Bulgaria - abroad
Chicken is chicken, and Bulgaria is abroad.
I will paraphrase this well-known saying not only because comparing the holidays in Bulgaria, where I visited with my wife for the first time in the summer, with holidays in Russia and abroad, I see it as a truly foreign summer holiday. With what I compare: 8 times I was in Sochi and Adler, 2 times in Anapa, once Feodosia, Evpatoria, Chernomorskoe in Crimea, 1 time Turkey and Croatia, 2 times Egypt with a visit to Jerusalem 1 time, 2 times La Pineda and Salou in Spain. Spain, with a visit to Barç a and Port Aventura games on every visit, remains for me the most interesting vacation spot (and cheaper than our Sochi! ). But in second place, I will now put a summer holiday in Bulgaria. And above all, because of the attitude of the Bulgarians, because of the lack of a language barrier, because of the ratio of prices and quality for services, products and goods, because of delicious tomatoes, because of the history and new construction seen in this country.
We saw London, we saw Paris. But it wasn't a summer vacation. (This is for those who chuckle: "Did he see what? ")
We were in Sunny Beach from July 30 to August 13 in Fiesta Beach. When choosing a hotel, we got acquainted with the reviews of almost all hotels in Sunny Beach. Judged not only by photographs. Even if the photo showed a very beautiful hotel, but the reviews for the last two years were not very good, then it was put aside. We had no complaints about the Fiesta. They only took breakfast. We ate at the hotel a couple of times. There were no special complaints about the kitchen. The son settled in Haven. Therefore, we dined and dined in different places, since the main goal was to see the possibility of acquiring housing for permanent residence in retirement. Lunches are inexpensive. My wife and daughter and I dined for 20-25 leva (400-500 rubles), the son joined the dinner and the cost of dinner with good wine rose to 70-80 leva for four.
In addition, by comparing food prices in the options under consideration, we saw that the cost of food is more suitable for pensioners in Bulgaria. The Caucasus and Crimea turned out to be more expensive both in terms of the food package and the cost of housing.
But it's all beautiful on the Internet. How about in reality? We decided to check it out by inviting our son and daughter to the Sunny Beach resort for a family council. We thought to take a closer look, see housing, find out prices, and then decide: to buy - not to buy, if you buy, then where to buy, leave or not go to live in a foreign country.
And this is the second reason to remind yourself and tourists that Bulgaria is a foreign country in which its own, not Russian, laws apply. And, solving serious issues, you need to study the legislation of Bulgaria.
Arriving in the last days of July 2012 at Burgas airport, on the way to the hotel we saw fields scorched by the sun, often just overgrown with grass.
And the first impression was, to be honest, not quite what we expected. And expected to see green fields. But they realized that at the very height of summer, with a long-term temperature of over 30 degrees, the fields of sunflower and other crops should be yellowed. In hotels, we saw green lawns, and somehow everything became more fun. Having settled in the Fiesta Beach hotel, we immediately went to Old Nessebar, where we spent about 5 hours.
In the reviews we read that you should definitely try the fish called "tsatsa", thinking it was a super fish. Walking along the shore, they asked those who invited them to restaurants if they had this fish. And they stayed to dine at the Sea Wolf, where they answered in the affirmative. When we looked at the menu, we saw that it was our fried sprat, which cost 3 leva for a large plate. They ordered her and "tsipura". Of course, we didn’t master the “swell” plate. And it goes better with beer. This plate would be enough for 2-3 glasses of beer. But I don't drink that much beer.
Local beer is good. After him, he stopped drinking our bottled light beer at home. The same rejection of our beer for several months came after the Spanish Estrela. But grilled “tsipura” was then a popular dish with us.
On the way back, we drove from Old Nessebar to the first stop in Sunny Beach and went on foot. And purely by chance we stopped at the ads for the sale of apartments near one of the offices, talking about what is for sale here. And a tanned man with a beard came out of the office and immediately asked: “Russians? Looking for an apartment? Then visit us! Do you see our motto "Russians to Russians"? » In the office, this Alexander handed us over to another Alexander, who sells properties around Burgas, who gave us his business card “TEREM BG. Property For Sale. Alexander Zvezdanov, CEO
We talked for about half an hour, told what we would like to buy, at what price, in what place, what kind of infrastructure would be desirable. We agreed that he would pick up a few options for us by Friday for the arrival of his son. And we already had a trip to Burgas planned. In addition, we ourselves wanted to look around, what and how much.
After leaving the office, the wife said that she knew the name "Zvezdanov" from the answers on the Internet to questions about buying a home in Bulgaria.
We spent the next day in Burgas on the pedestrian Aleksandrovskaya street. At the same time, they decided to refuse to inspect apartments in Burgas itself. For two more days we walked along Sunny Beach, inspecting residential buildings and complexes. And somewhere we visited twice. For the second time, the son took part in the assessment of housing. It seems like a good place to live, but for several months it seemed to us somewhat difficult to live in conditions of a constant holiday.
By Friday, we were ready, as they say, completely. Abandoned the options for acquiring housing outside the complexes. And the whole family came to the meeting. It was hot, and we agreed to see three apartments first, and what we don’t see, we will continue on Saturday. Alexander turned out to be a good psychologist and immediately took us to where we settled on in our choice. One bedroom apartment. There is only a refrigerator, TV and washing machine. Complex on the border of Sunny Beach and Sveti Vlas, . 250 meters to the sea. Underfloor heating for year-round use. Video surveillance, first floor (or ground floor according to Bulgarian standards). Near the park, which once was a children's sanatorium. Half a kilometer to the mountains. (I read on my return home that this location is ideal for upper respiratory tract treatment)
We returned to Sunny Beach to inspect two more apartments.
We really liked the apartment, which was sold by the one who left for Italy, and the size, and its layout, the presence of a huge TV and refrigerator, furniture. But. Near a nightclub, asphalt all around. And although this option was 5 percent cheaper, and with a complete set of household appliances and all 10 percent, we opted for the first option.
All decisions were made with the consent of the son. Yes, I liked it. Not so bad. But by next year, this may not be the case. But the son, who at first was skeptical about our idea to move to Bulgaria, supported: if you like the option, then we will find money.
Never buy immediately something you initially liked. If your feet did not bring you back to the selected product, then you do not need it.
But on Saturday and Monday we came again for a more complete inspection of the chosen apartment, clarification of some nuances of the work of all communications, discussed the terms of sale, checked the documents for the apartment. And on Tuesday, we spent about 9 hours with Alexander Zvezdanov, the lawyer Zhivko Sotirov, who was recommended to us, and the seller, drawing up a preliminary contract for the sale of an apartment in two languages, very carefully agreeing on the terms of payments, the responsibility of the parties.
All the time we were in Russia, we kept in touch via the Internet on the issues of processing the necessary documents and declarations.
In October, my wife and I came to Bulgaria again, signed and received a notarial deed on the purchase of an apartment in Bulgaria, and a couple of days later Zhivko's lawyer sent copies of BULSTAT's registration certificates.
Of course, when solving the issues of acquiring housing, we had a lot of doubts: we read a lot of information that in Bulgaria they can throw with the purchase of housing, trusted strangers with whom I had to work, decent money that I could pay only by selling my existing apartment . Being homeless in old age is a serious risk. But everything worked out. And I connect this with the fact that I got to the PROFESSIONAL - ALEXANDER ZVEZDANOV.
Already upon arrival in October, Alexander showed me a few more objects to be sold. Very good objects. There is something in something more interesting than what my wife and I purchased, there are cheaper options. But I am not disappointed in my choice. He also revealed to me a few simple secrets: it is better to buy housing in the period from October to May, when they have not yet put a marathon on secondary housing, when they have not yet had time to eliminate winter leaks.
He helped with many issues, from the installation of a new two-tariff electricity meter and replacement of the lock key, to bank payments. He is also an interesting conversationalist on many topics.
We ourselves made two walks in Sveti Vlas. I liked everything very much. I liked the fact that construction is going on here. And so there is a future. I'll try to post some photos.
When buying a home in Bulgaria, I would advise you not to rely on yourself, not to spare money for a lawyer independent of the seller, who will check the availability of valid documents and encumbrances, who will participate in the preparation of contracts and a notarial deed, in your absence will draw up and receive your documents.
Find a good realtor. I found one. A realtor in Bulgaria works on a percentage that he receives from the seller, not the buyer.
A little bit about coming to Sunny Beach in October.
Maybe we were lucky, but we almost never got on vacation during the rainy season. We always went to Spain in late September - early October. It rained for a maximum of 1-2 days on the eve of departure after October 10th. So here. From 10 to 20 October in Sunny Beach, an umbrella was needed only once in the evening. 22-26 degrees air. 20 degrees water. But only Russians bathed. And there were very few tourists. But during this period, almost all hotels and restaurants are closed. I think that in general, travel agencies are not very active in Bulgaria, the employees of which have rarely been here themselves.
It so happened that we booked one hotel (apartment) at our travel agency, they named us another, in Domodedovo we were given documents for the third, and settled in the fourth. Apartment in Excelsior. In general, what we expected, we got. They wanted to check their food costs, they rarely dined in a cafe. There are no claims. Everyone in the hotel was friendly.
There was a problem with the Internet, there was no network, but the money was returned immediately. Each option had its pros and cons. But here I ate such delicious tomatoes at a price of 1.93 to 2.9 leva (40 to 60 rubles). In summer, a lot of peaches were “destroyed” at 2.5 - 3.0 leva (this is when 3 peaches weigh 1 kg). And other fruits. I remember that once we sold wine "Bear's Blood". At that time I did not try what it is. Here I bought a bottle for 1.98 leva in "Mladost". I will not praise, but our wine for 100-120 rubles will not be better. Normal wine here is from 5-6 leva.
And the third reason to say that this is a foreign country.
Let me give you three small examples.
My son and I sat on the couch in the lobby of the Fiesta Beach Hotel. He spoke on the phone, and I went up to the room. After 5 minutes, he returns, and after another 10 minutes, he remembers his second phone. Either he forgot it there, or he fell out of his shorts pocket. Went downstairs, returned five minutes later with the phone, which was handed over to the reception.
On the second visit, my wife and I went to the Unicredit Bulbank in Sunny Beach to deposit money into an account that pensioners wishing to obtain a residence permit should have. A week later they came back to report the rest of the money to the accounts. Bank employees ask if they have forgotten anything in the bank and return the documents that we forgot the last time.
We went to one of the banks to pay for the annual maintenance of 425 euros in the complex in which we purchased housing. And in the bank, a bank employee tells us that we will pay the bank 20 euros for this operation, and advised us to go to another bank and pay only 5 leva.
How do you see this situation here? Personally, a year ago, in a similar situation, the phone was not returned to me, even for a ransom.
I'm a real person, not a publicist. My photos are posted at http://fotki. yandex. ru/users/ogk-ogk2011/, which may confirm my reality. My mailbox is kozyrog2011@rambler. ru.
If my information was useful to you, then I think that it was not in vain that I spent time writing the material. If you have any questions, I will answer the ones I know the answer to. I just liked the TEREM BG motto: “Russian to Russian. » And I have a wish that next year more Russians celebrated the New Year in Bulgaria, where I hope to get a residence permit as a pensioner. Good luck to all. Oleg.
