Bulgaria
Bulgaria is my homeland. It is NOT a part of Russia, and neither does it border Russia. It is situated north of Greece and Turkey, east of Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia, south of Romania, and west of the Black Sea. Bulgarians speak Bulgarian (not Russian), which is written in the Cyrillic alphabet (not the Russian alphabet). Here are a few key dates of Bulgaria's turbulent history, which has shaped it into the place it is today:
681 - Bulgarian State established to the south of the Danube river
864 - Bulgaria adopts Eastern Orthodox Christianity as a state religion
893 - Cyrillic alphabet declared official alphabet of Bulgarian State
1018 - Bulgarian State incorporated in the Byzantine Empire
1185 - Second Bulgarian Empire independent from the Byzantine Empire
1395 - Bulgaria conquered and made part of the Ottoman Empire
1878 - Principality of Bulgaria autonomous within the Ottoman Empire
1885 - Unification of Bulgaria with Eastern Rumelia
1908 - Kingdom of Bulgaria recognized as independent
1913 - Balkan allies defeat Ottoman Empire in First Balkan War
1913 - Former Balkan allies fight over Macedonia in Second Balkan War
1915 - Bulgaria enters WWI on the side of Germany
1939 - Bulgaria declares itself neutral in WWII
1941 - Bulgaria pushed to sign Axis Tripartite Pact
1944 - Soviet Army enters Bulgaria unopposed
1947 - People's Republic of Bulgaria established
1989 - Pro-democratic leadership replaces Communist Party
1991 - First democratic elections held
2004 - Bulgaria joins NATO
2007 - Bulgaria joins the European Union
The result is a country small in size, but rich in culture and tradition. Its population is a blend of Bulgarians, Turks, Roma, Russians, Armenians, Jews, Vlachs, Tatars, Sarakatsani, and other peoles of fascinating cultures. With its beautiful nature and biodiversity, ancient artwork and architecture and unique folklore, Bulgaria has a lot to offer to an adventurous traveller. Come to visit!