What does the south of France and the northern portion of Bulgaria’s seashore have in common? Here is one possible answer – Patrice Rayssac.

“I come from the south of France, near Toulouse. It is a big town between an ocean and a sea and is close to the Pyrenees. It is very beautiful there, nice and hot but I lived there for many years and I want to see a new place.”

For Patrice that new place is called Varna. He settled in Bulgaria’s “seaside capital” seven years ago, fascinated by the freedom and the atmosphere of Varna. He started to teach French online to people from all over the world, and to take pictures. He describes himself as an amateur photographer, and what he enjoys photographing most is the sea which he adores. He says that here, in Varna, he has discovered magnificent places and landscapes which motivated and inspired him.

“I love Bulgaria, I love the sea and I love Varna, because it has a marine garden, this superb beach and a very special atmosphere. There is no other town in Bulgaria with an atmosphere like this. The people are kind.”

Patrice is now quite fluent in Bulgarian but admits it hasn’t been easy. He wants to hone his Bulgarian language skills so he is reading different books in this language he still finds strange. And all this – because, as he says, he loves Bulgaria and the region.

“I love this part of Europe – here in the East. I also love Greece and Romania – I find all Balkan countries fascinating. Living all your life in one atmosphere is not to my liking. I need to see new places because we are one world with many different people. I find the culture, the philosophy of different places very interesting.”

There are few things from France which he misses, he says – his family and his friends, but adds that he is adaptable and he doesn’t miss anything here, in Bulgaria.

Interview by Vanya Slavova, BNR-Varna

Editing by Vesela Krusteva