The Flying Saucer, which in recent years has become one of the Top 10 world monuments for urbex, or dark tourism, was constructed in the early 1980s. It was designed to celebrate the Bulgarian Communist Party, in control of this country from 1944 to 1989. It was supposed to withstand the ravishes of both time and nature for several hundred years, as the Communists, who had commissioned it, thought they would be in power eternally.
Generations of East Europeans grew up with Doc, Mack, Dora Flood, Lee Chong and the boys, and though few if any could set foot in the real California they imagined Monterey and Salinas epitomised exactly the opposite of what their own drab lives held for them under Communism. Steinbeck got the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 and died in 1969, but his books continued to be read across the former East bloc in general and Bulgaria in particular.
1. What major historical event took place in September 1944?
A. Liberation from the Ottomans
B. Communist coup
C. Transition to democracy
2. The name of Sofia's neighbourhood Mladost means...
A. Youth
B. Friendship
C. Hope
3. Where can you see a 295-metre-long Ottoman bridge?
A. Silistra
B. Svishtov
If they were in Rome, Kiril Petkov and Asen Vasilev would put Brutus at the top of their ballots.
Slavi Trifonov, leader of the There Is Such a People party
We are brutally attacked by organsied criminals who want to stop us from taking their money.
Kiril Petkov, Changes Continued
I have never lied to the Bulgarians, this is why they kept electing me for years.
Boyko Borisov, GERB
Originally it was erected in Late Antiquity-Early Middle Ages, but was almost completely destroyed by the Ottomans in the 15th century. So, what it is that you see today?
The current construction has little if anything to do with the erstwhile fortification despite claims to the contrary. It was built from scratch in the 2010s using EU money meant to boost regional growth and sustainable development.
In early June a small plane flew into Bulgarian airspace from the northwest and landed at what used to be a commercial airport near Vidin. Apparently, the aircraft refuelled. It is unclear whether the pilot or pilots got any on-the-ground assistance from anyone or just poured fuel into the plane's tank from canisters. Guards from a private security company that was supposed to protect the ruins of Vidin Airport, which was abandoned in the 1990s, noticed the activity and alerted the local police. But the aircraft was quicker. She took off before the police arrived.
I will speak out, you will see me, but you will hear the words of Mr Slavi Trifonov.
Toshko Yordanov, MP for the There Is Such a People party
Kiril Petkov would have had a long political career if he did not talk like this.
Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria Eleonora Mitrofanova
We already showed that we are not an outgoing government. The Bulgarian government and institutions are still in place and no one is above the law.
1. From Bulgaria, you cannot take a train to...
A. Turkey
B. Romania
C. North Macedonia
2. What is a vital ingredient for lyutenitsa?
A. Carrots
B. Tomatoes
C. Potatoes
3. Bulgaria is a global exporter of...
A. Weapons
B. Computers
C. Cars
In early June a small plane flew into Bulgarian airspace from the northwest and landed at what used to be a commercial airport near Vidin. Apparently, the aircraft refuelled. It is unclear whether the pilot or pilots got any on-the-ground assistance from anyone or just poured fuel into the plane's tank from canisters. Guards from a private security company that was supposed to protect the ruins of Vidin Airport noticed the activity and alerted the local police. But the aircraft was quicker. It took off before the police arrived.
It's a spiral. They have entered a spiral. And it's very, very difficult to get out of that spiral.
Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania, on Bulgaria's stance on North Macedonia's EU membership application
GERB is a German shepherd that can do the job. Changes Continued are Chihuahuas. Everyone likes them, but they can't do the job.
Delyan Dobrev, MP for GERB
