Learn phrases about Bulgarian food
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Здравейте (zdraveyte). Hello and welcome to BulgarianPod101.com. This course is designed to equip you with the language skills and knowledge to enable you to get the most out of your visit to Bulgaria. You will be surprised at how far a little Bulgarian will go. Now before we jump in, remember to stop by BulgarianPod101.com. And there, you’ll find the accompanying PDF, additional info in the post. If you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment. |
Lesson focus |
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| Lesson 19 - Currency |
| The Bulgarian currency is called Лев (Lev), which means "lion" in 19th century Bulgarian. |
| The plural form of the word is Лева (Leva). |
| One Lev consists of one hundred stotinki (стотинки). |
| Paper currency in common circulation includes bills of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 Leva and coins of value 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 stotinki. As of September 2002, there is also a 1 Lev coin in circulation. At the moment of this recording in mid-April 2008 the exchange rate is roughly 1 Lev and 24 stotinki to the dollar and roughly 1 Lev and 96 stotinki to the Euro. |
| In Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, a Big Mac costs about 3 Leva and 50 stotinki, which is around 2 US dollars and 70 cents. |
| All Bulgarian banknotes are protected by high-tech measures like holographic anti copy elements, transparent register ornaments, microtext and security threads. Both the front and back sides of the different bills and coins feature images of prominent Bulgarians who made significant artistic, scientific, and political contributions since the establishment of the country in 681 AD. Images of influential Christian Orthodox figures, artwork, and places of historical value are also represented on both bills and coins. |
| A word of caution: There are strict currency regulations in Bulgaria. Anybody entering the country with an amount equivalent to 8000 Leva or more has to declare it to customs officials. Once in Bulgaria, keep in mind that most payments are made in cash. An increasing number of businesses in urban areas as well as resorts accept credit cards. These include: car rental companies, upmarket stores, hotels, and restaurants as well as travel agents. Some banks will cash your travelers cheques and will collect 5% commission. Automatic teller machines can be found in major urban areas as well as Black Sea resorts. |
| A word of even more caution: You should exchange currency in banks or hotels if you want to avoid misleading rates or hidden charges at the countless private exchange bureaus. Above all, never accept any services from individuals who approach you in the street and try to tempt you with higher exchange rates or ask you to make change for them. Also, it would be wise not to carry large amounts of cash with you as there are groups of pickpockets in large urban areas, public transportation, and some resorts. Unfortunately, car theft is also common in Bulgaria. |
| Apart from these concerns, Bulgaria is a generally a safe country where violent crime is uncommon. Expect to meet many warm, friendly, and hospitable people. |
Outro |
| All right. That’s going to do it for today. Remember to stop by BulgarianPod101.com and pick up the accompanying PDF. If you stop by, make sure to leave a comment. Довиждане (dovizhdane)! |
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