PART II- Returning to “The Country Everyone Wants to Leave”: Bulgaria | The Oldest Country in Europe
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ต.ค. 2024
- The Eastern European Country everyone wants to leave…. Bulgaria. With a population of 6.5 million and 2.5 million living abroad, Bulgaria’s population is decreasing rapidly. I am one of the few who returned to my roots and am on a mission to revive this Balkan Paradise. Today my family is also stepping foot on their Motherland… and bringing an American who has never visited before with them. This will be interesting!
ABOUT ME:
My name is Laurie and I swapped city life (Manhattan, New York) for a simple life in a semi-abandoned village (Село) in the Balkan Mountains (Eastern Europe).
I literally woke up one morning and realized NYC wasn’t for me. I booked a ticket (the same day!), packed a little suitcase, and moved to my beloved teeny-tiny Bulgarian farm… lost in time. And when I say lost in time I mean LOST-IN-TIME. No time-crunching jobs, no watching the clock, hardly any internet service at all, really. Imagine a village from the Middle Ages… that’s pretty much what you get here. And I’m loving every second of it!
I went from living in a city of 8 million to living on an old, historic farm… population: under 40. From skyscrapers to crumbling abandoned houses. From fast food takeout to barrel grill cooking. The advantages of village life are endless…
Update: My boyfriend and I have saved up and begun renovating our abandoned ancestral homestead (farmhouse). It hasn’t been easy but definitely interesting and extremely rewarding. There is nothing better than farming, harvesting and foraging for our own food… and keeping tradition alive. 🌱
ЗА МЕН:
Здравейте!
Аз съм Лори, на която всички се чудят как замени градския живот (Манхатън, Ню Йорк) със спокоен живот в малко полуизоставено село в България.
Събудих се една сутрин и осъзнах, че Ню Йорк не е за мен. Купих си билет (същият ден!), стегнах си малкото куфарче, и се завърнах в България… в бащиното ми селце, там, където животът е спрял, и там, където разбираш кои неща наистина имат смисъл! Забравих какво е стрес, напрежение и нареждане на деня спрямо часовника! Часовник, какво е това? За да ползваш телефона си, отиваш до специално място, където има обхват, и така говориш! Чувстваш се така, сякаш живееш в годините от Възрожденския ни период! Обожавам и ценя всеки миг, прекаран тук!
Всички се чудят не е ли трудно да живееш в село с по-малко от 40 души, отчитайки, че идвам от град с 8 милиона жители! От небостъргачи до рушащи се изоставени къщи…От доставки на бързи храни до готвене на жар и весели чевермета! Предимствата да живееш на село са безкрайни... На първо място трябва да осъзнаеш какво дава то на душата ти, защото тя е най-важна! След това да забравиш за клишето, че няма реализация!
В момента: Моят приятел и аз обновихме изоставената къща на предците ни! Пригодихме я така, че да не ни липсва каквото и да е удобство! Не беше лесно, но определено интересно и изключително възнаграждаващо. Няма нищо по-добро от земеделието, отглеждането и търсенето на собствена храна... и поддържането на традицията жива. 🌱
#visitbulgaria #bulgariatravelvlog #bulgariacountry #americaninbulgaria
My use of the title “The Country Everyone Wants to Leave” is symbolic and intended to shed light on the issue that a large portion of our young population is choosing to leave in search for “a better life”. I keep hearing my friends repeat time and time again that “Everyone Wants to Bulgaria” and this upsets me.
I did the opposite. I left everything I had in NYC to return because I believe Bulgaria is GREAT. My goal is to address the issue and show how beautiful and full of potential Bulgaria is. I want Bulgarians to love and be PROUD of our Велика България!!!! 🇧🇬
My wife and I are looking to move there in a year and a half. I have an established LLC and it runs online so I can get a visa. I plan on selling my new England home and buying a condo in Detroit and then a home in Bulgaria. We're going to use yulson homes and try to find something expensive enough to gain citizenship through investment but the problem is we can't find a house expensive enough to qualify haha 😆 so crazy we'll have to buy like 2 houses or something I dunno 🤷♂️ I think the total investment needs to be like $400k US or something and the homes there are so cheap.
My biggest regret is leaving my beautiful country in the 90s Live in cold Canada now absolutely hate it Definitely going back to my beautiful country I m from Sofia It so nice to see such smart young people like you .Thank you 😊
*TO APPRECIATE BULGARIA* you have to live outside Bulgaria - so many things Bulgarians just totally take for granted, like the sense of community, are almost entirely missing in the West.
I live in a Commi block in Burgas - i know every single one of my neighbours, I lived in a village in the UK - I knew no one.
Even things like a functioning bus service, half the west no longer has that
I worked with Bulgarians during the summers growing up here in Saco Maine US. This town has a population of like 20,000 and every summer around a few hundred to over 1000 Bulgarian students come here to work our seasonal jobs.. they were all bright eyed and positive when they get here, by the second week they are feeling it 🤣 they usually leave saying F this place but thanks for the computers and TV's haha they all buy laptops , phones TVs etc because it's cheaper here I guess 🤷♂️
@@Sk8erRevolt Yeah its a strange place. Houses and rent is way way cheaper than the West, but consumer electrics are more expensive. I got my sister to buy my 27" iMac in the UK and ship it over to me.
You know, you worded it perfectly! There is a sense of community in Bulgaria which I didn’t feel either back in America. I have long wondered how to describe Bulgaria and what makes me love it so much… it’s the sense of community. I’m going to use your description from now on when explaining Bulgaria to people 😃. Thank you for this!
@@sistersofbulgaria9396 - I could never return to the UK because I would be SO lonely, even though I live on my own here I am never lonely.
sevgili arkadaşım senin her çektiğin vıdeoyu büyük bir keyifle izliyorum güzel Ülke ni harika bir şekilde tanıtıyosun ve Bulgaristan nın hem köyüne hem kentine , kültürüne ve tatlı insanına hayran kaldım herzaman güzel ve mutlu günlerde yaşamanız dileğiyle tüm ailene ve Bulgaristan a Türkiye den sevgiler
The grass always seems greener in another country but more often than not it isn't. Your capital looks nice. I've never lived in a city here in the UK. Grew up on a small farm with the nearest house over a mile away. Never lived in anything bigger than a village. Lots of people in the west are wanting to return to rural life and grow their own food. Can't wait to see more of your country. Thanks for the video. All the best 🇬🇧.
Thank you for your videos! Its really awesome that we can learn stuff about Bulgaria from a person living there! I really want to move there from Greece but i need to wait 2 more years before I am able to come (Im literally count the days! 648 days left xD) Looking forward for your next videos!
Thank you for sharing your time with us and the History of your home Country.
Great video! Enjoyed the glimpses of Bulgarian history and architecture, ancient and new, from an architect. I have roots in the same region of southeast Europe, my grandparents came from neighboring Romania.
Oh how I miss Sofia, the best kept secret of Europe. It's so unpretentious and so welcoming. And you were right, you did finally get your sister on camera! :D So glad, obviously beauty runs in the family. Looking forward to the next instalment.
I really enjoyed how you hopped between scenes in Sofia and then the countryside. You gals are ALL so darn gorgeous...it clearly runs in the family. I'm a superfan of your Baba...clear across the globe to North Carolina, USA! I'm so envious of your relationship with your family, and especially your Baba. Still looking for that cookbook, girl!
I made a few trips to Bulgaria with my ex-wife (Bulgarian), and I your tours really bring me back. I've been to a few of the places you've shown, and look forward to going back on day.
I really felt some nostalgia in your last video, as I had a such a similar experience as your sister's boyfriend did on my visits. I got to go to family gatherings out in the village, fine dining in Sofia, and see Roman ruins just sort of 'sitting around' in Plovdiv.
My favorite experience was sitting out a storm at a beachside bar near Varna, where an old communist hotel had been subsumed by the sand and cliffs, sort of like in The Lost Boys.
Your best video yet
We welcome any news from wonderful Bulgaria .....yes
I am returning to Bulgaria in March, I will be moving to Plovdiv. I am a Bulgarian who lives in Canada, Toronto since I was 5 years old. I really can't wait... your videos are really helpful. Поздрави!
OMG AMAZING!!! This is exactly what I always hope to hear. I think you will be veryyyy happy back home in Bulgaria.. especially in Plovdiv! Plovdiv is one of my favorite cities in Bulgaria. It has such an awesome mix between modern and historical. I hope you are very happy here!! Welcome back home!
Поздрави! 🇧🇬😊🌎
Благодаря ти много! I loved watching your walking tour of Sofia. It revived memories of walking around, and I caught myself saying, "and over there is [blank], and on the other side is [blank]."
You went up that street/walkway Malko Tarnovo Street, which itself has a rich history (both happy and sad).
И аз ти благодаря!! Много се радвам че ти хареса! My goal with my videos is to share Bulgaria and reach out to Bulgarians who are living abroad. I remember how much I missed Bulgaria when I was living in NYC. I hope that people can feel they are in Bulgaria again through my videos!
It sounds like you really know Sofia!! What is the sad history about Malko Tarnovo? 😮
Superb lovely place❤❤❤
Beautiful 👌and so interesting , thanks 🙏
Thank you so much! Always so good to hear from you 😊
@@sistersofbulgaria9396 yeah same me too 💞
Such an interesting country.
To have ancient Roman structures in the middle of town is just incredible to me.
I really like the past mixed with the present that Bulgaria has.
The past mixed with the present is one of the things that makes Bulgaria (and much for Europe) so amazing! It makes me very happy to hear that you value history. Thank you so much for watching and for this great comment!
@sistersofbulgaria9396 I look forward to your videos.
Really enjoyable.
Thank You!
beautiful country.
It truly is 🥰🇧🇬
Thank you so much for watching!
The good side of it is that things must be cheaper than in the countries that everyone goes to like rent, food, etc. Not crowded with tourists as hot spots are. I would visit you've introduced the culture and the beautiful countryside very well.
To tell you the truth Bulgaria is actually not as cheap as everyone thinks. The cost of living has skyrocketed the past 2 years and many people are having trouble getting by. I think they are planning on introducing the euro here next year which is scaring a lot of people.
Otherwise Bulgaria definitely is beautiful and full of life! 🇧🇬❤️
@@sistersofbulgaria9396 Disappointing. Living on a budget I look for expense as a high priority. Thanks.
Bulgaria is such a beautiful country ))
Another great video 🎥 🎉 😁🙌
♥ Baba Nina's knowledge
It's lovely that some parts have been preserved.
I do like the red-pink building.
Thanks for sharing, Laurie, and I'm looking forward to the heavier videos, too
(loads of rain here in the UK - the winter crops have already been destroyed)
Wow nice video❤❤
Many many thanks!! 😊🇧🇬
It is very super video❤❤❤❤❤, always I like your videos ❤❤❤❤❤
I am legit thinking of retiring in Bulgaria. I admire your decision
Thanks!
Wow! Thank you so much for your amazing support!! It means the world to me 😊🌎. Not just the financial support but also the emotional support. It makes me so so happy that you enjoyed my video and boosts my passion to keep creating. Thank you so much again! 😊🌹
❤ good 👍 Awsome Bulgaria 🇧🇬
😊🇧🇬❤️
Looks like a great place to spend time
It truly is ☀️🌎
Thank You....the food sounds pretty wild....
Hahah ooooo it truly is WILD 😃
@@sistersofbulgaria9396 Good Morning from Washington State
Its important to mention that mainly roma people keep their horse carts and they are officially forbiden in the city,but they drive them anyway to collect scral metal ,polkce confiscated a lot of horses😂
It is beautiful building ❤❤❤❤❤❤ great tradition ❤❤❤❤, I like this❤❤❤❤❤, nice church❤❤❤❤
It's strange to see a building with so much graffiti yet no litter on the ground anywhere and a nice restaurant right next to it. There are probably no "bad parts of town".
There people are very nice, interesting, ❤❤❤❤❤❤
I thought serdika was just the word for centre when i visited. LOL I got the train from Sofia to Plovdiv to visit there for a couple of days. I love it. Most of the people i know thought i was crazy?! Haha
Well, what you thought is the truth, Serdika is the old ancient name of the city, but it was more or less the size of this region of Sofia that you are talking about. Then it grew and is what it is now. Serdika and the other old name Sredets literally means Center, but not the center of Sofia, but in the time of the Thracians, Romans and Greeks, the center of the region now known as the Balkans.
Haha my friends think I’m nuts too because I like to take trains and buses between towns/ cities as well 😁. You get to see places that you wouldn’t normally pass through!
Thank you for this info Svetoslavstanchev9977 ! I actually did not know the “Serdika” means center. I feel like I have memories of Baba telling me this but I have to admit I don’t remember the details fully. As far as I know Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement called Serdica, probably named after the Celtic tribe Serdi that had populated it. Around 29 B.C. Very interesting that it also meant “center”.
Excellent place❤❤❤❤❤
Awesome
So happy you enjoyed 😊🌎🇧🇬
Byeeeeee, take care, lovely Laurie ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Hello! 😊❤️
@@sistersofbulgaria9396 hi
I've spent roughly 3 years as a student in Sofia and over that time I did plenty of ~roaming around... both with car and foot... and people from other town that have been around ~with even more ~other people... and some of the locals have taken me to many of the ~more well known places in and around Sofia during those times... but I don`t think I've ever been on those particular stairs as well... Stairs are rare in Sofia because unlike ~Plovdiv it doesn`t have many natural elevations within it... Point being I most likely would have remembered them, but than again the entirety of that was over 15 years ago by now and I didn`t remember many of it while it was on going as well :P.
This historical country, interesting, impressive, ❤❤❤❤❤
I’m so happy you think so !! 😊❤️🌹❤️
Awesome share
Thanks so much! I worked really hard on this video so it makes me super happy to hear you enjoyed 😊😊😊
@@sistersofbulgaria9396 take care
I love your channel, your videos and your positivity!
Minor criticism - the English did not invent honor guards and the practice was never exclusive to their country, so noone should be surprised that there are guards in Sofia that watch over the presidential office.
Your country is very beautiful 👍
Thank you so much! 🇧🇬🌹☀️
Outstanding! Could have been double the time.
Thanks so much! There is much more to come 😊☀️
LOVE FROM PAKISTAN 🇵🇰
Love from Bulgaria to beautiful Pakistan! 🌹
Everything is nice, ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Браво!
Благодаря много!! 😊🇧🇬🌹
Beautiful country of pretty handsome people
Hi, Laurie how are you? Have a wonderful day, good morning ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Good morning! 😊❤️🌹
Loved this one! You featured the магаре a lot, and of course everyone's favorite, Баба Нина! What did Johnny think of Bosa? 🤔 It's been the source of a number of conversations with my friends. ❤ to all!
Haha ooooo Магарето Гошо! 🫏 You know.. funny thing is that’s not even his name. I gave it to him 😄 I felt it suited him really well l.
Баба Нина sends you and Marina МНОГО ПОЗДРАВИ!! 🌹
Jonny didn’t get around to trying boza 🥲 He tried just about everything except боза and шкембе чорба 😅 Next Time!
@@sistersofbulgaria9396 at least you didn't name him Бинки 🤣
Страхотно видео .. а ти си толкова сладка 😘😍🥰😇😇😇
Awwww благодаря!! 😊😇🥰
@@sistersofbulgaria9396 I told one of my colleague,I found a wife ,but she still do not know it , he ask where I say in youtube video 😂
Good to see that ancient ruins are being looked after.
Oooo yes. They are the pride of Bulgaria ☀️
It blows me away the amount of history all over the world. Look at the US, we only have around 400-500 years of history. Other places have thousands of years.
Beautiful doll
❤LOVE❤
Hi, how are you? Your country and video v v beautiful. I like it. From Pakistan 🇵🇰🌹
Your sister is beautiful just like you, and yes - grandmother's knowledge is what we were taught during socialism. :) They are not very true, but I think you know that too. May she be alive and well :)
Awww thank you so much! I passed on the compliment to her and she got very flattered 😊. Baba knows everything! It’s amazing how much knowledge the older population holds! She sends you Много Поздрави!! 🌹
You lost me at chicken butt .😂😂
This is the real Bulgaria
Yes it is 😊 🇧🇬 Thanks so much for watching!
Хубаво видео но можеше да снимаш още неща в София и да говориш и на български както преди :)
Craftsmanship on the church is amazing. Except maybe for better opportunity, it is hard to believe anyone would want to leave there. At least modern society hasnt completely choked out your historical and traditional ways and values there and hopefully it never will.
Isn’t it absolutely amazing!? The church in Sofia being built originally as a Roman bath house and then transformed into a church always amazed me. The churches in our village are incredible… especially when you remember that all this was built by hand from rocks lugged from the river 😮. I too pray that modern society doesn’t shadow our history and traditions!!!
5:20 They are living as 200 years ago, but strongly embracing Soap operas and the Adidas sportsware!
Hahaha YES!! We were just in Adidas the other day 😂 Don’t ask me why
👌
😊🇧🇬
Black sea coast and the cities are seeing an increase in population its just the old little villages that are seeing the drop in population!
Yes, this is true but Bulgaria’s population overall is still declining 😔. I also wish to preserve our little villages.. they are the heart and soul of Bulgaria 🇧🇬
Your baba is wrong - in 855 is Boris's baptism, while in 864 Bulgaria accepts Christianity as a state religion.
That’s exactly what she said. She said “after” 855 AD. Later she clarified the exact year which I wrote in the translation text below. 😊
In regards to religion and the churches you showed, is it Greek Orthodox based Christianity, similar to the Russian Church ?
Orthodoxy originated in Byzantium (Eastern Roman Empire), the religion was adopted by Bulgarians to improve relations with Byzantium. Later, Bulgaria brought its culture, writing, religion to the East Slavic countries such as Russia.
Unfortunately, Christianity failed to reconcile the constantly warring Byzantines and Bulgarians, exhausting each other with long wars, which the Ottoman Empire took advantage of and occupied them.
The old church was Roman. The more recently built one was Bulgarian Orthodox. We adopted the religion from the Eastern Roman Empire when the old Tengrism was not favourable anymore.
@@beefchampion2792Tengrism is Turkic-Mongolic nomadic civilization faith.
@@beefchampion2792 Tengrism was never a mass religion in Bulgaria. Before accepting Christ, the Bulgarians were pagans.
Not "everyone wants to leave" In fact many people are coming back.
Just a few days ago a famous canadian travel-vlogger publicly announced to her over 300K international followers that she's moving to Bulgaria.
th-cam.com/video/C1KRZrq6r08/w-d-xo.html
what are the main reasons people are leaving?
I explained my use of the phrase “everyone wants to leave” in the video. Many people from foreign countries have begun moving into Bulgaria but the rate of Bulgarians leaving is still very high. Half of my friends from selo have moved abroad. Just look at our rapid population decline 😔
This is a big problem and I want to bring light to it. We need Bulgarians to stay in Bulgaria. 🇧🇬
Very very low salaries for work which deserves much higher compensation. Our salaries are so low that many Bulgarians can’t afford to even take a trip abroad. We just can’t compete with the foreign prices.
@@GGhost-q9w We are the poorest country in the European Union with the lowest standard of life and extremely corrupt political leadership. A lot of regions in the country are very poor and don't have the same job opportunities like we have in Sofia, so people are forced into becoming economic immigrants into Germany, France, England, USA in order to find a better life. This has been a big problem ever since the Iron Curtain fell and the politicians have not done nearly enough for things to change.
Just noticed the title "Oldest Country in Europe" ... wthat ... WTF!
How can someone move to Bulgaria?
Get yourself a Bulgarian hottie and move there with her might be a winning strategy. 😅
Hahaha 😂 Sounds pretty winning to me!
I actually don’t know much about the process involved in moving to Bulgaria. I am here with family and have Bulgarian citizenship. What I do know is that you have to have a business here to purchase land. Again, I don’t know the details but I had a friend who tried buying land and he told me this was part of the process.
Pig ears? Duck hearts?? Something tells me I would lose weight pretty quick in Bulgaria. 😅
Hahaha you and my sister both 😂 She’s not a fan of the “exotic” foods either
Здравей,
на 7:05 чух как дамата говори за това как преди княз Борис-Михаил I българите имали религия, която се казвала "Тангра".
Тъй като съм прекрасно запознат с историческите извори, искам да ви потвърдя, че такова нещо при българите никога не е съществувало в историята и е важно да го знаете, за да не се подвеждате по такива остарели заблуди, които са се преподавали едно време и които вече не са актуални. Тогава са се приемали просто така в псевдонауката и за това много българи са подведени дори и с произхода си...
За наличие на подобна религия няма нито едно историческо свидетелство! Няма и нито един исторически артефакт, няма никакви олтари/капища, няма нищо свързано с това монголско божество "Тенгри"! (А то е монголско, да!)
Българите-езичници никога не са били монотеисти, за да имат монотеистична религия преди християнството! В изворите пише, че са почитали слънцето, луната и звездите, почитали са много богове, но също така е имало сред тях и християни от най-ранните - тези, които са покръстени от апостол Павел... Тоест, в това общество, до преди масовата християнизация, са същижествали българи, които са имали различни религиозни вярвания, сред които е имало от ранно време езичници и християни! За това и в днешното православно българско християнство има достатъчно много езически елементи и обичаи, приплетени в него!
Българите нямат връзка и с монголците, че да ползват тяхно божество "Тенгри", а напротив - имат връзка само с местната балканска популация, която живее под римска власт и с нея делим произхода си, съответно и с нея имаме прилики, включително в религиозно отношение.
Няма да изпадам в повече подробности, но запомнете само едно - ако някой ви внушава, че сме имали някаква си "Тангра", не му вярвайте, без значение дали е ваш близък или не, защото това е подвеждане и никога не е съществувало подобно нещо в историята ни, а то е просто продукт на фантазията на историци-пропагандисти от 20-ти век, не е исторически факт!
Благодаря за вниманието, имате прекрасно видео, поздрави!
Ive been to Sophia Bulgaria before...its so nice. and the chics are smokin hot.
Much like rural America, nobody wants to stay and do the hard labor. 🏫 👨🏫 🎓
Absolutely right 👍🏻
Lor4eeeee🤍💚❤💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓
🇧🇬🇺🇸👍💐🙂
🇧🇬 🇺🇸 🌹🌎😊☀️
@@sistersofbulgaria9396 title pic thinking wow modern style 😳👍still the traditional outfits are 👍💐🙂
This is what Poland looked like till 1995
Wow 😮 I’ve never visited Poland. Very interesting to hear
every one is trying to get out of affrica and the middle east to get to euprope
Yes.. but the problem is Europe simply cannot sustain so many people. 😕
Don't worry, the western world is collapsing big time. Here in Canada wokeism and communism has alienated men almost completely.....economy is at depression levels and they can't find normal women anywhere. People are leaving in increasing numbers and eastern Europe is one destination of note.
Mmmm sadly everything you said is true. I used to love NYC when I was little but it’s not the same anymore… I visited Canada for the first time last year and loved it but I don’t know what living there is like. From what you described it’s similar to America currently
Is anybody vegetarian there? I don't mean full on vegan, but just someone that doesn't eat animals that were killed for consumption. I could dig the dairy products, mushrooms and green onions. If I have about five or six things to eat regularly I'm happy.
Bro, give pig ears a chance!😂
@@svtinker 😂
the majority of Bulgarians identify as Eastern Orthodox Christians. Normally, we fast from animal products about 160-180 days per year. including dairy.
Mmmmm there are definitely a few vegans here and there but to be honest veganism is not big here. Meat and dairy are huge parts of Bulgarian culture and religion and most people stick to traditional Bulgarian diets.
I hate seeing beautiful buildings ruined by horrible graffiti.
AGREED!!
You must have used your Angel 🪽 😉
😇😁