Bulgaria | Varna | Golden Sands | St. Constantine( Drouzba) | Albena
Republic of Bulgaria, country occupying 42,855 square miles (110,994 square kilometres) of the eastern portion of the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe. The capital of the country is Sofia, which lies in a mountainous basin in the west, near the geographic centre of the entire Balkan region.
Bulgaria is crossed by historically important routes from northern and eastern Europe to the Mediterranean basin and from western and central Europe to the Middle East. It is bounded by Romania on the north, most of the border being marked by the lower Danube River. The Black Sea lies to the east, Turkey and Greece to the south, Macedonia to the southwest, and the Yugoslav republic of Serbia to the west.
The country is remarkable for its variety of scenery - beautiful mountains and valleys and a coast with both sandy beaches and dramatic rocky areas. Those rugged mountains and modern Black Sea resorts attract a wide variety of tourists every year.
Because Bulgaria's population is largely homogeneous, the degree of cultural variation even at the regional level is small. Ethnically, most of its people are descendants of Slavs, although there are a number of Roma and Turkish minorities.
Territory: 110,993,6 km2
Population: 7,973,671
Capital: Sofia
Official language: Bulgarian
Religion: Orthodox
Political system: Parliamentary Republic
National currency: Lev
Time zone: GMT +2
Varna
Varna is Bulgaria's third largest city. It was an inhabited place even before the Greeks established the colony of Odessos there about 580 B.C. Later, under the Romans and their successors, the Slavs, Varna became a major port trading with Constantinople, Venice and Dubrovnik. In 1393 it was captured by the Turks, who made it an important military centre.
Nowadays it is the main port for both naval and commercial shipping and, adjacent as it is to the coastal resorts of Golden Sands, St. Constantine( Drouzba) and Albena it has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Sailors on shore-leave in unfamiliar ceremonial uniforms, mingle with foreign tourists and locals as they promenade along shady boulevards, lined by dignified 19th and early 20th century buildings.
North of Varna there is a cluster of seaside resorts all with fine - sandy beaches but differing in size and style.
The largest is Golden Sands set on well-wooded terraces, the last foothills of the Balkan range reaching down to the sea. Its four kilometre beach slopes gently into water which has no dangerous currents. There is a wealth of sporting and other facilities available, all very moderately priced. Water-skiing, wind-surfing, paraskung, snorkelling, tennis, volleyball, mini-golf and croquet can fill the visitor's day, and a choice of restaurants, bars, discos and nightclubs provide evening entertainment. Many hotels have recently been refurbished and upgraded.
By contrast, Albena is the youngest resort of the three, it has modern architecture and a youthful image. Its seven kilometre beach offers the same wide range of sporting facilities as Golden Sands, and there is a good selection of restaurants, folk taverns and other evening entertainment.
Beyond Albena to the north is the small town of Balchik, founded in the 6th century B.C. In certain lights both sea and sand here gleam silver, giving the area its name the Silver Riviera. There is a picturesque harbour area, and from the jetty it is fascinating to watch shoals of tiny fish darting about in the clear water, while larger individual fish lurk in a predatory fashion in the shadow of small boats. Coastal shipping brings visitors for the day, and one or two new restaurants near the harbour cater for them, but otherwise Balchik 5 a quiet small sea-side town on a wooded hillside.
Sts. Constantine and Elena, formerly known as Drouzhba, is the oldest resort. It too is well-wooded, but has small beaches and coves giving it a cosier atmosphere. Its tranquillity appeals to sedater visitors and participants in the many international conferences held here. The resort's Grand Hotel Varna is one of the finest hotels in Bulgaria, with a large range of facilities including a complete balneological complex, a casino, a nightclub and bars, two swimming pools, tennis courts and a bowling alley.
South of Varna a minor road leads to Kamchiya, where the river of the same name widens into a big lagoon before flowing into the sea. A small picturesque resort spreads along the wooded river banks. The nearby 500 hectares of nature reserve, Longoza, is an area of marsh and forest with dense almost tropical undergrowth. Ancient trees with a variety of climbers interwoven amongst them form a canopy. This is a typical deltaic formation, which, in spring, is regularly flooded, inundating a huge area. Here there are pelicans, kingfishers and water birds of all kinds. | 
