Flag of Bulgaria
For a start, most places in Sofia, the capital, where we wanted to eat or buy goods did not take credit cards. In the UK many places won't take American Express because that company charges a higher rate. If you want to use a credit card in Sofia you are safest in a large hotel such as the Intercontinental.
The Intercontinental Hotel in Sofia
Incidentally, this is a modern hotel, very civilized. At first I was more interested in seeing an older hotel. We looked at the hotel famed for its pillars. Yet the service and welcome and efficiency at the Intercontinental remained a good memory, after the neglected feel of other hotels. The hallway has a huge modern chandelier. You can stand counting the lights if there's a brief shower outside. Upstairs the corridor to the dining room is all waves, wavy walls and wavy artwork. A wonderful surprise. The Intercontinental had a buffet in a room with no windows. We ordered a la carte which saved our wallets and our waistlines. The coffee, free with the buffet, was also included free with the a la carte menu, and we were offered the free coffee twice.
A modern, clean toilet, such as that in the Intercontinental, on the same floor as the dining room, leaves a good memory, of marble floors and gleaming taps which work, hand gel dispensers which are full. That means a good memory, a lot in retrospect, when you later visit an older hotel with missing tiles on the floor, paper litter, empty gel dispensers, and have to climb up or down a flight of stairs to find a toilet.
We had already passed the Sense hotel which is known for its great view. But the bouncer on the door barred our way and told us to go to reception on the ground floor and pay for a buffet breakfast. I asked the price. He told us the price and we decided to walk on. We weren't sure whether he had had a bad day with tourists trying to enter just to see the view. But later somebody said that Bulgarians who appear to be aggressive or rude are simply being direct. That is their way.
When we went for the free walking tour, we were directed to McDonalds on the corner. The toilets were upstairs. To my surprise the McDonalds upstairs had a great view over the square. A budget breakfast, with a great view.
The city was deserted, Bulgaria's capital city, Sofia. Apparently it's like Paris. The locals disappear in the heat in Paris in August for the entire month and go to the beaches. Le Touquet was a traditional British resort. In Bulgaria on a sweltering June weekend, the locals had done the usual thing, deserted the city, just for a long weekend, left the streets and hotels late Friday after work and gone to the beaches on the other side of the country, the East, or the cooler mountains. Who knew! Now I know, and you do, too.
About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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