After my rather depressing (though important) topic on bullying, I thought it would be good to redress the balance for people like Fruitlover who maybe thinking of coming to Bulgaria to live. What would you like to say that you love about your life here? All the positives please.
I love the peace and quiet of our village, the villagers, the local shop and bars we use, my choir lady friends, the support network if we have a problem. The weather is good on the whole, cold winters, hot summers and changeable Spring and Autumn. I love walking the dog down all the tracks around our village and down by the river. Always something to see and at this time of the year, so many sweet smells from trees and shrubs and villagers' gardens. These walks always lift my spirits on the occasional 'down day'. Never down for long and to sit in my garden with all my pots of flowers and the dog and cats around me is bliss.
We are near the big historic town of Veliko Turnovo which I visit about once a week using the village bus which is a microcosm of village life! I only use the central area where I have all the shops I need although I have done the tourist beat visiting the wonderful old area and Tzaravetz castle which is an absolute must plus the Sound and Light which is on during the summer months. I am recognised by many of the shop assistants and taxi drivers, who I sometimes use when I have a load of shopping. They make me feel so much part of life here when they all want my business.
I love the Name days and festivals and of course our village big event of the year - Mindya Rockfest August 26 and 27 which is now in its 3rd year and will include a Retro Car and Bike parade from VT.
There must be loads more I could write about, but lets hear what others have to say.

I will have to "
add my bit"
tomorrow - Got far too much to write on this subject and not enough time to do so right now!!!!

:Good post:We all hear of the Good Bad and the Ugly so it will make a nice change to hear of the good rather than the Bad and Ugly all the time

I am sure a lot of the points that come out have been covered in other posts but what the heck

Peace and quite is No1. The friendliness of the wonderful people is a very close second. Then there is the comparisons with the UK. No rush and bustle, everybody has time for one another. No daily trudge to London or where ever. Little or no traffic jams. The Police are respected. Very few do gooders. If a child needs a smack it gets one, hence what I call discipline but in moderation. Little or no back chat from the youths. The lists is endless.

I'm sure this theme has been on before but I just thought with all the new members it would be good to be positive about Bulgaria again. I think some of the reasons that the property market has slumped is down to all the negativity about Bulgaria. Unlike the Greek islands, Bulgaria is not really known as a big tourist country and has to work hard to lift its profile. Greece really has just as much negativity going for it but has the wonderfully scenic islands and blue sea to redeem it and stop folks dwelling on the corruption, strikes etc that go on there. I find Bulgaria quite refreshing after Greece despite the lack of pretty beaches and the wonderful view from my Greek ruin. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

How refreshing to read this post. We are so looking forward to hearing more from you all.
We keep being told why do you want to go to Bulgaria. Our first answer is village life, quiet, greenery more space for our dogs. People keep saying it is not a good place to be. It will be interesting to tell others here of your positive and happy life style that, keeps you in Bulgaria.

Yes like Itchyfeet I'm eager to hear from the people with no axe to grind! Before finding this forum, most of the long list of advantages I've been hearing came from Estate Agents and Property Developers - 'nuff said I think!

After another wonderful night in the company of our Bulgarian friends and neighbours, I have to say it is the people first and foremost that make life enjoyable for us. We moved over 8 weeks ago and have socialised more in that time and have met and made more friends (yes friends not aquaintances) than we did in 3 years in our previous home in the UK.

Ok maybe we are lucky because we live in a very good quarter in VT and have a very long and well established friendship with our friend/landlady but the way we have been welcomed and accepted is superb. Maybe it is because we join in and do not hide away,we shop locally, use the bus not the car, maybe it is because we share our skills and help, I don't know, but what ever it is we love it. Yesterday we were given a lovely bowl of cherries, last weekend 3 freshly caught fish, the list is endless but we always return the favour. My cakes are becoming the stuff of legends, John's hard work in the garden has made him a hero, my sewing machine will always be busy it seems and our English language skills are well sought after.

Add to that the wonderful town of VT with its' vibrancy, culture and history. The weather, the nature, the beautiful countryside what more could you want. Yes OK there are awkward moments but they are few and far between. Coming back has been worth every hour of the stuggle of the last 3 years away.

This is difficult as I could go on for days (in fact, I printed a magazine for over three years to promote Bulgaria, so I've probably mentioned most things by now!).

On a personal point of view ... I like the fact that Bulgaria has four very distinct seasons, blistering summers, snowy winters, etc. I like the diversity of the landscape (cities, towns, countryside, coastline, mountains, lakes, etc.). I like the fact that fruit and vegetables can be bought for pence, yet taste fabulous. I like the fact we can spend an hour or two laughing and joking with our Bulgarian neighbours, even though our Bulgarian is limited and they don't speak a word of English!

I'm sure I'll be back with more...

Just spent another morning working with my Bulgarian mate. We are building a shed in my garden. The plan was to build a wooden one but it has now been built Bulgarian style with blocks and and reinforced concrete. Will last me out I'm sure. But the thing is the only reward my mate wants is our friendship :Great:Where else would you get such help certainly not in the UK. Plus we have so much fun, and learn from each other other with an exchange of skills.

tonyb60 wrote:

Just spent another morning working with my Bulgarian mate. We are building a shed in my garden. The plan was to build a wooden one but it has now been built Bulgarian style with blocks and and reinforced concrete. Will last me out I'm sure. But the thing is the only reward my mate wants is our friendship :Great:Where else would you get such help certainly not in the UK. Plus we have so much fun, and learn from each other other with an exchange of skills.

:Howdy:Hope you adhered to your safety rules and regulations tony, hard hat, gloves and steel cap boots, you know what these DIY guy's are like ::

willowsend wrote:

tonyb60 wrote:

Just spent another morning working with my Bulgarian mate. We are building a shed in my garden. The plan was to build a wooden one but it has now been built Bulgarian style with blocks and and reinforced concrete. Will last me out I'm sure. But the thing is the only reward my mate wants is our friendship :Great:Where else would you get such help certainly not in the UK. Plus we have so much fun, and learn from each other other with an exchange of skills.

Hope you adhered to your safety rules and regulations tony, hard hat, gloves and steel cap boots, you know what these DIY guy's are like

Maybe a case of Do as I say not Do as I do ::

i love walking through the forest with the kids looking for bears and watching the wildhorses. swimming in the river and having a picnic with my friends and family. Most of all i like learning to do diy bulgarian style, i couldn't change a light bulb when i first started now i can plaster and build walls. There are so many things i love about the country i cant wait to sort out the last few things in england so we can stay for good.

This was a really welcome topic and an inspiring read - aren't we going to hear any more?

Thank you fruitlover for reminding me about this thread, I have been a bit pre-occupied of late :oops:

First and foremost I like (most!!) Bulgarians. We were completely accepted on day one of arriving in our village. We only knew a few words back then but it just did not matter. Within the first week I think we ate “out” nearly every night. We have “adopted Bulgarian parents” who are “grandparents” to my son. I knew more people in my Bulgarian village after 6 months, speaking very little of the language, than my old village in Lincolnshire, where I lived for 12 years. I have heard of people who say they feel like walking money bags – I personally have not had this experience, I am not just talking about our village (where we are well known) – I am also talking about the shops we buy from, the restaurants we go to, the material suppliers we have used since the day we arrived.

I like the outdoor life style, everyone not getting home from work and shutting themselves away for the evening.

I like the fact my son can come home from kindergarten and jump in the pop-up pool we have for a half hour to cool off.

I like that we can get to the coast, Burgas, (or wherever), without spending half the journey in traffic jams, and can find somewhere to park at the end of it.

I like that you don’t have to spend a fortune when at the coast – on junk food and drinks.

I like the bright but bitterly cold winter days – we get wrapped up warm and go for a walk.

I don’t even mind getting snowed in the village – just can’t be helped – we always find something to do or someone to go and visit.

I like that we, as a family, can go to a restaurant for a meal in the evening – children are so much more accepted here, and are allowed to socialize with the grownups – not left at home with a sitter.

I like that I dare walk round a city centre at night without the worry of a drunken fight breaking out or being mugged.

I like that I can walk past a group of youths without feeling intimidated.

I like the respect that most children and teenagers still have for the police and adults.

I like sitting on my balcony and listening to the village sounds - or looking at the stars.

I like that I meet so many different people now, not just sat at my 9-5 job the same old thing day in day out.

I am sure I have missed loads off ………

Aaaah, this is good to hear!