Latinka 44 Handout

Dear Guest(s), Welcome to Sofia and enjoy your time exploring this beautiful city. You can easily navigate your way around with Google / Apple location services or you give a try to moovit app. It is very useful and friendly to operate with and I would recommend it. https://moovitapp.com/ PLEASE bookmark the Apartment LOCATION in your favorite application. Exact coordinates are 42°40'14.7"N 23°20'49.8"E (42.670735, 23.347173) The address is 44 Latinka Street in Izgrev neighborhood. The closest intersection is with Nikola Mirchev Street. Major landmark buildings would be Embassy of Russian Federation or Embassy of Germany. If you are traveling by car you can use the designated parking place in front of the building (marked with “No parking” sign, apt.6). You should know that street parking on the street is free in this neighborhood. Please be advised that there is no Uber / Lyft in Bulgaria. If you use taxi cab be sure to book through an application or ask tourist information / reception to call one for you to avoid, the unpleasant experience of riding with un-authorized driver. If you are flying to Sofia or prefer to use the public transit, please find below a thorough instructions how to get to the apartment and generally navigate in Sofia using the SUBWAY – This is the best and most convenient option. Frederic Joliot-Curie Station is the closest subway station to the apartment. Both Blue (M2) and Red (M1) lines service Frederic Joliot-Curie Station. Please keep in mind that Sofia Subway runs from 5:30 AM till midnight. All stations are wheelchair accessible. Stations in Sofia have unique design and you can easily identify Frederic Joliot-Curie by the three red dots on white background. Go through the main EXIT (glass sliding doors) and take the stairs in front of you to get directly to Latinka Street. You are about 350m (3 - 4 min) from the apartment. Sofia Airport Terminal 2 Please be advised that the subway stops only on Terminal 2. All major airlines except Wizz Air operate from this terminal. If you are traveling with Wizz Air you should get the shuttle bus to Terminal 2. From Airport To Apartment 1.Take ANY train (this is last stop so there is only one direction) 2.Get out on the 9th stop - Frederic Joliot-Curie station. From Apartment To Airport 1.Take Blue (M2) towards Sofia Airport 2.Get out on the 9th (last stop) – Sofia Airport Downtown – Ancient Roman Town of Serdika SERDIKA I and SERDIKA II stations is the ONLY intersection between subway lines in Sofia. Remember the below simple rule and you will never get lost. Always use SERDIKA I to travel between Downtown and Apartment From Downtown to Apartment 1.Take ANY train towards Sofia Airport or Business Park 2.Get out on the 3rd stop From Apartment to Downtown 1.Take ANY train towards Obelya or Slivnitsa 2.Get out on the 3rd stop Always use SERDIKA II to travel between Downtown and Central Railway Station From Downtown to Central Station 1.Take ANY train towards Obelya 2. Get out on the 2nd stop From Central Station to Downtown 1.Take ANY train towards Vitosha 2. Get out on the 2nd stop Central Railway / Bus Station Central Railway Station and Sofia Bus Terminal share the same subway stop. There is no direct line and you should ALWAYS make a transfer at Downtown Serdika I / Serdika II stations (please see above) From Central Station To Apartment 1. Take ANY train towards VITOSHA and get out on the 2nd stop – SERDIKA II 2. Transfer to SERDIKA I station on the upper level. 3. Take ANY train towards Sofia Airport (Blue M2) or Business Park Sofia (Red M1). You should get out on the 3rd stop – Frederic Joliot-Curie station. From Apartment To Central Station 1.Take ANY train towards Obelya / Slivnitsa 2.Transfer to SERDIKA II station on the lower level. 3.Take ANY train towards Obelya Taxi – Yellow Cab Service It is recommended to order via app to avoid scammers. Taxies are cheap in Sofia, but you need to pay attention if this is a licensed driver. When getting a taxi from the street use caution and make a visual check to ensure this is a legit company car. TAXISTARTS has an application for both Android an iOS https://itunes.apple.com/bg/app/taxistars/id672675339 https://play.google.com/store/apps/detailsid=com.omgm.taxistars.omg.omg or order via phone : Yellow taxi (+359) 2 911 19 or OK taxi (+359) 2 973 2121

Dear Guest(s), We wish you a wonderful time in Sofia and enjoy an unforgettable experience. We thought it will be a good idea to share with you some nearby places that you might want to check out or just to guide you to the local store or nearest ATM. We would like you to have comfortable stay and make you feel like at home, and kindly ask you for a favor in return: •Please keep in mind that this is a non-smoking apartment. •Use all appliances with care as if you are at your home. •When leaving, please check that the oven is switched off and there is no water running. •Please keep in mind that Saturday and Sunday 2PM - 4PM is quiet time for rest and respect your neighbors. •Password for Wi-Fi (Ivan) is 02659680 Nearby Point of Interest 1.Beinsa Douno (Peter Deunov) Memorial https://goo.gl/maps/q3y1BpBs5X44pFgz7 Peter Deunov, the Master, with the occult name Beinsa Douno (11 July 1864 - 27 December 1944) was a spiritual master and founder of a School of Esoteric Christianity called "School of the Universal White Brotherhood" The various components in the Teaching of Master Beinsa Douno are set out and designed in about 7000 lectures of his, provided in the interval of 1900-1944. They were released in several series: lectures before the General Class, lectures before the Special Class, Sunday lectures, Annual Meeting lectures, Morning lectures etc. He started with three followers, and these progressively grew to many thousand. 2.Central Park “Borisova Gradina” https://goo.gl/maps/urwAh7rdNRQTH4476 In 1882, the then-mayor of Sofia Ivan Hadzhienov brought Swiss gardener Daniel Neff from Bucharest with the intention to create a garden for the capital of Bulgaria. The mayor's initial plans included first establishing a large nursery where trees, shrubs and flowers for the future garden would grow, also providing material for the already existing gardens and for the streets. Neff developed the first plan of the garden in the spring of 1882, set up the nursery and built a house for himself, starting construction in 1884. Acacia trees were originally planted, flowerbeds were shaped, a small artificial lake was built, and this all was fenced with a hedge of oaks and hawthorns. The nursery produced saplings that met the needs of the city and were also sold to the citizen. Acacia trees were most widely produced together with mulberry trees, trumpet flowers, elm trees, plane trees and others. The nursery was shaped as a garden in 1885 and had an area of 300,000 m² in 1886 with four main alleys. Borisova gradina grew to the southwest in the following years and the large lake was built in 1889. Knyaz Ferdinand ordered in 1888 the replacement of most acacias with forest oaks, sycamores, ash trees and birches. The next couple of years saw the planting of deciduous trees from neighboring forests, as well as coniferous ones from Rila mountain, black pines and spruces. 3.Dechko Uzunov Art Gallery https://goo.gl/maps/8Eyci19No7K4gMjL6 Famous Bulgarian artist with rich cultural legacy. The gallery is part of the Sofia Art Gallery and supported by the Town of Sofia 4.José Martí Memorial https://goo.gl/maps/PeKwjWHsTsCz5SFE7 José Julián Martí Pérez (January 28, 1853 – May 19, 1895) was a Cuban poet, essayist, journalist, translator, professor, and publisher, who is considered a Cuban national hero and an important figure in Latin American literature. He was very politically active, and is considered an important revolutionary philosopher and political theorist.Through his writings and political activity, he became a symbol of Cuba's bid for independence against Spain in the 19th century, and is referred to as the "Apostle of Cuban Independence." From adolescence, he dedicated his life to the promotion of liberty, political independence for Cuba, and intellectual independence for all Spanish Americans; his death was used as a cry for Cuban independence from Spain by both the Cuban revolutionaries and those Cubans previously reluctant to start a revolt. 5.Museum of Socialist Art https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294452-d2463199-Reviews-Museum_of_Socialist_Art-Sofia_Sofia_Region.html The Museum of Socialist Art in Sofia is a museum of art which covers the history of the communist era in Bulgaria. It was established on 19 September 2011 amidst a controversy over the name, which was initially proposed as "Museum of Totalitarian Art". The museum's collection of large and small statues, busts, and paintings represents the period from 1944 to 1989, from the establishment of the People's Republic of Bulgaria to the fall of communism. The museum spread over an area of 7,500 square meters (81,000 sq ft) in the Sofia suburb known as "Red Star is in three parts - a park with sculpture installations drawn from the communist period, an exhibition hall with paintings and easel representations, and a media or video hall in which films and newsreels related to the communist period are screened. Food and Drinks We would recommend trying our local Bulgarian cuisine since it is rich in flavors and has been influenced by Greek and Turkish over the centuries. You should expect to be seated by one of the waiters rather than a host in most of the places unless it is a high-end restaurant or night bar. Usually a 10% tip is suggested. Most of the restaurant would accept credit cards but having cash in hand is always a good idea. 6.Turkish restaurant Konak https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294452-d8657892-Reviews-Konak_Turkish_Restaurant-Sofia_Sofia_Region.html Turkish, European, Middle Eastern cuisine. It has a comfortable and cozy interior with beautiful garden outside (open May – Sept) 7.Restaurant Mezze https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294452-d1389581-Reviews-Mezze-Sofia_Sofia_Region.html?m=19905 Seafood, European, Mediterranean. It has a wonderful atmosphere but is a bit expensive 8.Brick Café Bar & Dinner https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294452-d10104511-Reviews-Brick_Cafe_Sofia-Sofia_Sofia_Region.html Bar, American, Mediterranean. Cozy atmosphere but expect fast-food style experience. 9.Posolstvoto Bar & Dinner https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294452-d3849505-Reviews-Posolstvoto_Bar_Dinner-Sofia_Sofia_Region.html Bar (pub style) with wonderful lunch menu that features traditional Bulgarian meals. It’s nothing special but they server good food for the buck. The interior and music are Hard Rock style. 10.TEA Coffee, Tea and Pastries https://goo.gl/maps/KHyUdTUwftBNs6Tm9 One of the best pantries in Sofia with variety of cakes and delights. Everything is fresh and their own produce. You should give it a try. Weekends it might be overcrowded especially at brunch time. Groceries, Pharmacy, ATM 11.ATM All ATM’s are located in the area next to the Frederic Joliot Curie subway station. Central Cooperative Bank is located next to the entrance of the tall, blue building https://goo.gl/maps/zokbkbH69jACkW838 First Investment ATM & Bitcoin ATM inside the lobby of Interpred (glass building from the picture) https://goo.gl/maps/wZk5ZGMCupRHk7reA United Bulgarian Bank is located on the ground floor of the cylinder tower building across the street https://goo.gl/maps/NMFYJhpBKzxkRnPa8 12.Pharmacy https://goo.gl/maps/1dYDFWw6YTyZ9A3y5 There are two pharmacies – One is located across the street from the grocery store https://goo.gl/maps/pbEiHoc3Pvz8Fvk1A The other one is a bit further down on the corner of the building. 13.Grocery Store LIDL https://goo.gl/maps/aWBWSEn5a3nxGa6Q6 Grocery store part of the LIDL chain. The variety is limited and consists mainly from their own brands, but you have household goods and works till 10 PM 14.Drug store DM https://goo.gl/maps/WimnhWKUGUsgHZf6A DM is part of drudgery store chain that offers variety of cosmetics, personal hygiene products, dippers, baby food Haircut, SPA, Fitness, Dry Cleaning 15.Dry cleaning (5àSec) https://goo.gl/maps/rkzEREVe3s4ZTxdKA 16.SPA, Beauty, Hair Dresser and Beard grooming https://goo.gl/maps/UhhP8qA5z4St69SJA https://goo.gl/maps/L3R74NYQzyix5pkt5 Bio Products 17.A few family shops for bio products from bakery to dairy products and wine https://goo.gl/maps/BHM6xVfLsr9zWqzx6 https://goo.gl/maps/bP8XtCY3wUMYznCb7 https://goo.gl/maps/qiZGycnpdyRxGzuBA

No list of “things to do and see” would be complete without talking about the city’s nightlife. In Sofia it is mainly situated in the city center. Apart from the Vitosha boulevard, a favorite when it comes to nightlife and bars is Shishman str. Several pub crawls also operate in the city. Here are some of our favorite bars and restaurants.

Top 10 Things to Do and See in Sofia If you are reading this, then you are most likely visiting Sofia for the first time. No worries! We are here to guide you through your first experience with a list of essential things to do and see in Bulgaria’s capital and largest city. 1. Explore Sofia’s main landmarks From its beautiful temples to the ancient Roman ruins, Sofia has a lot to offer. The city is full of must-sees due to its rich historical and cultural heritage. A great way to get a good overview of the city’s historical center is of course one of the daily free walking tours. This will get you acquainted with the city’s most important sights in just 2 hours. The tours start in front of the Palace of Justice and end right next to Sofia’s most legendary building – St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. https://freesofiatour.com/free-sofia-tour/ 2. Vitosha Boulevard Sofia’s city center is very compact and walking is the best way to get your bearings and experience the Bulgarian lifestyle. It is inevitable that you will end up on Vitosha boulevard. It is by far the busiest pedestrian zone in our capital full of many great bars, restaurants and shops. 3. Sofia’s parks. You will be surprised how green Sofia is. Large parks and smaller green areas are one of Sofia’s great advantages. Make sure to enjoy at least a couple of hours walking around Geo Milev park, South Park or Borisova Garden (Sofia’s largest park). However, probably the most crowded one of them all is the City Garden. Also known as “the garden in front of the National Theatre” it truly is one of the most social places in town. Enjoy a drink or two with your friends in this great outdoor environment! 4. Vitosha Mountain Sofia is one of the very few European capitals that does not have a big river or a sea next to it. Instead of that, there is quite a high mountain (2290m), at least according to the Bulgarian standards. It’s the Vitosha Mountain. Apart from giving you a lot of great picture opportunities from pretty much every part of town, it is also the nearest hiking and skiing option. It is well connected to the city center and you’ll be there in no time. Here’s how to get there: https://freesofiatour.com/blog/how-to-get-to-vitosha-mountain/ 5. Traditional Bulgarian Food No visit to Bulgaria is complete without experiencing traditional Bulgarian food. https://freesofiatour.com/blog/bulgarian-food-eat-bulgaria/ The best way to do this, is by visiting a traditional Bulgarian restaurant such as Manastirska Magernitsa or Pod Lipite http://magernitsa.com/en/ http://www.podlipitebg.com/en Decorated in an authentic folklore style such restaurants often offer a show that includes live Bulgarian music and dances. Oh yeah, and don’t forget to try rakia drink! 6. Visit a Museum We recommend that you visit at least one museum during your Sofia visit. And now comes the hard part… which one? Most museums are situated in the center of the city. Here are some of our favorites: •History Museum of Sofia. You will find it in one of the city’s most beautiful buildings – the Former Mineral Baths https://www.sofiahistorymuseum.bg/en/ •National Archeological Museum – Situated right in front of the Presidency, this is for all interested in learning much more about the remote past of our lands http://naim.bg/en/home/ •National History Museum – This one is a little bit further away from the city center, but totally worth the visit. It’s also where you’ll find some of Bulgaria’s most impressive golden treasures https://historymuseum.org/en/ •Museum of Totalitarian Art – Bulgaria’s socialist past is currently best represented in this museum. The museum includes a collection of statues and paintings from the 1944-1989 period https://www.google.com/maps/place/Socialist+art+Museum/@42.6659624,23.3579716,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x50f2603d854335ca!8m2!3d42.6659624!4d23.3579716 •National Art Gallery Square 500 – One of Sofia’s newest galleries, often referred to as “The Bulgarian Louvre” it truly offers a great variety of both Bulgarian and foreign art https://nationalgallery.bg/visiting/kvadrat-500/ 7. Nightlife in Sofia No list of “things to do and see” would be complete without talking about the city’s nightlife. In Sofia it is mainly situated in the city center. Apart from the Vitosha boulevard, a favorite when it comes to nightlife and bars is Shishman street. Several pub crawls also operate in the city. Here are some of our favorite bars and restaurants: •Bar Petak/Bar Friday •8/24 bar •Dada Cultural Bar •Exe Club •One more bar •The Little Things •Made in Blue •La Bottega Due Piani 8. Adventure Activities (Things to Do and See) There are many options for adventure lovers near Sofia. Everything from rock climbing to mountain biking to paragliding and kayaking. Here is a more detailed list of such activities. https://freesofiatour.com/blog/adventures-near-sofia/ 9. Attend a Performance If you love performing arts you’ve come to the right place. Sofia is full with affordable options for lovers of all art. •Sofia Opera and Ballet House – With its 126 years of history it offers rich variety of classical and modern opera and ballet performances for adults, kids and even for babies. https://www.operasofia.bg/en/?cgxra=1&ret=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub3BlcmFzb2ZpYS5iZy9lbi8= •Watch a theatre performance – Unfortunately, there are currently no performances in languages other than Bulgarian. However, there are several options for subtitled theatre performances. http://sofiatheatre.eu/indexen.php •Attend a Classical Concert – For more information in English you can visit Hall Bulgaria. https://sofiaphilharmonic.com/en/%D1%81%D0%BE%D1%84%D0%B8%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0-%D1%84%D0%B8%D0%BB%D1%85%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F-en/ •Go to the National Palace of Culture – a leading venue for all types of events in Sofia. The National Palace of Culture always has something exciting to offer. http://www.ndk.bg/Program/Events-37EN.html 10. Explore beyond Sofia If you’ve come here for just 2 or 3 days you might not have the time to do this. However, we do encourage you to dive deeper into what Bulgaria has to offer. There are countless of opportunities for day trips, nature escapes, hiking and so much more. If you have the time, we recommend a visit to Plovdiv, The Rila Monastary and Veliko Tarnovo. https://freesofiatour.com/blog/top-7-day-trips-sofia/ Also check out: 1. Top 10 Things to Do and See in Plovdiv https://freeplovdivtour.com/blog/10-things-to-do-see-plovdiv-one-day/ 2. Free Things to Do in Sofia https://freesofiatour.com/blog/free-things-to-do-in-sofia/