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Bulgaria – back to the future
A year and a half after Bulgaria was accepted into ‘the big boys club' and became a member of the EU, the contrasts and problems are in many ways larger than ever. While the coastal resorts, with their luxury hotels and apartment complexes, are starting to remind of Miami Beach, the decay of the villages further inland stand in sharp contrast. The huge number of tourist that flock to the country every year may help to create wealth for a few, but most of the country's 7,6 million people still survive on the bare minimum. So even though things are better now than they were following the collapse of communism, many of the older generation still think back to ‘the good old days' when they at least knew they would have the basics.
Haris N Menelaou, is one of the three directors of Best of Bulgaria Developments, a Greek-Cypriot company that moved into the up-and-coming Bulgarian property market five years ago. We find out what he thinks lies ahead for the country by the Black Sea Coast....
Although there have been big changes in Bulgaria over the last few years, many things are still the same in the new EU country. The communist party is long gone, but is the new democratically-elected ruling party much better? What do the younger and the older generations think of the situation today?
Did you know that Bulgaria is one of the biggest wine exporting countries in the world, second only to France? We visit Vinex Slavyantsi, the biggest wine producer in the country, to talk about the highs and lows of the Bulgarian wine industry.
Ben Kane, from Wirral in Cheshire, studied to become an electrician, but found he had passion for Bulgarian property. We meet him at his office in Veliko Turnovo and talk to him about the changing economic landscape, corruption and what lies ahead for Bulgaria.
The food of Bulgaria is a mixing pot of Slavic, Greek and Turkish traditions, making way for interesting flavours and recipes that are passed down through the generations. We take a bite into the Bulgarian cooking culture...
Thinking about buying a property in Bulgaria? We talk to real-estate lawyer, Daniel Bratanov, about the buying process, corruption, the down-turn in world markets and how to avoid any pitfalls...
Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria's old capital, virtually clings to the cliff-side carved out by the river Yantra, which zigzags through the town. Once a centre of Bulgarian national spirit, the city has now fallen under the shadow of the new capital, Sofia, but it is still one of Eastern Europe's most popular tourist destinations.
Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you could just get away from it all? Well, two years ago, Claire Dryden, her husband Rune and son Isaiah did exactly that. We talk to her about her new life and find out if the reality of living a foreign country has met up to her expectations.
.JPG "You can get a priest to bless the car, perhaps not a bad idea...")
Bulgaria 2008