The Budget Babe's International Travel Advisor Fifi LaMode soaks up the sights, sounds and soothing sea-air of the ever-evolving city of Varna, Bulgaria. —TBB


by Fifi LaMode
I admit I knew little of Varna before I went there. My primary reason for taking a cruise on the Black Sea was to see the Crimea, so I took little notice of the other stops thrown in to fill out the itinerary. This is one of the joys of travelling—sometimes the places you have the least expectations of turn out to be among the nicest.

Varna is the third largest city in Bulgaria, a Black Sea Port, and a spa town, due to its mineral waters. It is a popular resort among eastern Europeans and more increasingly, among western Euros as well. As in most old countries that are new again (due to the end of the Cold War, EU subsidies, and foreign developers seizing initiatives to make big bucks before prices skyrocket), you see many restored old buildings; these are in a turn-of-the-century Balkan Art Nouveau style. Very pretty. Many parks and trees; one park by the water has old helicopters, tanks, and other weapons of war on display. Can't read Bulgarian but I gleaned they were from WW 2. Interesting, but strange.

The downtown area is a clean pedestrian district with wide avenues, lined with trees and teeming with cafes. People are friendly, they look more Turkish than Slavic (don't tell them that—they were under Ottoman rule once and don't like to be reminded of the fact), and prices are relatively cheap (for Europe). It's a quiet, peaceful, yet lively town. There's a lovely Orthodox cathedral—Orthodox churches all seem to look like somebody's vision of heaven when you walk inside—plenty of paintings of angels and saints in bright, beautiful colors.

Not that much English is spoken but you can get by with a little of everything, English, French, German, anything Slavic. This will change, as many Euros, especially Brits, are buying retirement properties in Bulgaria.