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@ConcernedCiti-Zen Depends who you speak to, all bar two of the Bulgarians I spoke to wanted to hold on to this monuments as a reminder. I actually really struggled to find alternative view points and was worried about sounding bias.

Що не си сложиш - вместо българското - знамето на Ислямското емирство Афганистан, талибанче?!?

Its nice to hear an alternative point of view, most of the people I spoke with were in support of their maintenance (depending on the monument) which honestly surprised me. I do think it's interesting that people have protested the destruction of both Alyosha and the Monument that was recently torn down in Sofia. Did you watch the whole video? I get the title might be a little high modality but I'd love to hear your thoughts on my understanding of the history.

​​ @LostAndAbroad1 Yes, I'm honored for your attention on this topic and the interest in the country - good video! But I must re- phrase myself : Certain monuments are problematic with their placement and one day should be replaced with something to be proud of, rather than something that reminds us every day of the trauma and in time shifts it's meaning, and becomes a cult symbol and a hub for a new generation of pro- russian enthusiasts, who bring needless instabillity in this country. But hey - that's what museums are for. No need for this dominating architecture to be smack- dab in the middle of our biggest cities, when the space could be used for something less depressing and more meaningful. With that said - I support the restoration of non- centrally located monuments like the Bells and the UFO and which would make them more special. Mostly people in the rural areas or around Varna (which used to be called Stalin city) are still fans of the USSR, but in the capital we have more up to date prespective on things. The "4- angled 5- d*cked" monument in Sofia was replaced with a cool little lion and it worked out great - I can't see why this can't happen with the Soviet army's memorial, the Brother's hill, Alyosha, the Varna monument, If they are partially preserved in a dedicated place. Fun fact - when the russians came to ''free us", they destroyed some of our monuments too. Another one is - one of my uncles was one of the few main sculptors of the Soviet Army's monument in Sofia (the female faces are modeled after the face of his wife - the only creative liberty in the project. Everything else was directed from Moscow) - Even the people in his family are happy that the main statue was removed because it reminds them of all the oppression and the lack of freedom they lived under, no matter what the stupid politicians say, so yeah... you can figure out where the division in our society starts from on this matter.

@@mr__coyote3061 Aside from at the end, where I did share some of my milder opinions, I tried to remain somewhat objective (I know that's not truly possible and many argue, correctly, that my choice of music is inherently sympathetic toward these monuments) but my truer opinions are probably closer to yours. Some of these should be destroyed or relocated. Alyosha for example, that statue overlooks the entire city of Plovdiv and is, at most, some meaningless to many of its citizens and, at worst, actively upsetting. Maybe something else could use that real estate. HOWEVER, I am genuinely devasted the Red Army monument in Sofia was taken down. The graffiti work that transformed the soldiers in pop culture icons in genuinely inspired and something that repurposes the art into something new. It was the main reason I wanted to visit Sofia and, upon hearing of its destruction, I considered not going at all. I understand why it was taken down but, as you say, maybe it could have just been relocated to a museum. I do believe though that the Khambanite and Shumen monuments transcend the context of their construction. They may have been built during the soviet era and with communist stylings but their spirit and meaning hold true sentiment to the country of Bulgaria and, I think, deserve preservation. As for Buzludzha, it looks so damn cool in its own merit that I think it should be turned into a museum and preserved that way. Turn it into something that benefits Bulgaria (through tourism) without tampering with its outer facade.

Tasted good though

Like me, the Mountain is constantly emitting gas. Once lit, the fires never go out.

Yea History! I love it!

I don't know what made you think I don't like Bulgaria - I absolutely love it dude! I can see why so many people move there.

And of course we're allies. We have a bell at Khambanite - unlike New Zealand!

@@LostAndAbroad1 Propebly you are living wrong body language impression making the video.Sorry.But on second tough you are professional photographer and nothing cant escape from your aye.

@@jeffright6627 I don't understand sorry

@mlondon1157 As one of the guys I interviewed said, "they represent soviet occupation." I met someone in Plovdiv, a Ukranian refugee, who declined to be in the video thay said Alyosha (the statue of a Russian soldier) was a constant reminder of the war in his home country that was always looking down on him, every second of every day. From that perspective, I can see the argument for their destruction. As others have pointed out though, the Monument Shumen and the Khambanite in Sofia were built by the communists but don't represent the communists so there's less reason for their destruction and probably accounts for why they're so well maintained whilst some of the others are not.

@@SlowHardware because of Russel Crowe

@LostAndAbroad1 🤣 he's British

@SlowHardware Russel Crowe was born in New Zealand and moved to Australia when he was 14 and identifies as an Aussie. That's why we get a bell, it's because it's made from his Oscar.

@LostAndAbroad1 oh shit the more you know

Actually, the Shumen monument was built in 1981 under communist leadership. Much like the Khambanite monument, it is "communist" in design and era but not in what it represents. As I say in the video, not all communist monuments celebrate communism. I guess it comes down to definition, to me if it's built during the communist era, with communist aesthetics, and was approved by the communists party then its a communist monument - even if it was designed by a Bulgarian. I also think it's a shame to get hung up on the hyperbole of "darkest period" as a means to ignore the mass the persecution of intellectuals and ethnic minorities because "the Turkish occupation was darker." Thanks for watching the video, and don't forget to subscribe.

@@LostAndAbroad1 I'm sure it was even build with Soviet money. But, atleast we agree on what it represents. Also like I said Bulgarians build that. They actually carried materials with wheel barrows to the top. All statues are of people who lived before the otomans got here. I find this video pure slander. No matter what you say. It's not just about that monument or the "Darkest period". It's also, about a lot of "Facts" you share and the overall tone of the video. Also as a teacher you should know that words matter. You can't say not to get hung up on a perticilar sentence or phrase.

@@LostAndAbroad1 Oh,forgot to mention. After 500 years of Otomans,there where Russians right after that. Bulgaria lost any identety and culture. No one knew anything else. I don't know what other design you expect.

It wasn't the Ottomans who sent Bulgarians to concentration camps like Belene and Sunny Beach. It wasn't the Ottomans who abolished the right to private property and ruined our agriculture with their ТКЗС system. While we did lose our independence for several centuries under the Ottomans, a lot of the history we are taught in school about how bad things were under them, is a result of communist propaganda taking over our history books after Turkey joined NATO in the 1950s. 500 years under the Ottomans, yet we did not start speaking turkish, yet for just a few decades under the soviet boot, the entire population was forced to learn russian and was brainwashed by the antihuman communist ideology.

@JSunday45 I mean, All the communist monuments in Bulgaria were built by Bulgarians. They built Buzludzha and the Monument in Varna too.

😅 yea you're right... sometimes I let my hyperbole run wild

Bulgarians had more rights and freedoms and were far less persecuted under the Ottoman Empire compared to the time under the communist rule. Darkest period of our history is spot on.

@Micah_T. I think it depends who you were. Some peoples suffered more persecution under one rule than the other. At the very least, the Ottoman Empire had nicer architecture.

@@LostAndAbroad1 I'm not denying there were mass murders such as the Batak massacre, but the Ottoman Sultan was the one who stepped in to defend the Bulgarian Orthodox Church's independence when the Greek and Moscow Patriarchates tried to force greek in our churches and destroy our identity. Bulgarians were free to travel abroad and conduct business and were one of the most prosperous traders during Ottoman rule as we had access to both European and Oriental markets. But overall there was no persecution outside of post-revolt actions. We did not suffer like the Armenians did, but we were treated fairly good. The common myth of "Ottoman slavery" around the Balkans I believe is a result of the beforementioned anti-turkish propaganda after Turkey joined NATO. I am yet to hear about slaves that owned property, had freedom to travel, built their own schools and paid taxes.

​@@Micah_T.При такъв "рахат" по време на "присъствието" как да си обясним всичките въстания срещу въпросното "присъствие"? Когато фактите говорят и боговете мълчат, но НЕ и туркофилите...

Yea, I think you're on the money there, Bulgaria didn't suffer quite as much as some of its neighbours under red rule.

Watch it again 😜 But thanks for watching it. If you enjoyed it, it does help a lot if you subscribe or share the video with friends.

And Australians are convicts from England, and, if you go back far enough, we all come from North Africa.

Funny how its only in your wikipedia page that shows you have any relations to Macedonia. Guess the whole world lives on denial and only you idiots know the truth.

We are slavic. Even though some tatars did migrate here they probably got diluted in the gene pool. Tatars are mostly mongolian and you a Macedonian are probably more Bulgarian than 50% of Bulgarian population. How can so much ignorence be in one page. We are well aware Macedonions don't like us, but honestly we forgot you even existed. We will see who gets the other half of Macedonia in the future.

@LostAndAbroad1 middle east to be exact.

@LostAndAbroad1 but the scots and vikings no, they are indigenes to that lands, the unwashed ones 😄

I'll tell you what, it tastes better than mouldy apartment dry wall.

@LostAndAbroad1 there's a Tunisian cheese, I think it's Tunisian, that's filled with maggots and all the maggots have eaten is cheese. They eat the cheese with the maggots, they are still wriggling 😳

Protein. For real though I've hear about that cheese and I don't know if I could do it. That might be too much for me.

Casu marzu, an Italian cheese is similar! I've heard it's better to eat it with protective glasses on, because the maggots can jump in your eyes O.O

@@AleksandraŁopato-y7p I hate this so much

You are correct and, as a Literature teacher, I should know better. Shame on me.

I just think the monuments look neat...

@@henning8737 glad you liked it :)

Thanks, glad you liked it

I mean, in Bulgaria's case they allied with Nazi Germany initially but, due to pressures from the church and people, was reluctant to deport many of its Jewish population - sending only just over 10,000. And, while Bulgaria would leave this alliance, it was never occupied by the Nazis to my knowledge. As was mentioned in the video by both myself and locals, the Red Army brought about some positive changes, specifically in education, but it also brought about a lot of pain and suffering.

The only Red Army soldiers to die on Bulgarian lands were the ones who drank methyl alcohol over at the Burgas train station after killing the railway worker who tried to stop them from doing such a stupid thing. I've had the chance to speak to my Great-Grandparents who were alive during WW2 and all of them spoke highly of stationed Wehrmacht soldiers who helped around the farms, gave children chocolates and actually paid for housing. When the Red Army came over, they forced people out of their homes, seized property and food and did not pay a single penny, and I won't even bring up the horrors they did in Germany. Bunch of savages. They do not deserve monuments.

@Micah_T. This is the sentiment I've heard a lot in Poland and is probably why many of the soviet monuments there have already been destroyed.

Yea! I thought so too!!!

As I said in the video, I've not got a personal connection to that period of history and am very far removed from the pain it brings up. But, as an outsider, I appreciate that these monuments are still accessible - they act as reminders of how occupation (either literal or figurative) can result in a dehumanised society. I even think there's value in preserving the aesthetic. However, they also act as tragic reminders for some.

why is it backwards and shameful?

@lukaszpawelsiwiec yea there's that one dude after Aliosha that said it should be destroyed because it represents Societ occupation. However, I will say, I was asking people around the Monuments - I think people near the Monuments probably have a predisposition to liking them.

I'm aware it's former the USSR anthem, I deliberated a lot on what song to open with and couldn't find any that quite fit - I asked a Polish friend and she recommended it. I hadn't considered it might be thought of as misinformation and apologise for the mistakes. I hope they don't detract from the video too much. Thanks for watching 😊 EDIT: I also appreciate that you watched the whole video and offered thoughtful input.

Isn't Belene still operating?

Thanks for the corrections

I think that's just a mental shortcut. Soviet country or a satellite Soviet state, ultimately what he wanted to say is that Bulgaria was in the Soviet sphere of influence, not that it became the part of the Soviet Union itself.

Thanks for popping by, I'm glad you liked it! I also post videos on travel and history but am currently in the process of becoming a dedicated photography channel.

I don't know that suspicion is the right word, but a larger kit definitely would have resulted in a different response.

@IoSapsai that's some great advice, thank you! I've pinned your comment so other travellers can see. Also, make sure you stick around for next week's video as some of it is set in Shumen!

You really should!

Nope no guide, just a smile and google translate. We didn't even fly in from the airport, we hitchiked in from the Ukranian border after a few days in Lviv. I think you'd be surprised what you're capable of - it is scary and overwhelming at first to enter a country with new customs and a brand new language. But you very quickly adapt; I think if it's something you really want to experience you can do it too!

Travelling like this is really fun and helps you immerse in the culture and learn a lot from a different perspective :) I always travel like this, learn a couple of words on the way and try to connect with the locals. Never hired a local guide, but sometimes those small interactions would lead to great friendships and those friends would help me or show around. I was invited to people's houses, shared meals together, travelled together, took part in local festivals and protests. Technology (gmaps, maps.me, google translate) helps a lot. In many countries, like Mexico or Romania people are super friendly, helpful and welcoming, and will try to connect with you even if you don't know the language. It's not easy sometimes, and not everyone enjoys this kind of travels - but if you want to try it, it's totally worth it :)

@@AleksandraŁopato-y7p yea usually it's just square and depressing. This one's square and cool! 😎

Of all my videos, this one probably has my favourite use of music. That or the EDM Cossack Music remix that I've used a couple times. I'm in Turkey now, so get ready for a new flavour of sound.

I would love to! I still haven't been to Bosnia yet, so maybe I should

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I've got more photos from Romania on my website and more travel and photography videos on channel / coming soon.

I'm so sorry about her knuckle

@Matt-OnTheRun such a great lens, one of my all times favourites

Honestly, he made mine too 😅

Veliko Britain

@motomium these are all excellent points! I've actually expanded upon this idea on my website if you're interested in reading more of my thoughts. I am considering making a follow up video to this discussing the ethics of street & travel photography now thay I'm in Turkey. www.lodipertovtphotography.com/blog/photograph-strangers-without-being-a-creep

Just wanted reiterate that I really like your comment btw - very constructive.

Did you make it to Brasov or Sinaia? Those were my favourite places to visit there, truly breathtaking

I did make it to Brasov and Sinaia actually! My route included Sucevita, Suceava, Bucharest, Sinaia, Brasov, Transfagarasen (of which I have another video posted), Sibiu, Cluj Napoca, and Maramures. I've since been in Bulgaria (videos soon) and am now in Turkey.

You can see most of my other photos from Romania on my website www.lodipertovtphotography.com