Bulgaria was never ready to enter the EU and i am amazed that they are. nothing in four years has happened, nothing. balchik is still like war torn beirut, the roads are worse than ever. this is the first time i have began to question whether this is the place i want to be.

having been missed out of the recent census, i went to balchik municipality with a letter informing them that i had not taken part, like the eu told me to do. they would not take the letter, they told me the census is over and thats the end of the matter and pushed me out of the building.

I went to pay my municipality car tax, which is a bone of contention too. i bought a 2 year old car in vt last year, the owners paid 400 lev car tax from new. in balchik i was charged 650 levs at 2 years old, this year, it is 744 levs. they are charging over the top yet theres nothing in return.

Air fares are too expensive, fine dining not, entertainment where. and the roads are dangerous, the paths are too.

I love where i live, its rural, pretty and quiet. :Sunny:but its not enough and i see no signs of anything improving, need to do some serious thinking. im falling out of love with bulgaria.

Good morning haha Absolutely true

Bulgaria does need to be careful - It's low taxes and cost of living is what has historically always attracted people from overseas to re-locate here. We (Brits, other Europeans etc.) do not have a problem with paying our way - we do not come here expecting handouts.

It seems again, that Bulgaria has found a way to make money quickly (higher taxes) rather than thinking of the long-term effects these higher taxes will have on peoples desires to move here, and the revenue they would generate.

When I read starlite's post and

Quote :

Number of Bulgarians Down by Estimated 1 Million in 10 years

, it made me wonder what it will be like here in 5 or even 10 years time. Does anyone regulate taxes here or can they pretty much do as they please?

I still think Bulgaria is a great place and am so pleased that we took the plunge to make the move - but can fully see what starlite is saying. I think when we read things and experience things like this we have to remember why we left the UK in the first place.

starlite wrote:

Bulgaria was never ready to enter the EU and i am amazed that they are. nothing in four years has happened, nothing. balchik is still like war torn beirut, the roads are worse than ever. this is the first time i have began to question whether this is the place i want to be.

having been missed out of the recent census, i went to balchik municipality with a letter informing them that i had not taken part, like the eu told me to do. they would not take the letter, they told me the census is over and thats the end of the matter and pushed me out of the building.

I went to pay my municipality car tax, which is a bone of contention too. i bought a 2 year old car in vt last year, the owners paid 400 lev car tax from new. in balchik i was charged 650 levs at 2 years old, this year, it is 744 levs. they are charging over the top yet theres nothing in return.

Air fares are too expensive, fine dining not, entertainment where. and the roads are dangerous, the paths are too.

I love where i live, its rural, pretty and quiet. :Sunny:but its not enough and i see no signs of anything improving, need to do some serious thinking. im falling out of love with bulgaria.

It seems to be the same wherever you go to live, we had a Fiat Doblo here in Turkey, it was a nice car but nothing special, the 12 months car tax was 770 Lira. Car tax in the UK is cheaper than Turkey. I saw a brand new BMW on the ferry going from Kos to Bodrum and the UK car tax on that car was only £150.

starlite's quote

I love where i live, its rural, pretty and quiet. but its not enough and i see no signs of anything improving, need to do some serious thinking. im falling out of love with bulgaria.

You are not on your own. I here of so many people who are now disgruntled and unhappy with the lack of progress in BG

Stay positive about BG.

Do the Bulgarian s give out handouts to anyone that want to come here willy nilly, no. Do immigrant's risk life and limb to get here like they do in the UK no. Is the Tax you pay here thrown away in handouts to those who do not deserve it no. (Maybe in someone's back pocket but that is a different view). Does BG give money away to other Countries as handouts (including Russia) no.

Now the positives. If they repaired the roads it would would be less fun driving here. How many times have you sat in a traffic jam? There is not an M25. The cost of living is cheaper. How much do you pay in Council Tax. If your Municipality tax on your car is too much buy a big 4x4 they are classed as commercial vehicles and you pay less than 30 leva.

Cost of fuel is high anywhere. There little or no pollution. No over crowding. No queues. The odd demonstration but no real riots. Winter is winter and Summer is Summer.

Stay happy

tonyb60 wrote:

Stay positive about BG.

Do the Bulgarian s give out handouts to anyone that want to come here willy nilly, no. Do immigrant's risk life and limb to get here like they do in the UK no. Is the Tax you pay here thrown away in handouts to those who do not deserve it no. (Maybe in someone's back pocket but that is a different view). Does BG give money away to other Countries as handouts (including Russia) no.

Now the positives. If they repaired the roads it would would be less fun driving here. How many times have you sat in a traffic jam? There is not an M25. The cost of living is cheaper. How much do you pay in Council Tax. If your Municipality tax on your car is too much buy a big 4x4 they are classed as commercial vehicles and you pay less than 30 leva.

Cost of fuel is high anywhere. There little or no pollution. No over crowding. No queues. The odd demonstration but no real riots. Winter is winter and Summer is Summer.

Stay happy

I can now see why you changed the Union Jack for the Bulgarian flag. Just a couple of points I would like to pick you up on. I can assure you it is no fun driving on some of the roads in the dark when you hit a pot-hole (sorry crater) and you finish up with a flat tyre and a square wheel. As for traffic jams, yes I have sat in a few in Varna and to add to that probably used an amount of that expensive stuff called petrol looking for a parking place.
So it's not all a bed of roses Tony, but I do agree with some of your posting
I'll try and take your advice and STAY HAPPY

its about being honest, bulgaria is in danger of making itself unpopular by the increasing prices way beyond what people will accept and seeing nothing for that increase, if you want to be in the eu then there are standards that are expected. if bulgaria wants to remain as it is, then yes, let it get on with it, mud, dust and unsafe roads and a simplistic way of life, hard but rewarding, self sufficent has its own rewards. if you accept the eu conditions and the money it will give you (billions) then progress has to be made to comply with those expectations, but it aint happening is it, the money is here but it is not being applied. bulgaria remains bulgaria warts and all and yes many are leaving thats a sad fact. i set a goal of 5 years and yes i do like it here but progress is not happening. something radical needs to change.

Hi am back after a break and very busy winter, Starlight I agree, for me I have seen no change in 15 years as such, roads are still terrible, yes there are traffic jams, Burgas, Varna, Sofia, etc so its the same as the UK, if you drive out into the countryside in the UK you want sit in a traffic jam, except you will have better roads. The roads play do so much damage to your vehicle, also very dangerous at night, Money is coming into the country but not being spent in the right places, loads of new vineyards etc which is now under investigation as it seems to be a little iffy what the money in the long run that has been spent is for the correct reasons.

Starlight I think you have hit the 5 year problem, when you first arrive in Bulgaria you believe all the talk about what is going to happen in the long term, and 5 years on nothing has changed, so then you arrive at the 10 year problem and you see nothing has changed, then in my case the 15 year problem and you see nothing has changed except it is a lot more expensive to live here.

When I first started to post on forums I was already over the first 5 years so did not always post what people wanted to hear, and was shot down many times as being negative. I am not negative just post as I see it.

As for cheap flights have always said that I doubt if we will ever see cheap flights such as to Spain etc not enough call for them and also flight is to long.

When Bulgaria opened its airways about 5 years ago I think all the major tour operators in the UK started to come to Bulgaria, it did not take off as a holiday destination as such and ever since have cut more flights to Bulgaria, we can debate the reasons for this but that should be another thread.

Sofia is serviced with Easy Jet, and Wizz and Plovdiv now by Ryan air but this is only ideal for people that live near to Sofia, BA now dropping Varna highlight the fact that it is not an economical destination, they still service Sofia. Wizz cover Burgas through the winter and the prices are not to bad,although come the summer they are very expensive.

The only advise that I can give you Starlight is write down all the good things and all the bad and decide which has the most in its favour stay or go.

Will Bulgaria change I have no idea, there is so much that needs to change, corruption being the biggest, as this is in every aspect of life here.

Me I think I have got passed the point of thinking things will change so will just carry on changing tyres on the vehicles, moaning about payments that have to be made, etc etc.

Yourbang :: on the button with all you said Fletch.I seem to have followed you yo yhe letter.and taken flaxkfor doing so .
I am too old now (69) to wait for any change to happen so I too am bailing out at rhe first opportunity.I can see clearly which way things are going .and i for one cannott afford it starting from the stupid air fares to paying taxes for what??.
For the people who shoot me down I offer you more propertyies if you love the place so much
Yes of course they will be cheap hahahahahaha
Buy one and get one FREE

ASAIDBUYONEANGETONEFREE
7OLD ONES TO DO UP.
ONE NEWBUILD BUNGALOW(3BED,2BATH ENSUITE)

NEIL

Should it be:- Bulgaria HAS lost the plot or HAS Bulgaria lost the plot, interesting thought
It is certainly becoming very apparent that many people are despondent and dissatisfied with the way things are going in Bulgaria

people will be if nothing happens. when bulgaria joined the eu there were and should have been certain expectations, a standard and infrastructure, it has not happened. if bulgaria wants to keep raising the prices and still giving nothing in return,its nothing short of madness and bulgaria will have lost the plot and a lot more too.
its so simple, they have the money to do what is needed to move bulgaria out of third world status, provide a safe and healthy environment making bulgaria an appealing country for generations to come. so why they not doing it.

I agree with what you are all saying however I would like to say I've seen lots of small changes in the seven years we have been going to bulgaria. More people have cars, doing up their houses, european products in the supermarket and an increasing number of people who speak english. which is great for me as my bulgarian is lousy although i try hard. Ok it has its draw backs but the people are fantastic, the scenary is beautiful and the weather is mostly great. I hope they don't change too much or loose the essence of who they are otherwise i might as well stay in england. No one can choose for anyone else and as a person who loves to travel I can appreciate the desire for change. However I for one love bulgaria just the way it is, complete with all its idiosentricities as for me thats what makes it interesting.

How refreshing June to here someone who has actually spent so much time in Bulgaria say it like it is I applaud you young lady for speaking out the truth which is something other forums don't like, I would have to agree with everything you have highlighted here and really can't think of anything to add but to say I believe that if the corruption was sorted out it could make a big difference to bg but as you quite rightly say its never going to be another Spain or Portugal etc.

Yes - Bulgaria has its problems - But lets not forget so does the UK - Thousands job losses in the police force (the last thing they need), schools being sub standard, social problems, pensioners not having enough money to pay bills, house repossessions, muggings, lager louts.... I could go on.

My sister-in-law has managed at a youth drop in centre for many years - She helps the teenagers with problems, is someone for them to talk to when they can't go to their parents etc. There are 30+ youths that go there pretty much regularly. This facility is now one of the many closing (as part of the austerity measures), being in rural Lincolnshire, these kids have no-where else to socialise apart from hanging round on the streets at night with no supervision.

We all know that Eu money often "
falls"
into the wrong hands here - that DOES need to be addressed. Someone will put a stop to this sooner or later, I am sure of that.

Maybe, just maybe, part of Bulgaria's problem is just that they joined the EU at the wrong time - many, many other EU and non EU countries all over the world are experiencing incredible hardship and dis-satisfaction with their governments at the moment.

Only time will tell......