Bulgaria is situated in Southeast Europe, occupying the northeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. To the West, Bulgaria borders on Serbia and Montenegro and on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Danube, Europe's second-longest river, forms a 280 mile long section on its border with Romania. To the South, Greece and Turkey are the country's neighbours. The Black Sea Coast on its East border which links it also to Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia is famous for its fine sanded beaches, and perfect temperatures of water and air. The Black Sea borderline stretches for some 378 km (240 miles). Despite its relatively small territory - 111 000 sq. km (43 000 sq. miles), the country has an extremely diverse landscape, featuring huge mountains covered in forestation, valleys with rivers and lakes and vast plains which are cultivated in sunflowers, wheat and other cereals and in some areas there is dairy farming and breeding plus huge flocks of sheep and goats. But here you will see the traditional cow herd or shepherd looking after the herds as the land is largely unfenced. The wild life in Bulgaria is rich and diverse with wild boar roaming the forests, wild horses, bears in the more remote areas and one can see eagles and hawks soar here. The lands along the Danube are renowned for the variety of birds which visit and breed and the diversity of fish in the rivers, plus every village has it's stork nests on top of chimneys and poles where the birds come every spring to breed and raise their young.
With sprawling mountain ranges, rives and lakes nestling in secluded valleys, nature reserves, huge plains, spectacular caves and lovely little traditional villages and traditional historical towns Bulgaria is a land of beauty and interest. Here you can visit the Valley of the Roses where oil is derived from the flowers to be marketed in the perfume industry world wide, or walk with the monks in some of the secluded monasteries with their unique and pretty churches. Bulgaria has served as a major crossroads between different cultures since ancient times and there are numerous well-preserved historical monuments of different ages, where can one can still see the influence of the Turkish occupancy.
Eating out is easy in Bulgaria, many cafe's, restaurants and bars offer an excellent service with a wide variety of Bulgarian traditional and more westernised menus using the plentiful fresh produce and organically raised meats available. Almost every petrol station has its own eating area and will offer food from the most basic sandwiches to hot soup and various other hot items as well as the usual well stocked shop and bathroom facilities, thereby making travelling comfortable and pleasant
Bulgaria is a country where Renaissance crafts and traditions are still alive and thriving. The country is a vibrant cultural centre rich in artistic traditions, especially in music, dance, fine art and literature. In Bulgaria traditional crafts such as weaving, rug-making, leather and metal work still exist in their original form and where the cultural heritage is still preserved in its most vibrant and rich forms.
This country is a cross between a modern and thriving cultural society in the larger cities and a slower paced tradionally rural lifestyle in the countryside, something for everyone.
