International road regulations are valid in Bulgaria. Driving conditions in major cities, as well as on the highways, are fair to good. You might experience problems if trying to reach more remote areas because of the poor road conditions (read: potholes!) and the lack of proper signage. Your home-country driving licence may be used for up to a year in Bulgaria, after which it has to either be replaced with a Bulgarian one or you have to re-take a driving examination to get a Bulgarian licence while keeping your foreign one. US driving licences are acceptable only if accompanied by an International Driver's License. Some of the most common violations for which police in Bulgaria hand out fines include speed limit violations, driving without a seatbelt and driving intoxicated. You may also be curious to note that it is illegal to drive in high heels, open sandals and flip flops and to eat and drink behind the wheel. On most of the open roads around the country you will find speed traps. Frequently you will be warned by oncoming traffic flashing their lights at you, if not then you face a fine to be paid later at the local municipality.
News
Crime in Bulgaria's capital decreases- Interior Ministry
The number of criminal acts committed in Sofia has decreased by 13.9 per cent in 2006, Interior Minister Roumen Petkov told a press conference. Public murders were three times fewer as compared to numbers for 2005, said Petkov. Traffic accidents.....| Read more
Regulations
Road signs and driving regulations in Bulgaria follow international standards, though some signs might be missing in villages and on rural roadsForeign citizens may drive in Bulgaria using foreign driving licenses for up to one year.....| Read more
Short Play for a Child’s Room What: The play resulted from a fortunate – and unlikely – encounter between director Galin Stoev and playwright Yana Borissova’s debut text. When: May 24 and 29 Where: Theatre 199
Valentine’s Day What: One of the most popular contemporary Russian playwrights, Ivan Vyrypaev has chosen for his play’s motto the words of an Arabian philosopher: “There are only two things – love and love.” When: May 22 Where: Little City Theatre off the Channel
Three Sisters What: Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters is a play about the things that never happen and the sophisticated sadness and despair of the characters. When: May 21 and 30 Where: Nikolai Binev Youth Theatre
Lazarus and Jesus What: Based on Emilian Stanev’s apocrypha, Lazarus and Jesus aims to excite interest in the “damned questions” raised by the author and to argue against the assertion that Bulgarian literature is limited mostly to the regional and the untranslatably Bulgarian. When: May 18 Where: Sfumato Theatre-Workshop
16th International Istanbul Theatre Festival What: two weeks of theatre and dance performances from around the globe When: May 15 to June 4 Where: Istanbul
The Taming of the Shrew (premiere) What: Director Marius Kurkinski returns to the stage of the Satirical Theatre with this Shakespearean comedy, which was one of the master’s earlier plays. When: May 10, 19 and 26 Where: Aleko Konstantinov Satirical Theatre, Sofia
Cultural Institutes
Salon of the Arts What: The annual Salon of the Arts features tens of exhibitions, concerts and performances. For a complete programme, stop by the Ticket centre at the National Palace of Culture (NDK) When: May 11 to June 30 Where: National Palace of Culture, Sofia
Art
Sofia, Paris, Strasbourg What: A joint project by the National Academy of Arts in Sofia, the Ecole Superieure d’arts graphiques – Penninghen and the Ecole superieure des arts decoratifs, Strasbourg, focusing on the Cyrillic alphabet with a newspaper theme. When: Opens May 8 Where: Akademia, 1 Shipka Str, Sofia
ART POSITIVE 2008: FRAGMENT What: exhibition with the participation of 14 Plovdiv artists When: Until May 25 Where: Centre for Contemporary Art - Plovdiv arttoday.org
Live Music
KYLIE MINOGUE What: Indisputably, one of the major concerts in Bulgaria in 2008 will be that of pop icon Kylie Minogue. Ticket prices vary from 40 to 50 leva. When: May 18 Where: Lokomotiv Stadium
JAZZ PLUS FESTIVAL 2008 What: Jan Garbarek Group featuring Manu Katche, Alboran Trio, Roberto Fonseca, Luisito Quintero. Tickets at 20 and 25 leva, available from Dyukyan Meloman, Bulgaria Hall, NDK box office, eventim.bg and ticketstream.bg. When: May 15, 17, 18 and 29 Where: NDK, Bulgaria Hall and 4km Party Center
After Business Club What: weekly mixers When: Wednesdays, 8pm Where: Chillout Bar & Dinner, 5 Triaditsa Str
RONI SIZE DJ SET What: The Sofia gig of the world-famous drum ’n’ bass DJ Roni Size will be the first in a series of events presenting legendary performers from the global drum ’n’ bass scene. When: May 17 Where: Hristo Botev Hall in Studentski Grad
WORLD BEAT NIGHTS – DANCING AROUND THE GLOBE What: Three more World Beat Nights – Dancing Around The Globe parties will be held in May. When: May 16, 23 and 30. May 16: African Night, May 23: The Latino Friday and May 30: Arabian Night. Where: Club Pulse