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Invest Bulgaria
5 Hristo Kovachev St
Sofia 1527, Bulgaria
Tel: (+359 889) 58 98 61
Office: (+359 2) 843 0416
Fax: (+359 2) 843 0416
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Special thanks to Sofia Echo! |
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Exchange
bureaus
are
obliged
to
display,
on
properly
visible
and
easily
accessible
boards,
information
about
rates
and
information
about
the
right
of
a
client
to
stop
the
deal
before
signing
a
contract.
If
the
client
reverses
the
deal,
the
cashier
is
obliged
to
fully
reimburse
the
money.
Exercise
caution,
because
attempted
fraud
is
a
frequent
problem,
and
try
to
find
out
the
official
exchange
rate
before
commencing
a
transaction.
-
Taxis.
Choose
a
reputable
company,
like
OK
Supertrans
and
19280.
Ensure
the
driver
turns
on
the
meter
at
the
start
of
the
journey,
and
keep
a
careful
eye
out
about
whether
it
seems
to
be
running
unusually
fast.
Check
that
the
taxi
has
the
oval
disk
in
the
windscreen
as
required
by
law:
if
it’s
missing,
chances
are
you
are
in
a
pirate
taxi.
The
law
requires
drivers
to
issue
a
printed
receipt
for
the
fare.
-
Smoking
is
ubiquitous
in
Bulgaria
and
non-smoking
sections
in
restaurants
are
extremely
rare.
A
new
law
is
set
to
change
this
in
2005,
but
the
question
mark
over
how
effectively
it
will
be
implemented.
-
Most
large
cinemas
show
films
with
their
original
soundtracks
and
sub-title
them.
The
same
applies
to
rented
videocassettes.
However,
films
for
children
are
usually
dubbed.
Check
The
Sofia
Echo
for
weekly
cinema
listings.
-
Shopping.
Large
supermarkets
such
as
Billa,
Metro
and
Fantastico
offer
a
wide
range
of
local
and
imported
products.
In
smaller
shops,
the
standard
and
friendliness
of
service
tends
to
vary.
Customer
service
is
a
concept
with
which
shop
assistants
are
still
getting
acquainted,
with
varying
degrees
of
success.
-
When
Bulgarians
nod
their
heads
up
and
down,
they
mean
NO.
When
they
move
their
heads
from
side
to
side,
they
mean
YES.
-
Wedding
bands
on
worn
on
the
right
hand,
not
the
left
as
in
the
West.
-
Corruption
continues
to
be
a
problem,
so
beware,
even
of
the
police.
Always
carry
the
number
of
your
embassy/consulate
and
lawyer,
just
in
case.
-
Make
sure
that
you
obey
the
law
regarding
the
registration
of
foreigners,
because
it
is
being
applied
with
increasing
eagerness.
Failing
to
register
within
48
hours
of
arrival
can
mean
heavy
fines
and
other
hassles.
-
When
paying
for
something
in
a
restaurant
or
shop,
do
not
expect
to
always
get
the
correct
change.
It
is
common
practice
to
“round
up”
the
sum,
and
not
in
your
benefit.
-
Credit
card
acceptance
is
still
very
rare.
Make
sure
you
carry
enough
cash
for
your
needs.
-
Tipping
is
optional
but
becoming
increasingly
standard
practice.
About
10
per
cent
to
15
per
cent
is
customary.
-
Making
a
toast
when
drinking
liquor
is
de
rigeur.
When
toasting,
raise
your
glass
and
lightly
clink
it
with
all
the
others
present,
while
looking
the
people
with
you
in
the
eye
(to
not
look
them
in
the
eye
is
rude)
and
saying,
(naz
drave)
(good
health
to
you).
If
there
are
10
people
at
the
table,
you
do
this
with
all
10.
-
Toilet
facilities
are
much
improved
compared
to
10
years
ago,
but
can
be
off-putting,
particularly
in
older
establishments
and
outside
the
larger
cities.
Most
modern
fuel
stations,
restaurants,
hotels
and
bars
have
facilities
of
an
acceptable
standard.
But
elsewhere
you
may
be
confronted
by
nothing
more
than
a
hole
in
the
floor,
and
no
toilet
paper.
Always
carry
Kleenex
with
you.
Places
often
charge
for
the
use
of
toilet
facilities,
currently
usually
in
the
20
to
50
stotinki
range.
-
The
temperature
in
buildings
is
controlled
centrally
by
the
city.
They
decide
when
to
turn
it
on,
usually
around
November,
and
switch
it
off,
usually
around
March.
-
Name
Days
are
celebrated
in
addition
to
birthdays.
A
Name
Day
is
celebrated
by
people
whose
name
is
derived
from
that
of
a
Saint’s
Day
being
celebrated.
The
person
having
a
Name
Day
usually
brings
confectionery
to
the
office
for
colleagues
to
share.
Bulgarian
tradition
is
that
one
may
call
uninvited
on
a
person
celebrating
a
Name
Day,
to
wish
them
well.
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