Bulgaria in a nut shell...

Bulgaria may just be driving me crazy. But I cant help but loving it even more. Here is a really funny video that was made by some Bulgarian students. It is oh so funny, and yet very, very true.

Click the following to link to see the video... "Bulgaria - a country of unlimited... impossibilities."

Here might be some of the most important things you need to know about Bulgaria, things I have come to know well over the past 2+ years. No exaggeration.

(Me going crazy.... But really, just caught in a candid moment laughing on a beautiful Bulgarian hillside.)

Cultural Differences: The head nod. Bulgarians shake and nod their heads opposite of the rest of the world. Yes means No. And No means Yes. What do I mean? A back and forth head shake and the the side-to-side head bobble means yes. Whereas the up and down nod means no as well as the quick head jerk down. There is no place else in the world that does this. This is made even more confusing when Bulgarians realize you’re a foreigner, and they decide to "help" you by switching to what the rest of the world does. So really, you never can be sure what is going on.

Architecture: The good old communist concrete block. Some may call them socialist geniuses. I don't know who, but they might. People came, started to build, and then just vanished. Throughout Bulgaria you can see the abandoned buildings that never quite got off the ground. I think a lot of this has to do with the fall of communism and people pulling out of a current project to take the money instead.

Sightseeing: Right when you are about to take a picture, something is going to get in your way. Bulgarians seem to have this way about stepping right in front of your photo. Its crazy really. They either just simply dont care, or really dont see you. But come on, how can they not see you when you are standing there pointing your camera at that beautiful church, or whatever you are shooting.

Street Traffic: Bulgarians are known for their fierce driving. They will never stop for a pedestrian, and I mean never. (Remember the blog about me almost getting my foot run over.) And the sidewalks are even worse. In Bulgaria, I think sidewalk is a synonym for parking lot. You can hardly find a proper sidewalk that is not overtaken by parked cars. And then there is the city transport. I tend to take the public buses or trams, but if you are up for it maybe you can hitch a ride with the horse and cart driving by. You never know, they may just give you a lift.

Tradition: Hospitality. I think Bulgarians might just be the most hospitable people ever. You can go over to a friends house for hours uninvited and they will still serve you a feast. First you will start with rakia(home made brandy) and Shopska (cucumber, tomato and cheese) Salad. Then you will have more rakia. Then of course meatballs and sausages. Served with more rakia. For dessert, rakia. And more rakia. You will drink rakia into the early hours until you can hardly manage to walk.

The WC: Also known as the water closet. Don't get me started on that.

Culture: There is a cultural legacy here. And it is called Chalga, or Pop Folk music. And for me, it is like nails on a chalkboard. There is no real talent needed to be a Chalga star. You simply need to be a really ugly guy with long hair and bad clothes, or a female with too much makeup, huge boobs, and wearing nearly nothing. There is a joke here... Most people like to just watch chalga with the volume turned low.

Shopping: I just don't bother here. But the second hand shops seem to be a big hit. Although, a friend told me once that when he tried to take his old clothing to the second had store, the store wouldnt take it. He was giving them 2 large bags of free second hand clothes....for the SECOND HAND store. What were the shopkeepers not understanding. So he decided to take it to the "other" second hand store, the side of the dumpster where someone was sure to rifle though the bags.

People: The greatest resource for Bulgaria. Although, there seems to be some population limitation program that keeps the population growth from growing. It is actually decreasing. And it is sad sight to see the old pensioners or retired people sifting through dumpsters to find something of value, maybe even something to eat. The government ought to give them more.

Nightlife: You can either go out with friends, have party in your apartment, or go for a night stroll. But beware, you may get mugged, beaten and flashed. Well, it doesnt have to be in the night to get flashed. You can simply walk through your local park and surely a man in a trench coat will show all. Trust me, its happened to me.

Of course, these are just some of the highlights of Bulgaria. Some of the fascinating and simultaneously frustrating parts about life here. Some of the things that, as much as I cant stand at times, will ultimately miss when I leave. Ah, Bulgaria. A land of magic and beauty.