Bulgaria’s extensive 1300-year history along with the presence of migrating tribes has made the cuisine of Bulgaria extremely diverse. Many of the daily meals include traditional dishes and customs.
Historically, Bulgarians have flavored stews, roasts, and boiled fresh vegetables with lots of garlic, onions, oils and spices in terracotta cookware. Roasting food on charcoal embers is also common, which leaves the meat tender and moist. During a Bulgaria cruise you will notice that many of the local meals almost always include meat, potatoes and cheese. Food tends to be spicy, filling and tasty. A wide variety of national dishes, such as cold yogurt soup with cucumbers, peppers or aubergines stuffed with meat, or kebabcheta (small, spicy, minced meat rolls) are popular. And many dishes also include influences of the neighboring countries of Turkey and Greece. Visitors will also find fruit is particularly delicious and inexpensive throughout the year.
There are plenty of places to try the local cuisine while on a trip to Bulgaria, with many attractive restaurants and cafes throughout the country. The main meal is eaten in the middle of the day. Dinner is a social occasion, with dancing enjoyed before and after the meal. A salad and a rakia (Bulgarian spirit/schnapps, usually made from grapes) traditionally precede a meal at a leisurely pace, lasting up to an hour. Desserts are not a strong focal point of Bulgarian cuisine, although cafes usually have a wide selection of pastries and cakes. Most restaurants offer only pancakes or crème caramel.
Ayran, a beverage of yogurt and water, is drunk by Bulgarians on a daily basis. Heavily sweetened coffee is also particularly popular. Many drinks are also made from infusions of mountain herbs and dried leaves, particularly lime.
Bulgaria offers excellent, world-famous red and white wines that are not only superb but inexpensive as well. Sample the large variety of wines during your Bulgaria cruise. White wines include Evksinograde, Karlouski Misket and Tamianka. Heavy red wines include Mavroud and Trakia. Liquors include the rather potent mastika and rakia (grape or brandy). Bulgarian beers have recently gained popularity and are much cheaper than imported beers.
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.