Slanchev Bryag Bulgaria. Slynchev Bryag - Sunny Beach in Bulgaria. Entertainment at the resort
In the post-perestroika era, trips to Bulgaria were popular and cheap.
Now the waiting time for a visa is 2 weeks, and the price in foreign currency is practically no different in value from the currently popular Egypt and Turkey, while losing very much in service...
When I got ready to visit in August 2009 Bulgaria, then in order to maximize savings on travel costs, I decided to get there by bus. If I had known in advance that the journey would take a whole day and a half instead of the promised one day, I most likely would have chosen to fly by plane.
From Kyiv there was a good road only to Odessa, after which potholes, bumps began, and in some places we even drove on a dirt road. I’d better not say anything about the roads of Moldova and Romania, because even ours are not bad compared to them. So in some places it was simply scary to drive. Finally in the morning we reached the border between Romania and Bulgaria, where we wasted almost 2 hours. It was not possible to buy anything in duty; all prices are indicated either in Bulgarian currency or in Romanian currency, and this is in the absence of an exchange office. So we were left without any purchases...
The first city on the route of our bus was Balchik. So at 10 o’clock many passengers on our bus were already happily swimming in the sea. When did we finally get to Sunny Beach, everything was already indifferent. It was already 3 o’clock in the afternoon, considering that in Varna they changed the bus for us, after which some of the tourists traveled for almost two and a half hours while standing...
And by the way, I felt very uncomfortable when on the bus our escort tried to hand everyone a carton of cigarettes. But they are actually expensive in Bulgaria.
And here’s the picture: three o’clock in the afternoon, incredible heat, before that we spent a day and a half in a sitting position... And finally, the hotel. We chose a “C”, simply because “Fives” are incredibly expensive, and “Fours”, in fact, are no different from “Cs”, only in price and the fact that they are located 20 meters closer to the sea. I was very pleased with our hotel, a neat room, only 500 meters to the beach, and located almost in the center of Sunny Beach.
But the Bulgarians disappointed, it was the men, not the women. They are lazy, greedy and cowardly. Tourists are treated like simpletons who need to be profited from. This was the first time I came under such constant pressure - in restaurants, cafes, shops and everywhere else. It's just very unpleasant. Every local always wants to sell you something. And the food in some places is simply disgusting. Grilled chickens are so overcooked that the meat becomes black and crystallized, almost completely bitter, impossible to eat. And the kebabs are burnt and tough; in Bulgaria they are never cooked on the grill, only in the grill, so, by and large, they are not kebabs at all. Strange, but the quality of food did not depend in any way on the pricing policy of establishments of various categories. It got to the point of absurdity when a restaurant charged 2 leva for using ketchup on the table. And in one restaurant the bill included payment for the use of napkins...
The work of exchange offices deserves further outrage. Each one says that there is no commission and the rate is set to sell, not buy. As you know, the purchase rate is always lower, sometimes much lower. But this becomes clear only when you look at the receipt... Or the exchange rate is set at a fairly high rate, but a commission of 10 leva or a percentage of the amount exchanged is taken, most often 10 percent. For those who are in Bulgaria It’s still only the first days and I haven’t yet understood this whole system, the title of honorary simpleton is guaranteed.
But I liked the sea. It is saltier than the Black Sea and “waves” almost every day, so you can ride the waves with pleasure. And the shore is convenient: sandy and flat, where a large number of people are not so annoying.
However, the huge inconvenience of the beach is that most of its territory was filled with sun loungers, on which almost no one was lying. But it was impossible to spread a towel in this area and sit on it. The use of a sunbed is paid - the sunbed itself is 7 leva and also an umbrella 10-15.
Ahead of the stretched rope there was also no place to lie down, because sometimes the area with sunbeds almost reached the sea.
What else is worth mentioning? Yes, it’s worth mentioning what left the most pleasant impression of the entire trip to Bulgaria - visiting the city Neserb, named by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
The area occupied by this peninsular city is even less than 500 square meters; it is connected to the coast by a thin crossing of only two lanes, probably an embankment. If you don’t pay attention to the same problems with the Bulgarians, who use any excuse to get drunk, then the city is amazing. Narrow streets, small two-story houses, local national souvenirs... Nice and beautiful.
To sum up the trip and my impressions of Bulgaria – once was enough for me.
I remember this drink from the times of the USSR, and I remember for sure that it was cognac. Nearby, if anyone remembers, there was always Pliska, Zlaty Pyaski
meet this "Slynchev Bryag"
Personally, among the cognacs of the USSR, I only drank Armenian Ani ( very expensive for those times), or Chechen Vainakh ( which you won’t find during the day with fire), but it was so rare that I still remember the aroma of each of those cognacs ( I didn’t lose my memory of any royal, although it was this same royal that they drank in decalitres when the Union ended).
And from Slynchev Bryag only the label remained 
Personally, I am sure that then, that today it was a suitable swill of hydrolysis processing grape wine, to put it in our language, this is ordinary moonshine. By the way, it was this moonshine that was patented in the USSR as a method of distilling hydrolytic mash, which is used by all moonshiners in the world. It’s nice, damn it, I’m a professional in drinking moonshine.
Well, let's get back to our three-year-aged brandy moonshine.
They don’t even call it brandy anymore, it’s some kind of alcoholic drink 
The drink is made from wine distillate, which has matured for at least 12 months in oak barrel With ethyl alcohol, but not less than 3 years. 
Here is the verdict from the manufacturer. But, let’s call this drink Slynchev Bryag brandy, it has a golden color, a pronounced aroma and not at all soft alcohol. No balanced taste of vanilla and dried fruits. Dries harshly with alcohol without any woody notes.
But the drink is good enough in its pure form for discerning lovers of moonshine. The cork will also please you, it’s ours, or rather not ours anymore 
Here in Ukraine it’s hard to find something without a dispenser 
All you have to do is wait until morning and if your head doesn’t hurt, then there’s no better drink...
because for some it is bad because it is harsh, dry and strong, but for others it is good for the same reason.
Personally, I’m both in favor, because it’s a gift!
During the Soviet Union, summer holidays in Bulgaria were considered prestigious, but getting into the country was not easy. Now times have changed, to travel to Bulgaria you only need to have the appropriate visa. Among the Bulgarian resorts, one of the largest and most famous is Slynchev Bryag, which means Sunny Beach. It is very popular among European youth. The surrounding nature, gentle sea and magnificent clean beaches create excellent conditions for relaxation for families with small children.
History of Sunny Beach
is located 90 km south of Varna. You can get to it from the nearest airport in Burgas by taxi or municipal bus, traveling only 35 km. Sunny Beach is a new district of the oldest European city of Nessebar, founded almost three millennia ago on a small peninsula. It is considered a historical and architectural monument of Bulgaria and is now under the protection of UNESCO.The history of Slynchev Bryag began in 1957, when it was decided to build a resort complex near Nessebar. Its construction began in 1958. Next to two wells that supplied Nessebar drinking water, the first hotels, parking lots and equipped beaches appeared. The resort began to develop especially actively after it collapsed Soviet Union. It plays a big role in the tourism business in Bulgaria. The infrastructure is updated every year, new hotels, cafes and entertainment complexes appear.
Beaches of Sunny Beach
Slynchev Bryag attracts tourists with its wide sandy beaches. They stretch along the coast for 8 km. In some places their width reaches 60 meters. The beaches are equipped with everything you need for a good rest. They are equipped with sun loungers, umbrellas and sun canopies, there are bars, sports grounds for beach volleyball and football. Among the water activities, vacationers are offered walks on the sea on catamarans, jet skis and banana boats. Those interested can fly with parachutes or go scuba diving.
The Slynchev Bryag resort (photos presented in the article) has a unique microclimate. It is surrounded by the Stara Planina mountains, covered with coniferous and deciduous forests. In summer, the water heats up to 24-25 °C, and the air temperature is 28 °C. The cleanliness of the beaches meets the most stringent requirements and is marked with the Blue Flag, a prestigious award from the International Environmental Fund.
Hotels and restaurants
The beach season at the Slynchev Bryag resort begins in the second half of April. By this time, the hotel base is already ready to receive vacationers. The hotels of the complex can accommodate up to 80 thousand people at the same time. In addition, the city has 35 thousand apartments. Hotel administrations note that most vacationers purchase an all-inclusive package.
In Sunny Beach there are more than 100 hotels belonging to different categories. Low prices for accommodation in 2* hotels attract students and young people from Germany, England and other European countries. The share of tourists from Russia is about 7% of the total number of vacationers. There are no problems with food in the city; there are cafes and restaurants on every corner.
Slynchev Bryag (Bulgaria) is the most “party” place for young people in Bulgaria. There are night bars and discos here, the most popular clubs being Iceberg and Mania. The city also has expensive hotels and restaurants for wealthy tourists, so each guest chooses what he needs.
Entertainment at the resort
Reviews from travelers about their holidays at the Slynchev Bryag resort are proof that the city has created an entertainment industry.
In addition to numerous themed bars and restaurants, tourists enjoy visiting the ACTION water park. It occupies an area of 36 thousand square meters. meters, which is divided into children's, family and extreme zones. There is also a seating area where you can have a tasty snack. The park features more than 30 types of different slides and water attractions. On the border of Slynchev Bryag and Old Nessebar there is a children's mini-water park with small slides and shallow pools.
In the center of the resort area there is a Luna Park with attractions for children and adults, and on the city embankment there are cinemas showing films in 5D format. In addition to the three-dimensional image, the effect of presence is achieved through movable chairs and various special effects.
Among other entertainments, vacationers are offered ATV rides, jeep safaris, bowling, electric scooter rentals, a variety of bus excursions and much more. On the outskirts of the resort there is a go-kart track and a paintball court. Large companies have an interesting time here.
The cultural program of the Slynchev Bryag center includes the international competition of performers of Bulgarian songs “Golden Orpheus”, restored in 2015, and performances by folklore groups. Classical music lovers attend concerts of symphony orchestras. Various exhibitions and fashion shows are held here every year.
July 2006
I really like to sunbathe, but, as you know, in St. Petersburg there are small problems with this: the sun is only during the session. I wanted to go to a warm country with a mild climate. We decided on Bulgaria: the Black Sea, sand, sun, a language similar to Russian.
The day before departure, the media talked about a flood on the Sunny Beach. But we landed on dry asphalt, there was not a cloud in the sky. The only reminders of the recent rain were flooded fields and a couple of puddles on the streets of the resort.
Where did they live?
Hotel Glarus (3*) turned out to be nice, spacious hall, nice women at the reception, speaking Russian quite well. The hotel had a small shallow pool, sun loungers, free umbrellas, a bar, a shop with drinks and food (prices were about the same as in nearby supermarkets). The room is quite nice, but the third bed (extra) is not very good. Our windows looked out onto the roof, and beyond there were trees covering the global construction site. 2 minutes to the sea: cross a small street with souvenirs (a la embankment) and the beach. Here, umbrellas and sunbeds are paid (3 and 3 leva). The sand is soft and not dirty. The sea is clean, there are no packages or bottles floating around. Only jellyfish (harmless), they even threw them. Some saw crabs if they dived further. I also tried to look, but found nothing. Nature is not much different from Russian. Only the hills in the distance, on which the clouds cast a funny shadow.
Where did you eat?
Our day started with breakfast (buffet). There are no frills, but everything is edible: watermelons, bananas, cherry plums, apricots (from fruits), even cereals and muesli. Many German elderly couples brought their own coffee: the one they served here, apparently, was not very good. It was not observed only fermented milk products(milk, yogurt, kefir). But this is for the best: you should not experiment with the stomach. Breakfast began at 7 in the morning, at the beginning of ten there was a peak of vacationer activity, and at 10 everything was over.
The feeling of hunger appeared towards evening. We did not set ourselves the goal of visiting all the local bistros and cafes, so the list is small. On the day of our arrival, we didn’t go far: the Sea Garden place was empty (this should have alerted us: there was football that evening, and almost everywhere there was a screen there were crowds of people). The food was passable, but not great. It was then that we realized that in Bulgaria they add cheese to almost all dishes. They often write cheese on the menu, but if they mean cheese... durum varieties, then add yellow. In principle, you can get used to feta cheese. We visited a place called Water mill, where we tried pizza and spaghetti. Tasty too. At the end of the meal, all visitors receive a glass of Amaretto (women) and something clear (men) (possibly vodka, but that would be too much). Although the bartender had a T-shirt with the inscription Russia and a picture of vodka. We also visited the Condor Garden. Here I tried tarator (sour milk, cucumbers, ice, greens, apparently without cheese). This soup is not for everyone. Unfortunately, there were no other soups on the menu. We were served by some forgetful waitress. But overall not bad. The most wonderful place, in my opinion, is Bistro Gianni. Closer to 7, a line of hungry vacationers lined up there. Quantity and quality at low prices. Very delicious chicken in all types. The kebab is pleasant, but differs in the degree of marinating from those we are used to in Russia (drier). Unfortunately, we did not try Caucasian-style kebab, perhaps this is the same normal kebab. Salads, in my opinion, are nothing special: Shopska (just fresh vegetables and feta cheese), Ovcharska (vegetables, mushrooms, ham, feta cheese). There are more interesting ones, but they are also based on fresh vegetables and herbs. There are not too many desserts: fruit salad, melba (ice cream with fruit) and something else like that. In Nessebar we were in a place with a name related to the vine (Under the vine, it seems). Of the entire menu there was only beluga and something else that was very expensive for us. After the experiment with fish, we didn't feel very good.
How we had fun
There are several clubs on Sunny beach, located at a decent distance from each other. Entrance everywhere – 4 leva. XL: very cute, but small, dance music (pop version). Orange: located a little on the outskirts, the music is a little undanceable, but not complete crap. The difference: a screen on the wall with an image from the camera. I don’t know why, but it was very smoky there, although they smoke in other clubs. Iceberg: good location, almost in the center. Music: “your favorite songs performed live.” In between “favorite songs” they played pop music. The club is small, there is no separate dance floor. Lazur: large, almost on the beach, with a swimming pool. True, it was a bit far for us, but if you are going to live in the Europa Hotel area, then it’s just right. Dance music. More complete information can be found at www.disco.bg.
We also went to the Nessebar – Paradise water park. A free minibus from any public transport stop will take you to the entrance to the water park. Entrance: 26 leva, cheaper after 15-00, cheaper for children too. The roller coasters are not very scary, only one deserves attention: Tsunami. There are slides for small children. It starts in the evening entertainment with competitions. Everything is aimed at children, but adults can also participate. You can also sunbathe, swim in the pools, and sit at the bar. A minibus will take you back. There is another Action water park, but we didn't go there.
We decided to see Burgas: we took a bus from the station for 3 leva. We didn't walk there for very long. We walked through pedestrian areas, looked into shopping centers, and reached a park on the seashore (very reminiscent of the Central Park of Culture and Culture). Nice regional center. We went to Nessebar twice: a bus for 0.70 levs. We only watched Old city, which is under the protection of UNESCO. There are several attractions here in the form of the ruins of ancient churches, narrow crooked streets, many souvenir shops, in which everything is 1-2 leva cheaper than on Sunny beach.
What is the price
If you eat to live, then for 10-15 leva you can restore your strength. Beer - 1 leva, mineral water - 0.98 leva, juices, soda - expensive, wine - from 4.5 leva per bottle to very expensive (you can get a decent one for 10-12 leva). Salads – on average 3-4 leva.
Eating on the street
5 leva - kebab, 3 leva - hamburger, hot dog, 2 leva - small donuts, 3 leva - big donuts, ice cream by weight - for 3 leva you can take three large balls (very strange, but the price for 100 grams is not indicated anywhere) , just ice cream – from 0.50 to 3 (approximately).
Souvenirs
keychains – 3-4 leva, magnets – 2 – 4 leva, beautiful candies on a stick – 2 – 4 leva, wooden bread bins with painting – 8-9 leva, ashtrays, cups – 6 leva, silver earrings – strong price fluctuations (I bought in Nessebar they are quite nice for 15.80, I haven’t seen these anywhere else), copper earrings - 10 levs. All prices are indicated for Nessebar; at the resort itself everything is lev more expensive. For example, I bought a magnet in the shape of a slipper in Nessebar on some quiet street (I couldn’t find it the second time) for 2 leva, closer to the entrance they cost 3 leva, and in Sunny Beach - 4 leva.
Fun on the beach
pedalo (catamaran) - 10 levs per hour, massage - 30 levs, but you can negotiate for 20, generally available different types, but I haven’t tried it, riding on an inflatable pancake along a zigzag path (I don’t know the name) - 20 leva per person for 15-20 minutes (haven’t tried it either). In general, there are all types of entertainment. German old men played a cute game pi(e)tank (not sure of the correct spelling): they throw a small ball, your task is to throw your ball as close as possible to the small one. A game a la badminton was also common + table tennis(no table, only solid rackets, slightly smaller than badminton ones, a ball instead of a shuttlecock).
Henna tattoos are very popular (last 2 weeks) - prices vary. Manicure, braids - at every step. In one place they even saw a machine for applying designs to nails, including photographs.
Total
I personally spent 200 euros, without denying myself anything. Perhaps I have small requests and ideas about vacation are limited to the beach, sea, sun. If you are vacationing with children, take twice as much.
I have only positive impressions from my vacation. Unfortunately, I cannot compare Bulgaria with other countries, and why should I? I returned rested, tanned, cheerful.
The Sunny Beach resort (in Bulgarian - Slanchev Bryag) is located 90 km south of Varna and 25 km north of Burgas (Burgas airport is 35 km). The average air temperature in summer is +25...+28 degrees, water temperature is +22...+24. Sunny Beach has a “Blue Flag” for the environmental cleanliness of its beaches, as well as compliance sea water all sanitary and environmental standards.
The beach of Sunny Beach is wide and sandy. In some places, the width of the beach reaches 60 m. The beach has everything you need: umbrellas, beach bars, beach volleyball courts, standard water activities are offered: boat and yacht trips, jet skis, water skiing, paragliding. The sea is calm and shallow, the entrance to the water is gentle, which is ideal for relaxing with small children.
Sunny Beach embankment
There are hotels of all categories in Sunny Beach; there are already more than a hundred of them. Many hotels have been built recently. For young people and supporters of economical holidays, there are 2* hotels offering a basic set of services. Restaurants and cafes are at every step; in the evening you can “have fun” in discos, nightclubs and numerous coastal bars.
Informally:
When choosing Sunny Beach as a holiday destination, you should understand that this is one of the European youth centers of sex and alcohol tourism with all that it implies. This is almost a quote from the Bulgarian media. If the goal is to seek adventure and expand the boundaries of communication, then this is definitely what you need. You can even find a place that is not too noisy to live. There is everything. This is a real resort metropolis. Talking about price levels is pointless. There are also ultra-expensive establishments, and others aimed at budget-conscious tourists. The resort is growing at an unrealistic pace. About 20 years ago there were several dozen hotels in the park area. Now the construction is colossal. This is the largest resort on the entire Bulgarian coast.
In addition, here is the Action Water Park - the largest water park on the Bulgarian coast. Just a couple of kilometers from Sunny Beach is located ancient city Nessebar is a cultural monument protected by UNESCO. It is more than 5 thousand years old, and it captivates all tourists with its original architecture.
Informally:
Despite the fact that Sunny Beach has everything, souvenirs should be bought in Old Nessebar. The choice is huge: souvenir magnets, Bulgarian ceramics, embroidery, all kinds of “hand-made” crafts, wicker bags, CDs with folk music and DVDs with films about Bulgaria. The competition is also incredible, so the prices are extremely low. A souvenir magnet will most likely cost 5-10 times less than at Burgas airport.