Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Travel Yourself Interesting

Pastoral landscapes are a joy for the eye across Bulgaria
Photo: Veneta Nikolova

СнимкаView travels abroad as an investment, rather than luxury, calls the British online travel agency Expedia. The company launched successfully its campaign Travel Yourself Interesting in 2013 where a key role was given to Bulgaria. The choice of the editors of the gateway was purposeful.

The campaign’s goal was to show that travels make life and knowledge varied. This is why the accent fell on the curious details we learn while traveling abroad. Bulgaria was mentioned as an interesting travel destination. The commercial video features a desperate British office worker who says: “Did you know that Bulgarians shake their heads when they say yes and nod when saying no?” The reason for his discontent is the fact that he is no more the boss’s favorite one, because one of his colleagues has just returned from a trip to Bulgaria and brought the management a gift- a glass with a print of the Bulgarian flag on it. The main character of the video watches with a sinking heart how this bootlicker entertains his boss with anecdotes based on his experience in Bulgaria. The conclusion is simple-travel if you want to learn new things and be always on the crest.

Bulgaria is full with surprises for both the foreign tourists and the Bulgarians. No wonder why the authors of the above-mentioned campaign have chosen Bulgaria. This country provides various opportunities for an interesting travel. Later, you can impress the ones around you with stories from your unusual vacation, provided you are close to people and the nature. We would recommend the curious travelers to take the train from the town of Septemvri to the village of Dobrinishte (Southwestern Bulgaria) which crosses three mountains -The Rhodopes, Rila and Pirin. The distance between the two Photo: Veneta Nikolovapoints is only 125 kilometers which is covered by the train for 5 whole hours. The train creeps along iron bridges, stops at each settlement and meanders between rock fissures and slips into claustrophobic tunnels, where you have the feeling that you will never get out. Although this interesting railway route is not advertised enough, tourists have long ago learned about it. For most of them it provides wonderful opportunities to touch the real face of Bulgaria.

While the train creeps from one station to another, you can come across virgin places which have remained untouched by the mass tourism. Later you can fascinate your boss with stories about donkey carts moving across uninhabited rural terrains, dizzy abysses, desolated old neighborhoods and friendly co-passengers.However, if your boss is among those who do not like romantic views and non-standard trips, then give him simply a bottle of Bulgarian red wine. Tell him how wine and history walk hand in hand in this country and that the ancient Thracians who inhabited these lands knew the secrets of making a good homemade wine. In fact, tasting of local wine sorts is quite interesting for many tourists. СнимкаMost of the wine-cellars in Bulgaria have special chambers where people can taste their wines. Moreover, some of them offer a rich presentation program. Such is the wine factory in the village of Starosel where seductive Thracian priestesses-cup-bearers tempt the guests with elegant dances and mellow local wine. However, before you go to the wine cellars, you should visit the nearby temple Chetinyova Mound build in the 5th-4th century BC. Some archaeologists believe that Sitalk, who was the king of the Odryss tribe and one of the most powerful Thracian rulers, was buried there.

Bike tours across the wild nature of Northwestern Bulgaria, known as the poorest region in the whole EU, rock climbing in the region of Belogradchik near the Danube River, horse trips in Strandzha and the Eastern Rhodope Mountains, are some of the multiple opportunities for interesting travel across Bulgaria. Moreover, your amusing stories about you experience there will make you come into notice of your bosses, friends and colleagues. Who knows, you could even receive a promotion after your next trip to Bulgaria.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov

Photos: courtesy to the author


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Pamporovo is expected to have a successful winter season

The amount of snow that has fallen in the Rhodopes this December is a record for the past 10 years. Speaking for public service broadcaster BNT, caretaker Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev expressed hope that the Pamporovo resort will have a strong..

published on 12/23/24 10:35 AM

Mountain resort of Borovets officially kicks off winter season

The mountain resort of Borovets in Mount Rila is giving the official start to the winter season today with a sound and light show . The light show will take place at 5 PM at Rila ski run. The ski zone will be open from 8.30 AM until 4.30 PM...

published on 12/21/24 7:40 AM

Taking a break with wine, spa and adventures – the perfect weekend combination

Wine culture has been thriving in Bulgaria, with more and more locations and events drawing a growing number of wine lovers and boosting interest in wine tourism. Demand in wine tasting has gone up significantly in 2024, weekend advance bookings..

updated on 12/20/24 11:46 AM