СОФИЯ - Sofia

Hi all, 

Today I am going to talk briefly about СОФИЯ - Sofia. My city for 3 months, challenging and at the same time exciting. Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and it is located at the foot of Vitosha's Mountain, one of the highest one in this country. As wikipedia describes really well the city ,I will focus on my experiences here.

We arrived last 15th July from London to Sofia, the flight was good, just a bit tiring (I am always tired when I travel - always I find the way to sleep somehow :)). We landed at Sofia Airport in the afternoon and we were picked up for our host organisation in Sofia. They brought us at our flat, our cosy and funny flat.

To start with our experience in Bulgaria, our host organisation invited us for a dinner in one of the most famous and traditional restaurants in Sofia, close to the Palace of Culture  The Authentic Bulgarian Restaurant Chervermeto. We had an amazing dinner; salads (salati), roat meat (meso), starters, rakia, milk drink (ayran) among other delicious meal. The event was entertained with Dance! Bulgarian Typical dances and of course as a good guest that we were we joined the Bulgarian's dancers for a couple of songs...what an experience! :) 

Some suggestions to the travelers who plan to visit Sofia; there is a magazine Programata (EN version) where you can find information of what's on in this city and also in others as for example Plovdiv, Stara Zagora or Varna. 

In general, travelling from Sofia is cheaper by Bus. The Central Autogara Sofia Website (EN) is a good start point to look for a trips with Bulgarian lands. Train Station and Central Bus Station are close in Sofia, really handy! Trams are the common transport for citizens here and you have to buy tickets (bilet) and punch it (there are different 'punch's patterns' depends on the day, time and number of tram - Just an important thing...be careful with the Tram reviewer!), Sofia Urban Public Transport Website. 

Here there are some tips to have in mind when visiting Sofia, there are not all but I am going to keep it updated. Just check out once in awhile!

Do and Don'ts in Sofia.

• Meet at 11am or 6pm with the guys from Free Sofia Tour. I had a great experience, really well presented and entertained. 
• Try to eat in a local bars or bistro - fresh food and cheap, really tasty.
• Find a nice (good quality) Banitsa store: Typical bulgarian bun, cheap and yummy. :)
• Be careful before to get into a taxi, try to ask for the price in advance: important to say the neighbor you want to go and then the street (ulitsa)  and number and finally ask for How much is it? - (Kolko struva?) 
• Be careful if you want to go to a fresh market and you do not have idea of Bulgarian. Pointing at the item it might be an option but if you can say the basic - I want a kilo of tomatoes (Iskam a kilograma domati, molya) it is much better. 

Hope this information can help you to plan your visit to Sofia! 
Have a lovely day!