Issue 176

You need an appointment to enter the elegantly splendid Renée De Clair, a boutique for diamond jewellery and a gemological laboratory on Sofia's Rakovski Boulevard – and this is just the first sign that you are up for an experience without parallel in Bulgaria. Charming and smart, Reneta Tsonkova, founder and owner of Renée De Clair, welcomes you and guides you through the complicated process of selecting the best diamond piece of jewellery for yourself or your significant other.

Following the failure of Bulgaria's "short" parliament, which sat for less than a month, to fulfil its basic constitutional duty, form a functioning government, President Rumen Radev stepped in and appointed a caretaker administration. Though its main task is to organise the next general election, to be held on 11 July, the "caretaker" government is not as powerless as it seems. In fact, it can do everything a regular government is able to do save for actions – such as altering the state budget or concluding international treaties – that would require parliamentary approval.

Bulgaria has plenty of mountains and peaks that challenge even experienced mountaineers, yet one of its greatest outdoor adventures is not just conquering some 2,900-metre-high summit. It is trekking along the ridge of the Stara Planina, the mountain range that divides Bulgaria from west to east, known also by its more poetic name, the Balkans.

At the beginning of an exam a student turns to the professor:

"Let's now see what you have taught me online."

*

"Do you remember when we were optimistic and made grandiose plans?"

"That was yesterday. Now clean up the mess."

*

"They opened the gyms."

"Finally! Haven't been to one in 12 years."

*

An electricity meter installed at a Bulgarian court suddenly changed its testimony.

*

"There are three surefire ways to lose money."

"?"

"Fast, pleasant and foolproof."

"?"

Transparent elections will be possible only if Borisov's shadow state is dismantled.

Atanas Atanasov, Democrats for Strong Bulgaria

The criteria are problematic and should be revised. We are trying to create mechanisms to prevent this from happening in the future.

Atanas Pekanov, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister on the plan for Bulgaria's recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic prepared by Boyko Borisov's government

What is Bulgaria's smallest town? Bulgarian children learn the answer early in school. However, the reason both local and foreign tourists visit Melnik, population 194, is not its size. They cherish Melnik, in southwest Bulgaria, for its well-preserved Revival Period architecture, strong local wine and surreal surroundings of white limestone pyramids. Its location is just off the E79 route from Sofia to Greece, a short drive from Bansko.

1. Where is Kaliakra Fortress?

A. In the Rhodope

B. Near Sofia

C. At the Black Sea coast

2. When will be the next general election?

A. 11 July

B. 18 June

C. 11 June

3. Which monument stands in central Sofia?

A. Creators of the Bulgarian State

B. Red Army Monument

C. Hristo Botev Monument

Every 2 June, at exactly noon, the civil defence systems all over Bulgaria are switched on. The sirens wail for a minute. A minute when many people stop whatever they are doing and stand still.

The sirens are the noisiest part of the commemorative events for the death of Hristo Botev (1848-1876), arguably the greatest poet Bulgaria ever produced. He died, along with many of his fellow revolutionaries, in a battle with the Ottoman forces, while trying to start an uprising in Bulgaria's northwest.

On 28 May 1876, the passengers of the Radetzky, a steamer headed on the Danube to Vienna, were in for a surprise. As the ship was heading upstream, three men in strange military uniforms, swords and guns in their hands, appeared on the deck. Their leader, a handsome bearded man, cried something and suddenly young men, that until then had looked like ordinary gardeners heading for seasonal work in Austria-Hungary, gathered around the band. Dozens of them. They took off their clothes and put on uniforms. More weapons were seen onboard.

Still, this country does boast a number of small isles one of which is even permanently inhabited. Used intermittently as an Orthodox monastery, a prison and now a museum the small isle is known mainly for its lighthouse, though few locals imagine it was erected by the Ottoman authorities, back in the middle of the 19th century, as part of a grand project to modernise maritime navigation in the Black Sea. The isle can now be visited by commercial boats run by the local municipality.

Where in Bulgaria are you? 

Much has been said and written about the beauties of Bulgarian nature and the abundance of its wildlife. Birdwatching, for example, has become a mainstream tourism activity that many travel agents organise for Western visitors. Yet little if anything has been promulgated about another remarkable if not so obvious (for obvious reasons, pun unintended) treasure that Bulgarian forests, meadows and riversides have: the abundance of fireflies.

The white Renault parked in front of the House of the Communist Party. The chauffeur rolled down the window to have a smoke. Dimcho took a few moments sitting quietly in the back seat.

Summer is a special season. It is the only part of the year of which we think about long before it has arrived. We anticipate its future pleasures: the vacation by the seaside or in the mountains, the sun's caress on the skin, the feel of relaxation, escape from the everyday life, reconnection to our authentic Self.

With this, however, comes the question: and how do we look? Is it not too late to achieve the smooth skin and sculpted body with which to enjoy life and sun?

This May, in just a couple of days, the ordinary Internet user became aware of two disturbing events. Hackers blocked the activities of one the largest fuel pipeline companies in the US. Thousands of Bulgarian Facebook users yet again fell for the message from a friend that asked "Is this you?," and clicked on the link that followed it.

When we crave to let ourselves in exclusive pleasures. When we seek a place of quiet seclusion among nature. When we want to indulge in exquisite spa experiences and amazing cuisine... we do not book airline tickets for some exotic destination anymore. We choose Bulgaria instead. In the past few years the country has confidently become a place where people seeking an exclusive holiday discover diverse options to enjoy a luxury vacation of a world-level quality.