Talking to a Bulgarian recently, he is of the opinion that nothing is moving forward in Bulgaria and people are just giving up trying to improve things. In other words I suppose its a vote of 'no confidence'. Would you agree?
Strangely enough, just recently we have been wondering this as well over things generally. In 8 years not a lot has changed. Maybe a few small things in our village but overall the country seems to be going backwards rather than forwards in the bigger scheme of things generally. We were quite surprised to hear a Bulgarian voicing our thoughts. Bulgaria is testing our hopes for her future.

interesting topic, if you want to live in a beautiful, peaceful, rural area and live a simple life, then bulgaria is the place for you. maybe too much progress would upset this idyllic lifestyle and probably would.

has bulgaria progressed, no i dont think it has really. i have seen lip service paid to the eu rulings such as the new roads [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] :Angel2:if they last a year then that will be progress.
very little has changed, i live half an hour from 3 holiday resorts, nothing has changed in 5 years except the increase in prices. .
in my village the local has remained the same, no real menu changes, no international food on offer, yet mostly expats socialise there, yet recently there has been a marked decline, there is very few people now go there.
bulgaria cannot remain totally bulgarian, it has to offer variety to meet others needs, but it is not doing that and thats its main downfall. choices are not on offer and people want choices, their entertainment is lacking and childrens activities belong to the dark ages, people today want more and bulgaria is not offering more. needs to change to catch up with todays expectations, but i doubt bulgaria will catch on, they seem quite happy with the way things are.

Mercedes have done well out of it all.Pity the money hasn't gone to where it was supposed to.

well i think its certainly is ....right up its own backside !....shame , but there you go

:Good post:Starlite. Has anyone seen the protests in Sofia over plans to allow de-forestation in Bulgaria especially around rivers?? This surprised me after our Evgenii managed to get the VT Mayor and other dignitaries to protect this very thing around our River Veselina which is now on the World Wild Life agenda? See [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] This is outrageous and obviously to allow yet more building especially in ski resorts. As far as I can understand river banks will be cleared- what about flooding and wildlife? Don't the powers that be understand that one of the main attractions of Bulgaria is its beauty and ecology much of which has been lost in developed countries especially Britain? I hope the protestors win but this plan is being rushed through for some reason. This was what sparked off our Bulgarian 'green' friend to make comments about things going backwards and not forwards in Bulgaria. The large numbers of protestors shows at least that some Bulgarians still care but judging by the very heavy police presence, those in charge will probably take no notice. Complete madness and allowing the Mafiosi more fuel to their fire because the money from any financial benefits from this plan will surely make its way into their pockets. The financial divide between rich and poor is greater than ever with little or no middle class. So much for capitalism in Bulgaria. Many still live under Communistic doctrines otherwise known as Mafia.
Even in our small village we have become aware of this and all our Mayor can do is keep the peace. Sometimes the peace and quiet idyll of village life has an underside too.
As for our main bar - The Brits have been courted there and Bulgarians largely banned! Now the novelty has worn off for the Brits, they are starting to go elsewhere and making divisions between each other. Oh for the past when life here was so simple and friendly with our heads firmly stuck in the sand of beautiful Bulgaria. I can't believe how my ideals and love has been so undermined recently. So, yes I do think nothing much has really changed. Same holes in the road. Same businesses opening and closing very quickly. Same unfinished apartment blocks. Same feeling that we Brits have to conform bureaucratically whilst not really welcoming our presence etc etc.
I can't believe I'm writing this but there you go.... honesty again!

oldun, you ask Is Bulgaria progressing?. The easy and most truthful answer is NO, and you have answered your own question:-

I do think nothing much has really changed. Same holes in the road. Same businesses opening and closing very quickly. Same unfinished apartment blocks. Same feeling that we Brits have to conform bureaucratically whilst not really welcoming our presence etc etc

I can add to that a couple more things, in many places still smoking when it is banned, filthy disgusting trolly busses, stray dogs, and of course my pet hate, the organised crime and fraudulent activities that don't appear to have improved in the five years I have been involved with Bulgaria, having said that it hasn't stopped me going there, because I try to enjoy the positives, and most on the forum reading this will know what I mean by that

I am still living happily in my village too. However, the comment about Bulgaria not progressing and the seemingly general apathy from those in charge to accomplish anything positive, came from a youngish Bulgarian friend and not from a disgruntled Brit, least of all me. Its just that thinking about what he said I tend to agree. Its not just about personal happiness because we can all live in a bubble of contentment in our little villages, but more about the general feeling in Bulgaria as a whole and how the Bulgarians themselves see things. Yes, I don't wish our village to change too much in the name of progress but there should surely be signs of better agricultural policies and employment which can only be bolstered from the top. Certainly better roads and not just filling in holes which quickly become craters again in the event of any bad weather. The police still being corrupt and like you Willowsend, I can personally testify to that.
In these difficult, recessionary times, I still believe that Bulgaria is in a happier postition financially than most, having little credit, but thats not saying much.

our village has progressed, our school has been fully renovated , the kindergarden has been painted &
has new equipment, the church has been fully renovated, they are in the middle of redoing the main road , theres a new snail farm &
soon there will be a factory for prossesing the snails,theres a lot more farm machines about, more cattle &
sheep, theres 2 new shops,the little park &
streets in the centre have been cleaned up &
flowers planted &
a few more people are renovating their houses.

vulcho wrote:

our village has progressed, our school has been fully renovated , the kindergarden has been painted &
has new equipment, the church has been fully renovated, they are in the middle of redoing the main road , theres a new snail farm &
soon there will be a factory for prossesing the snails,theres a lot more farm machines about, more cattle &
sheep, theres 2 new shops,the little park &
streets in the centre have been cleaned up &
flowers planted &
a few more people are renovating their houses.

vulcho, Whilst it is good to hear and see positive results in our villages,I have copied and pasted the original post by oldun and I think you will agree that she was looking at a much bigger picture, But it is good that there is positive movement in your village, let's hope and pray that it spills over at National level


Is Bulgaria progressing?

Postby oldun » 15 Jun 2012 09:06
Talking to a Bulgarian recently, he is of the opinion that nothing is moving forward in Bulgaria and people are just giving up trying to improve things. In other words I suppose its a vote of 'no confidence'. Would you agree?
Strangely enough, just recently we have been wondering this as well over things generally. In 8 years not a lot has changed. Maybe a few small things in our village but overall the country seems to be going backwards rather than forwards in the bigger scheme of things generally. We were quite surprised to hear a Bulgarian voicing our thoughts. Bulgaria is testing our hopes for her future as it appears that most of the replies are also looking at a bigger picture

In a word 'NO!'

Well from someone that lives here I can say that it is improving although slowly. The red tape is still here but no longer so tight, it does not take so long to get a visa, car registered etc. Transport infrastructure is getting (or will get) better as the new highways are being completed. Although not finished the Trakia highway will, in the near future, be finished. This is no longer a dream but a reality. If this is not progression then what is? More stores are coming into BG than ever just look at the new Lidl stores that are opening.

But yes on the down side there are still pot holes But when I was in the UK in May I noticed that there were as many pot holes in parts of Kent as there are in parts of BG. The main road (Motorways) in the UK are also in an alarming state of decay, ruts and ridges all over the place. Parts of the magic roundabout are wearing out and this motorway is the UK's pride and glory. So maybe the question should be changed to is the UK progressing.

More progression. The new bridge across the Danube is due to be completed by the end of 2012

Header:- Our Bulgaria forum, a friendly forum for all things Bulgarian
Tony wrote:- So maybe the question should be changed to is the UK progressing.
oldun's OP, she asked a genuine question. I would think she is disillusioned with life in Bulgaria and she was looking for an input from other forum members about Bulgaria not whether the UK is progressing, where I gather she is returning to after nine years of Bulgaria ::

willowsend wrote:

Header:- Our Bulgaria forum, a friendly forum for all things Bulgarian
Tony wrote:- So maybe the question should be changed to is the UK progressing.
oldun's OP, she asked a genuine question. I would think she is disillusioned with life in Bulgaria and she was looking for an input from other forum members about Bulgaria not whether the UK is progressing, where I gather she is returning to after nine years of Bulgaria ::

Just what are you on willow. Everybody is entitled to an opinion on here, and mine is that in my opinion Bulgaria is progressing with new roads and a new bridge. This opinion of mine is nothing to do with olduns post and is only in line with the topic so as per normal you are

But yes on the down side there are still pot holes :Headbang:But when I was in the UK in May I noticed that there were as many pot holes in parts of Kent as there are in parts of BG. The main road (Motorways) in the UK are also in an alarming state of decay, ruts and ridges all over the place. Parts of the magic roundabout are wearing out and this motorway is the UK's pride and glory. So maybe the question should be changed to is the UK progressing.

::