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[Elite Pete]

I have just returned from nearly a weeks break in the Rila mountain area of Bulgaria and was surprised at how, a. short of breath and tired I have been due to the height I stayed at, b. just how much snow can fall in a few hours and c. how warm it can been in the snow. We stayed in a cabin in the mountains which was very basic, there was a water heater and a log fire and that was it, the stairs to go to bed were outside but we were lucky that there was an indoor toilet but again this was downstairs, luckily the bedroom window sill was low enough to hang the old boy over

Another thing that surprised me was how poor the country seemed. Sophia the capital was a mess and once you left there it got worse and I wondered how much joining the EU had caused this. There were loads of unfinished building which hadn't been touched in a long time which made me think of all the hype about "buy in Bulgaria the prices will go sky high when they get EU status". The roads are that bad the pot holes are so deep I saw a van with its nearside front suspension ripped off by a pot hole and the pot holes are everywhere. The people are also very poor, I saw loads of times where animals lived indoors with the people, Cows, goats chickens down stairs people upstairs

Anyway, once the snow had fallen and covered all the crap the scenery was beautiful.

 

[Debs.]

We stayed in a cabin in the mountains which was very basic, there was a water heater and a log fire and that was it, the stairs to go to bed were outside but we were lucky that there was an indoor toilet

  You need to charge more for cambelts!


  Only kidding; nice pictures, Pete!

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Excellent piccies Pete...

[cem_devecioglu]

I have just returned from nearly a weeks break in the Rila mountain area of Bulgaria and was surprised at how, a. short of breath and tired I have been due to the height I stayed at, b. just how much snow can fall in a few hours and c. how warm it can been in the snow. We stayed in a cabin in the mountains which was very basic, there was a water heater and a log fire and that was it, the stairs to go to bed were outside but we were lucky that there was an indoor toilet but again this was downstairs, luckily the bedroom window sill was low enough to hang the old boy over

Another thing that surprised me was how poor the country seemed. Sophia the capital was a mess and once you left there it got worse and I wondered how much joining the EU had caused this. There were loads of unfinished building which hadn't been touched in a long time which made me think of all the hype about "buy in Bulgaria the prices will go sky high when they get EU status". The roads are that bad the pot holes are so deep I saw a van with its nearside front suspension ripped off by a pot hole and the pot holes are everywhere. The people are also very poor, I saw loads of times where animals lived indoors with the people, Cows, goats chickens down stairs people upstairs
Anyway, once the snow had fallen and covered all the crap the scenery was beautiful.

 

very good piccies 

and what you write is correct I'm afraid.. :-/

[Varche]

Spain used to be like that only within thirty years ago.

Being in the EU has catapulted them into wealth. New roads, High speed trains, everyone (except us) has a new 4x4. Howeververy little work since the crisis and it is set to get worse next year.

They also still keep their animals downstairs BUT in their country house and not in their modern marble palace of a flat.

[Dishevelled Den]

An interesting report there Pete - enjoyed the photographs. 8-)

[Banjax]

friends have been going skiing there for a few years now, they even bought a bargain flat there as an investment - i dont know if it'll ever be a hub of the financial or tourism industries to let them make a killing on it tho 

[Nickbat]

friends have been going skiing there for a few years now, they even bought a bargain flat there as an investment - i dont know if it'll ever be a hub of the financial or tourism industries to let them make a killing on it tho 

Crikey, BJ, you've evil, capitalist, speculative friends?
Wow!
Were they Eton-educated, too?   

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Beautiful pictures Pete 

Yes Bulgaria is a poor country indeed

[Banjax]

friends have been going skiing there for a few years now, they even bought a bargain flat there as an investment - i dont know if it'll ever be a hub of the financial or tourism industries to let them make a killing on it tho 

Crikey, BJ, you've evil, capitalist, speculative friends?
Wow!
Were they Eton-educated, too?   

he is, she isn't (evil capitalist that is, not eton educated)

and theyre always skint - money "tied up" in crazy schemes - they'll learn tho - i do my best 

[Jimbob]

Looks lovely

not suprised at some of the conditions, we saw similar in mexico...
What some of them lived in, I wouldnt have used as a shed!

[Sixstring]

Bulgaria is a lovely country, but it suffers from the same "affliction" as a lot of communist countries, that is the "haves" have more than plenty, and in some cases they have total extravagence in the extreme, and the "have nots" literally have close to poverty and destitution.
The people are great, they do not dwell on their own existance and would give you their last crumb, but the wealthy wouldn't give you the time of day, except to count how much they were taking off you.

Stunning scenery and fabulous views, but such a massive noticeable divide between rich and poor. That said, would definately go back again.

[neilr]

I too spent just a week In Rila skiing last Feb. I agree with snow around its breathtaking especially from mountain tops and chairlifts. Its a shame it looks so poverty stricken though as remarked.