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Manchester United's striker and football star, Dimitar Berbatov, is the best known Bulgarian sports figure in the UK. Photo by BGNES
James Moore
Daily Mail
September 1, 2011
AS England's footballers prepare to take on Bulgaria in the Euro 2012 qualifiers tomorrow, we bring you 20 fascinating facts you never knew about the country...
1. Bulgarians shake their heads to mean yes and nod for no.
2. National instrument is the bagpipes – called the gaida.
3. Bulgarians invented the first electronic computer, digital watch and car air bag.
4.Most famous footballers are Hristo Stoichkov, now 45 – highest scorer at the 1994 World Cup – and Manchester United's Dimitar Berbatov, 30.
5. Its best football result was fourth at the 1994 World Cup in the US.
6. The country has also produced top tennis players such as Tsvetana Pironkova, 23.
7. Other celebs include sumo wrestler Kaloyan Mahlyanov, 28, and chess grandmaster Veselin Topalov, 36.
8. In Hollywood flick The Terminal, actor Tom Hanks, 55, who plays a man trapped in an airport, speaks Bulgarian.
9. The country is one of the world's biggest winemakers – 200,000 tonnes a year.
10. Mastika, a 47% proof spirit made with tree resin, is a popular drink. Average price of a lager is 64p.
11.Bulgarians love yoghurt and reckon it is why they live so long.
12. Tara Reid, a housemate on Channel 5's Celebrity Big Brother, has just married Bulgarian financier Zack Kehayov.
13.Michael Palin, 68, upset Bulgarians by saying it is most famous for gypsies.
14. They have a public holiday dedicated to St George.
15. Bulgaria is in the EU, but uses the lev instead of the euro.
16. The country recently topped a survey as being Brits' top spot for bargain breaks.
17. One Bulgarian claim to fame is a mini Eiffel Tower in Golden Sands resort.
18. It has the world's largest IMAX 3D cinema.
19. A third of Bulgaria is forested.
20. Their best- known football side is CSKA Sofia.
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