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   There is hardly a Bulgarian who hasn’t seen Kovachevitsa, if only on TV… There is no other village where more than 20 Bulgarian movies have been filmed. Kovachevitsa is located along the rived valley of river Kanina (the Blood river) in the south-eastern part of the Rhodopes. The village is declared historical and natural reserve in 1977. The village first came to exist because of the violence used on the Bulgarian population during the forceful conversion to Islam in the period 1623-1625 and later when Bulgarians who were unwilling to convert left their homes and found salvation and asylum in the high mountains. Initially a few neighborhoods came to existence, mainly formed on family basis, consisting of refugees who had come from near and far. In the XVIIIth century refugees from Western Macedonia also settled there. The neighborhoods were grouped around the spring (now called “Tsigantchitsa”) where the blacksmith Marko used to live. After his demise his wife Gina became responsible for the survival of his family. When friends or relatives from the nearby villages traveled to her, they simply used to say “we are going to visit Kovachevitsa” (in Bulgarian “Kovachevitsa” literally means “the wife of the blacksmith”). The legend tells that this is how the name of the village actually originated. For the entire duration of the Turkish jug there was no Turkish administration in the village. During the renaissance the village used to be a center of the education and church activity in the region of Nevrokop.

  Some sage advice for classical music lovers in Bulgaria: make plans to spend as much time as possible in Plovdiv this June. With the International Festival of Opera Arts, the International Festival of Chamber Music and the Festival of Old Town Songs, life cannot get much better for music fans. And for those even just a bit curious, there is plenty going on in Plovdiv (in additional to its usually vibrant art scene) this summer to make a visit worthwhile.

  Posters all along the glavnata, or Plovdiv’s main drag, Knyaz Alexander, will provide plenty of information about summer town happenings even for the geographically challenged. But get yourself to the “poshta”, and you’ll spot the ever-helpful Tourist Information Centre of Plovdiv municipality, where their experts can direct you to anything you’ll need during your time in Plovdiv. And if you’re lucky, Frantz Kadiri, senior expert at the Tourist Information Centre, will be on duty, sharing with inquirers at the centre all the insight one gains from growing up in Plovdiv.

   Bulgaria is a small country and I have spent all my life here, I have traveled all over the country and still, I have the feeling that I haven’t seen it all. Not long ago northwestern Bulgaria was just a bare geographic idea for me. But so it happened that I found myself in Vidin. The occasion was the first sod of the Danube Bridge II.

  I reached the town by car along the way from Sofia, not the way I have always wanted it to be – by boat along the Danube River from Vienna for example. But I know that I have time enough for that. I was forced to bear the whole ceremony and the pompous speeches of the official guests, and all this combined with the burning sun and heat around noon, which completely exhausted me. I couldn’t wait the end of the event, together with the other colleagues, photographers and cameramen, and only the though that I will come back here again in the far 2010, when the bridge will be finally constructed and will connect the dreams of the thousands of residents of the region with their dreams for a better future, relived me. This will happen after three years, and as I was already in Vidin, I couldn’t wait for the end of the ceremony to make my way and examine the town. I was helped with this initiative by my colleague from the www.Visitbulgaria.NET team, who was born and raised in Vidin.

  Most tourism brochures describe Vidin as a town with rich history and unique cultural monuments, which in fact could be said for almost every town in Bulgaria. For me Vidin could be generally described with three things: “Baba Vida Fortress”, the walking alley nearby the Danube River and the crystal blue Danube. I don’t know how the town looks during all four seasons, but when I was there, by the end of the spring, the waters of the Danube River were really sapphire. I will also never forget the delicious fish from the Danube River that was prepared by my colleague’s mom.

  GDP growth in Bulgaria in 2007 would reach five to six per cent, State Administration Minister Nikolai Vassilev said. The prediction is based on good economic development and the inflow of foreign investment in the country.

  Vassilev is taking part in International Economic Forum Maritza that started on May 30 in the city of Plovdiv.

  The slogan under which the forum will be carried out this year is Bulgaria in the EU- New Business Opportunities.

  Vassilev said that he disagreed with claims that Romania attracted more foreign investment than Bulgaria. Taking into consideration the population of the two countries, Bulgaria’s foreign investment per person ratio is much higher, Vassilev said. 

   In the Tibetan Mythology and the Buddhist tradition, a mythical and at the same time real world called Shambhala exists. You can enter this universe, which is in another dimension and is always close to us, only if you have clear heart and mind and you are in complete harmony with yourself and the rest of the world. Few months ago Shambhala found its own place in the material world, right here in Bulgaria. Just 130 km east of Sofia at the south foot of the Central part of the Balkan Mountain range in Sopot town. I am talking about the centre for extreme sports “Shambhala”. This is the best thing for the extreme sensation and it was high time, such park to appear in Bulgaria. And when I say “Centre for extreme sports”, I don’t mean one of the improvised equipments, made solely for advertisement for some of the vacation complexes situated nearby. This is a real centre for extreme sports, created for those, who know what it is to take a risk and are completely aware of the responsibility of it.

  Sopot is a favorite site for Paragliders from all over Europe, for a long time, because of the propitious air currents and the big declination – 800m. But what literally detonated the society of extreme adrenalin seekers, was the announcement of the competition for extreme biking in the disciplines “Downhill”, “4Cross”, “Cross Country” 3 – 4 months ago. The official competition was announced for 4 – 5 and 6th of May and these dates were not only kept, but also turned to be very appropriate, not only for the atmosphere conditions, but also for the date 6th May – the day honoring St. George. International participants were also expected, mainly bikers from Russia.

  There was no way for me to miss this significant event in the history of mountain biking in Bulgaria, and together with my friend, also a bicycle fan, we started from Sofia, early in the morning on 4th May. The car was literally squirting, stuffed with our bicycles, spares, equipment, tent, and above all our elevated mood. After an hour and a half we were on the lift station in Sopot, in the camping site. I have visited the site two months earlier, to try the trail which was then in process of construction, but this time when I went out of the car, I was stunned. Organizers of the event were based in several tents, looking like Mongolian yurts. There were many colourful posters and flags around, several paragliders were rambling in the sky, people were pottering around all the time, bulling, assembling and repairing their bicycles and equipment. Me and my mate hurried to sign in for the downhill discipline and to take our numbers. Immediately afterwards we took out our luggage and started working over our bikes, until they got great outlook and in impeccable technical condition. When we were ready with the technical preparation we got on the lift, to start the long expected and very necessary training.

   Nestled in the picturesque, fertile lands, at the foot of the outstanding Osogovo Mountain, Kyustendil city fascinates with its natural beauty and a thousand-year old history.
In ancient times it was known as Pauthalia, later on, in the early antiquity – as Velbujd and finally was renamed Kyustendil, after the name of the local feudal lord Konstantin Dragash.
The road from the capital city of Sofia to Kyustendil is very pleasant, not long (just an hour drive) and definitely picturesque.

  I have never been in Kyustendil before, but I can surely say, that in the middle of the spring season it is simply enchanting. The whole valley is sunk in bright green fresh colour, giving stroke to the tiny white and rose flowers and orchards.
It is a well-known fact, that Kyustendil is an ancient city, which has a rich historical past, but this cannot be truly felt until you stand up in front of some of the millenary ruins, the city hosts. Therefore before check in at the hotel, inspired by the morning coolness of the air, I headed towards Hissarluka Park, where the Medieval Hissarluka Fortress is found. The park is situated in immediate proximity to the city, in the lower parts of the Osogovo Mountain. With its virgin nature and small, cosy restaurants around, he park itself is a wonderful place for walks and relaxation. I was particularly impressed by the nice children’s area, which was attracting not only the kids, but the elderly nature-lovers as well.

  After I enjoyed the bright picture for a while and walked amongst the ancient ruins of the stronghold, I felt so energetic and inspired by the songs of the cheerful birds and the breezy air that I set off for the city in expectation of more pleasant experiences. And, of course, I didn’t get disappointed.

  Varna-based Bulgarian Properties, part of U.S. investment fund Global Management Ventures, said it has acquired a building in rough construction the center of Vidin, North-western Bulgaria, which will be developed into a mall-type property. The completion of Mall Vidin will cost 6 mln levs. The shopping center should open for business in late 2007.

  Bulgaria and Romania agreed that they need a second bridge across the Danube, signed a contract to construct it seven years ago, but actually started building it only this week.

  'We have been waiting for this bridge for years,' Bulgarian truck driver Nikolay Haylesov says angrily. His comment reflects the view of thousands of his colleagues from across Europe.

  Now drivers wait up to 12 hours to be ferried between Calafat in Romania and Vidin in Bulgaria, a bottleneck on the Pan-European Corridor Four, from Berlin via Vienna to Thessaloniki and Istanbul.

  Yet for many professionals it is still faster and cheaper than the corridor to the west, through Croatia, Serbia and Macedonia, because in Romania and Bulgaria they remain within EU and pass all borders with a single set of documents.

  The only other bridge on the 430-kilometre stretch of the Danube shared by Romania and Bulgaria is at Giurgiu and Ruse, far to the east. 

  Representatives of big Western companies are expected to start searching for European offices for rent in Plovdiv during the present year, say representatives of a international real estates company. Those are companies who have already established their business in Sofia, and now wish to open new offices in the bigger regional cities of our country.

  The experts say that every contemporary office building is supposed to be structurally wired, to have central air-conditioning, ventilation, parking, security, as well as self-contained power supply that could serve for 72 hours in cases of breakdown.

  The funds that have been put to use for infrastructure sites in Kardjali during the last year amount to BGN 12.461 million. A growth with 32% in comparison to the initially planned funds has been accounted for the first time. Nearly BGN 9 million has been additionally ensured for the budget. That data were announced during the first session of the local Town Council for this year. All advisers shared the opinion that the budget for the year 2006 had been well planned and implemented.

  According to the Mayor of Kardjali Municipaity – Engineer Hasan Azis, the year 2006 has been the year of investments. More than BGN 20 million has been invested in urgent repairs and significant infrastructure sites. “The settlement of some important issues for the town and the Municipality has started; some other issues have already been settled. Those issues have been part of the public’s agenda for years: the construction of a new contemporary market, the reinforcement of the landslide near the village of Enchets, the commissioning into exploitation of the children’s railway, the completing of the construction of Block 2, the building of “George Washington” street, the repairs of the buildings of “Students’ hostels”, the impregnating with asphalt of the road to Perperikon, etc.”- Says the Mayor.