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ABOUT BULGARIA & SOZOPOL
Bulgaria joined Europe, with Romania in 2007, and was formerly part of Communist Eastern Europe. Bulgaria is located just North of Turkey and mainland Greece, so benefits from a similar Mediterranean climate .
It is easily reached from most UK regional airports. It's main airports are :-
Sofia - Capital and Ski Resorts
Varna - North Black Sea resorts including Golden Sands
Burgas - Southern Black Sea resorts like Sozopol, Nessebar and Sunny Beach.
The flight time from the UK is about 3 hrs 15 minutes.
Our Local Airport - Burgas
Transfer time about 35 minutes
Time Zone GMT + 2 Hours
Currency Bulgarian Leva
Weather- Bulgaria has over 300 Sunny Days every year, and though the extremes of temperature, can be high in Summer and low in Winter, both the heat & cold are not extreme of oppressive. The country is covered with thousands of lakes making it a great destination for nature lovers, fishermen, and bird watchers. Storks are protected, and are commonplace in most villages, where they nest on the lamp-posts !
 Bulgaria used to be called 'the garden of Russia' and the country is very green and lush, parts of which look and feel very like rural Britain. One thing that attracts so many British to settle here. The soil is very fertile, and everything grows prolifickly (including the weeds) !
In my experience Bulgarian people are warm, friendly, fun loving and generous.
The Stork Colony - Private Collection
Oh yes and the landscapes, the light, the weather events are stunning too, for me as an artist. As are the peeling facades and the elegant architecture.
So Bulgaria is our little secret ok, it's like the UK of my childhood in the 1960's with community spirit, family values, beautiful people, room to breathe, fantastic food, empty roads and cheap living costs.....it's the size of England but with the population of London !
The average village house with land and buildings can still be bought for about £10,000 ! Council Tax can be as cheap as £7 per year, and beer about 1lev (50p) per bottle. An average meal out with wine is about £20........it's not for everyone though !
ABOUT SOZOPOL
 Sozopol is a fantastic Ancient Port Town, dominated by the headland, former Fisherman's College, the Islands, and has a rich History. But Sozopol has more than History, it also has a very vibrant artistic base which culminates every year with the Apollonia Festival in late Summer. Sozopol has fantastic golden sandy beaches, and the Town is split into Old Town & New Town. The Old Town on the headland is a mecca for artists and photgraphers, and is an area of importance with ancient cobbled streets, pan-tiled roofed, traditional wooden houses, and nooks and crannies everywhere. It also hosts a great Municipal Art Gallery, on the headland, and also houses many private Galleries, one of which Biserra, near the outdoor cinema, was the very first Gallery to accept my paintings in Bulgaria, so holds a special place for me.
The Biserra Gallery - Right
Sozopol Old Town is just one of those really special places which has always been held in high regard by people of all Nationalities, you simply have to go there, wander it's cobbled streets, and drink in the unique atmosphere.
 You can still buy freshly caught fish at the harbour, sit next to the old men and pass the time of day, and maybe play them at chess on the streets.
You can eat where the locals eat, at local prices, and watch the stunning sunsets over the hills.... heaven !
See you soon .......
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