g+

Sunday 27 November 2016

German Lufthansa Pilots Strike Becomes Indefinite - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency

German Lufthansa Pilots Strike Becomes Indefinite - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency

Travel Update: The strike is over and they are back at work.

Extra Update: Back on strike Tuesday/Wednesday.15th strike since April.No sign of any immediate resolution.2,800 flights cancelled during last week's 4-day walkout. The dispute is over the Unions demands for pay rises, which Lufthansa management says it cannot afford due to commercial pressures from Budget airlines etc.

The snow is on its way

First snow is due on Tuesday in Balchik.This guy is happy.



Monday 21 November 2016

A way to change a Soviet Block of Apartments




This is in Kiev.What a magnificent artist.

Bulgaria's Presidential Election Portends Borisov's Steady Decline - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency

The Economist: Bulgaria, Moldova Presidents 'Less Pro-Russian Than Advertised' - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency

Stefan Stoyanov: We Have Fully Changed Plovdiv's Image - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency

Bulgaria Ranked 1st as Family Holidays Destination by Russians - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency

Friday 11 November 2016

Mongoose stop play in South African Golf !.

Sofia Airport Boasts Record-High 4 Million Passengers So Far in 2016 - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency

Sofia Airport Boasts Record-High 4 Million Passengers So Far in 2016 - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency:


I tend to take any figures given by any state, or semi-state, agency out here with a very large pinch of salt.
However, I do believe these figures, as the tourism industry has been given a massive fillip by the situation in the Middle East and Africa. I hope that we get more budget airlines seeing these figures and moving into the market, particularly on the coast and in Plovdiv.

Tuesday 8 November 2016

Code Orange Warning in Bulgaria over Severe Weather Conditions - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency

U.S. Election comment from the great Trevor Noah

As if Italy has not had enough !.

European Parliament considers plan to let individual Brits opt-in to keep their EU citizenship | The Independent

Bulgaria and Romania similar tourism destinations, but contrasting success

Last year Bulgaria had 5 million tourists and Romania 1 million. It's a strange set of results, as the countries are neighbours. I have been meaning to write this article, as I have long pondered why there is this imbalance.

The first thing to observe, is that, under Communism, Bulgaria was a favoured son of the Soviets.The Romanians were more a prodigal son, as their foreign policy was rather eccentric (leading to Ceaucescu being knighted by the Queen).

Bulgaria's tourism industry was built on Eastern Bloc countries, particularly Russia and the GDR. After the fall of Communism that expanded to include the whole of Germany, and other countries like the UK

Bulgaria is also much better at marketing its ski resorts. Romanian ones are primitive by comparison.

Recent figures also make interesting reading; 70% of visitors to Romania head to Bucharest, mainly as a business destination.In Bulgaria, Varna, Burgas and Plovdiv pull in a much larger share.



The Romanian economy is a much bigger success story that the Bulgarian one.


However, tourism seems to be an exception to that rule.

Romania has the historic, and beautiful, Transylvania region.But the 'Dracula Tourism' trails have only just been opened up. There are also dozens of beautiful castles such as Bran and Peles, historic towns such as Sinaia, Sibiu and Brasov, with rich Saxon heritage. Bulgaria does not have this (though one has to mention Veliko Turnovo and Plovdiv).Both countries have a huge amount of Monasteries.


It's not even that it is difficult to get flights, Ryan Air and Easyjet fly to all major cities in Romania; such as Cluj and Timisoara.Romania has the Danube Delta and skiing too.

There is still under-developed potential in both countries too.Spa and Wellness Tourism is in its infancy and yet Bulgaria has hundreds of Mineral Springs.

I think the casual observer, has to put the differences down to very poor marketing. Romania needs to sell itself far better.Why is it that there is not one golf course in Romania and 7 in Bulgaria ?, but more Romanian golfers than any other single group playing in Bulgaria ?.No really convincing answer.

Coming to Bulgaria: Finnish fast food chain Hesburger | The Sofia Globe

Coming to Bulgaria: Finnish fast food chain Hesburger | The Sofia Globe:

Never heard of them personally, but you cannot do without a decent burger.


Sunday 6 November 2016

Bulgaria PM Summons Ministers over Election Results - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency

Bulgaria PM Summons Ministers over Election Results - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency:

Could it be bye bye Boiko as he has threatened to resign if GERB's candidate loses the first round ?.

Breaking News :Exit Poll GERB comes second with 23.46%, BSP top with 24.06%. Other poll shows bigger BSP lead.


Friday 4 November 2016

Wizzair launches Bucharest- Tenerife Flights

It has been a day of Aviation news, Wizzair has launched a Bucharest-Tenerife service.Prices start from €66.

Ryanair continues its Bucharest flights Expansion :Cheap Flights offer until 5th November



Good news for travellers to Northern Bulgaria.
Bristol opens up the West Country route for the first time.

Ryanair will operate new routes to Berlin (twice a day), Bristol (twice a day), Palermo (three times a week), and Timisoara (twice a day). Flights to Dublin, Brussels-Charleroi , and Milan-Malpensa have also been increased.

“To celebrate our new Bucharest base, we are releasing seats on sale at prices from just EUR 9.99 for flights in December and January, which must be booked by Saturday (November 5),” said Denis Barabas, Sales and Marketing Executive Romania & CEE, Ryanair.

Stricter Sanctions for Drivers Without Vignettes - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency

Stricter Sanctions for Drivers Without Vignettes - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency:

A Vignette is a tax to use the road (in the UK called a Road fund license), all drivers must display one in their car window.