Issue 128

Political scientist Professor (Oxon) Evgeniy Daynov put it succinctly: "This is a government of thugs, of brokers of organised crime… of pronounced Kremlin agents, of Nazis and of clerks with gangster-Nazi inclinations."

Sinemorets, one of the last Bulgarian villages before the border with Turkey, is one of those places.

The village has its fair share of ugly hotels destroying the view and the tranquility, but as it is far from the main hubs of tourist activities on the coast, these abominations are small in scale and leave enough space for true nature to survive, and for you to enjoy it.

Except for his extreme nationalist views, Shopov is also known for his inability to put on a pair of simple headphones.

In  response to a video of the incident, which circulates on YouTube, Shopov explained that he did not put on the headphones properly on purpose because he felt squeamish the cushions had not been changed. He added that a former girlfriend texted him he looked very "sweet" with the headphones.

In the Middle Ages, Tarnovo was not only a political and administrative capital, but also a major religious centre. In and around it were dozens of churches and monasteries, where priests and monks of all ranks were busy with prayer, philosophy, and writing. The Ottoman invasion of the 14th century brought all this to an end, but some of the churches survived. You will find them clustered around Tsarevets hill, where the main fortress of mediaeval Tarnovo used to be. All of them are now museums.

Art, culture and proper management of creative industries have proven a force for efficient and positive change for local communities. Just think of the excitement when your visit to another town or country coincides with an interesting festival, concert or art show. Remember all the beautiful pictures you have taken and shared of inspiring exhibitions, thought-provoking graffiti art or innovative visual solutions of urban and rural spaces. Look at the coffee mug rack and the shelves at your home, with their beautiful souvenirs that are more than mementos, but true objects of art.

Uniformed beauties on calendars for Balkan Airlines, the state air carrier, reinforced that the job as an aspirational one, while for the more practically minded, the profession had another advantage. When local shops lacked essentials like toilet paper, working on an international fight meant having the opportunity to buy foreign luxuries (whisky, perfume, fur coats and Levi's jeans) and sell them for a good profit on the eager Bulgarian black market.

Probably a lot of people do it.

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov on the Nazi salute

The public debate in this country has reached a stage where people trade accusations: your Communism is worse than my Nazism.

Lea Cohen, former ambassador and now author

24 May is a holiday in Russia as we celebrate the Slavonic alphabet which came to us from the Macedonian land.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Bulgarian alphabet

It is easy to see why people gave such a name to the two stone arches spanning the small brook, and the series of caves near Vratsa. Even when you know in advance that the main stone arch is 20m high, 25m wide and 125m long, you only appreciate the magnitude of the place when you see it with your own eyes.

Iaşi is one of Romania's greatest, and most pleasant, surprises. Far from popular tourist destinations like Bucharest and the Carpathian mountains, the city is known to Romanians as the heart of their national culture and educational system, but it remains mostly unknown to foreign visitors. The fact that it is close to the border with Moldova, an even lesser known European country, does not help Iaşi's popularity.

Prophecies work in reverse. I see them only now. How the heat lightning flashed across my bedroom through the night, cutting my dreams short and sending me spinning in place, face squashed every which way into the mattress though the light persisted blue-electric on the insides of my eyelids. How I woke to my mother reciting my full name, Katherine Leland Katherine Leland Katherine Leland you've done it again, her anger so loud I heard it all the way from the basement, where I found her clutching a t-shirt splotched with ink, the washing machine's mouth gaping open and smelling of burning.

Light clothes, beach and warm days are for many people a source of anxiety regarding their appearance. Excess weight, silhouette imperfections, skin problems: any of these can spoil our summer pleasures and make us feel unconfident, with low self-esteem. Luckily, we are living in times when science and aesthetic industry work together. As a result there are already products and procedures for men and women that help us change what we dislike about our appearance without risk for our health.

In such movies, the figure of the wise coach often has crucial role. In the critical moment, when the protagonist has lost faith and is about to give up, the coach inspires him break out of the labyrinth of self-doubt and to find a way to the right solution and ultimate victory.

Real life is neither sports ground nor a Hollywood movie, one might say. It is so. In real life, however, we have a figure to whom we can turn to when we are seeking for a solution and we cannot find it by our own. It is hardly a coincidence that this type of professional is also called a coach.

The Bulgarian Black Sea is famed for its marvellous sand beaches and its combination of developed resorts, nightlife and protected areas with pristine nature. The mountains lure with its thick forests and clean air, with the feel of freedom and the options for outdoor activities. We shouldn't underestimate as well Bulgaria's spa wealth: 225 mineral springs many of which are in pleasant resorts and hotels that offer luxury and a variety of procedures. The choice is difficult but when you follow your heart, you will find wonderful places where vacation becomes a magical experience.

Some of the most exciting and beloved stories in the history of humankind – like the ones of Odysseus and of Sinbad, of Robinson Crusoe and of Captain Nemo – are about travels, adventures and trials at sea. The Age of Discovery has shaped the world as we know it today, and interesting discoveries of new animal and plant species in oceans are regularly appearing in the news.

Summer is a season when going to a restaurant becomes even more pleasant, because of the open gardens. Let's admit it, an establishment might have wonderful, modern, professional design that inspires the feel of cosiness and comfort, but when the temperatures outside go up, even the most tastefully furnished room looses the comparison with the lush garden.