Britons living in Bulgaria. Guide to Bulgaria, Sofia and Varna

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All you need to know is that to succeed in business in Bulgaria you have to be flexible, imaginative, original, quick on your feet and fast to change tracks. And all this bobbing and weaving will make you feel young, alive and fresh to your senses. Apart from the state medical institutions, there are also private ones. Arrivals lounge is only small with 2 luggage carousels. At the moment due to the lack of legislation there is no private health insurance. Avoid getting into an argument with the taxi driver even if you know he is cheating you, or at least be sure to get yourself and your belongings out of the car. Avoid using a rucksack and having your wallet in your back pocket. Best thing is call for a taxi from the phones available at the airport. Beware of this behaviour especially when you see flash cars. Bulgarians have not practiced business in the Western style at least 50 years. Cards are available from kiosks, some shops and some hotel receptions. Cases of highway robberies have been reported when robbers masquerading as police officers are stopping people for a spot check, or pretend they have troubles with their car and need help. Changing money on the street is illegal and you will definitely be cheated. Check the menu in Bulgarian and make sure you are not overcharged. Contact the embassy or the consular mission of your country. Credit cards are not widely acceptable in Bulgaria. Depending on your confidence and experience as a driver, driving in Bulgaria may seem quite chaotic. For example, punctuality, dress code, the use of “ what a reasonable person can expect” as a principle for negotiations and business discussions; or the term “gentlemen's word”. Furthermore, the rules written by the government are often irrational and changed often on a regular basis. Having a sense of humour is also a positive business asset. I know you'll thank us about that one – no problem! If you are fined and the fine is payable on the spot, always ask for a receipt (‘fiche'). If you are staying in a hotel, the hotel staff will inform the authorities for you – it's a routine procedure of registering all hotel guests. If you have a medical emergency it's crucial to contact your Insurance Company as soon as possible. If you order coffee in a bar or a restaurant, you will most probably get a small cup of very strong black coffee or ‘Turkish coffee' as you may call it. If you plan to stay in Bulgaria for a longer period of time and apply for a long-term residence, you need to obtain visa D from the Bulgarian Embassy in the UK. If you want to send a parcel abroad, you will need to go to a central post office. If you want to use the toilets, they are located outside the arrivals lounge, downstairs. In a lot of them you can try typical local dishes and international cuisine. In Bulgaria when you say ‘Thank you' to the waiter it means ‘You can keep the change'. In Bulgaria you will find that food is usually served warm rather than piping hot, as it is considered healthier. In case of lost or damaged luggage, please see the officer at the desk and fill in a Property Irregularity Report before you leave the airport. In general they offer better conditions and often you will find doctors working in both state and private clinics. In many eating out places you will find that food is served when it is ready regardless of the way it is ordered. It is often a favourite place for the pickpockets, so be aware. It is always a good idea to check your bill carefully and make sure no extra items have been added especially if you are a bigger group. It is quite strong and usually goes with a salad or a starter. It is still undergoing reforms that even experts cannot explain. It shows your satisfaction from the service and you are free to leave the respective amount. J ELECTRICITY Bulgaria operates on 220 volt. Most of the people will light a cigarette without even asking first at meetings or while others are eating. Nevertheless you can still ask the manager of the place for non-smoking table and show that there is a demand for it. Only very few restaurants (not to say almost none) offer non-smoking areas. Outside the arrivals lounge you will also find a small coffee shop where you can buy drinks and snacks; some tourist offices and Rent-a-car desk. Please always check the taxi rates before you go in the car, or make sure you and driver agree on the same price. Please do not rely on credit cards for local purchases especially in small towns and villages. Police officers are instructed to identify themselves. Road signs follow international standards and major routes and destinations are spelled in Cyrillic and Latin. Some exchange offices do have quite unfair way of advertising their rates and what you see on their boards is not what you'll get in the end. The standard continental two-pin plug is used. The best thing to do is to avoid and completely ignore all the accidental people that might approach you and ask you to change money on the street. The fare is 0,50 stotinki to the city centre and 1,50 to Golden sands resort. The national alcohol drink is called “rakia” and can be produced of grapes, plums or other fruits. There is a popular joke saying that in Bulgaria there are no traffic rules but traffic suggestions J . There is however no need to feel daunted as long as you are driving carefully and stick to the rules. Therefore do not be surprised when for example you phone a company and someone picks up the phone and says ‘Hello' as if they are answering their phone at home. Therefore, always make clear when you will like to have your food and point it out to the waiter. Therefore, avoid traveling at night and do not stop in isolated places. There's very little consideration for non-smokers. They are either orange Bulfon or blue Mobika prepaid card phones. They are usually the type that to Brits is known as ‘Turkish toilet'. They have to notify the authorities of their address of staying. This does not apply to third country nationals residing permanently in the UK. This is what makes business here so interesting and so much fun. Tickets are purchased on board the bus. To make a call you need to purchase a phone card for the prepaid phones. Trolleys are sometimes difficult to find especially in the summer when 3 or 4 flights arrive at the same time. Unfortunately in many state hospitals and clinics you might find appalling conditions and brilliant and professional staff. Very few restaurants, cafes, hotels or public institutions have no smoking areas. We strongly advise you though not to drink and drive! What is offered is usually Black tea, fruit flavoured tea or herbs that are not very correctly called tea by all Bulgarians – in most cases not the kind of tea the British like. What you may observe while driving is overtaking on the inside, failing to obey the ‘STOP' and ‘Give Way” signs, not sticking to speed limits, jumping lights and not flashing indicators. When you are staying in a hotel, it's always advisable to keep your money, valuables, jewelry and passports in a safety deposit box in the hotel. While driving in Bulgaria, only uniformed policemen with white Opel Astra police automobiles may stop you for a check-up. You can use them in some high-class hotels, restaurants and supermarkets. You can buy stamps and send mail in smaller offices. You can either wait till they bring your change and decide how much to leave as a tip or round up the bill and leave the exact amount of money. You can have a Life insurance with a private company and as additional risks to that one you can have coverage for hospitalization. You may also have to pay for a restaurant toilet although you should not in the reputable ones. You will end up with out of date, foreign or forged notes. You will find plenty of restaurants and fast food places in the cities.