Necrotic Obsession

There is a severely possible chance I may be relocating to Bulgaria in the very near future. Anyone have some info?

Yes I am originally American.
No, not a typical arrogant American(we are really not all like that anyway)
Pres. Bush and Rush Limbaugh only speak for themselves.
Cut me some slack and meet me before ye judge.

Err... only that I've been on vacation there once. We stayed in Sunny Beach, which was not at all typical of Bulgaria, apparently. I enjoyed most our sidetrip to Burgas... hardly any tourists, and the people were open and friendly. The city had a charm which was very much lacking in the resorts.

From what I`ve heard, I wouldn`t wanna live there. Our bulgarian friends have nothing but contempt for the government, I heard the wages are crap and the taxes and rents are way too high. Not the best of standards, I reckon.

Most definitely not worried about wages. I make money independent of where I live.

I dont know about taxes, not sure I would be subject as a non-citizen.

Definitely not worried about rent. Why would I rent when a 4 bedroom brick home on 1 acre of land with vinyard can be had for as little as 15K usd? As close as 30 km to the black sea? Yeah, it might need a bit of work, but I have built homes before. Once I started looking to move away from the US, I was surprised to see some of the prices in Bulgaria. It has some of the most affordable real estate around, and easy access to the rest of Europe, specially Greece.

I want to move to our family's abandoned estate in Italy(and open a truly gothic B&B), but no guarranty I would get it. My family is notorious for fighting over land/assets they have no intention of using at all(simply to stick it to the other members)

DarkSecretLove, didnt mean to sound haughty-taughty. My apologies if I came off a little miffed.

"I want to move to our family's abandoned estate in Italy(and open a truly gothic B&B), but no guarranty I would get it. My family is notorious for fighting over land/assets they have no intention of using at all(simply to stick it to the other members)"

Just to mention(not bragging): I have no idea how big this estate/villa or whatever we own in iItaly is, just that its big enough to need a staff to run it properly. My great Aunt left it to come to America with her husband at the time. Her and I get along great, and I know she would love to see me end up with it, but her worthless/shiftless bum of a son will fight it all the way, nevermind he has NO resources(accept a friend that is a lawyer), nor even a passport to come see the damn thing. Elsa(my aunt) is alive and well, and a HUGE supporter of my art and poetry(An 80+ year old Italian woman with a taste for dark romance!! gotta love her!!), she would have no problem with my ideas for the property, but I cannot find a way to broach the subject with her without sounding as greedy as her children. So, if I dont get it, this valuable family estate will just fade into nothing(there is a no-sell clause).

Sad, huh?

I hear nothing but positive reviews of the generousity of the people, but I have never been there. I am mainly looking at the 2 port towns of Burgas and Varna. or in the lower-center near Plovdiv. That is where I am concentrating my search, but will contemplate anything that suits my needs. When living in the states, I often drive 6, 8, or even 12 hours in a car to visit family and friends. Seems like I could be visiting a few neat places I have read about driving the same time/distance around Bulgaria.

Do you live in Europe? Just curious. pm me if you dont want it public.

well maybe if the government, mine not B's, hooks me up with a place I will know more

Well, if money isn`t an issue, then you`ll be better off than the main population of Bulgaria I would so go for the Italy house though...man, I DREAM of living in Italy. Sweet.

And we live in Norway, btw.

Any way you could explain this reply?

Money is an issue, just not one related to where I live. Money is always an issue, no matter what anyone believes.

What might really hold me back from Bulgaria is this: I am a bigger type of guy, and I am single. I have heard that European women(and people in general), particularly from that region, are severely, extremely, even catastrophically prejudiced against fat people. I am athletic, very strong(and dare I say-handsome), but yeah, I got a bit of chub on me. I already came to a country(Korea) where I am not welcome to date the women(they love me despite the weight but the men say no, and they rule here). Its only temporary, and I am going nuts, so I am not going to permanently relocate to an area that would give me the same feeling.

Am I getting bad info? Is it really that bad? I dont know. I will most likely travel extensively before I make such a hard-lined decision, but would welcome anyones(specially europeans) point of view.

Oh, I see you live in Norway, but who is the other in the "we"?

Thanks so much for such input! I have never been a member of such a generous and genuinely friendly forum before this one!

Oh, and regardless of whether I buy in Bulgaria or not, I will try to get my Aunts estate. She has told me so many times how bad she feels knowing its going to waste. I mentioned living there as an artist before and I never seen her smile so big or her eyes shine so bright before that.

I cannot stress enough how cool this woman is. She named one of my art shows right out of college. Once she saw the images of dancing devils, she immediately called them Daimonea. Greek? for demon.

A lot of people came to see that show just for the name...

Well, judging by some of the Bulgarian guys I`ve seen, WITH women mind you, I think you`d have nothing to worry about And if all else fail, you can do what many bulgarian guys do, go to the coast and take advantage of the drunken scandinavian tourists

And the other in "we" would be Xaphan, allthough he is really an aussie. But he likes snow. I don`t.

Thats great news. So I have been getting bad info? A good friend of mine that travelled extensively through Germany, Czech., Austria, and also in Russia and Ukraine, said wherever he went, fat people all but got spat on.

An Aussie? My grandmother(maternal) was born in Perth! She was a Macintosh. Of the Perth Macintosh'es Lol!

You seem like good people. It'd be a blast to see Norway and chat over coffee. Then you could see my art also. I am in to painting couples, maybe you and Xaphan...?

Oh we have our own collection already