CAPITAL SOFIA - POPULATION 7.3 MILLION - AREA 110,910 SQ KM -OFFICIAL LANGUAGE BULGARIAN
What's not to love about a country where beer costs an average of just USD 0.95? Eurozone entry is slated for 2010, but for now Bulgaria is the cheapie of Europe – and bargain-hunters are taking full advantage, flocking to the Rila Mountains ski resorts, Black Sea coast and, er, dentists. There are plenty of un-flocked pockets though – try Ahtopol, the last refuge of traditional charm on the increasingly developed Black Sea, and the wild Strandzha Mountain region which harbors unexplored ruins and eco-adventure. Sofia is worth a look, too – the city is undergoing a spring clean (better paths, more trees, a new museum) in preparation for the 130th anniversary of its capital status in 2009. |
