Entire content  Важни новини Важни новини |
| Eastern Sun-Bloc |
|
|
There are no translations available From The Sunday Times By Raymond Hainey Hot Ex-Soviet State Has Top Beaches And Cool Culture Bulgaria The Sunday Mail can today reveal the real cause of the Cold War between the West and the Soviet Union - and it has nothing to do with politics. It was really just a determined bid by the Russians to keep the Brits and the rest of Europe off the hot and beautiful beaches of Bulgaria. For years the preserve of the Russian elite, the former Soviet satellite and its Black Sea has shaken off the shackles of communism and developed a booming tourist industry. Many of the hotels already stand comparison with the best Europe has to offer but at prices the West probably hasn't seen since the Berlin Wall went up in the 1960s. We stayed first at the Melia Grand Hermitage at the Golden Sands resort in the northern part of the country. And grand it certainly was. The foyer is over the top in marble and gilt while the stunning rooms are almost big enough to play five-a-side football in. The impressive entrance gives way to a piano bar and at the back is a huge outdoor swimming pool, only a short walk from the sandy beaches. Popular with wealthy Russians and Estonians - judging by the number of Bentleys and Porsches carrying their national registration plates - the resort is also favoured by Germans and Scandinavians. Nearby Balchik is the site of the second-biggest botanical gardens in Europe. Once a private playground of Romanian queen Maria and her family, the gardens became Bulgarian territory after the Second World War. It now boasts a huge collection of exotic plants - and a wine shop selling Bulgarian takes on European grapes, all flavoured with herbs and honey from the local area. The vineyard owner also makes a triple-distilled brandy-style drink with honey - guaranteed to put a smile on anyone's face, especially with a tasting at 11am. It was so good I bought two bottles costing around £22 each. The preserved royal homes at Balchik, with Islamic touches such as minarets and ornate metal grilles, are testament to the enduring influence on the nation of Turkey and the Middle East. Queen Maria's personal holiday home is now a museum preserving royal relics, with a shop selling a range of tourist souvenirs. Next we headed south to Sunny Beach, which offers Ibiza-style clubs for the young and more upmarket experiences for older tourists and families. Luxurious five-star hotels such as the Barcelo Royal Beach - which has maybe the largest and most opulent outdoor pool I've ever seen - share the resort with the more downmarket Globus, where we stayed. But the four-star hotel was clean, relatively quiet and my ninth-floor balcony overlooked the beach and the Black Sea. The country's wealth of historical ruins is a permanent record of the fact Bulgaria has always been popular with foreigners. From the Greeks to the Romans and Ottoman Turks, because of its strategic position it has been a magnet for invaders throughout history. At Cape Kaliakra, ruins on top of the 60-metre cliffs date back to prehistoric times. Greek, Roman, Bulgarian and Turkish fortifications are also visible. A tiny and ancient clifftop Orthodox chapel affords superb views over the Black Sea and the chance to see rare seabirds take to the air and schools of dolphins splashing around at the foot of the cliffs. But Bulgaria isn't just about historic ruins and stunning views. A range of hotels from the cheap and cheerful to the luxurious caters for most budgets. The country offers holidays for everyone from beach bums to wine lovers - and even stunning mountains with a full range of winter sports. In nearby Nessebar, a tiny seaside village nestling beneath 6th century fortress walls, my colleagues assured me the local fish was spectacularly good. As a vegetarian, I was more than happy to take their word for it. The town also has an impressive collection of old churches and a bishop's palace. Nearby Sozopol, which dates back to 610AD, is another area offering beach-style holidays with ancient culture and buildings thrown in. The area is handy for relaxing river cruises on the Ropotamo River and trips into the rugged Balkan mountain ranges which dominate the small nation of less than eight million people. Although the Bulgarians I met were friendly and have yet to learn the hardsell techniques of more established resorts, my one criticism is the outward flight from Gatwick on Bulgaria Air. It ran on time but the stewardesses were far from friendly and didn't start my holiday off on the right note - don't ever try to exchange a ham roll for a cheese one on Bulgaria Air. 
Powered by !JoomlaComment 3.12 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved. |
|||||
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
