Reflections on 19 Days in Bulgaria

You're right, must be tough for many people there:

According to the United Nations, the 10 fastest shrinking countries on earth are in Eastern Europe. Japan, perhaps the country with the most oft-analyzed demographic challenges, is 11th. Many of those countries are struggling economically, with aging populations, a lack of skilled labor and — in some cases — restrictive immigration policies.

Populations shrinking most quickly from now to 2050
1 Bulgaria -23%
2 Latvia -22%
3 Moldova -19%
4 Ukraine -18%
5 Croatia -17%

https://www.axios.com/eastern-europe-is-shrinking-before-our-eyes-1516559604-5b103657-f029-429c-bed8-182cfa43651f.html

You keep this single laser focus on the communist rule while ignoring the much harsher post-communist transition after the fall of the USSR and then the 2008/9 recession - why? Like Kaleuku wrote in a related post, it's the latter that has more explanatory power re: where the Bulgarians are today. It has been a long time since communism, time for an update. You don't need to mention either in a tourist review, but if you only talk about communist rule, you're leaving out a chunk of important history and giving people who are mostly totally unfamiliar with Bulgaria a lopsided view. Those depopulation statistics above are really striking - not a good sign for Bulgaria.

On an unrelated note: how did you get your dog on a night train to Istanbul after your time in Bulgaria? Do they allow pets on the train? What about accommodations in Istanbul?

Thanks for this review of a country little known in the US. I spent a similar amount of time in Bulgaria in 2016, several days traveling on my own, then about 12 days on the excellent RS Bulgaria Tour. I had little in the way of expectations, was very impressed with the country and its friendly and very helpful people and also really enjoyed the local cuisine. The general absense of tourists added to the authentic experience. For those not interested in renting a car and covering the country as you did, I want to say that the RS Bulgaria Tour and its guide Stefan are truly exceptional. The interactive stops involving everyday Bulgarian people and neighborhoods, who do not work interfacing with foreign visitors (as do guides, waiters, hotel staff, taxi drivers, etc) were enlightening, fun and certainly difficult to arrange on your own. The overnight stay at the Rila Monastery was a spectacular time. And I, for one, really enjoyed Sofia. And yes, costs in Bulgaria, whether on your own or as part of the RS Tour, are really economical. Note: while in Nessebar, I decided to take a local bus and see what Sunny Beach was all about (a Black Sea resort area, built for Russian beach-goers, I understand). I spent the worst 15 minutes of my time in Bulgaria, and more generally Europe, in Sunny Beach, and certainly recommend skipping it. It was fitting that when I decided to quickly get out of town, I asked someone for directions back to the bus stop, and was told: it’s right over there, under the big billboard that says, and shows, Go-Go Girls!

I think it is important to look back on communism and what it does to a people and place.

It's striking how differently eastern Europe has changed over the last 25 years compared to China. I don't know why. The Axios article lists what they think are the 3 chief reasons in Bulgaria: low birth rate, departures, & low immigration. There may be more causes than that since China also has low birth rates & low immigration, although they have had high migrations from the hinterlands into the coastal cities.

Let me say this if I might; To Kaeleku, while your posts are always thoughtful and interesting and I certainly value your contributions not only to my threads but to others as well, I think you are a bit amiss here insisting on what others should write or not. What you write bout Bulgaria has truth to it. What you are assuming about me does not.

I do not come to this place (the forum) to give college level courses on modern Bulgarian History. There is neither the space or the patience on the part of the reader to delve so deeply into the subject. In fact in one of my other posts to the forum one responder made it rather nastily clear that he thought I was too long winded as it is. ( and he may be right).

What I Do come here to the forums for is to share My views about what I have seen the places I have been, to encourage others to try new places or re-visit old ones in new ways. I come here to share experiences good and bad with the logistics of travel and the joys of visiting new and interesting places.

Now directly to your question: Why do I mention the Communist legacy over other issues? Not because I see the world in simple terms for sure and not because I am stuck in the past in that old divide between Communism and Capitalism. I do so because it is arguably THE overriding issue of Bulgarian history in the post WWII era of the 20th Century that most Americans know about. It is also the most apparent and visible legacy one sees when visiting Bulgaria.

Some might argue that I delve too deeply sometimes into the arcane and historical in my posts as it is. But they are my posts. Written by me about my experiences and reflections about the places I visit. I try hard not to lose readers interest in the weeds of Bulgarian (or any other) history when all I am trying to do is encourage folks to go. They can decide for themselves what parts of Bulgarian history are important and interesting to them and read about it on their own.

They don’t need me for that.

I enjoyed reading your post and I would certainly consider going to Bulgaria. Your enjoyment of the country is obvious.

Thanks for the insightful report on Bulgaria. As usual, your enthusiasm and commentary make reading your posts quite enjoyable.

I think it's interesting to note that the 'periphery' of the Eastern bloc (the satellite states such as Poland and Bulgaria) were wealthier and often freer than the 'heart' of the bloc (Russia). I read an account of an American who visited Poland in the '70s after living in the Soviet Union-- Poland was a comparative paradise in terms of availability of consumer goods and food quality.

thank you.

Let's go back to discussing Bulgaria. And trying to get people to consider it as a destination. And what a wonderful place it is.

Aarthurperry, sounds like a great trip. I love it when visitors to Europe branch out from the usual rut and go explore something different. How was driving in Bulgaria, and outside of the salads what part of local cuisine did you enjoy?

Oh gosh, Bulgarian food is so very good it is hard to know where to start. Of course it shares a lot of commonality with other regional cuisines but one thing that sets it apart is that great care is taken in presentation even at the simplest places. You order something and what you get set on your table will often make you inhale in surprise and delight.

Some of my favorites are the Kavarma which seems to be elastic in its recipe depending on where you are, any of the starters all of the cheese and the very tasty grilled meats. The "meatballs" were great. The pork neck dishes and the pork shanks were truly amazing.

It's hearty and filling food. But they take great care and pride in their preparation and presentation. And if you want to see a Bulgarian smile...tell them how much you love their food.

It is that communism that came to power in Europe was based on Soviet totalitarianism with all its horrors. Even break way Yugoslavia the single party police state was evident. Read up on the history of totalitarianism, if you don't know it already.