Bulgaria's capital Sofia is a stylish city, filled with flowers, monumental architecture, broad boulevards, richly landscaped parks, good restaurants, friendly people - all for a bargain, writes Barry Zwick in the Los Angeles Times.

"Prices were a third of what they were at home in Los Angeles, a fourth of what they were in most of Europe. A cup of coffee costs about 20 cents in Sofia, a fine three-course meal with a couple of glasses of good wine, USD 9 to USD 12."

The author points out that the capital has so long been disparaged as a Balkan backwater.

"I was in Bulgaria because I had heard it was cheap, pretty and fun. I started in Sofia only because that's where the airport is. After 24 hours here, I scrapped my plan. No trains, no historic villages. Just Sofia."

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!