Visiting Varna, Bulgaria
Discussion
Hi guys,
I am going with a couple of friends for a weeks holiday in Bulgaria at the end of next month. We are staying in a little villa in a village called Zdravets about 10 minutes drive from Varna and about the same distance from the coast. I was just curious to see if anyone else has visited Varna and can share any tips and experiences with me.
Im uncertain wether to take their local currency or Euro's. I think I may take a small amount in cash but take the rest on a post office pre paid credit type card. I have been doing alot of google searches for places but would like first hand experiences. What is the shopping like? Any nice shops to buy watches?
I am going with a couple of friends for a weeks holiday in Bulgaria at the end of next month. We are staying in a little villa in a village called Zdravets about 10 minutes drive from Varna and about the same distance from the coast. I was just curious to see if anyone else has visited Varna and can share any tips and experiences with me.
Im uncertain wether to take their local currency or Euro's. I think I may take a small amount in cash but take the rest on a post office pre paid credit type card. I have been doing alot of google searches for places but would like first hand experiences. What is the shopping like? Any nice shops to buy watches?
I visit Sofia a lot but yet to make it to Varna so can only comment broadly.
Wouldn't worry about Euros - I normally withrdaw Levs from ATMs as and when needed.
Shopping is generally cheap, apart from shoes for some reasons. Most of the designer chain stores are more expensive than here.
Check out the Piano Bars - all are different but all generally tend to be very cool places.
People can appear outwardly gruff but they are anything but, Very warm and welcoming - good fun too!
In Sofia, I find that the really smart clubs tend to be the dullest whereas the scruffy ones are the best fun. Would suspect it's similar in Varna.
Proper watches are a bit cheaper - a colleague picked up a Rado for OH that retails for £1k in GB for £600 over there.
Loads of very good hookey watches available that are very very good copies but pricey (£100 + for a TAG).
Thank you is "Blagdoria" but most people use the more informal "Merci" (Thanks)
Ciao for bye
Prostetay for sorry
Damay ay Gospada for Ladies and Gentlemen (although quite why you'd need to use that is not clear!!)
HTH - have fun!
Wouldn't worry about Euros - I normally withrdaw Levs from ATMs as and when needed.
Shopping is generally cheap, apart from shoes for some reasons. Most of the designer chain stores are more expensive than here.
Check out the Piano Bars - all are different but all generally tend to be very cool places.
People can appear outwardly gruff but they are anything but, Very warm and welcoming - good fun too!
In Sofia, I find that the really smart clubs tend to be the dullest whereas the scruffy ones are the best fun. Would suspect it's similar in Varna.
Proper watches are a bit cheaper - a colleague picked up a Rado for OH that retails for £1k in GB for £600 over there.
Loads of very good hookey watches available that are very very good copies but pricey (£100 + for a TAG).
Thank you is "Blagdoria" but most people use the more informal "Merci" (Thanks)
Ciao for bye
Prostetay for sorry
Damay ay Gospada for Ladies and Gentlemen (although quite why you'd need to use that is not clear!!)
HTH - have fun!
Thanks very much Steve! It sounds like a very interesting place to visit and really can't wait. I suspect a few years from now with it being an up and coming place to visit it will be very different, and now is the time to visit. I also read they have a strange way of saying yes by shaking their heads side to side or in a circular fashion.
Thanks fella.
Thanks fella.
JimNotJon said:
Thanks very much Steve! It sounds like a very interesting place to visit and really can't wait. I suspect a few years from now with it being an up and coming place to visit it will be very different, and now is the time to visit. I also read they have a strange way of saying yes by shaking their heads side to side or in a circular fashion.
Forgot about the head shaking. You are right - shake for yes, nod for no. Very off putting!Not wishing to name drop - but I will - I was with the British Ambassador to Bulgaria today in Cambridge (UKTi event) and he was saying that tourism is on the cusp of a boom in the region so you may be right regarding future development.
I was also reminded of another thing worth noting - the women. This part of the world holds the monopoly on stunningly beautiful women* (and I'm not just talking "looker" but supermodels you'd take home to mum lookers!). They are also very friendly and chatty and it's not unusual for them, when they hear you talking English, to approach you and start talking to you. Men, being the shallow creatures we are, can take this as a sign of impending bedroom fun. On the whole, this is not the case. They just like talking to you because you are English, it helps them speak English better and are curious about our culture.
Enjoy the view but don't litter

* Exception being my house in case the OH and Daughter are reading!
Just to let you guys know. Loved every second of Bulgaria. Everything you said was spot on, lovely people, gorgeous women as you said (few jaw hitting the floor moments). The village of Zdravets was quaint and lovely. Roads were rubbish, hundreds of pot holes, made the UK look perfect. Driving standards were shocking, overtaking on blind corners and hills, including coaches and lorrys doing the same. Ruined the rear wheel of the rental car the second night, 30 mins hammering later and it was fixed (sort of). Stayed away from more british parts (sunny beach) but went to the ancient city of Nessebar which was fantastic. Mr Ba Ba's pirate ship restaurant was brilliant, food was very good.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimnotjon/sets/721576...
Some photos I took, tried to keep them in order as the week went on.
James.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimnotjon/sets/721576...
Some photos I took, tried to keep them in order as the week went on.
James.
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