FUN

WHERE IN BULGARIA ARE YOU?

In Antiquity and onwards the area developed as a thriving centre for mining lead, iron, silver, gold and copper. As it happened, one of the first Bulgarian rebellions against the Ottomans originated here, in the 17th century. It was organised and led exclusively by Roman Catholics, the main religious group in the area. Today the town's main claim to fame is the local carpet weaving craft.

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QUOTE-UNQUOTE

It wouldn't be that chaotic if I were the organiser.

Ekaterina Yordanova, GERB, who, according to some reports, was behind the protest of public transit drivers in Sofia

It's simple. The boy is incapable of doing anything properly. In two years, he hasn't solved a single issue – garbage, traffic gams, anything.

Boyko Borisov, GERB, on Sofia's mayor, Vasil Terziev

All the most 'capable' people of GERB can do is to punish the people of Sofia.

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QUOTE-UNQUOTE

Bulgaria's roads are a delayed death sentence.

Diana Rusinova, European Center for Transport Policies

I am not going to spoil the kids' celebration with talking about Bulgarian politics.

President Rumen Radev during a school visit, when asked to comment on Russia's deadly attack on Sumy on Palm Sunday

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WHERE IN BULGARIA ARE YOU?

Cultivating the rose bushes is difficult enough, but the real challenge comes with picking up the buds: it can be done only within a few weeks in May and early June, and only very early in the morning. A relatively simple procedure follows as the rose petals are boiled and distilled, and – bingo! – the attar of roses that Bulgaria has become world famous for appears.

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WHERE IN BULGARIA ARE YOU?

Besides the fortress, it sports plenty of Ottoman-era heritage, including a well-preserved city wall, a post office, a cross-shaped barracks and perhaps the most eccentric mosque this side of the Bosporous. A local maverick warlord who fell out with the sultan replaced its crescent with a... heart. And the town used to be a major meeting place for a lively Jewish community. Its magnificent synagogue, dwarfed only by the one in Sofia, lay in ruins for decades but was recently restored.

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OH, DONALD, DONALD, BRAVO TO YOU!

It originates in... the village of Zabardo, in the heart of the Rhodope mountain range. Scripted by Valentin Cherpokov, Zabardo's mayor, it was sung by a local group called The Euro-Grannies, accompanied by a traditional Rhodope bagpipe. Here is a translation of the lyrics:

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