Final lights on Bulgaria

Final thoughts on Bulgaria

It's pretty fucking great here.  Most of the restaurants are large by New York City standards and have multiple seating areas that encompass the indoors and outdoors.  In general, there's a lot more room at any given restaurant than patrons.   everything I have eaten in Bulgaria, aside from one nasty bus station banitsa, is tasty and inexpensive.  And I don't mean a little; In the city, i haven't paid more than $12 for any meal including a beverage or two, and in the resort area, $20 including a couple of glasses of wine.  

I've only been to a couple of (relatively) large cities and the Black Sea coast, but I get the feeling that bulgarian food isn't very varied.  That might be a drawback.  There's two cheeses: white sirena cheese, like feta, and yellow kashkava.  Maybe it's shredded, melted, grated, and of differing salinity, but it's two local cheeses.  And it's In almost everything.  The stuffed pepper I was just served is stuffed with the same, albeit amazing, cheese i had in my morning crepe.  No meat or rice, just as much sirena cheese they could cram in there.  A lot of fish if you're on the sea.  kofte, kebab, dried and fresh sausage, meatball, pasta and risotto, common to neighboring countries. I'm guessing this is changing, but maybe slowly.  

It is probably the biggest bang for your buck anywhere in Europe.  The service is reportedly really bad, but I've found that everyone goes out of their way to try to help you even though many people don't speak a lot of English.  Europeans in general do not provide you with the "service" you'd come to expect in the US, Because they're not reliant on tips.  They're also not reliant upon turning over as many tables as possible to get those tips, so no one rushes you.  As someone who is generally impatient as fuck, Im saying that as a traveler you have to recognize that this is an important cultural difference and you should appreciate that you can order a $1 soda and sit comfortably for hours, and that sometimes you have to beg for the check.

Not one person has been rude or dismissive since I've arrived.  Maybe it's because I'm the smilies asshole here.  I feel like they're doing me a favor, and the stupid permagrin on my face expresses that.  Not a lot of Americans here and I feel like I have to go out of my way to not be a dick,  Everyone is interested in why i've chosen Bulgaria, and they laugh when I tell them.  They really like craft beer and there's plenty of it, and it as well is stupidly cheap.  They're proud of their wine, and it's inexpensive as well.  fresh juice places abound, and you get a big one for $1-2.  

Bulgaria Is somewhat  far south; the sun doesn't set in the summer until 9:30.  It's hot but dry.  It's not fancy like Paris, despite the fact that this foie gras appetizer at one nice place in Plovdiv exists, and costs only about $9.  It's not jam packed full of ancient history like Greece or turkey, but there's plenty.

To me, it is a joy to be in a corner of Europe that enjoys classy modernity coupled with ancient history, affordable pleasure, Nice people and still yet relatively undiscovered.  I have found this experience very unique and special.  I've been here over a week and I've heard one other American accent.  People started going to the Croatian riviera when Italy became overrun.  Slovenia is already moving on that path.  Im guessing Bulgaria will be next.

Or maybe not.  To me, Bulgaria doesn't seem to be actively vying for your business.  It's not "instagrammable" in the same way Italy or Greece is.  It's unfamiliar, and although I appreciate it's understated beauty, There's no white-and-blue-washed architecture, gothic cathedrals.  It's lovely, but not in the same way,  and not as "accessible" as France or England.  Aside from a random pelmeni, borscht or English breakfast, they don't  seem like they're trying to cater to Foreign tastes.  They're confused as to why I'm here at all.  But it seems that the brits, Germans, and Russians at least, have figured out that there are great beaches and cheap luxuries to be had, and that means that Americans are not too far behind.

Bulgaria is a reminder that modern electronics make many things easier, but it is really important to LEARN things, and to be able to rely on your brain in times of trouble.

Bulgaria is a reminder of what immigrants in America have to go through EVERY DAY, for a very long time, often without the cushion of extra cash to throw at a situation to make it instantly better.  

Bulgaria is a reminder that understanding English is the ultimate privilege. 

And despite our very real problems, Being American is the ultimate privilege.

So maybe this isn't for you, but it certainly is for me.  I can't wait to tell my Bulgarian student how wrong she is about her country.