What can motivate two young Frenchmen from Paris to come to Bulgaria in the autumn, besides an invitation from a friend? Jules and Arthur, who decided to trade the capital of France for the capital of Bulgaria for a few days, say Sofia reminds them of what their parents have told them about France in the 1980s. They are both 27 and they say they love to discover different cultures and are interested in history, architecture, and the way of life in the countries they go to.

This is Jules’ fourth time in Bulgaria, at the invitation of a friend – a Bulgarian girl who has been living in Paris for many years. The first and the second time he went for a holiday by the sea, his third time was during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now he is back in Bulgaria, benefiting from the warm autumn that is so well suited for mountain rambles: 

“At the moment we are enjoying the autumn sunset, looking down on Sofia from the mountain, and it is something I am discovering for the first time. The last time I went to the Black Sea coast and to Plovdiv and different spa resorts. Summer is a very busy season – lots of people, lots of cars, but Bulgarians are nice and friendly. I am gradually discovering the historical landmarks and the architectural monuments from past times.”

What is Jules’ first positive impression of Bulgaria, and is there anything not so pleasant he has discovered in the country?

“The welcome, the spontaneity. Here you can get hold of tasty things to eat any time of day. During my brief stay in Bulgaria I find it difficult to make an assessment. As to the environment, there is a certain difference compared with France where people are more concerned and protect nature more. Sofia itself is clean and well-organized. You discover the modern Western style but it is in contrast with the old tramcars and vehicles in the streets. At the same time the new subway train cars are more modern than the ones in Paris. These are things that cannot be described, they have to be seen.”

Jules described his visit to Bulgaria to his friend Arthur who was intrigued enough to visit the country himself. He has spent just several days here, so he has only been able to see Sofia and to go up Mount Vitosha:

“If I have to make a comparison with France what made a pleasant impression on me is that the subway is much cleaner. And then the mountain is so close by, unlike Paris. As to the food – you can get a really good meal here, the portions are huge. On the other hand, grocery stores close earlier but the city is smaller and not as dynamic as Paris. It reminds me of Boudreaux, very nice. I would be glad to find out more about culture which is different from ours.”

And as our meeting with Jules and Arthur draws to a close, we talk about history and about the oldest civilization in the Bulgarian lands. They seem intrigued to learn that there are artifacts in Bulgaria from 8,000 years ago. And they promise that when they come to Bulgaria next time they will go and see more things off the beaten track.

Photos: BGNES, Darina Grigorova