nfldbeothuk

It hasn't even made the news here, but when I googled, I discovered that Sofia has had 2 weeks of protesters in the streets, demanding that the government resign.
I know nothing of Bulgaria. A friend and I are taking a Greek island cruise in Sept., with a few days in Athens, and considered adding another country at the beginning or end(listen, return air from here is over $1400, so while I'm there...). Bulgaria sounded like a great contrast: scenery, villages, walking, few tourists.
Fodorites have got contacts everywhere, so I'm hoping someone has some knowledge: is this a minor political squabble, or could going there involve serious trouble? We haven't booked air tickets yet, so we aren't committed.
Judging by the web reports, things are chaotic but not dangerous there now. But the web reports tend to be brief and bare-bones. Where is this going?
Anyone have an informed opinion?

Alec

My daughter came back from Bulgaria today, and had two weeks of no problems whatever.

tower

In the countryside I would guess that if anything, protests will be local and mild. These pics may give you a slight feel for Bulgaria in the Iron Curtain 80's and as recent as 2005. Check with State Department if you're Americans or the equivalent if you're not. I don't think you'll get much additional reponse here, from other than those who have enjoyably skiied in Bulgaria. It's not very high on anyone's bucket list from what I've seen.

I think ThursdaysSD has been to the counry and there may even be a trip report from her. I took 16 of my readership to Bulgaria as part of a longer visit to Romania and all seemed to enjoy the visit.
stu

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...a1980SAnd2005#

thursdaysd

My TR is here: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...d-bulgaria.cfm

Although this one is newer: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ern-europe.cfm

I have no personal knowledge of what is happening in Bulgaria, but a search on the Guardian website turned up this explanation:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...lgaria-protest

Since there is nothing more recent I would not be too worried about visiting. I am not surprised to read that the problem has to do with corruption - I witnessed it myself when crossing the border by train in company with a bunch of smugglers.

The UK Foreign office says:
"Short notice protests continue across major cities in Bulgaria with the largest crowds in Sofia, the protests are peaceful but are attracting attention from extreme groups so there is a small risk of violence. Avoid large gatherings in public spaces and follow local media and the advice of the local authorities."

I enjoyed my visit to Bulgaria, and would cetainly consider returning. However, if you are having doubts, I would recommend going overland through northern Greece to Macedonia instead - both worthwhile destinations. For my visit to Macedonia see http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rn-balkans.cfm and for northern Greece see: http://wilhelmswords.com/eur2006/index.html

tower

Thanks for chiming in, KW. I knew you'd come through.
stu

julia_t

My friends in Borovets haven't mentioned it. Their comments (on facebook) are limited to the weather and the effects of drinking home-made rakia.

If they were worried I think they would have said something because quite a lot of people are visiting them this summer.

If I hear anything about the protests I'll report back.

nfldbeothuk

Thanks very much for the info and the links. My friend vetoed Turkey (my 1st choice) because of the political climate there, so I have a feeling Bulgaria may be off as well. We're going to discuss it today, as we want to get tickets booked this week.
Oh well, complaining would be silly because a) I'm not living in a country with protests against oppression and corruption, and b) I'm going to Greece! I'll get to see Knossos! and Rhodes!

Thursdaysd and julia t: I already know that reading your trip reports makes me want to visit wherever you've gone.

IamHydrogen1

I'm in Sofia right now.

The protests start around noon every day, usually just a few people blowing whistles and waving flags.

The police close one of the main streets and there is a large march in the evening, which wraps up around 10 PM.

There are no violence, arrests, etc. There is a significant police presence, but they just stand back and watch. It is business as usual in the city. The cafes are packed, and people relax and enjoy drinks as the people march by. I have felt safe the entire time.

Alexander Nevski Church was closed yesterday when I went by. A local suggested I try another time.

Rebek56

I have friends who teach at the University of Ruse, and there have been no protests in that part of the country. Their sense is that the unrest is largely confined to Sofia. Depending on how you might get to Bulgaria, I recommend visiting Veliko Turnovo, the medieval capital. If you like hiking, the archaeological sites in the Rhodopi mountains are spectacular, but that area is drier and more like Greece than some of the other parts of the country.

I have visited Bulgaria several times and LOVE it; the food and wine are excellent and reasonably inexpensive, but there is less tourist infrastructure than in many places. If you're interested in planning an itinerary, I can ask my friends (one of whom moonlights as a tour guide) to make suggestions. There are also short tours.

If you're flying to Bulgaria and want to avoid Sofia, one option is to fly to Bucharest, Romania, and take a taxi to Ruse, the cost of which was roughly $100 in 2009.

thursdaysd

nfldbeothuk - did you make a decision? Hard to go wrong in that area.

nfldbeothuk

Yes, we've decided (I guess, now we're working on finding air transportation). As I said, my friend vetoed Turkey for the protests, and she doesn't want to repeat the problem in Bulgaria. She's been having a stressful year, family-wise, and wants an "easy" holiday. So Bulgaria is out. I know protests can erupt anywhere these days (see: Bolivia), but compromise is the name of the game, and Bulgaria was never my #1 choice anyway.
Too bad in a way, as I loved a trip to Croatia in 2011, and was hoping for some similarly spectacular scenery. But hopefully Bulgaria (and I) will be around long enough for this option to come again.

Edislaw

An easy holiday in Bulgaria seems an odd concept to me as a person living in a small village in the south east. There are hotels, some of decent quality, there are bars in the hotels and even one bar in the capital of the municipality but everywhere else the bars are part of the village shop. Sadly there are few hotels in any of the villages.

Protests Bulgarian style are, like everything else to do with Bulgarian society, gentle affairs, polite in a nineteen fifties English sort of way and political in a way one only finds in the capital.

Bearing in mind that only the capital has embassies the comments coming from Foreign Office websites are all coming from the capital. I would hope the ambassadors have found time to visit the main cities but would not be surprised if they haven't. I have been in a couple of them in the past two weeks and the only unrest is among Bulgarian drivers who are among the worst in the world.

Most people in villages would see the municipal capital as the hub of their world, regional capitals are often remote and to most people irrelevant to everyday life. Sofia might a well be on a different planet.

If you wish to see Bulgaria at its best head for the eastern end of the Rhodope mountains and base yourself in Ivaylovgrad. Take time out to visit the Armira (Roman) Villa and the Ivaylovgrad lake but remember the real reason for being here is to meet the people. It matters not to them that you don't understand Bulgarian, they will still stop their donkey and chap from the seat of their family cart. People will say hello as they pass in the street and smile.

Hotel accommodation in the best hotel in town costs around €20 for a good double room, beer is still around one pound Sterling for a litre in a village bar and an excellent dinner with wine for four is unlikely to cost more than $20.

The one sad thing is the difficulty of finding village accommodation but if you are heading this way by all means pm me and I'll help if I can.