As much as i like my elderly bulgarian neighbours, their generosity is killing us.
we called round yesterday, with photos from pachos 80th birthday and a spanish bell as a present from our recent trip to spain, they were delighted. they proceeded to set the table with food and rakia, coca cola and beer.
this is becoming a regular ritual, they understand no english and wont take no for an answer,, he fills our glasses with rakia and even diluted with cola it is awful . we do not want to offend them by not accepting their offerings, but, the rakia affects us badly, its awful stuff, we have been suffering the after effects. its putting us off going round which is a shame as they are the nicest of people, and they do like the company.
we can speak enough bulgarian to converse although pacho is rather deaf, how do we get the message through to them that we dont want the rakia, we have spent today recovering. I dont want to stop going round, they are elderly and anka is ailing in health, but its becoming too much, how do you stop them giving without offending them. .today we really have suffered

starlite wrote:

As much as i like my elderly bulgarian neighbours, their generosity is killing us.
we called round yesterday, with photos from pachos 80th birthday and a spanish bell as a present from our recent trip to spain, they were delighted. they proceeded to set the table with food and rakia, coca cola and beer.
this is becoming a regular ritual, they understand no english and wont take no for an answer,, he fills our glasses with rakia and even diluted with cola it is awful . we do not want to offend them by not accepting their offerings, but, the rakia affects us badly, its awful stuff, we have been suffering the after effects. its putting us off going round which is a shame as they are the nicest of people, and they do like the company.
we can speak enough bulgarian to converse although pacho is rather deaf, how do we get the message through to them that we dont want the rakia, we have spent today recovering. I dont want to stop going round, they are elderly and anka is ailing in health, but its becoming too much, how do you stop them giving without offending them. .today we really have suffered

Are you any good at telling porky pies, if so tell them that you are under the doctor and you must not mix rakia with your medicine, other than that when they fill your glass up say you are just going out into the garden for fresh air and when they are not looking give the plants a drink, but you must check in the morning to see if the plants are still standing upright. I don't know what your host's would think if you took the drink with you to the loo and flushed it down the pan, probably fill your glass up again thinking you like it
Many people on the various forums complain that that Bulgarian hospitality is not very good. You have found, or they have found good neighbour's Now for a nice cup of tea

It was our neighbours 80th birthday on 10th october. we went round in the morning with a cake and a present ( no one drinks in a morning ) he started getting out the glassess, we said no to the drinks as we were driving to dobrich. his smile changed to a frown, he handed the glasses to us. we had to stand our ground and say no. but you could sense the atmosphere,
we compromised and said we would call round at 6 and have a birthday drink with him. he was happy with that.

as promised, we went round at 6, only to find the whole family there, a big spread and a party in full swing. :Party2: :Fireworks:
and they dont take no for an answer either.
it seems a celebration is exactly that......a celebration, no room for party poopers like us.

its not the amount of alcohol consumed, its the %volume of alcohol in the drink and you dont need much to have an effect.

I just cant take the pace. :LOL:

We have the same problem and it was easy to stop the Rakia. I was honest and told them that one was OK but no more than that. My mate still asks if I would like one but I always say no thank you I just drink beer. Your best answer is to be honest and say my favorite thing.

1 dobri
2 &
mean I love everybody
3 :Truce:and will fight anybody

What I do is take my own shop bought wine, I despise Rakia, Vodka, Whiskey etc. The village wine is too strong!! Everyone now knows that I will only drink this now - so no longer an issue. Although I did learn not to drink Rakia, as many others do!!, the hard way.

Also food - they used to just keep bringing plate after plate out for me - I do not eat much at all. I watched what the Bulgarians do and just hand the plate back - or onto someone else before I have touched it. If they insist I keep it - I just leave it. May appear rude to some of us Brits - but this is what they do ....When in Rome.

Now I can quite happily go to visit people without the worry of what to drink and eat!!!

I am also amazed at the way they assume I would even drink the ruddy stuff :Swoon: I just say no thank you I do not drink However, it is always a problem for Dougie he say no thanks but they still proceed to pour out the drink oblivious to his comments. He than takes out his pill box and they back off. :Great:Our immediate neighbours know now but still offer him a glass