RECEPTION BOOKLET AIESEC BULGARIA
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Remember when you were growing up? Remember when you were learning how to fly? Remember w he n y o u w e r e t r y i n g t o distinguish your color among the others? We want to see the unique color you use to draw your life, the same color that made you an AIESEC-er.
Thank you for choosing to participate in a project within our LC’s network.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. GENERAL INFORMATION -4 1. HISTORY-4 2. LOCATION-5 3. RELIEF-5 4. CLIMATE-5 5. LANGUAGE-5 6. ALPHABET-5 7. RELIGION-5 8. STATE GOVERNMENT-5 9. OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS-6 10. CAPITAL, LARGE CITIES-6 II. USEFUL INFORMATION -7 1. USEFUL PHRASES-7 2. CURRENCY INFORMATION-8 3. TELEPHONE NUMBERS IN BULGARIA-10 4. TRANSPORT-10 5. VOLTAGE-11 6. TIME DIFFERENCE-11 7. FOOD-11 8. VISA FOR BULGARIA – LEGAL INFORMATION-12
III. TOUR AROUND SOFIA-13 1. HISTORY-13 2. SIGHTSEEING IN SOFIA-14 IV. WHAT TO DO IN SOFIA?-15 1. SHOPPING-15 2. SWIMMING POOLS-15 3. BUNGEE JUMPING, PARAGLIDING-15 4. HORSE RIDING-15 5. CLIMBING, MOUNTAINEERING-16 6. EXHIBITION-16 7. THEATRES & OPERA-16 8. BILLIARD, BOWLING-16 9. CLUBBING-16 10. CARTING-17 11. MOVIES-17
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I.
GENERAL INFORMATION
1. HISTORY Situated on the crossroads between Europe and Asia, the Bulgarian territory has been populated since ancient antiquity. All the people that once inhabited the area – Thracians, Bulgarians and Slavonic have left their fingerprint on the world cultural treasury. Situated on the crossroads between Europe and Asia, the Bulgarian territory has been populated since ancient antiquity. All the people that once inhabited the area – Thracians, Bulgarians and Slavs have left their fingerprint on the world cultural treasury. Prehistoric finds in some of the caves prove that humans started living here during the neolith. The current territory of Bulgaria was once the center of the Thracian civilization which used to dominate the Balkan Peninsular. In the second half of the 7th century a people of Turkish origin – the Protobulgarians settled at today’s northeastern Bulgaria. Uniting the Slavonic, both people form a country called Bulgaria, recognized by Byzantine in 681. The leader of the Protobulgarians – Khan Asparoukh became the head of the state. The town of Pliska is announced for the first Bulgarian capital. In 885 the two Bulgarian brothers Cyril and Methody invented the Slavonic literacy which became official by the time that Christianity was accepted for that official religion. The Slavonic literacy then spread in Russia and Serbia. During the reign of Tsar Simeon (893-927) is the “Golden Age for the Bulgarian Literacy”, and the territory of the country is so big that it borders the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea. In 1018 Bulgaria was conquered by Byzantine. The Bulgarians started fighting back and in 1186 a rebel led by the boyar brothers Asen and Peter made the Byzantine conquerors leave the Bulgarian territories. The Second Bulgarian Kingdom was formed and the town of Tarnovo became the capital. During the reign of their little brother Kaloyan (11971207), Bulgaria restored its lost glory. During the reign of Tsar Ivan Asen II (1218-1241) the Second Bulgarian Kingdom is in the flower of its strength, instituting its political predominance in southeastern Europe. The country is again bordering three seas – the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Adriatic Sea. The economy and the
culture are flourishing. After years of cultural stagnancy the country is flourished till the end of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (11861396). Many literature and architectural works with huge international significance were created during the cultural upsurge in 13th and 14th century. The misunderstandings among the boyars split the country into two kingdoms – The Kingdom of Vidin and The Kingdom of Tarnovo. The country gets weaker and fell prey to the Osman Empire in 1396. Conquered by the Turkish, Bulgaria does not exist on the map for five centuries. In 1762 Paisii Hilendarski wrote the book “History of Bulgarians and Slavonic” which marks the beginning of the National Revival Period and stimulates the national liberation movement. Its culmination - The April Rebel in 1876 leads to the liberation of Bulgaria after the Russian – Turkish war in 1877 – 1878. As a result of the Russian – Turkish war for liberation, Bulgaria becomes a free country but a national union is not achieved. The former Bulgarian territories are split into three parts – The Principality of Bulgaria, East Rumelia, Thracia and Macedonia. Except for The Principality of Bulgaria the rest of the Bulgarian territories are ruled by the Osman Empire. In 1885 The Principality of Bulgaria and East Rumelia merged to unite. In 1908 Bulgaria was again officially pronounced as an independent country. After the Second World War in 1944 the Soviet Army occupied Bulgaria and the Communist Party held power. In 1946 the monarchy was replaced by the republican form of government. Later on the industry, the trade and all banks were nationalized and all the private land was taken by the government. The democratic changes in Bulgaria started on the 10th of November 1989.As in most of the East European countries the political, economical and social relations changed completely. Today Bulgaria is a member of NATO and in 2007 has become a part of the European Community
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2. LOCATION BULGARIA is situated in South-east Europe and occupies the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. To the north it borders on Romania, to the west on the Republic of Macedonia and the Sarbia, to the east on the Black Sea, to the south on Greece and to the southeast on Turkey's European part.
Mediterranean influence is felt in the country's southern regions. The average annual temperature is 10.5°C. The average January temperature is around O°C. Average summer temperatures rarely exceed 30°C.
5. LANGUAGE BULGARIAN English, German, French and Russian is spoken in the country's resorts, hotels and restaurants. Other languages that are common include Greek, Serbian and Turkish.
6. ALPHABET 3. RELIEF Area: 111 000 sq. km The relief in Bulgaria is extremely diverse - between 0-2,925 m of altitude there is a variety of vast valleys and low lands, hills and mountains, extremely beautiful rocks, glaciered, abrasion, erosion and karsts formations, waterfalls and about 4,300 caves.
4. CLIMATE
CYRILLIC Signs along international motorways, in airports and resorts are also spelled in Roman letters.
7. RELIGION 86.6% of the population is Eastern Orthodox, 13% are Muslims. The Bulgarian Church is autonomous and headed by a Patriarch.
Temperate continental with clearly marked 4 seasons: - Spring (22 March – 21 June) -Summer (22 June – 21 September) -Fall (22 September – 21 December) -Winter (22 December – 21 March)
8. STATE GOVERNMENT Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic. President – Georgi Parvanov Prime-minister – Boyko Borisov Bulgaria has unicameral parliament - the National
Assembly
consisting
of
240
deputies, each elected for four-year terms by popular vote. The Bulgarian judicial system consists of regional, district and appeal courts, as well as a Supreme
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Court of Cassation. In addition, Bulgaria has a Supreme Administrative Court and a system of military courts. The
territory
Bulgaria
of
the
subdivides
into
municipalities.
In
all,
Republic provinces
Bulgaria
of and
has
28
provinces, each headed by a provincial governor appointed by the government. In addition,
the
country
includes
265
municipalities.
9. OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS
10. CAPITAL, LARGE CITIES SOFIA (population – over 1,400,000 citizens) - large cities: Plovdiv, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Burgas
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II. USEFUL INFORMATION 1. USEFUL PHRASES IN ENGLISH Hi, Hello Hello, I am… Nice to meet you My name is How are you? How about you? Where are you from? How old are you? Goodbye, bye Good Morning Good afternoon Good evening Sleep well Thank You I am Fine Yes / No I can / I can’t I want I am / I am not You are You are welcome Do you speak English? I would like Please Who / When / Where / What / Why / How May I have the bill? Money Shop Price How much does it cost? Help!
IN BULGARIAN Zdravei, Zdrasti, Zdraveite (formal) Zdravei, az sum… Priyatno mi e Moeto ime e / Kazvam se Kak si/Kak ste (formal) A ti? Ot kude si? Na kolko godini si? Dovizhdane1 Dobro outro Dobur den Dobur vecher Leka nosht 2 Blagodarq / Mersi (less formal) Dobre sam Da / Ne Moga / Ne moga Iskam Az sum3/ Az ne sum Ti si Molya2 Govorite li angliiki? Iskam Molya2 Koi / Koga / Kude / Kakvo / Zashto / Kak “Mozhe li smetkata?”1 Pari Magazin Tsena Kolko struva? Pomosht!4
DAYS OF THE WEEK Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Ponedelnik Vtornik Sryada Chetvurtuk5 Petuk Subota Nedelya 7
MONTHS / MESECI January February March April May June July August September October November December
Yanuari Fevrouari Mart April Mai Yuni Yuli Avgoust Septemvri Oktomvri Noemvri Dekemvri
NUMBERS / CHISLA / CIFRI One / Two / Three / Four / Five Edno / Dve / Tri / Chetiri / Pet Six / Seven / Eight / Nine / Ten Shest / Sedem / Osem / Devet / Deset Eleven / Twelve / Thirteen Edinadeset / Dvanadeset / Trinadeset Fourteen / Fifteen / Sixteen Chetirinadeset / Petnadeset / Shesnadeset Seventeen / Eighteen / Nineteen Sedemnadeset / Osemnadeset/ Devetnadeset Twenty Dvadeset Thirty / Forty / Fifty / Sixty Trideset / Chetirideset / Petdeset / Shestdeset Seventy / Eighty/ Ninety Sedemdeset / Osemdeset / Devetdeset One hundred Sto Thousand Hiliada One Million Edin Milion
1 2 3 4 5
How to pronounce/Legend “zh” like the “s” in measure “ya” as yarn “u” is pronounced as in but “sh” as in dish “ch” as in church
2. CURRENCY INFORMATION
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The Bulgarian national monetary unit is the Lev (BGL), divided into 100 stotinki. There are banknotes of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 leva. FOLLOW THE LINK TO FIND THE EXCHANGE RATE OF BGN
http://www.bcci.bg/services/currency/index.php3
3. TELEPHONE NUMBERS IN BULGARIA International dialling code for Bulgaria is +359; the Sofia city code is 2, Plovdiv is 32 when dialled from abroad (if you already happen to be in Bulgaria, the city codes all acquire a 0 in front: Sofia 02, Plovdiv 032, etc. 112 - Emergency Medical Aid / Fire Department / Police In Bulgaria there are 3 mobile operators: -Mobiltel -Globul -Vivatel. You can check in their websites the prices of calling your country and decide whether to buy a SIM-card or not.
4. TRANSPORT
Around BULGARIA: Trains, Buses. Around Sofia you can use several means of transport: Public autobuses, trolley and tram lines The public transport in Sofia works from 5 am to about 12 pm. Price per ticket is 1.00 leva (about 0.50 EURO) if you buy it from a kiosk. Tickets should be bought before you get in the bus. When you board the bus, find the punches in order to punch the ticket. Unpunched ticked is invalid. The bus control rarely understand English and you might have problems with the security if you travel without a ticket or even with unpunched one. Sometimes you can also buy a ticket from the bus driver – its cost is 1.00 leva (about 0,50 EURO) but it is better to have one before getting in the bus. Public subway line Private mini-buses (marshrutki) Mini-buses stop if you just wave a hand and usually are fast way to go somewhere without need to change the car. You pay to the driver when you get off the car. Prices are 1,50 leva (about 0,75 euro).
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Taxis Taxis in Sofia are yellow. There are many companies offering taxi services, some of them are OK Taxi, 1 Euro Taxi, etc. The taxi drivers should give you receipts. Usually they also should have stickers or similar withTaxi ID number and a customer care telephone number and they are required to have prices on a sticker on the window of the left front door and on the windshield. Prices vary but are about 0,70 leva (0,35 euro) per kilometer. Also make sure they have a driver ID on the dashboard, that's quite important and also read the price on the stickers before getting in some will have outrageous prices.
5. VOLTAGE Plugs used in Bulgaria, as in most of Europe, are two-pin plugs; which means that sockets are made accordingly. The common voltage is 220 V, and it is wise to bring your own adapters as well as converters as these may not be available in the area you are travelling to.
6. TIME DIFFERENCE Winter time: GMT +2 hours (October through March) Summer time: GMT +3 hours (April through September)
7. FOOD The variety in Bulgarian cuisine is based on the long history of the country, as well as on the long-lasting migrations of the tribes that founded Bulgaria more than 1300 years ago. The close contact with Turkey and Greece have helped us form very attractive and to some extent exotic national cuisine, including some dishes which cannot be called national but which are typical of Bulgaria only. Famous for its rich salads required at every meal, Bulgarian cuisine is also noted for the diversity and quality of dairy products and the variety of wines and local alcoholic drinks such as rakia, mastika and menta. Bulgarian cuisine features also a variety of hot and cold soups, an example of a cold soup being tarator. There are many different Bulgarianpastries as well such as banitsa. Certain entries, salads. Soups and dishes go well with alcoholic beverages and the alcohol of choice for some is Bulgarian wine.
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8. VISA FOR BULGARIA – LEGAL INFORMATION
Holders of valid ordinary passports from the following countries do not need a visa to visit Bulgaria for up to 90 days within each period of six months:
Andorra Australia Belgium Brazil Brunei Canada Chile Costa Rica Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark El Salvador Estonia Finland
France Germany Greece Guatemala Honduras Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Japan Latvia Liechtenstein Malta Lithuania Luxemburg
Malaysia Mexico Monaco Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Malaysia Mexico Norway Panama Paraguay Poland Portugal Republic of Chorea Romania
San Marino Singapore Slovak Republic Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland UK USA Uruguay Vatican Venezuela SAR -China
Important Notice! 1. Family members of the EU citizen, who do not have the nationality of EU Member State, enjoy the same rights of the EU citizens for their travel to Bulgaria. This is only in case they have a status of permanent residence in an EU country (ILR)and are travelling together or are going to Bulgaria to join (with the relevant documents) their family member(s) who is(are) already in the country. 2. The holders of the following types of the British Passports need visas for travel to Bulgaria: British Overseas Territories Citizen without Right to Abode British Overseas Citizens British Subjects without Right to Abode British Protected Persons All holders of passports from countries not mentioned in the List above, need visas to enter Bulgaria. Visa application processing can usually take up to 10 working days, since each application needs to receive clearance by the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry in Sofia. Foreigners entering Bulgarian territory on a motor vehicle have to present a document of ownership for that vehicle, if such ownership is not explicitly shown in the vehicle's registration documents. IMPORTANT NOTICE: All foreign visitors should bear in mind that under Bulgarian Law they are required to contact their local police station within 48 hours of arrival in Bulgaria and present in writing the address at which they will be staying. If they are staying in a hotel or private lodgings, the hotel management/host bear the obligation to register them at the local police station.
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BULGARIA USEFUL ESSENTIALS - BEFORE ARRIVING Legal Customs Formalities and Limitations When crossing the state border of Bulgaria, all passengers have the right to import and export commodities, which in their particular type, quantities, and value are not of a commercial nature and do not include some specific objects that every passenger carry for personal use as well as different consumption objects. Thus, when cross the border, you will have the right to import at no custom duty or additional import fees all objects, necessary for each foreigner for his pleasant stay in the country, which in their type and quantity correspond to both the purpose and the duration of this visit, as well as some consumption objects: - Tobacco products - cigarettes - 200 items, or other tobacco products - 250 gr - Alcoholic beverages - wine - 2 liters, and alcoholic liquors - 1 liter - Other drinks - coffee - 500 g or coffee extract - 200 g, tea - 100 g or tea extract - Perfumes - 50 ml and toilet water - 250 ml. All passengers who are under 16 years old are not entitled to duty-free import of the commodities listed above, except for medications. Bulgaria - General Insurance Requirements Everyone, who wants to visit Bulgaria as tourist or guest, should be insured. Usually, insurance of foreign citizens is included in the most tourist packages of the Bulgarian tour-operators, but all foreign tourists could also enter Bulgaria with insurance policies from their foreign insurance providers.
III. TOUR AROUND SOFIA SOFIA is the capital of Bulgaria. It is also the biggest city in the country with about 1.4 million citizens (including suburbs). Today, Sofia is a dynamic Eastern European capital, distinguished by its unique combination of European and Communist-style architecture as well as many beautiful orthodox churches. Furthermore, it claims to be one of the few European capitals with beautiful scenery and a developed ski- resort so close to it - the Vitosha Mountain.
1. HISTORY Founded around 7000 years ago, Sofia is the second oldest city in Europe. Over the centuries, it has been given several names and the remnants of the old cities can still be viewed today. Serdika was the name of the central dwelling of the ancient Thracian tribe known as “The Serdi”. It bore that name when it became part of the Bulgarian state at the beginning of the ninth century and was soon recognized as one of the most important feudal towns, acquiring the Slavic name Sredets. Near Sofia lies Boyana church, which is one of the most valuable memorials of Bulgarian and European culture. The church boasts frescoes, acclaimed by specialists as “the best examples of eastern media-eval art during its twelve century history”. The decline of Sofia during the Turkish Ottoman Empire was followed by the rejuvenation after the Russian liberation in 1879, when Sofia was chosen as the capital of Bulgaria at the First National Constituent Assembly, and followed by a brisk and straight-forward period of construction. In 1900 the City Council approved the emblem of Sofia and the motto “It Grows but Does not Age”. During the years of the totalitarian regime (9 September 1944 - 10 November 1989) Sofia became the major national economic, academic and cultural centre. From its years of socialist growth, however, the
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capital inherited a great deal of problems, which are at present the priorities of the democratically elected council of Sofia.
2. SIGHTSEEING IN SOFIA Here are some of SOFIA’S Walking
Tour highlights:
Lady’s Market The Synagogue The Mosque The Central Mineral Baths St. Nedelia Church Slaveikov Square National Palace of Culture Lover’s Bridge Earth and Man Museum Communist Party Head Quarter Presidency St. Georgy Church National Art Gallery & Ethnographic Museum Russian Church Central Military Club Monument of Unknown Soldier Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Synod Palace Bulgarian Academy of Science National Assembly Gallery for Foreign Art Sofia University Eagle’s Bridge National Theater ”Ivan Vazov” The City Garden Sofia City Art Gallery Archaeological Museum Serdika – Sredets Fortress
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IV. What to Do in SOFIA? 1. SHOPPING Sofia's big fashion stores , small markets and tiny hidden shops in the narrow streets of the city center are hard to resist. The main shopping areas are in the malls, on Vitosha Blvd. (You have there all the high class shops of the world famous labels - Sisley, Benetton , Pepe, Levi's etc.), Graf Ignatiev Str., Rakovski Str., Pirotska Str. (It has been transformed into a continental style pedestrian area with a variety of shops and street cafes) and all the streets leading-off from them. SHOPPING CENTERS MALL OF SOFIA 101, Aleksandar Stamboliiski Blvd. THE CENTRAL DEPARTMENT STORE (TSUM) 2, Mariya Luiza Blvd. CITY CENTER SOFIA SKY CITY MALL 52, Kosta Loulchev Str.
2. SWIMMING POOLS
Sport Chamber Spartak Swimming Pool Varadero Swimming Pool and Entertaining Centre
3. BUNGEE JUMPING, PARAGLIDING ADRENALIN EXTREME SPORTS CLUB DELTA SKY-ARAMANIA FLYING SCHOOL EXTREME BULGARIA VERTICAL WORLD SPORTS CLUB SKYNOMAD PARAGLIDING SCHOOL SKYDIVE BULGARIA (PRIMORSKO) PARASOF
4. HORSE RIDING Bojur Horseriding Club
Horseriding Club Sv. Georgi Horseriding Club
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5. CLIMBING, MOUNTAINEERING
VITOSHA 1800 m above sea level, Vitosha is only 10 km far from Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. This is the highest ski resort
of
Bulgaria.
The
mountain is good for skiing in the winter and trekking in the summer. It is easily accessible both in the winter and in the summer but its weather is very changeable. In Vitosha there are two biosphere preserves - Bistrishko Branishte and Torfeno Branishte. The highest peak of Vitosha is Cherni Vruh (2290 m). The main skiing area is under it. Vitosha also offers walls for rock climbing in its eastern part. The mountain is also popular with the longest cave in Bulgaria. Vitosha offers excellent conditions for snow sports, with huge skiing areas and many slopes with powder, but last few years the skiing infrastructure and the hotels in the mountain were not developed according to the needs of the tourists. We would recommend it very much for skiing and boarding, but tourists will not find here the night life and apres ski of the bigger resorts in Bulgaria.
6. EXHIBITION
National Art Gallery
The Crypt Of Alexander Nevski Memorial Church St. St. Cyril and Methodius Art Gallery Of The Union Of Bulgarian Artists Sofia City Art Gallery
7. THEATRES & OPERA Theaters in Sofia in their major part were described above. They are: Ivan Vazov National Theatre; the National Opera and Ballet; the Musical Theatre (the Operetta) and the Arabesque Ballet next to the Levski monument; the Theatre of Satire; the Theatre of the Army; the Sulza y Smyah (Tears and Laughter) Theatre; the Sofia Theatre and Beyond the Channel Theatre in Madrid and Evlogui Georgiev Boulevards; La Strada Theatre (6th of September Str. and Aksakov Str.); the Academic Theatre with the NATFIZ Kr. Sarafov; the State Puppet Theatre (Gourko Str. and Rakovski Str.); the Mladezhki (Youth) Theatre and Sfumato Theatrical Workshop at Narodno Subranie Square; and Theatre 199. A lot of private troupes also perform on other stages.
8. BILLIARD, BOWLING Mega Xtreme Bowling Center Studentski grad, 12 Akad. Boris Stefanov Str., Fantastico complex
9. CLUBBING In Student’s Town: Plazza Dance Club, Avenue, Jim Beam, Orient 33, Fire, Bacardi, Marseille.
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10. CARTING Dunev Motor Sport Krasna Poliana Carting Speedway POLE POSITION CARTING SPEEDWAY
11. MOVIES Arena West Arena Mladost Cinema City Mtel Imax Cineplex Euro-Bulgarian Cultural Centre Odeon Cinemateque Cinema 087 Jalta
AIESEC BULGARIA NATIONAL TEAM WELCOMES YOU!
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