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Above
Another view of Rila Monastery
Below
Rose Valley's `liquid gold'
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Bulgaria is a wine-producing country,
and our trip would not have been complete
without a visit to a wine cellar. The region
around Plovdiv is particularly good for red
wines, and although the country tends to
export some very mediocre wines to the
UK, I was pleasantly surprised by some of
the reds I tasted at the Todoroff wine cellar.
Wines from here are Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot and Mavrud.
A third of the country is covered by
mountains, and I am told, very beautiful.
Unfortunately, the areas we covered were
not very impressionable. However, we
did pass many sheep and cows, each group
tended by a shepherd. What was quite sad,
was the many factories we passed that had
closed with the fall of communism, and
are now derelict.
With people only earning a national
average of £100 a month, and unemployment
figures at around 30-40% of the population,
it is not surprising that our guide warned us
to be careful of talking to strangers, and to
beware of pickpockets.
A bonus, however, if you enjoy gambling,
are the many casinos which you can enter on
production of your passport. Despite all the
problems, the country has lots to offer at
extremely affordable prices.
The trip was arranged by Interchange,
who specialise in organising holidays for the
individual traveller.
Interchange: T. 020 8681 3612.
www.interchange.uk.com
Natasha flew with Bulgaria Air,
which flies from Gatwick Airport.
Reservations: T. 020 7631 1263/637 7637.
www.balkanair.co.uk
Gatwick Express: 30 minutes VictoriaGatwick.
T. 0845 850 1530.
Book on-line at www.gatwickexpress.com
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Beautiful Bulgaria Reader Offer
Especially for MQ readers, tour operator
INTERCHANGE, in co-operation with
Bulgaria Air and Vegena Travel, have
arranged an exclusive short break to
Sofia throughout 2005, departing Friday
or Saturday.
The offer includes return flights from
Gatwick, taxes, three nights in a newly-built centrally located four-star hotel on
a twin-sharing bed and breakfast basis
for £315 per person. The quoted price
also includes transfer to hotel on arrival.
For details, please contact Interchange:
T. 020 8681 3612
Email: interchange@interchange.uk.com
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Copyright 2002-2007
MQ Magazine
Web site created by Mark Griffin
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