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He discovered he could find virtually no information relating to it. In fact, he could find a lot more about the Nile's journey through Africa than he could about this river's meanders through southeastern Europe. Yet, this is one of the greatest rivers in Europe, the only one that flows through the continent west to east before it gushes out to sea forming a huge delta. Spanning for about 2,000 miles and going through half-a-dozen countries the river is impregnated with history, culture and nature. 

Where in Bulgaria are you? 

Tsv. Tsv., as he is sometimes popularly referred to, is the head of the Euro-Atlantic Centre for Security, a thinktank set up by himself when he was forced to resign from GERB, in 2019. Tsvetanov and "thinktank" in the same sentence? – some cynics Bulgarians have wondered. In actual fact, Tsv.

"If they dislike Boyko Borisov's highways and underground, let them walk."

GERB Speaker of Parliament Tsveta Karayancheva

"Many journalists believe that they should be untouchable."

Betina Zhoteva, chairwoman of the Electronic Media Council

"GERB consists of women only. Even the few men in the party are women."

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov on equality

1. Bulgarians are traditionally good at...?

A. Weightlifting

B. Long-distance running

C. Hockey

2. In autumn, Bulgarians usually eat pumpkin...

A. In cheesecake

B. As soup

C. Baked

3. Which city was the Bulgarian capital between 1185 and 1393?

A. Sofia

B. Veliko Tarnovo

C. Veliki Preslav

According to him, there were anywhere between 100,000 and 120,000 "virtual animals" getting about 20 million leva per year, adding the grand total was a lot more as there was no reliable data about virtual cows and bees.

The danger comes when a sheep flock decides to become a wolf pack. Then comes the time for the shepherd to raise his stick and force the flock back into the pen.

Valentin Kasabov, MP for National Front for Salvation of Bulgaria, about the antigovernment protests

Borisov behaves like a karate player at a chess game. You move the figures and he kicks the board.

Slavi Trifonov, TV anchor and leader of the There is Such a People party

1. Which Bulgarian city is located on three borders?

A. Silistra

B. Svilengrad

C. Sliven

2. On 22 September 1908 Bulgaria proclaimed independence from...

A. The Ottoman Empire

B. The Russian Empire

C. The Byzantine Empire

3. In which mountain is Malyovitsa Peak?

A. The Stara Planina

B. The Pirin

Often, they can be visited without any restrictions. But Bulgaria has another type of military installations that predate the Warsaw Pact barracks and border outposts. Remember: before becoming the most loyal satellite of the USSR this country was a Nazi ally. Along the whole of the Black Sea coast there is at least a dozen of German bunkers, facing east, and still standing where the German engineers and troops erected them at the beginning of the Second World War.

But behind the trinket souvenir stands and the overpriced tavernas it holds many centuries of history, a charming old town and perhaps the biggest concentration of medieval churches in Bulgaria. All are situated on an erstwhile island, which is now connected to the mainland by a causeway, and have rightfully gained the location an UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Where in Bulgaria are you? 

Both Borisov and his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong-un, like to be seen inspecting things. In this way they want to assert their authority over the production lines and display their munificence owing to which these production lines were installed in the first place. Kim Jong-un is usually photographed surrounded by stern-looking Communist officials holding little notebook pads in their hands to jot down any wisdom that may come from the Supreme Leader's mouth. In Bulgaria, Boyko Borisov does the driving himself in his private SUV.