAAAACc/wX4yUI4UGO0/s400/cathe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Alexander Nevski Cathedral<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nightlife in Sofia is </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">something that everyone should experience! </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">After ten o’clock at night, <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">the streets of <b>Sofia</b> become alive</span>.
Groups of young people go out to have fun in dance clubs. It is popular to
start night in one club, after that to go to another and at five in the morning
to have a late dinner (or early breakfast) in one of many nonstop pizza
restaurants. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Sofia is full of young
people</span>, especially in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Students’
town</b> – which is a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sofia</b> district
with hostels for students. Most of the Universities in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sofia</b> are located in the Sudents’ town, which is calm only in the
morning when all students are still asleep after regular <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">partying.</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9t4v8GKnA8U/T3b-5KPJ4pI/AAAAAAAAACk/Olk_wLQGLKA/s1600/party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9t4v8GKnA8U/T3b-5KPJ4pI/AAAAAAAAACk/Olk_wLQGLKA/s400/party.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Student’s town <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Bulgarian
women</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> are beautiful.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> I
like very much to sit in a café, drinking cocktails and enjoying nice view of
girls walking down the main street of Burgas (my native city). Especially in
the summer you can see tanned shoulders, legs and smiling teenagers who fill
the main street with laugh and hubbub – a very inspiring and recharging view.</span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Restaurants and Cuisine</span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Dinner is a social
occasion, with traditional music and dancing in many restaurants, especially in
resorts and in some Sofia eateries. Food is hearty and good. Meals usually
start with a salad, from which there are many to choose from on the menu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There is a wide
variety of national dishes, as well as Western European standard dishes, which
can be chosen on the spot at any restaurant. All good hotels have restaurants and
there are many attractive folk-style restaurants and cafés throughout the
country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">National
specialties:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">• <i>Tarator</i> (cold soup
made from cucumber, walnuts and yogurt).<br />
• <i>Shopska salata</i> (huge salad starter with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers
and white cheese).<br />
• <i>Kavarma</i> (individual casseroles of pork or veal, onions and mushrooms).<br />
• <i>Surmi</i> (stuffed vine or cabbage leaves stuffed with meat).<br />
• <i>Kebapche</i> (small, strongly spiced, minced meat rolls).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">Kavarma
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Traditional salads <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">National
drinks:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">• Coffee, served espresso
style, is particularly popular.<br />
• Drinks made from infusions of mountain herbs and dried leaves, particularly
lime.<br />
• White wines include <i>Evksinograde</i>, <i>Karlouski Misket</i> and <i>Tamianka</i>.<br />
• Heavy red wines include <i>Mavroud</i> and <i>Trakia</i>.<br />
• Liquors include <i>mastika</i> (aniseed spirit, usually diluted) and <i>rakia</i>
(local brandy).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Legal drinking age:</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
18.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KWx-ifyOcdE/T3cAIKo402I/AAAAAAAAAC8/8CfArB3LHJo/s1600/rakia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KWx-ifyOcdE/T3cAIKo402I/AAAAAAAAAC8/8CfArB3LHJo/s320/rakia.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rakia <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="mw-headline"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Airlines and terminals in Sofia </span></b></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Make
sure you check the terminal that you are arriving at or departing from
carefully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="background: white;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Terminal 1 (T1)</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> is used by budget airlines like EasyJet,
Germanwings and Wizz Air; and by charter flight operators.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Terminal 2 (T2)</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> handles all 'traditional' carriers, and
serves as a hub to Bulgaria Air, the national carrier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="Facilities"></a><span class="mw-headline"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Facilities </span></b></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Terminal
1 (T1) has postal and banking services, a news stand, two coffee shops and one
duty-free shop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Terminal
2 (T2) is larger and has more duty-free shops, three coffee shops with some
food offers. Before passport control there is only one coffee shop and a news
stand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h9hcoBRSPXc/T3cAhD0d7ZI/AAAAAAAAADE/4VHEVHy_LcA/s400/Cheap-Flights-To-Bulgaria-airport.jpg" width="400" /></div>
</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Airport in Bulgaria <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">By car<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">All highways in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bulgaria</b> are often under construction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Access to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bulgaria's Capital</b> is via several entry
points: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1. From the North
& South via E79/A6 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">2. From the East -
via Thrace Highway E80/A1-A3 or from the old road paralelling the E80 Highway -
Zlatitza - Pirdop - Pazardzhik route.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">3. From the West -
via A1/E80 Liking the city and the Bulgarian-Serbian Border point of Kalotina.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A1 is planned to be from Sofia to Burgas, but ends at
the outskirts of Stara Zagora.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A2 is planned to be from Sofia to Varna, but ends
around Pravets and continues from Shumen to Varna.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><img alt="*" height="13" src="http://www.blogger.com/PicExportError" width="13" /><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A3 is planned to be from Varna to Burgas, but
currently has only a few kilometers built.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Otherwise coming
from Greece the road E79/A6 is in very good shape, so the 300 km from
Thessaloniki are done fairly fast if you don't happen to fall into
Friday/Sunday traffic jams in the area of Sofia or Pernik.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Other place to visit in
Bulgaria <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Summer Resorts</span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>
</div>
<ul type="disc"><ul type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albena" title="Albena"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Albena</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahtopol" title="Ahtopol"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ahtopol</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balchik" title="Balchik"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Balchik</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyuni" title="Dyuni"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Dyuni</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elenite&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Elenite (page does not exist)"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Elenite</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Sands" title="Golden Sands"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Golden Sands</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiten,_Burgas_Province" title="Kiten, Burgas Province"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Kiten</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lozenets,_Burgas_Province" title="Lozenets, Burgas Province"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Lozenets</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nessebar" title="Nessebar"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Nessebar</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obzor" title="Obzor"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Obzor</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomorie" title="Pomorie"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Pomorie</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primorsko" title="Primorsko"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Primorsko</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_Riviera" title="Bulgarian Riviera"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Riviera</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusalka" title="Rusalka"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Rusalka</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinemorets" title="Sinemorets"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Sinemorets</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sozopol" title="Sozopol"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Sozopol</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Constantine" title="St. Constantine"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">St. Constantine</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Vlas" title="St. Vlas"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">St. Vlas</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunny_Beach" title="Sunny Beach"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Sunny Beach</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsarevo" title="Tsarevo"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Tsarevo</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Winter resorts</span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ul type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l5 level2 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bansko" title="Bansko"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Bansko</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chepelare" title="Chepelare"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Chepelare</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borovetz" title="Borovetz"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Borovetz</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamporovo" title="Pamporovo"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Pamporovo</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzana" title="Uzana"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Uzana</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitosha" title="Vitosha"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Vitosha</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Cultural
tourism</span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ul type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veliko_Tarnovo" title="Veliko Tarnovo"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Veliko Tarnovo</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nessebar" title="Nessebar"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Nessebar</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sozopol" title="Sozopol"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Sozopol</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plovdiv" title="Plovdiv"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Plovdiv</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bansko" title="Bansko"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Bansko</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etara" title="Etara"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ethnographic museum Etara</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koprivshtitsa" title="Koprivshtitsa"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Koprivshtitsa</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Rural tourism</span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ul type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo4; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena,_Bulgaria" title="Elena, Bulgaria"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Elena</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbanasi,_Bulgaria" title="Arbanasi, Bulgaria"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Arbanasi</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">,
</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribaritsa,_Lovech_Province" title="Ribaritsa, Lovech Province"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ribaritsa</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bozhentsi" title="Bozhentsi"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Bozhentsi</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kumani&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Kumani (page does not exist)"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Kumani</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etara" title="Etara"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ethnographic museum Etara</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiroka_Laka" title="Shiroka Laka"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Shiroka Laka</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryavna" title="Tryavna"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Tryavna</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zheravna" title="Zheravna"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Zheravna</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orehovo" title="Orehovo"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Orehovo</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madzharovo" title="Madzharovo"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Madzharovo</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragoynovo" title="Dragoynovo"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Dragoynovo</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">City tourism</span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ul type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l8 level2 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plovdiv" title="Plovdiv"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Plovdiv</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veliko_Tarnovo" title="Veliko Tarnovo"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Veliko Tarnovo</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia" title="Sofia"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Sofia</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varna" title="Varna"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Varna</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgas" title="Burgas"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Burgas</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rousse" title="Rousse"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Rousse</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vratsa" title="Vratsa"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Vratsa</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleven" title="Pleven"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Pleven</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vidin" title="Vidin"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Vidin</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovech" title="Lovech"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Lovech</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Hiking</span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ul type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l7 level2 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkan" title="Balkan"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Balkan</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Mountains, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirin" title="Pirin"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Pirin</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Mountains, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rila" title="Rila"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Rila</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Mountains, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodope_Mountains" title="Rhodope Mountains"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Rhodopi</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Mountains, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strandzha" title="Strandzha"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Strandzha</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Mountains, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakar_Mountain" title="Sakar Mountain"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Sakar</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Mountains, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitosha" title="Vitosha"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Vitosha</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Mountains<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo7; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Paragliding</span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ul type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo7; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Balkan" title="Central Balkan"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Central Balkan</span></a><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Mountains<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Monasteries</span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<ul type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 72.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rila_Monastery" title="Rila Monastery"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Rila Monastery</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachkovo_Monastery" title="Bachkovo Monastery"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Bachkovo Monastery</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rozhen_Monastery" title="Rozhen Monastery"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Rozhen Monastery</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drianovo_Monastery" title="Drianovo Monastery"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Drianovo Monastery</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sokolsky_Monastery" title="Sokolsky Monastery"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Sokolsky Monastery</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troyan_Monastery" title="Troyan Monastery"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Troyan Monastery</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Assumption_Monastery_in_Kardzhali_town&action=edit&redlink=1" title="The Assumption Monastery in Kardzhali town (page does not exist)"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The Assumption Monastery in Kardzhali town</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span><a href="http://monasterypomorie.org/"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Pomorie Monastery</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">\<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Protection of Nature<span style="color: #6e6b8d;"> </span></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Protection
of the natural world is one of the country’s major concerns. <br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The protected territories are 49, <br />
</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">the biospherical reserves - 17 <br />
(the greatest recorded number in Europe), <br />
</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">the national parks - 7,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">the reserves - 82, <br />
</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">the protected
natural sites - 3055, <br />
</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">the protected
plants - 63 and <br />
</span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">the protected
animals - 419. <br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Verdana; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Verdana; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The air and water resources of the country<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are some of the purest in Europe. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The wonders of Bulgaria <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Foreigners usually
associate the word <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bulgaria</b> with the
beaches on the Black Sea or with the ski runs in the high Bulgarian mountains
Rila, Pirin and Vitosha. However, the country’s real charm is in its millennial
cultural and historical heritage.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1.One of the
World’s Heritage Sites, a Wonder of Nature, the complex of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Belogradchik Rocks</b> is situated in Bulgaria, close to Danube River.
The complex consists of several 200 meters high reddish rocks and about 100
different caves. The legend tells that the rocks are connected. The Horseman’s
name was Anton (Anthony). He was a poor shepherd. The Madonna (the lady with
child in hands) bore the name of Vitinya. She was very beautiful and belonged
to a rich family. The two of them fell in love, but Vitinya’s father didn’t
allow them to marry and sent his daughter into the Nunnery on the mountain’s
slope. Nevertheless, the two beloved continued to meet in secret and soon
conceived a child. The nuns ousted Vitinya with her child and Anton came,
riding a horse, and rescued them. In this moment a storm aroused, one thunder
stroke, the earth shook and everything around turned into stone!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2QEdj6JaowI/T3cBFfhBYOI/AAAAAAAAADM/glwS_4w_Uo0/s1600/belo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2QEdj6JaowI/T3cBFfhBYOI/AAAAAAAAADM/glwS_4w_Uo0/s400/belo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Belogradchik Rocks</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">Architectural reserve, part of
the UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage list, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ancient city of Nessebar</b> stands on a small peninsula on Bulgarian
Black Sea coast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">People say that about 5500
years ago the miniature piece of land was an island but Ancient Thracians
turned it into a peninsula, mounding a road to carry the wheat easier from
their fields on the continent to the fishermen’s settlement. 2300 years later
the settlement was a city-state, named Melsabria after its governor – the
Thracian ruler Melsa. Its fortress walls were so fearful and strong that no one
could take the city over during the next 500 years. Its government was arranged
the same way as nowadays democratic countries are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<img border="0" height="257" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9qcssbCaA_s/T3cB3sby6MI/AAAAAAAAADU/q04VLCXlqDg/s400/nesebar.png" width="400" /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nesebar <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In the middle of a
sheer cliff in the </span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Е</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">astern end of the Balkan Mountain Range, close to the Danube River -
Black Sea Road, the oldest stone relief in Europe – the <b>Madara Horseman</b>
was carved. It is one of the most enigmatic monuments in UNESCO’s World
Heritage List</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">. </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">May
be the suggestion that the relief is a stone horoscope of Bulgaria is closest
to the truth. This theory states that the relief shows the exact position of
stars and planets (depicted as a human figure, a lion and a dog) on the sky in
the very moment of Bulgaria’s establishment in Europe: April 8, 165 AD. The
Madara Horseman, according to this statement, is the way Proto-Bulgarians
marked their ownership of the near lands and predicted many years of
superiority over the territories on the south of the Danube</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">River.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The rock relief “Madara Rider” is an unusual and the only one of its kind
in Europe monument dated to the early Middle Ages.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RTk4PC1gVc0/T3cCj2ygc9I/AAAAAAAAADc/4BSxbxcUDw0/s1600/mad.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RTk4PC1gVc0/T3cCj2ygc9I/AAAAAAAAADc/4BSxbxcUDw0/s400/mad.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rocks Madara Rider <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">One of UNESCO’s World Heritage List sites, the severe
and magnificent <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rila Monastery</b>,
towers in Rila Mountain, only 35 km away from Transeuropean corridor No. 4
(North-South).</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">About 1100 years ago a young man, an orphan, came to
Rila. He had given all his properties to the poor, had taken monastic vows and
chose to hide away from the world’s vanity in the deep woods. His name was
Ioan.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">The legend tells that some of
his fellow-villagers went hunting and saw by chance the only thing Yoan had
left for himself - a cow with a calf. The villagers slaughtered the animals and
put the meat into their bags.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">Afterwards they found Ioan who
was eating some dry bread and water. He invited them to join. Villagers ate
much but the piece of bread on the stone table did not lessen. When they went
home the meat in their bags started smelling bad. They threw it into a bush but
snakes came out and chased them to the very village.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Rila Monastery</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">People started
living on the small <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Black Sea</b>
peninsula, where nowadays the famous city of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sozopol</b> stands, about 7500 years ago. In Greek, the word Sozopol
means “The saved city”, probably because it has survived devastating barbarian
attacks in the first centuries after Christ. Nowadays, the ancient city-port’s
citizens walk along the same streets and catch fish in their wooden boats the
same way as their ancestors did thousands of years ago. When they try to build
something, they find past ages’ remnants (pottery, timber pieces, copper ore,
gods’ statuettes, even a skull full of coins) in their excavations. The
majority of findings are dated back to Antiquity when Sozopol, bearing the name
of Apolonia Pontica, was a flourishing polis, a colony of Ancient Greek city of
Millet in Asia Minor.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5kaHzfZOAws/T3cDGp6YhNI/AAAAAAAAADs/PV2IgaBO82s/s1600/soz.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5kaHzfZOAws/T3cDGp6YhNI/AAAAAAAAADs/PV2IgaBO82s/s400/soz.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sozopol<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">Tatul , Thracian Shrine<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">According to the Ancient
Greeks, to the North of their territory, there was a Land of Happiness, where
Gods lived. This was the magic Rodopi Mountain, in the Southern part of
nowadays Bulgaria. Today, one of the most enigmatic ancient sanctuaries rests
in ruins there. It is named after the nearby Village of Tatul (Thorn Apple).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: NL;">In the middle of a sunny
broad-leaved trees forest, between the Earth and the Sky (on top of a truncated
pyramid rock) a stone grave has been carved. The scholars presume that once the
remnants of Orpheus – the great Thracian ruler, philosopher, poet, and singer –
had been laid there. Thus, even after his death, he could fulfill his role -
being the mediator between the people and the Gods.</span></div>
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