- Located in the Eastern Part of the Balkan Peninsula, in South Eastern Europe. Bordered by the new states of former Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey, the Danube (the border with Romania ) and the Black Sea.
- Population is about 7,700,000
- Area: 70,000 square miles
- Capital: Sofia (1.1 min)
- Major cities: Plovdiv, Varna and Bourgas
- Distance: London/Sofia - 1,300 miles; Sofia/Bansko - 90 miles,
- Time difference: Bulgaria is 2 hours behind the UK
- Highest Mountain: Rila Mountains, south of Sofia with its peak Moussala - 9,500 ft.
Religious Information
86.6% of the population are Orthodox Christians, 13% are Muslims. The Bulgarian Church is autonomous and headed by a Patriarch.
Money, Currency Exchange, Banks
The official monetary unit in Bulgaria is called "LEV" (plural "LEVA") as well as coins called "STOTINKA" (plural "STOTINKI").
The exchange rate is not fixed and fluctuates within 3-5%. Scottish notes are not accepted. Please note that old or marked notes and coins are not accepted.
Travellers cheque's carry higher commission, check the current exchange rate on Yahoo! Finance Converter
Electricity
For electric razors etc 220-240 VAC, you will also need a continental 2pin adaptor if you wish to use your 3 pin plugs.
Water
The water in Bansko is drinkable, however is still different from what you will be used to and may cause stomach upsets, therefore it is recommended that you still buy bottled water.
Festivals
The Bulgarians have festivals throughout the year, celebrating their customs and traditions. A typical example being the Rose Festival.
USEFUL WEB ADDRESSES
www.brilltravel.com
www.banskoski.com
www.banskoinfo.com
www.bulgariaski.com/bansko