5 ms·
Joining EU had this effect on my country as well (Romania). There are entire villages (I lived in one of them for 6 years and I can make a difference) where jus
by chimen 8y ago
Joining EU had this effect on my country as well (Romania). There are entire villages (I lived in one of them for 6 years and I can make a difference) where just old people can be found. The young left for other countries (mostly UK and Italy) and to the bigger cities but the latter did so because, for some reason, they couldn't find anything abroad.
What you're left with is nothing but old people who are easily manipulated into voting for whoever promises a bigger pension - sad but true, they dictate the future by majority. It's been years since we're fighting corruption at the highest level without success.
Bulgaria is even scarier than that. We travel to or through Bulgaria almost each year (going to their beaches or to Turkey) and we happen to go through huge areas without seeing people at all. Often times, when stopping for gas (true story, happened to us last year), you encounter really shady people that simply look for trouble - especially with the ladies. In one occasion we stopped for more than 30 mins and the individuals started "gathering up" and doing whatever they can to spark a fight with us.
I have friends who traveled at night and swear to not do it again. They encountered the same type of individuals that were cutting trees onto the road to prevent you from going any further and try to rob people. We have a rule, never travel Bulgaria alone, even if you're alone at the border you need to find someone else going to the same direction and go in packs.
Sad to see a country go down like that. We have witnessed this country getting worse and worse each year. Also, they seem to be even more corrupt than us, we prepare batches of 10 euros for police because we know they will stop us, we just get the paper out of the windows, salute and go...that's all they want.
I'm curious if other Bulgarians are aware of the difficulties we have to deal with while traveling in their country.
Edit:
I see some folks complain that I'm fabricating. I own a tourism small business and we always warn people of 2 things when doing Bulgaria:
1 - Never park your car where it's not being guarded, filmed, monitored (lots of cases with people left without their vehicle)
2 - Never stop at night on the road (if you can)
Romanian journalism (requires translation). The internet is filled:
- http://www.reporterntv.ro/stire/vacanta-de-cosmar-pentru-o-familie-din-constanta-hotii-din-bulgaria-i-au-lasat-fara-masina-video http://www.reporterntv.ro/stire/vacanta-de-cosmar-pentru-o-f...
- https://www.romaniatv.net/romani-lasati-fara-masini-in-timp-ce-se-aflau-in-vacanta-in-bulgaria_341849.html https://www.romaniatv.net/romani-lasati-fara-masini-in-timp-...
- https://www.promotor.ro/opinii/george-buhnici-despre-problema-cu-masini-furate-in-bulgaria-6113082 https://www.promotor.ro/opinii/george-buhnici-despre-problem...
- https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/social/romani-ramasi-fara-masina-in-bulgaria-le-a-fost-furata-din-parcarea-hotelului-787526 https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/social/romani-ramasi...
- https://movafaq.wordpress.com/2017/02/10/romanian-cars-bulgaria-ro/ https://movafaq.wordpress.com/2017/02/10/romanian-cars-bulga...
- https://www.b1.ro/stiri/auto/varna-hoti-romani-furati-in-bulgaria-221797.html https://www.b1.ro/stiri/auto/varna-hoti-romani-furati-in-bul...
- https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/masini-furate-in-bulgaria-1751574 https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/masini-furate-in-bulgaria-17...
- https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/actualitate/vacanta-in-bulgaria-s-a-transformat-intr-un-cosmar-pentru-o-familie-din-constanta-cum-au-ramas-fara-masina-in-bansko.html https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/actualitate/vacanta-in-bulgari...
- https://observator.tv/social/vacanta-la-schi-in-bulgaria-a-lasat-o-familie-din-constanta-fara-masina-de-30-de-mii-euro-200016.html https://observator.tv/social/vacanta-la-schi-in-bulgaria-a-l...
- http://www.bmwclub.ro/forums/topic/171395-bmw-furat-in-bulgaria/ http://www.bmwclub.ro/forums/topic/171395-bmw-furat-in-bulga...
I can go on but there's no point.
- chewyland 8y agoI have visited over 80 Bulgarian towns and villages in my campervan over the last 6 years and have never seen anything what you are describing. Sure, lots of empty towns, plenty of poverty and old people but did ever feel fear or see any violence, not once. BTW, I'm just a random friendly Canadian who talks with everyone.
- Asooka 8y agoI'm from Bulgaria. The stuff in OP's post definitely happens and there are more than enough areas like what he describes. Generally the area around Sofia/Plovdiv is civilized (South-West quadrant). But the South-East is depopulated and if he's going from Romania to Turkey, he'll be passing through the rougher parts of the countryside. I wonder if Google Maps or similar made him take a route off the highway as well. Don't do that. 100% on point about the road police. I wouldn't blame the EU for these developments though, it's the natural consequence of how our country developed post-Soviet rule. I also can't blame the old people for voting how they do, for them it's life or death. At least the EU can keep some check on the corruption, without them we'd be a de-facto Russian vassal and there's no corruption like Russian oligarch corruption.
- robocat 8y agoA few years ago I traveled solo through Bulgaria for a few days from Serbia to Greece on a 50cc Yamaha DT50R, avoiding major roads (due to small engine and it's just fun - spent a month going from Marseille to Istanbul - loved all the ex-yugoslav countries). Never noticed anything dangerous while traveling in Bulgaria, although Sofia has that normal big city be-careful feel to it. No bribes required either. Obviously only a few days and not a local and maybe I didn't see the rough areas... Edit: obviously there is danger throughout many parts of Europe. I just wanted to say that travelling solo through mountainous roads on a 50cc motorbike and often staying in hick areas, I felt welcome. Then again: I wasn't in a campervan or riding a BMW; I am not from a usually hated country; YMMV.
- sbmthakur 8y agoDid you also travel through the night?