View travels abroad as an investment, rather than luxury, calls the British online travel agency Expedia. The company launched successfully its campaign Travel Yourself Interesting in 2013 where a key role was given to Bulgaria. The choice of the editors of the gateway was purposeful.

The campaign’s goal was to show that travels make life and knowledge varied. This is why the accent fell on the curious details we learn while traveling abroad. Bulgaria was mentioned as an interesting travel destination. The commercial video features a desperate British office worker who says: “Did you know that Bulgarians shake their heads when they say yes and nod when saying no?” The reason for his discontent is the fact that he is no more the boss’s favorite one, because one of his colleagues has just returned from a trip to Bulgaria and brought the management a gift- a glass with a print of the Bulgarian flag on it. The main character of the video watches with a sinking heart how this bootlicker entertains his boss with anecdotes based on his experience in Bulgaria. The conclusion is simple-travel if you want to learn new things and be always on the crest.

Bulgaria is full with surprises for both the foreign tourists and the Bulgarians. No wonder why the authors of the above-mentioned campaign have chosen Bulgaria. This country provides various opportunities for an interesting travel. Later, you can impress the ones around you with stories from your unusual vacation, provided you are close to people and the nature. We would recommend the curious travelers to take the train from the town of Septemvri to the village of Dobrinishte (Southwestern Bulgaria) which crosses three mountains -The Rhodopes, Rila and Pirin. The distance between the two points is only 125 kilometers which is covered by the train for 5 whole hours. The train creeps along iron bridges, stops at each settlement and meanders between rock fissures and slips into claustrophobic tunnels, where you have the feeling that you will never get out. Although this interesting railway route is not advertised enough, tourists have long ago learned about it. For most of them it provides wonderful opportunities to touch the real face of Bulgaria.

While the train creeps from one station to another, you can come across virgin places which have remained untouched by the mass tourism. Later you can fascinate your boss with stories about donkey carts moving across uninhabited rural terrains, dizzy abysses, desolated old neighborhoods and friendly co-passengers.However, if your boss is among those who do not like romantic views and non-standard trips, then give him simply a bottle of Bulgarian red wine. Tell him how wine and history walk hand in hand in this country and that the ancient Thracians who inhabited these lands knew the secrets of making a good homemade wine. In fact, tasting of local wine sorts is quite interesting for many tourists. Most of the wine-cellars in Bulgaria have special chambers where people can taste their wines. Moreover, some of them offer a rich presentation program. Such is the wine factory in the village of Starosel where seductive Thracian priestesses-cup-bearers tempt the guests with elegant dances and mellow local wine. However, before you go to the wine cellars, you should visit the nearby temple Chetinyova Mound build in the 5^th-4^th century BC. Some archaeologists believe that Sitalk, who was the king of the Odryss tribe and one of the most powerful Thracian rulers, was buried there.

Bike tours across the wild nature of Northwestern Bulgaria, known as the poorest region in the whole EU, rock climbing in the region of Belogradchik near the Danube River, horse trips in Strandzha and the Eastern Rhodope Mountains, are some of the multiple opportunities for interesting travel across Bulgaria. Moreover, your amusing stories about you experience there will make you come into notice of your bosses, friends and colleagues. Who knows, you could even receive a promotion after your next trip to Bulgaria.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov