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Bulgaria - the most corrupt and crime-ridden member of the EU?

Posted in Bulgaria forum

According to various charts Bulgaria is the most corrupt and crime-ridden member of the EU. I would like to ask the fellow expats, what do you think of this statement. Did you have to deal with something like this? Do you think that the reality is as bad as it sounds?

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  • Go to Ivor Hall's profile

    posted by  in Bulgaria forum 

    Then try Veliko Tarnovo, certainly for a holiday. It is spectacular, with the monastery at the top of the hill inside the old fortress. You can find many pictures on google. There are plenty of good bars and restaurants. In particular there is a place many Bulgarian
    students use called the English Pub. It is always packed when I have been there. Also, there is an Irish Bar down a spiral staircase 100 metres from the English Pub and it is run by a young Irish guy called Martin, with the help of his Bulgarian girlfriend. They are a great couple and would make you very welcome. If you want to blowyour mind, try going there on the evening of March 17, which is St. Patrick's Day. As the Irish say, it will be a great crack. Music, dancing, many, many, MANY drinks, and lots of laughter. I will definately not miss that night for the world!!! Good luck.

  • posted by  in Bulgaria forum 

    Hi Igor, don't worry, I won't tell the secret anyone so that when I retire I can move to Bulgaria myself :-)))))

  • Go to robert prosser's profile

    posted by  in Bulgaria forum 

    britain is very close as are all member countries

  • Go to Ivor Hall's profile

    posted by  in Bulgaria forum 

    I would take notice of Philippe. He has more experience of Bulgaria than I do. People who have lived here for long periods can offer you much better advice.

  • Philippe Van der Perre

    posted by  in Bulgaria forum 

    I lived in Bulgaria 18 months & must admit that I was very happy there.
    Corruption exists but not obviously!

  • Go to Ivor Hall's profile

    posted by  in Bulgaria forum 

    Many Brits here refer to it as the biggest secret in the world because the country isn't overrun with us foreigners. There are exceptions but most villages are full of warm and friendly native peoples who often go out of their way to make you welcome. Of course, there is a bit of a payback. They expect you to try to learn the language, and if you are going to employ someone to do some work for you, they would expect you, where possible, to employ from within the village. I am not writing from personal experience, simply repeating what others have told me. Because so many foreigners don't know about Bulgaria, at the moment everything is okay, but if ever the place gets overloaded with us, as in Spain, I believe things could be different. I suppose the message from this is simple: DON'T TELL ANYONE, hahaha! As for nightlife, just find a village within a cheap taxi ride to a town or city. The metered taxis are very cheap. As for jobs, there are none unless you are sent over by a UK employer for a while, and even if you did find one, the pay is so poor you couldn't live on it. This is why so many Brits here are retired or own a holiday home here.

  • posted by  in Bulgaria forum 

    Hi Ivor,

    I was surprised to read that expats are more satisfied in the Bulgarian villages! I always thought that the foreigners are usually living only in the major cities bacause of the advantages of the city (more international life, people speaking different languages, more job opportunities, more cultures, more open minded people...) Is it really true that the British prefer the villages? They must feel there like aliens!

  • Go to Ivor Hall's profile

    posted by  in Bulgaria forum 

    I live in Veliko Tarnovo and crime here doesn't seem to be a major problem but my Bulgarian friends tell me corruption and crime is rife in Sofia, Varna and Bourgas. They say that all their politicians are "mafia" who steal money from the EU and anywhere else they can. Bulgarians seem to have a universal dislike of politicians. From what I understand, life in the villages is extremely satisfying, and the Brits I have spoken to love their village lifestyle, so the message appears to be: stay away from the principal cities and ask ex-pats what it's like where they live. Finally, I have no knowledge of the customs and practices operating for ex-pat business people. Perhaps others will enlighten you.

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