I am Bulgarian who lived like 8 years in USA and once i left my country i realized how beautiful and peaceful it is.. I returned into my home city 4 years ago and i dont ever plan to moving away.
My daughter in law is from Bulgaria. She lives here USA, but she bought a summer home over there. She plans to spend as much time as she can there with her family. I hope to go visit one day.
@@Radio280 Well it totally depends on your spending and life style. In my opinion for couple of two 1000$ is pretty much enough. But as i said if you are big spender 2000$. There is Bulgarian elderly people living on with 150-200$ monthly wich is very hard and sad, they must grown their own food etc.
@@MayainBulgaria I'm originally from LA , the most evil mega city of horror and consumerism.. I'm now in spain:) ! Looking very interested to bulgaria, b c the houses at low price . Meine mutter ist Deutch und ich spreche. Ich bin auch zu Deutschland aber zu kalt I'm winter.
I'm Bulgarian but grew up in South Africa. I left after thirteen years, and I do miss the nature and open spaces. I've been thinking of moving to Bulgaria since it has some of the things I miss from SA such as open space, beautiful nature, and in many aspects it's better, safety being one of them. Your vlog on buying and restoring a rural property is an inspiration to me.
Oh I miss SA as well! Holidays in the Kruger park and Debonaires pizza 😃 I do get some deja vue feelings here in bg thy remind me of SA. I think it’s the big thunderstorms and nature sounds. Or it could be sth else but it’s definitely nice to experience a bit of my old home here in my new home
@@MayainBulgaria For me it's the mountains which somewhat remind me of the Drakensberg and the hilly landscape of Kwa-Zulu Natal in general. It's also not cramped like some countries in Europe tend to be, there's plenty of untouched nature.
Coincidentally came across your video and enjoyed it very much with your honest experience and search for a good place to live! I’m Bulgarian living almost 30 years in US and brought some good memories to me about this special land❤️ Enjoy the journey 🍀
I have ancestry from Macedonia, but its Slavic, and closest to Bulgarian I suppose and have thought about moving to Bulgaria from Australia. The cost of living in Australia is astronomical by comparison. Bulgaria is the winner. Will follow your journey for sure, as I've thought about doing something similar in Bulgaria for a while now. I also grew up on a farm, so I'll be curious how you go with your garden. Maya DeBoer? :) Your region reminds me of my ancestors region a bit, around Florina/Prespa region in Greece. I should send you some archaic western bulgarian words (eg slavic-macedonian), it might confuse some of the locals. hehe Agree you can't compare EU states with South Africa. Good move you made. Okay, subbed :) Veliki Pozdravi Gary
Yes the prices are lower but you have to make sure you don't have bulgarian salary ,that way life is nto going to be cheap.... If you can work anywhere in the world with higher salary than the locals , its the best ! I am glad you know your ancestors. Slavic Macedonians and Bulgarians are one ethnicity divided by political interests in the past and now hate 😢
A pleasant and interesting view to ppl that don't live here .i came to bulgaria for adventure ..found untold freedom,adventure and wonderful friendly helpful ppl . 7 years on it still amazes me . The mountain huts and trails .. skiing ...stay in samakov ..and go to borovets .. smolyan region is a must .. I like mountains
It's unique in so many ways isn't it! I'm enjoying the south east but looking forward to adventuring Bansko and all over really. The mountains are a highlight :)
I m a Bulgarian still living in South Africa-Umhlanga, next to Durban; but I intend to return back to Bulgaria in the next 1-2 years: happy to watch your video; I m originally from Dobrich-50km from Varna
Oh, I thought you forget about this video. I think the climate is very important. I live in Poland where the weather is extremely bad and it affects my mood so much. I hope to go to Bulgaria back soon. Thanks for this video and I am waiting for the next video :)
@@MayainBulgaria As somebody already mentioned it would be good to hear about your job. I also have one more question. Since you do not know the language, it must be hard to socialize. You do not feel lonely and bored sometimes? Do you have friends alreadyin the village with whom you can speak daily and visit? Maybe you can mention it in the next video.
@@ramazanyozgyur7037 if you consider moving to Bulgaria I suggest the bigger towns like Burgas, Varna, Sofia, Plovdiv. Villages have their charm and peace but there are many downsides. I am telling this as a person living here
I took the chance and moved to Bulgaria on my own as a mature woman, to a small village close to Balchik, I had a wonderful experience, Bulgarians are curious and not afraid to find out what you are doing. I renovated my home and employed Bulgarians, fostered dogs and worked online. I returned to the UK and still miss the peace and tranquility of such a beautiful country. Enjoy your time there x
@@deborahfoss904 ahh ok thank you, i will go to bulgaria, fortunatley i can work from home, or if that do not work i can go for season work as a chef to swiss.
I am really happy to hear that there are meditation groups in southern Bulgaria and would be interested know more about that. Thank you for your comprehensive descriptions and your impressions of the country. I'm an American intending to relocate to Eastern Europe.
What a lovely, gentle, presentation style you have. You have such a comforting voice ☺ I'm due to move to Bulgaria this year, near Varna, from the UK. Trying to learn the language. Will have to check out more of your videos to see how you managed to cope with that.
Hi Daryl, I wish you an easy and joyful move. I don't speak Bulgarian yet and I'm managing ok. People are so kind here and Google translate helps too :)
Glad to see this video ! I’m Bulgarian , use to live in the UK for 6 years, recently moved back to Bulgaria , bought a flat in Varna (not far from you ^^) and start an online job :) so far I feel okay, hope you feel okay in my homeland as well :)
Welcome back home 🙌 I’m actually in lyubimets area so it’s maybe 4hrs from varna? I absolutely love being in Bulgaria. It’s so peaceful. A bit of a dream. I feel very lucky :)
Hi there. We wanna do the same. Buy a flat in the city of Burgas. How much was the flat you bought? R u living in it or renting it out? How much a couple need to live comfortably in the villages south of Burgas without rent included 🤔? How much the online job pays?
Amazing here in USA we bought a huge lovely new home but at a huge cost. Mortgage free life is a dream for most in this world. You are truly rich now. Great job.
Thanks Carmen, it does feel good to own a roof over my head and all I need now is some diesel and food money. I’m exaggerating, but yes, I get to breath a bit easier now :)
I've just come across your channel. Thanks for your videos. I'm struggling between Bulgaria & Portugal, given Portugals better climate but Bulgarias less developed more countryfied land & far far cheaper. I shall peruse the rest of your videos with delight.
Welcome Steve! They are quite different. Off the top of my head… Bulgaria gets extremely cold in winter which I believe Portugal doesn’t? Much cheaper to live and buy in rural Bulgaria as you mentioned. Portuguese might be easier to learn as a language vs Bulgarian. Neither is Central Europe. Bulgaria has fewer strict rules and enforcement. More relaxed and authentic. Let me know if you have questions about rural Bulgaria. I’m happy to help if I can :)
Hi Maya, you probably know, but the reason the property prices are so low in rural areas in Bulgaria is because people migrate to cities and abroad. It seems however now after COVID people a re looking to go back to peace and quiet. We had our village renovated and planning to spend some quiet home-officing from there in between watering the plants :) Btw, my last year abroad I spent in Cape Town, loved it but I know what you mean when talking about SA crime. I wish you have a great life and enjoy in Bulgaria! All the best!
Yes I’ve noticed so many foreigners coming to live in the rural village and also Bulgarian people from the cities have also renovated houses in the village. It’s coming back to life :)
Hi Maya, I’m in Oregon, USA and planning a visit to Bulgaria in September for two weeks. Hoping to get more info on starting a business to be able to buy a car and purchase a renovation house with garden space in a small village. I have two cats and don’t need much. I raise rabbits and quail in US so will do same in Bulgaria. Cheers!
Here in Bulgaria, we have one sentence for the weather, which sounds something like: There are two seasons in Bulgaria, one is Goddamn ice cold, the other - Goddamn heat. :D I like the way, wind blow your hair. We are lucky, that we have person like you! :)
@@MayainBulgaria I visited BG for the first time in July 2022 and I was really blown away by the 35 to 40 degrees temperatures. I live in the UK and was hoping to find a country with a more constant temperature to buy a place in.
I like what you said about things "just feeling right". I live in Sofia but videos like yours motivated me to get a village house to relax on weekends and work from for a few days a month. I've looked at so many houses in the last months... I found a house at a reasonable price for the condition it is in and I'll be going there to have a look next week. And it feels right so far. Sometimes you just need to follow your gut. :)
I wouldn't go to the coast area myself but it's a matter of personal preference. I prefer mountains and pine forests. Nothing beats the smell of a pine forest early in the morning. The Rila and Pirin mountains are ideal. Many villages that are within 100km of Sofia and with affordable houses. That's my idea.
If your cold sensitive it's a good job you didn't decide to move to central Sweden like i did, six months of winter and sometimes down to nearly -30 for a week at the coldest part of winter with only a few hours of daylight, i can't wait to make the move to Bulgaria some time in the distant future.
You will have a difficult decision I think. Beautiful countries. I travelled through the Romanian mountains on my way to Bulgaria and nearly stayed there. So so so beautiful. And people are so friendly! Wonderful places. But of course I’m more a rural nature person maybe the city experience will be different for you :))
Very nice video again Maya. When you did all the renovations on your house did you have to get permits for everything. Here you would need permits for all electrical, plumbing, roof repair, septic system, etc.. Then it would have to be inspected by a city inspector. I like that you can talk to friendly neighbors. That is missing in larger cities. Crime is also bad here, the worst in Canada, so you have chosen a nice place in the world to live.
am cold sensitive since was born. normally, jackets cover me till June annually. even live in Taiwan, like to put on a jacket to go out all year run. to look for a warm and dry even hot place to live is my current aim. local climate is good in very south area but humidity is very high islandwide. my question is hope to live in a green yard or field if possible. what i knew except some islands near far western of Africa are the only place to meet my conditions. the properties of those islands over there are very expensive. meanwhile, the transportations of reaching those islands for expats are really inconvenient.
I been in Bulgaria for almost 9 years from UK and I love it as does my wife she is form China and loce your shows. Though its hard to run a business here were in finanance and hard finding workers but except this one best country I have lived.
So happy to hear you love it! Me too :) I think for finances, you can make a online office with international employees. Distance work is probably possible:)
Labour market is overqualified and eager to prove themselves while painfully aware of corrupt former politicians and bosses. There is a long history of suffering from Roman, Greek, Muslim, Communist, Nazi, Globalist, you-name-it ideology we went through yet survived. Thus, Bulgarians became genetically immunised against manipulation and deceit. It makes us look grumpy or angry. It is not you personally, it's the whole world in general. Think of us of being humbled and reserved, rarely boastful. Syndrome of the beaten dog comes to mind. If given a chance, we could potentially overcome our scepticism and be such a blessing to the world. Thank you for your honest message, Maya. PS: Perhaps more citizens could listen to you and begin demanding better customer service and reduced simplified bureaucracy. The same is the inheritance of 45 years rule of the Communist Party, it killed initiative and rewarded mediocrity. My apologies for having to deal with this. Bless you dear.❤
You finally made that video :). A couple of things concerning the things you mentioned. People stare at you only because they can tell you speak a foreign language (that isn't Turkish or Roma). You are in a part of the country that has very few foreigners, and so people still notice them when they see them. Also, the reason why you bought this house so cheap is because of the huge depopulation Bulgaria experienced since 1990. Bulgaria lost 2.5 million people since 1990. So, thousands of houses in the villages get abandoned because people either die off or leave the villages to work in the cities or abroad for a better life. At the same time, the country's area is just slightly smaller than that of England but it has 9 times fewer people. So, there are thousands of empty or abandoned houses that come with a lot of land and few people who can or are interested to buy them. Hence the low price of your house and most houses in the rural parts of Bulgaria. I agree with you that foreigners buying those houses is a way to get these villages revived. Having lived in Bulgaria for close to a year now, do you see yourself living here permanently? I mean, I know you have a house, but do you see yourself living in Bulgaria in 10-20 years' time? I guess it also depends on what plans you may have with respect to starting a family etc.
Ahhh! Thank you so much for that info. Yes there are many abandoned houses. I believe something to do with too many children of the family not agreeing to sell it? Or not wanting to bother to come back to sign the sales contract. I’m not sure where I’ll be in the next decade. It’s a mystery. At the moment my intention is to build a food forest with some permaculture characteristics in the garden here 🌱🥰
@@MayainBulgaria You are welcome :). See it wasn't anything you had to worry about. Also, I wanted to add about the safety issue. As you have already experienced yourself, in Bulgaria you don't have to worry at all about any sort of violent crime which is what you have had to get used to growing up in South Africa. The only thing you could experience in terms of crime is getting something stolen from you and that is only because you live in a rural area. The villages are small and have a low population density which makes the crime safer/less risky, so some people could attempt it. Even then, it is highly unlikely that anyone would try to steal something from you while you are there (i.e. your van is there). In any case, the more people that live in your village permanently, the lower the probability that this could happen.
@@MayainBulgaria Sorry, one last thing. I know you said that you like the area you are in, but honestly, Haskovo, Lubimets, Harmanli isn't really one of the better areas of Bulgaria. Later on, if you save some more money and if you plan on staying in Bulgaria, you could consider selling your house and moving somewhere in the Plovdiv or Veliko Tarnovo region. The VT region has a big English speaking ex-pat community, and you can still get a house at an affordable price there. Buying a house around Sofia, Varna or Burgas would probably be too big of an investment at this point unless you plan to live in Bulgaria over the long term.
Hi Maya, you mentioned an alternative sort of community in the south of Bulgaria. Could you please say its name or the name of the area you were talking about? This is my kind of vibe and I am interested to know more. Thsnk you for this lovely video and your lovely energy.
I just came across your channel i was so happy to see someone's lifestyle and the idea to live in my country, Im from bulgaria too, from a small town in burgas municipality (not far from the black sea) keep doing whatever you do, great content thanks for sharing this content loving it 👍🏻
Which village south of Burgas you will recommend ? We wanna buy a house in that region. And how much a couple need to live normally in those villages without paying rent? 🤔
@@Radio280 I recommend you look into Sozopol, Nessebar, Primorsko, Tsarevo. Depending on what you want. You can learn more about those towns using google. Without rent you need 1500 $ for a couple
Funny hearing you talk about vanlife Eurotrip... you were saying all these places, and then 5 months, and it was slow- and I was thinking- wow she moved fast haha Also, was starting to think of opening a channel about my life in Bulgaria (been here for almost 2 years now, in Bansko) and funny seeing your channel's name - as my first name is Maya (mey is the middle one ) Anyway- love the content, new sub here, and keep on making awesome content, I am def looking into leaving Bansko, maybe Sofia, maybe Varna... So any info on just daily life wherever you are is super useful ! Awesome day, cheers :)
Welcome 🤗 I guess 5 months was just slow compared to my friend. And actually most ppl I know. They just drive through with minimal stopping. I really want to see Bansko. Hearing lovely things about it! Interested why you want to leave there? I probably won't see your reply cause RUclips doesn't notify me of replies to my replies 🙃 you could email me if you like. Nice meeting you Maya Mey 🤗🤗🤗
I wondered were you were from originally ,i was bought up in Zambia for 15 years, been to SA a once or twice ,interesting to hear why you moved there,i am a bit behind on your videos so going through them so catching up finding them very interesting ,take care
@@MayainBulgaria my sisters were born in Zambia i was 3 months old when i moved there pity there are so many wars and poverty in most African there are some beautiful countries destroyed by war,look forward to seeing more videos,look after your self and take care
Very nice video, Maya. I'm glad you like my fatherland. Enjoy this rich and beautiful ancient land. Here's something to ponder upon: there are no coincidences or synchronicities in God's kingdom. 😊 You are in Bulgaria for a reason. Have you meditated on the Holy Spirit as if you were openly speaking to a loving father? You may even begin to believe in miracles too. Bless you dear. ❤
Ever since I discovered your channel a few days ago, it has been a delight watching your videos. On this one, there is so much to unpack. There are commonalities and similarities between us. E.g. I am a fellow German passport holder with a PhD in German-South African history (don't get me started on SA...), lived all over but moved to Sofia in 2022. However, our reasons differ. Primarily, BG is extremely freelancer friendly (7.5% effective tax rate) coupled with far lower living costs than in Germany (the country with the highest electricity prices in the world), any €/$ made stays mostly in your pocket and gets you much more. In practice, this can mean only having to work half a year to live comfortably or being able to retire far earlier in the future. Compared to maybe still paying off a mortgage on a 1 bed in Munich 90 years later. Originally focused on Dubai, the higher living costs there (6-7x höher effektiv als in DE aufgrund Miete, importierter Nahrungsmitteln, usw.) BG also proved more attractive due to being in the EU. Nothing stops you from renting a car and driving back to the land of Bratwurst. Whilst one can buy an entire village for a song in BG and then have oodles of square kilometres to oneself (maybe in my next life I open the world's biggest cat sanctuary), it had to be Sofia for me (despite the pollution). Client work outside BG necessitates quick airport access and if one day kids come along, there's the German school in Dianabad. Whilst moving to BG can mean stepping out of the comfort zone, it does provide room for personal and financial self-fulfillment that is not easy to find in Europe. Plus, the countryside is great. I agree summer was killer, the first time I stopped what I was doing until I bought a hat 🙂. Gib Bescheid falls du je Bio-Weinblätter oder Kirschen auf "Gut Maya" anbauen solltest 🙂
You really thought this through in great detail! Sofia is a wonderful place to be except that it’s quite a bit more pricey vs rural spaces. However it has stunning forests right on the doorstep! Magical. I’ve always dreamt of a cat sanctuary but in practice I wouldn’t be able to do it alone. It’s a massive commitment that probably needs at least a few people so that holidays can be covered easily enough. Bg is out of my comfort zone due to the language and I hope to learn this sooner than later. And it’s 100% worth it! Greetings from the other side of bg! 🤗
@@MayainBulgaria I am in Simeonovo, so halfway up Vitosha (at least for half the year when I am not somewhere else in Europe). After 7 years in central London, and five years in the German countryside, I figure the outer suburbs work best for me along the spectrum "inner city to the countryside" The other great thing is that high-speed internet is available throughout the country. Compare that to even getting a basic connection in rural Germany. The other month drove up to Belogradchik, which was lovely, especially the reservoir around Montana on the way back. There are so many animals in need, I do wish I could clone myself and embark on the cat sanctuary adventure, even if on a small scale. I don't speak Bulgarian either but make do with my basic Russian (I acknowledge of course cities are easier as a non-BG speaker), though there are significant differences. For importing items from the UK or Germany, consider GGBG. They provide you with a UK/DE mail address for any orders and then ship it over at a fraction of the cost to BG.
Helpful perspective here. Don't know if I'd live rurally but Bulgaria is definitely on my list. (Context for Americans: 2k sq meters is about 1/2 acre).
Hey Maya! great channel - just subscribed! -- same here, so sensible to have a home and own it outright! why be in debt and stay planted in Germany or the UK?! and community is also important to me too! -- i been thinking about Bulgaria too for past few years, thanks for the insights!
@@MayainBulgaria yep Bulgaria was an option! but i need sun! so Malaysia it is for now! :) -- but may look at Bulgaria -- in future-.especially if comes to buying a place to live longer term! :)
Life, community, cost, and housing there sound quite lovely, and I liked hearing about your plans for a food forest. I am a widower and single parent of an 8 year old (Americans), currently living in the Netherlands, but life is quite expensive and chaotic here, and I have been dreaming about my permaculture and DIY housing plans for quite some time now. I have been thinking about a move to a place like Bulgaria. I spoke with a Bulgarian immigration lawyer and we can get a visa to move there. Do you see many families or children there, or do you have any sense of what life for children and schooling is like?
Thank you for the info, very interesting! I feel a road trip coming up to check it out :-) I am from Belgium so it is a bit of a drive but am contemplating this trip after winter. The main reason for me is also that the cost of living is not normal anymore here for a single person. We have to work ourselves into burnout to pay 1000 euro (per month at the moment !!!) utility bills on top of all other costs. That is not normal. There is no perspective anymore unfortunately. But there is a way out in Bulgaria :-) Thanks for sharing! Take care!
There are a lot of opportunities to start a small business here. Taxes are low: 10% flat corporate tax and 10% flat personal tax. People are crammed in Sofia and few big cities but the rest is quite empty. Internet service is good too in case you plan to work online.
@@MayainBulgariafrom your e-meter they take the numbers distantly thru the cable is something like internet cause before Bulgarians were stealing electricity blocking the meter from inside or slowing it down with magnets they still do so that's why meters are constantly checked. Same as in East Germany & all over in East Europe the Communism made one great mistake - to educate the populations with great education the best in world & for free!
Im having a hard time choosing whatever to relocate to bulgaria or romania.. and you're channel pulls me more toward bulgaria.. will be happy to know if you have more stuff about why bulgaria and not romania
Hi Joe, I drove through Romania briefly and had a lovely time in the mountains there. The rangers were so friendly and warned me about bears. My experience with Romania is very limited im afraid!
@@MayainBulgaria thanks a lot for the info.. except for housing which is cheaper in bulgaria .. do other stuff like food,bills etc .. also cheap there?
Sehr schönes Video und so gut auf den Punkt gebracht! Bei deiner Beschreibung der Erfahrung in Deutschland musste ich lächeln...stimmt einfach. In der Türkei wirst du dich wahrscheinlich auch sehr wohl fühlen. Friedlich, herzlich, weich und frei fühlt es sich hier an. Dorfleben als Frau allein leider kulturell nicht möglich, auch Arbeitserlaubnis und Aufenthaltstitel schwierig :) Sonnige Grüße aus der Südtürkei
@@MayainBulgaria Kilometerlange Märkte, alles voller Gemüse und Obst, kleine und grosse Stände, riesengrosse Vielfalt. Wetter im Januar schon mal 2-3 Tag kalt am Stück, dann aber wieder sonnig. Das Meer bleibt warm, aber die Wellen und Strömung sind heikel.
Probably best to check available properties online like I mentioned in a previous comment. Hope that helps! There's lots to browse to get a good idea 👍
I’ve spent over a month in Bulgaria and seen a large part of it. I especially liked the Southern parts. Which general area did you settle in? I’m seriously thinking about moving there from the U.S. It’s wonderful and I appreciate all of the information here. Thank you and take care ❤
Electricity: In my experience and that of friends, I would never take utility Company Staff's word for anything. Find out what the Kwh rates are, the standing charge, and work it out yourself. And then pay what you think you should be paying.
The utilities bills sound very different, compared to mine - I live alone (with a cat, of course), but in Sofia, and electricity is between 40-50 BGN in the summer, up to 160 BGN (I use electricity for heating, heating water, cooking, working... everything) in the winter. And water is like 15-20 BGN/mo. The Internet is the same price. Using gas saves you a bit, I guess, but living in an apartment building gas is too much hassle, so I just do everything on electricity.
Watching your videos and love how humble you are . I would like to be friends with you . I will be in BG November , and will be really happy to meet you and talk to you , and walk around .
@@MayainBulgaria The irony is that you are also a person from the Internet :)))) Aren't people from the internet the same people that are on the internet? :)))) It is NOT normal for a person to jump on the neck of the first person he meets. I just caught the energy that flows from you, that's exactly what attracted me, and I decided to share it with you. It is clear to me that we will not agree on when, where and how - right now , it is clear to me that everyone has their own barriers. I am a Bulgarian who lives abroad, but I value friendships with people who share the same thinking ,the way and sense of life. I see nothing wrong with expanding the circle of friends. I've hit that subscribed button and you earn my unconditional likes :))) Greetings
Where in Turkey do you plan to stay? I've lived here 18 years now (just waiting for visa to enable our move to BG 😁) and winters are pretty brutal here as properties aren't insulated or heated very well. I'm looking forward to wood burner with central heating in our house in BG, fed up of freezing and layering socks/clothes indoors 🥶
People compare GDP per capita and think that people in Eastern Europe live like aborigines, but few of them know how cheap it really is here compared to Western Europe. For example, I pay 11 lev's for 100 Mbps of internet per month, which is less than 6 euros. Unfortunately, low taxes and bills mean less money for infrastructure maintenance and investment, but that is slowly improving.
And with more people realizing how great Bulgaria is with potential, they will soon revive many rural villages and bring money there to rebuild the infrastructure. I’ve noticed the village is repairing the lake water pipes very quickly and they are construction a completely new roof for the village center building
Wow car video at end ,wowwww far far out ! Yeah , south Africa i get it,,, very rural. All nature. Its amazing the car made it. .... i like bulgaria, and its eu??? No way, i guess im good , i can do it. Im on my way as soon as i can !
Yes you are absolutely right ... Bulgaria is a very safe anf Human orientated country ! The only danger : Roads and crazy drivers ! ( By the way, I am invalid and to live in Bulgaria is a game changer compared to France)
It’s true the driving is sometimes a bit crazy and I wonder if that is because people are trying to avoid the potholes. Or the roads are too narrow in the countryside so they drive in the middle of the road.
@@MayainBulgaria What is your email ? I would enjoy to tell you how I could help you more ! I am French ... an old man with a very terrible decease since more than 50 years But I know Bulgariasince 1999 because of my BG wife ! You have my full support in all cases !
I just found you and channel.Subbed! I'm thinking of something similar. Are there many young people in the rural areas or are they all old? You say things are cheap, but for Bulgarians on their salaries/ pensions would it still be cheap for them?
For bulgatians it's not cheap. Some people have better salaries other not. There are many people whos teuggle with money and some who have managed to succed
Hey , welcome to Bulgaria :) I have a question i have noticed some foreigners buy property and start a life in Bulgaria but they eventually leave , do you have such plans and why ? I ask this because i plan to move to Bulgaria permanantly but i am worried why so much people leave ?
Very interesting. I'm South African and contemplating moving due to the high crime rate here and general deterioration in SA. How easy is it for South Africans to get permanent residence in Bulgaria? Regards, Dylan, PE.
@@MayainBulgaria Thanks for that Maya. Oddly, I was watching your video, and it's the first time I've watched any of your videos - it was on my recommended page - when Bulgaria was the country featured in a weekday afternoon programme here called 'A place in the sun'. Usually Spain is the main country for prospective buyers. The female looking for a property did purchase an apartment in a modern complex with an inviting community swimming pool, an indoor pool, landscaped community areas and a nice flat with balcony. The purchase price with furniture...£20.500!! Incredible value. The date the programme aired though was 2018 so I imagine prices might have gone up a pound or two since :)
@@MayainBulgaria Great :) Im actually considering a few job offers i got in Sofia for next year, Bulgaria looks wonderful and i dont have much else going on here in sweden at the moment.
How much is it to rent a house with land on it in Bulgaria. And I and interested in buying an allotment garden with a waterproof shed on it. Thank you. Dobspato Newcastle Upon Tyne England. I am visiting Sunny Beach in May the 15th for two week's.
Sounds lovely! Enjoy your visit in May 👍 properties here are mostly connected to their garden unlike UK / Netherlands etc where the allotments are seperate.
I'm Bulgarian and I honestly had no idea property in Bulgaria was this cheap. A 2000 sq m property with a large house + renovation for $15,000, that's unbelievable, that's 3-4 months pay where I am. And you're saying it's a place that's popular with foreigners, so not one of those really sad half-abandoned villages? I'd thought about retiring in Bulgaria, I was thinking about a bigger city though, as I'm more of a city person and I definitely don't need anything bigger than a 1-2 bedroom. But in bigger Bulgarian cities, a decent 1-bedroom apartment could still be $60-70K and up. But this rural option for $10-15K... I could retire there right now and I'm in my 30s LOL. You probably don't need more than $300-400/month and as long as I have fast internet, that's all I'd really need... I'd even be able to buy a decent car. Hmm...
Are you in the countryside part off Bulgaria just how safe is it in Bulgaria for a man on his own. Thank you. Dobspato Newcastle Upon Tyne England. Neil
I live in Sofia for fourteen years and seriously thinking about buying a house. What village is this? where did you find the house? any recommendations?
It was through a friend I found the house but it’s actually easy to find a house for sale in most villages. You just ask the people at the local shop :) it starts a chain action 🤗
I am Bulgarian who lived like 8 years in USA and once i left my country i realized how beautiful and peaceful it is.. I returned into my home city 4 years ago and i dont ever plan to moving away.
Such a big difference between USA and Bulgaria!! Like different worlds nearly 🙃
My daughter in law is from Bulgaria. She lives here USA, but she bought a summer home over there. She plans to spend as much time as she can there with her family. I hope to go visit one day.
How much a couple need to live normally in the villages south of Burgas? Without paying rent of course...
@@Radio280 Well it totally depends on your spending and life style. In my opinion for couple of two 1000$ is pretty much enough. But as i said if you are big spender 2000$. There is Bulgarian elderly people living on with 150-200$ monthly wich is very hard and sad, they must grown their own food etc.
@@MayainBulgaria
I'm originally from LA , the most evil mega city of horror and consumerism.. I'm now in spain:) ! Looking very interested to bulgaria, b c the houses at low price . Meine mutter ist Deutch und ich spreche. Ich bin auch zu Deutschland aber zu kalt I'm winter.
I'm Bulgarian but grew up in South Africa. I left after thirteen years, and I do miss the nature and open spaces. I've been thinking of moving to Bulgaria since it has some of the things I miss from SA such as open space, beautiful nature, and in many aspects it's better, safety being one of them. Your vlog on buying and restoring a rural property is an inspiration to me.
Oh I miss SA as well! Holidays in the Kruger park and Debonaires pizza 😃 I do get some deja vue feelings here in bg thy remind me of SA. I think it’s the big thunderstorms and nature sounds. Or it could be sth else but it’s definitely nice to experience a bit of my old home here in my new home
@@MayainBulgaria For me it's the mountains which somewhat remind me of the Drakensberg and the hilly landscape of Kwa-Zulu Natal in general. It's also not cramped like some countries in Europe tend to be, there's plenty of untouched nature.
@@MayainBulgaria
Wow she's just like you
From s a, and lived in Bulg too
@@alexgee248
I like the nature , and I know how to do nature , I'm ready.
Wonderful selling points to settle in Beautiful Bulgaria, Maya...so glad you are enjoying your new life in Bulgaria😊👍
So much Theressa, it’s a relief from the constant rat race 🤗
Great video. I too am a foreigner who is planning on moving to Bulgaria. It's a beautiful country. Enjoy, Maya!
It truly is. I’ve been here just about a year now and simply love it. The peace and quiet and no pressure. A slice of heaven xx
I love to watch your videos when I'm anxious, I don't know why but it helps me
So happy to help and be here for you Thiago 🤗 check in anytime 😌
Coincidentally came across your video and enjoyed it very much with your honest experience and search for a good place to live! I’m Bulgarian living almost 30 years in US and brought some good memories to me about this special land❤️ Enjoy the journey 🍀
I have ancestry from Macedonia, but its Slavic, and closest to Bulgarian I suppose and have thought about moving to Bulgaria from Australia.
The cost of living in Australia is astronomical by comparison. Bulgaria is the winner. Will follow your journey for sure, as I've thought about doing something similar in Bulgaria for a while now. I also grew up on a farm, so I'll be curious how you go with your garden.
Maya DeBoer? :)
Your region reminds me of my ancestors region a bit, around Florina/Prespa region in Greece. I should send you some archaic western bulgarian words (eg slavic-macedonian), it might confuse some of the locals. hehe
Agree you can't compare EU states with South Africa. Good move you made. Okay, subbed :)
Veliki Pozdravi
Gary
Thanks Gary 🤗
Your ancestors were Bulgarians you're Bulgarian!
Yes the prices are lower but you have to make sure you don't have bulgarian salary ,that way life is nto going to be cheap.... If you can work anywhere in the world with higher salary than the locals , its the best !
I am glad you know your ancestors. Slavic Macedonians and Bulgarians are one ethnicity divided by political interests in the past and now hate 😢
МОЯ ХУБАВА, КРАСИВА, ПРЕКРАСНА И ЛЮБИМА БЪЛГАРИЯ! МНОГО МИ ЛИПСВА! ТАКАВА КРАСОТА КАКТО В БЪЛГАРИЯ НЯМА НИКЪДЕ! ЩЕ СЕ ВЪРНА СЪВСЕМ СКОРО!
Сигурен съм, че и ти липсваш на България! това е прекрасна страна.
@@MayainBulgaria Малка поправка - сигурна, не сигурен (female vs male)
Enjoy Bulgaria!
Nvm it's old video 😢
I am enjoying very much!!
I love Bulgaria 🇧🇬
A pleasant and interesting view to ppl that don't live here .i came to bulgaria for adventure ..found untold freedom,adventure and wonderful friendly helpful ppl .
7 years on it still amazes me . The mountain huts and trails .. skiing ...stay in samakov ..and go to borovets .. smolyan region is a must .. I like mountains
It's unique in so many ways isn't it! I'm enjoying the south east but looking forward to adventuring Bansko and all over really. The mountains are a highlight :)
@@MayainBulgaria I live in elenski balkan empty spaces
I m a Bulgarian still living in South Africa-Umhlanga, next to Durban; but I intend to return back to Bulgaria in the next 1-2 years: happy to watch your video; I m originally from Dobrich-50km from Varna
That’s wonderful! I’m originally from SA :)
Oh, I thought you forget about this video. I think the climate is very important. I live in Poland where the weather is extremely bad and it affects my mood so much. I hope to go to Bulgaria back soon. Thanks for this video and I am waiting for the next video :)
I finally did this video 🤗 it was always on my mind! Let me know if you have any more video topic suggestions:)
@@MayainBulgaria As somebody already mentioned it would be good to hear about your job. I also have one more question. Since you do not know the language, it must be hard to socialize. You do not feel lonely and bored sometimes? Do you have friends alreadyin the village with whom you can speak daily and visit? Maybe you can mention it in the next video.
@@ramazanyozgyur7037 if you consider moving to Bulgaria I suggest the bigger towns like Burgas, Varna, Sofia, Plovdiv. Villages have their charm and peace but there are many downsides. I am telling this as a person living here
@@ЯнаБ-ы5е Thank you for the suggestion. I already have my village in Bulgaria which I will probably move to in the future.
We are in Montana and hoping to retire there! Thanks for the wonderful information :)
That’s fantastic!!
So excited for you 🤗✨🤗
Let me know if you have any questions!
I took the chance and moved to Bulgaria on my own as a mature woman, to a small village close to Balchik, I had a wonderful experience, Bulgarians are curious and not afraid to find out what you are doing. I renovated my home and employed Bulgarians, fostered dogs and worked online. I returned to the UK and still miss the peace and tranquility of such a beautiful country. Enjoy your time there x
Hi Deborah, that sounds like a peaceful experience :) what was your online work? Why did you return to the UK? xx
why did you left?
@@Humanprototype-wh8qr My work commitments changes which required me to be in UK
@@MayainBulgaria work commitments changed and I had to be in UK
@@deborahfoss904 ahh ok thank you, i will go to bulgaria, fortunatley i can work from home, or if that do not work i can go for season work as a chef to swiss.
Bulgaria looks and sounds so appealing.
I like it :)
for the ultra rich who dont know its the negative sides
I am really happy to hear that there are meditation groups in southern Bulgaria and would be interested know more about that. Thank you for your comprehensive descriptions and your impressions of the country. I'm an American intending to relocate to Eastern Europe.
What a lovely, gentle, presentation style you have. You have such a comforting voice ☺ I'm due to move to Bulgaria this year, near Varna, from the UK. Trying to learn the language. Will have to check out more of your videos to see how you managed to cope with that.
Hi Daryl, I wish you an easy and joyful move. I don't speak Bulgarian yet and I'm managing ok. People are so kind here and Google translate helps too :)
Glad to see this video ! I’m Bulgarian , use to live in the UK for 6 years, recently moved back to Bulgaria , bought a flat in Varna (not far from you ^^) and start an online job :) so far I feel okay, hope you feel okay in my homeland as well :)
Welcome back home 🙌
I’m actually in lyubimets area so it’s maybe 4hrs from varna? I absolutely love being in Bulgaria. It’s so peaceful. A bit of a dream. I feel very lucky :)
Hi there. We wanna do the same. Buy a flat in the city of Burgas. How much was the flat you bought? R u living in it or renting it out? How much a couple need to live comfortably in the villages south of Burgas without rent included 🤔? How much the online job pays?
Amazing here in USA we bought a huge lovely new home but at a huge cost. Mortgage free life is a dream for most in this world. You are truly rich now. Great job.
Thanks Carmen, it does feel good to own a roof over my head and all I need now is some diesel and food money. I’m exaggerating, but yes, I get to breath a bit easier now :)
I've just come across your channel. Thanks for your videos.
I'm struggling between Bulgaria & Portugal, given Portugals better climate but Bulgarias less developed more countryfied land & far far cheaper.
I shall peruse the rest of your videos with delight.
Welcome Steve! They are quite different. Off the top of my head…
Bulgaria gets extremely cold in winter which I believe Portugal doesn’t? Much cheaper to live and buy in rural Bulgaria as you mentioned. Portuguese might be easier to learn as a language vs Bulgarian. Neither is Central Europe. Bulgaria has fewer strict rules and enforcement. More relaxed and authentic.
Let me know if you have questions about rural Bulgaria. I’m happy to help if I can :)
BG has 4 seasons beautiful snow winter summer
Hi Maya, you probably know, but the reason the property prices are so low in rural areas in Bulgaria is because people migrate to cities and abroad. It seems however now after COVID people a re looking to go back to peace and quiet. We had our village renovated and planning to spend some quiet home-officing from there in between watering the plants :) Btw, my last year abroad I spent in Cape Town, loved it but I know what you mean when talking about SA crime. I wish you have a great life and enjoy in Bulgaria! All the best!
Yes I’ve noticed so many foreigners coming to live in the rural village and also Bulgarian people from the cities have also renovated houses in the village. It’s coming back to life :)
Hi Maya,
I’m in Oregon, USA and planning a visit to Bulgaria in September for two weeks. Hoping to get more info on starting a business to be able to buy a car and purchase a renovation house with garden space in a small village. I have two cats and don’t need much. I raise rabbits and quail in US so will do same in Bulgaria.
Cheers!
Hi Maya you have made the best move , I'm moving to Bulgaria very soon to have a better life love and light to you take care Scott .
It’s quite good 😊 I wish you so much joy in Bulgaria 🇧🇬
Here in Bulgaria, we have one sentence for the weather, which sounds something like: There are two seasons in Bulgaria, one is Goddamn ice cold, the other - Goddamn heat. :D
I like the way, wind blow your hair.
We are lucky, that we have person like you! :)
Haha so true! There’s definitely extreme heat 🔥 and extreme cold here ❄️
@@MayainBulgaria I visited BG for the first time in July 2022 and I was really blown away by the 35 to 40 degrees temperatures. I live in the UK and was hoping to find a country with a more constant temperature to buy a place in.
@@VWApacheyGran Canaria maybe.
@@Gabriele77Medium yes, that too
I am happy people like you find their happiness in my country of origin. Can't wait to retire and go back to Bulgaria.
Don’t delay :)
@@MayainBulgaria I just don't know what I could work there if a do it sooner.
I like what you said about things "just feeling right". I live in Sofia but videos like yours motivated me to get a village house to relax on weekends and work from for a few days a month. I've looked at so many houses in the last months... I found a house at a reasonable price for the condition it is in and I'll be going there to have a look next week. And it feels right so far. Sometimes you just need to follow your gut. :)
That’s wonderful!
I’m considering selling mine to move to the coast but it’s a difficult decision. I love this house.
I wouldn't go to the coast area myself but it's a matter of personal preference. I prefer mountains and pine forests. Nothing beats the smell of a pine forest early in the morning. The Rila and Pirin mountains are ideal. Many villages that are within 100km of Sofia and with affordable houses. That's my idea.
Great video …. Gives me a yearning to be there - only two more weeks🤞🏼💫
Yay! Let the countdown commence and be nice and swift 🤗🙌
Awesome. This is inspiring. I am looking to buy and fix up a house in a remote part of Spain near where my family is from. Thanks for the inspiration.
Yes that is amazing! Wishing you so much joy and happiness doing that :))
Absolutely agree . I loving here .
So much 🙌🤩
Where are your family, any siblings. They are lucky to have a resident like you in their country. Good luck and stay safe always.
🙏🙏🙏 my parents are in SA.
If your cold sensitive it's a good job you didn't decide to move to central Sweden like i did, six months of winter and sometimes down to nearly -30 for a week at the coldest part of winter with only a few hours of daylight, i can't wait to make the move to Bulgaria some time in the distant future.
Yes although the Swedish forest did call to me but the high expenses and weather pushed me south 😌
I'm interested in Varna Bulgaria as well as Bucharest Romania. I plan on permanently leaving the USA but first I must visit both areas to decide.
You will have a difficult decision I think. Beautiful countries. I travelled through the Romanian mountains on my way to Bulgaria and nearly stayed there. So so so beautiful. And people are so friendly! Wonderful places. But of course I’m more a rural nature person maybe the city experience will be different for you :))
Get Varna the Black Sea
Both are nice. With their beauties.
Welcome to Bulgaria!
Thanks!! I love it 🤗
Бъди щастлива там! Greetings from Italy!
Hello Italy 🤗 hope you are well and enjoying a beautiful autumn!
Thank you so much! 💞
Du bist ein Schatzt vielen lieben Dank für's Video. Bleib gesund♥
🙏🤗🌱
Watching these makes me want to move to Bulgaria for real lol
Bulgaria has potential 😎
Very nice video again Maya. When you did all the renovations on your house did you have to get permits for everything. Here you would need permits for all electrical, plumbing, roof repair, septic system, etc.. Then it would have to be inspected by a city inspector. I like that you can talk to friendly neighbors. That is missing in larger cities. Crime is also bad here, the worst in Canada, so you have chosen a nice place in the world to live.
Definitely no permits for electricity or plumbing etc required. Only if you’d like to build a new structure on the land, then you’d need a Permit.
Yes it’s so peaceful here 😌
Very nice video. I just got home(London) from Burgas.. I didn't realise how beautiful Bulgaria is 😮
It’s rather great 😎
Great chanel Maya. I am considering buying a home there too.I love the country and people. I wish you the very best with everything 😊♥️
Thank you! 😎🤗
Oh nice ,more vegans here 😎
@@MayainBulgaria ❤️🌺
@@ЯнаБ-ы5е great to meet another vegan 😊❤️🌺
Great insight and I look forward to more of your content 🙂.
Thank you so much 🙏🤗
you are graceful and sincere, thank you!
🤗🤗🤗
New subscriber it is nice to help ,just bumped in by chance to your channel ,very informative thanks for sharing enjoy your time there.
Thanks!!!
you’re beautiful Maya! So natural. Thanks for the info
Appreciate it 🤗
am cold sensitive since was born. normally, jackets cover me till June annually.
even live in Taiwan, like to put on a jacket to go out all year run.
to look for a warm and dry even hot place to live is my current aim. local climate is good in very south area but humidity is very high islandwide.
my question is hope to live in a green yard or field if possible. what i knew except some islands near far western of Africa are the only place to meet my conditions. the properties of those islands over there are very expensive. meanwhile, the transportations of reaching those islands for expats are really inconvenient.
I been in Bulgaria for almost 9 years from UK and I love it as does my wife she is form China and loce your shows. Though its hard to run a business here were in finanance and hard finding workers but except this one best country I have lived.
So happy to hear you love it! Me too :) I think for finances, you can make a online office with international employees. Distance work is probably possible:)
Labour market is overqualified and eager to prove themselves while painfully aware of corrupt former politicians and bosses. There is a long history of suffering from Roman, Greek, Muslim, Communist, Nazi, Globalist, you-name-it ideology we went through yet survived. Thus, Bulgarians became genetically immunised against manipulation and deceit. It makes us look grumpy or angry. It is not you personally, it's the whole world in general. Think of us of being humbled and reserved, rarely boastful. Syndrome of the beaten dog comes to mind. If given a chance, we could potentially overcome our scepticism and be such a blessing to the world.
Thank you for your honest message, Maya.
PS: Perhaps more citizens could listen to you and begin demanding better customer service and reduced simplified bureaucracy. The same is the inheritance of 45 years rule of the Communist Party, it killed initiative and rewarded mediocrity. My apologies for having to deal with this. Bless you dear.❤
My life’s goal is to have a farm house in Bulgaria. 😁❤️👍
Easy!! 😃
You finally made that video :).
A couple of things concerning the things you mentioned. People stare at you only because they can tell you speak a foreign language (that isn't Turkish or Roma). You are in a part of the country that has very few foreigners, and so people still notice them when they see them. Also, the reason why you bought this house so cheap is because of the huge depopulation Bulgaria experienced since 1990. Bulgaria lost 2.5 million people since 1990. So, thousands of houses in the villages get abandoned because people either die off or leave the villages to work in the cities or abroad for a better life. At the same time, the country's area is just slightly smaller than that of England but it has 9 times fewer people. So, there are thousands of empty or abandoned houses that come with a lot of land and few people who can or are interested to buy them. Hence the low price of your house and most houses in the rural parts of Bulgaria. I agree with you that foreigners buying those houses is a way to get these villages revived.
Having lived in Bulgaria for close to a year now, do you see yourself living here permanently? I mean, I know you have a house, but do you see yourself living in Bulgaria in 10-20 years' time? I guess it also depends on what plans you may have with respect to starting a family etc.
Ahhh! Thank you so much for that info. Yes there are many abandoned houses. I believe something to do with too many children of the family not agreeing to sell it? Or not wanting to bother to come back to sign the sales contract.
I’m not sure where I’ll be in the next decade. It’s a mystery. At the moment my intention is to build a food forest with some permaculture characteristics in the garden here 🌱🥰
Also super proud that I’ve finally made this video :) thank you for the encouragement!
@@MayainBulgaria You are welcome :). See it wasn't anything you had to worry about.
Also, I wanted to add about the safety issue. As you have already experienced yourself, in Bulgaria you don't have to worry at all about any sort of violent crime which is what you have had to get used to growing up in South Africa. The only thing you could experience in terms of crime is getting something stolen from you and that is only because you live in a rural area. The villages are small and have a low population density which makes the crime safer/less risky, so some people could attempt it. Even then, it is highly unlikely that anyone would try to steal something from you while you are there (i.e. your van is there). In any case, the more people that live in your village permanently, the lower the probability that this could happen.
@@MayainBulgaria Sorry, one last thing. I know you said that you like the area you are in, but honestly, Haskovo, Lubimets, Harmanli isn't really one of the better areas of Bulgaria. Later on, if you save some more money and if you plan on staying in Bulgaria, you could consider selling your house and moving somewhere in the Plovdiv or Veliko Tarnovo region. The VT region has a big English speaking ex-pat community, and you can still get a house at an affordable price there. Buying a house around Sofia, Varna or Burgas would probably be too big of an investment at this point unless you plan to live in Bulgaria over the long term.
Hi Maya, you mentioned an alternative sort of community in the south of Bulgaria. Could you please say its name or the name of the area you were talking about? This is my kind of vibe and I am interested to know more. Thsnk you for this lovely video and your lovely energy.
Enjoy your life here in Bulgaria :).
Thank youuuu 🤩
Love this🌹
I just came across your channel i was so happy to see someone's lifestyle and the idea to live in my country, Im from bulgaria too, from a small town in burgas municipality (not far from the black sea) keep doing whatever you do, great content thanks for sharing this content loving it 👍🏻
It’s so peaceful here :) thanks for your encouragement and kind words 🙏🤗
@@MayainBulgaria 😊
Which village south of Burgas you will recommend ? We wanna buy a house in that region. And how much a couple need to live normally in those villages without paying rent? 🤔
@@Radio280 I recommend you look into Sozopol, Nessebar, Primorsko, Tsarevo. Depending on what you want. You can learn more about those towns using google.
Without rent you need 1500 $ for a couple
Funny hearing you talk about vanlife Eurotrip... you were saying all these places, and then 5 months, and it was slow- and I was thinking- wow she moved fast haha
Also, was starting to think of opening a channel about my life in Bulgaria (been here for almost 2 years now, in Bansko) and funny seeing your channel's name - as my first name is Maya (mey is the middle one )
Anyway- love the content, new sub here, and keep on making awesome content, I am def looking into leaving Bansko, maybe Sofia, maybe Varna... So any info on just daily life wherever you are is super useful !
Awesome day, cheers :)
Welcome 🤗
I guess 5 months was just slow compared to my friend. And actually most ppl I know. They just drive through with minimal stopping.
I really want to see Bansko. Hearing lovely things about it! Interested why you want to leave there? I probably won't see your reply cause RUclips doesn't notify me of replies to my replies 🙃 you could email me if you like. Nice meeting you Maya Mey 🤗🤗🤗
@@MayainBulgaria Weird that you can't see replies, RUclips notifies me about them all the time. also- I sent you a message on IG a while back...
Yey, Poland and Romania, gołąbki and sarmale🥰 I got to know you in the conscious coaching group🙂
Hey that’s amazing !! Conscious coaching is amazing right 🤩
I wondered were you were from originally ,i was bought up in Zambia for 15 years, been to SA a once or twice ,interesting to hear why you moved there,i am a bit behind on your videos so going through them so catching up finding them very interesting ,take care
Glad you’re enjoying! Welcome 🤗 I was born in South Africa and lived there 18 years.
@@MayainBulgaria my sisters were born in Zambia i was 3 months old when i moved there pity there are so many wars and poverty in most African there are some beautiful countries destroyed by war,look forward to seeing more videos,look after your self and take care
Very nice video, Maya. I'm glad you like my fatherland. Enjoy this rich and beautiful ancient land. Here's something to ponder upon: there are no coincidences or synchronicities in God's kingdom. 😊 You are in Bulgaria for a reason. Have you meditated on the Holy Spirit as if you were openly speaking to a loving father? You may even begin to believe in miracles too. Bless you dear. ❤
I’m currently enjoying the Course in Miracles 🙌
That rough and choppy country road at the end of the video could be rural South Africa as well, parts Karoo and parts Waterberg.
There are so many similarities. I feel deja vu a lot here. Not always sure what it is but maybe also the weather.
Ever since I discovered your channel a few days ago, it has been a delight watching your videos. On this one, there is so much to unpack.
There are commonalities and similarities between us. E.g. I am a fellow German passport holder with a PhD in German-South African history (don't get me started on SA...), lived all over but moved to Sofia in 2022. However, our reasons differ. Primarily, BG is extremely freelancer friendly (7.5% effective tax rate) coupled with far lower living costs than in Germany (the country with the highest electricity prices in the world), any €/$ made stays mostly in your pocket and gets you much more. In practice, this can mean only having to work half a year to live comfortably or being able to retire far earlier in the future. Compared to maybe still paying off a mortgage on a 1 bed in Munich 90 years later.
Originally focused on Dubai, the higher living costs there (6-7x höher effektiv als in DE aufgrund Miete, importierter Nahrungsmitteln, usw.) BG also proved more attractive due to being in the EU. Nothing stops you from renting a car and driving back to the land of Bratwurst. Whilst one can buy an entire village for a song in BG and then have oodles of square kilometres to oneself (maybe in my next life I open the world's biggest cat sanctuary), it had to be Sofia for me (despite the pollution). Client work outside BG necessitates quick airport access and if one day kids come along, there's the German school in Dianabad.
Whilst moving to BG can mean stepping out of the comfort zone, it does provide room for personal and financial self-fulfillment that is not easy to find in Europe. Plus, the countryside is great.
I agree summer was killer, the first time I stopped what I was doing until I bought a hat 🙂. Gib Bescheid falls du je Bio-Weinblätter oder Kirschen auf "Gut Maya" anbauen solltest 🙂
You really thought this through in great detail! Sofia is a wonderful place to be except that it’s quite a bit more pricey vs rural spaces. However it has stunning forests right on the doorstep! Magical.
I’ve always dreamt of a cat sanctuary but in practice I wouldn’t be able to do it alone. It’s a massive commitment that probably needs at least a few people so that holidays can be covered easily enough.
Bg is out of my comfort zone due to the language and I hope to learn this sooner than later. And it’s 100% worth it!
Greetings from the other side of bg! 🤗
@@MayainBulgaria I am in Simeonovo, so halfway up Vitosha (at least for half the year when I am not somewhere else in Europe). After 7 years in central London, and five years in the German countryside, I figure the outer suburbs work best for me along the spectrum "inner city to the countryside" The other great thing is that high-speed internet is available throughout the country. Compare that to even getting a basic connection in rural Germany.
The other month drove up to Belogradchik, which was lovely, especially the reservoir around Montana on the way back.
There are so many animals in need, I do wish I could clone myself and embark on the cat sanctuary adventure, even if on a small scale.
I don't speak Bulgarian either but make do with my basic Russian (I acknowledge of course cities are easier as a non-BG speaker), though there are significant differences.
For importing items from the UK or Germany, consider GGBG.
They provide you with a UK/DE mail address for any orders and then ship it over at a fraction of the cost to BG.
Helpful perspective here. Don't know if I'd live rurally but Bulgaria is definitely on my list.
(Context for Americans: 2k sq meters is about 1/2 acre).
Thanks 😎 acres confuse me 😅
Excellent insight, thanks.
Glad it’s useful 🤗
Hey Maya! great channel - just subscribed! -- same here, so sensible to have a home and own it outright! why be in debt and stay planted in Germany or the UK?! and community is also important to me too! -- i been thinking about Bulgaria too for past few years, thanks for the insights!
Thanks for subbing! If you've been pondering for years now maybe it's time for the next step 💪🤗
@@MayainBulgaria yep Bulgaria was an option! but i need sun! so Malaysia it is for now! :) -- but may look at Bulgaria -- in future-.especially if comes to buying a place to live longer term! :)
on the videos the Bulgarian countryside reminds me of Rhodesia
Life, community, cost, and housing there sound quite lovely, and I liked hearing about your plans for a food forest. I am a widower and single parent of an 8 year old (Americans), currently living in the Netherlands, but life is quite expensive and chaotic here, and I have been dreaming about my permaculture and DIY housing plans for quite some time now. I have been thinking about a move to a place like Bulgaria. I spoke with a Bulgarian immigration lawyer and we can get a visa to move there. Do you see many families or children there, or do you have any sense of what life for children and schooling is like?
You can email me and I can share what I know 🤗
What a beautiful soul 🤙
Ooooh merci 🙏
and ditto, without a doubt! 🤗
I am already watching a Bullgarian youtuber your country is beautful
Thank you for the info, very interesting! I feel a road trip coming up to check it out :-) I am from Belgium so it is a bit of a drive but am contemplating this trip after winter. The main reason for me is also that the cost of living is not normal anymore here for a single person. We have to work ourselves into burnout to pay 1000 euro (per month at the moment !!!) utility bills on top of all other costs. That is not normal. There is no perspective anymore unfortunately. But there is a way out in Bulgaria :-) Thanks for sharing! Take care!
That is so much money! Bills here are so cheap I think I’ll do a more detailed video on that soon xx
There are a lot of opportunities to start a small business here. Taxes are low: 10% flat corporate tax and 10% flat personal tax. People are crammed in Sofia and few big cities but the rest is quite empty. Internet service is good too in case you plan to work online.
@@MayainBulgariafrom your e-meter they take the numbers distantly thru the cable is something like internet cause before Bulgarians were stealing electricity blocking the meter from inside or slowing it down with magnets they still do so that's why meters are constantly checked. Same as in East Germany & all over in East Europe the Communism made one great mistake - to educate the populations with great education the best in world & for free!
I like to here the bird's in the background amazing. What type off bird's is there in Bulgaria then. Neil.
I'm not a bird expert yet but there are nightingales from what I hear :)
Im having a hard time choosing whatever to relocate to bulgaria or romania.. and you're channel pulls me more toward bulgaria.. will be happy to know if you have more stuff about why bulgaria and not romania
Hi Joe, I drove through Romania briefly and had a lovely time in the mountains there. The rangers were so friendly and warned me about bears. My experience with Romania is very limited im afraid!
@@MayainBulgaria thanks a lot for the info.. except for housing which is cheaper in bulgaria .. do other stuff like food,bills etc .. also cheap there?
10:08 buy second bottle, and exchange them
Sehr schönes Video und so gut auf den Punkt gebracht! Bei deiner Beschreibung der Erfahrung in Deutschland musste ich lächeln...stimmt einfach.
In der Türkei wirst du dich wahrscheinlich auch sehr wohl fühlen. Friedlich, herzlich, weich und frei fühlt es sich hier an. Dorfleben als Frau allein leider kulturell nicht möglich, auch Arbeitserlaubnis und Aufenthaltstitel schwierig :)
Sonnige Grüße aus der Südtürkei
Ich freue mich schon auf meine Zeit in der Türkei 🇹🇷 im Winter; es wird natürlich nur Urlaub sein. Und deswegen freue ich mich um so mehr :)
@@MayainBulgaria Kilometerlange Märkte, alles voller Gemüse und Obst, kleine und grosse Stände, riesengrosse Vielfalt. Wetter im Januar schon mal 2-3 Tag kalt am Stück, dann aber wieder sonnig. Das Meer bleibt warm, aber die Wellen und Strömung sind heikel.
You walked past a barn that had no windows in. Can you check if it is for sale with land with it. Thank you. Neil.
Probably best to check available properties online like I mentioned in a previous comment. Hope that helps! There's lots to browse to get a good idea 👍
I’ve spent over a month in Bulgaria and seen a large part of it. I especially liked the Southern parts. Which general area did you settle in? I’m seriously thinking about moving there from the U.S. It’s wonderful and I appreciate all of the information here. Thank you and take care ❤
I’m in the SE and if you like my place you can email me, as it’s time for me to get back into vanlife.
You’re selling? I’ve only watched this one video so not caught up on what’s been going on🤷🏻♀️
Very Nice
Ciao Maya alla fine hai fatto la scelta giusta
sembra giusto. Sono felice e a mio agio qui :)
Electricity: In my experience and that of friends, I would never take utility Company Staff's word for anything. Find out what the Kwh rates are, the standing charge, and work it out yourself. And then pay what you think you should be paying.
I’m happy to pay what they’re billing me for! 26 lev last month, very reasonable 👍
The utilities bills sound very different, compared to mine - I live alone (with a cat, of course), but in Sofia, and electricity is between 40-50 BGN in the summer, up to 160 BGN (I use electricity for heating, heating water, cooking, working... everything) in the winter. And water is like 15-20 BGN/mo. The Internet is the same price.
Using gas saves you a bit, I guess, but living in an apartment building gas is too much hassle, so I just do everything on electricity.
That’s so good to know. Seems like it’s just about double in the big city with you and that still not so bad :))
Watching your videos and love how humble you are . I would like to be friends with you . I will be in BG November , and will be really happy to meet you and talk to you , and walk around .
Thanks that’s so kind! I don’t meet people from the internets, but I know you’ll have a great experience in Bulgaria. It’s magical.
@@MayainBulgaria The irony is that you are also a person from the Internet :))))
Aren't people from the internet the same people that are on the internet? :))))
It is NOT normal for a person to jump on the neck of the first person he meets.
I just caught the energy that flows from you, that's exactly what attracted me, and I decided to share it with you.
It is clear to me that we will not agree on when, where and how - right now , it is clear to me that everyone has their own barriers.
I am a Bulgarian who lives abroad, but I value friendships with people who share the same thinking ,the way and sense of life.
I see nothing wrong with expanding the circle of friends.
I've hit that subscribed button and you earn my unconditional likes :)))
Greetings
Where in Turkey do you plan to stay? I've lived here 18 years now (just waiting for visa to enable our move to BG 😁) and winters are pretty brutal here as properties aren't insulated or heated very well. I'm looking forward to wood burner with central heating in our house in BG, fed up of freezing and layering socks/clothes indoors 🥶
I’m the most south of Turkey. I plan to be in my van so I hope it’s not too cold!! Antalya
Well certainly a lot lot safer than SA. And seems to offer considerable value for money.
It really does when you compare it to other EU countries. Where you usually have no choice but to get a mortgage.
Nice one Maya...👌
Mersi :)
People compare GDP per capita and think that people in Eastern Europe live like aborigines, but few of them know how cheap it really is here compared to Western Europe. For example, I pay 11 lev's for 100 Mbps of internet per month, which is less than 6 euros. Unfortunately, low taxes and bills mean less money for infrastructure maintenance and investment, but that is slowly improving.
And with more people realizing how great Bulgaria is with potential, they will soon revive many rural villages and bring money there to rebuild the infrastructure. I’ve noticed the village is repairing the lake water pipes very quickly and they are construction a completely new roof for the village center building
Wow car video at end ,wowwww far far out ! Yeah , south Africa i get it,,, very rural. All nature. Its amazing the car made it. .... i like bulgaria, and its eu??? No way, i guess im good , i can do it. Im on my way as soon as i can !
Yes you are absolutely right ... Bulgaria is a very safe anf Human orientated country ! The only danger : Roads and crazy drivers ! ( By the way, I am invalid and to live in Bulgaria is a game changer compared to France)
It’s true the driving is sometimes a bit crazy and I wonder if that is because people are trying to avoid the potholes. Or the roads are too narrow in the countryside so they drive in the middle of the road.
@@MayainBulgaria What is your email ? I would enjoy to tell you how I could help you more ! I am French ... an old man with a very terrible decease since more than 50 years But I know Bulgariasince 1999 because of my BG wife !
You have my full support in all cases !
I just found you and channel.Subbed!
I'm thinking of something similar.
Are there many young people in the rural areas or are they all old?
You say things are cheap, but for Bulgarians on their salaries/ pensions would it still be cheap for them?
we're mostly old souls in the villages, peaceful 😌 food is not cheap I'm afraid, inflation is intensifying nearly every month upon month.
@@MayainBulgariaI see 🙏🏻
For bulgatians it's not cheap. Some people have better salaries other not. There are many people whos teuggle with money and some who have managed to succed
Hey , welcome to Bulgaria :)
I have a question i have noticed some foreigners buy property and start a life in Bulgaria but they eventually leave , do you have such plans and why ?
I ask this because i plan to move to Bulgaria permanantly but i am worried why so much people leave ?
Maya your so lovely 💙
🤗🙏🐱
Thx for the advices .Is it possible to have the contact of your builder?Thx in anticipation.
You can contact me by email 👍
Very interesting. I'm South African and contemplating moving due to the high crime rate here and general deterioration in SA. How easy is it for South Africans to get permanent residence in Bulgaria? Regards, Dylan, PE.
Hi Dylan, I’m here on an eu passport so I don’t know about SA requirements- sorry about that!
Brilliant, weldone , from uk
Thank you !
Bulgaria is very best
It’s pretty unique!
How far are the shops and do they have a wide range of foods? Thanks for the video(s)
Svilengrad is about 30 mins away and has grand Janet for grocery shopping. They have international food items. A very large selection 🙌
@@MayainBulgaria Thanks for that Maya. Oddly, I was watching your video, and it's the first time I've watched any of your videos - it was on my recommended page - when Bulgaria was the country featured in a weekday afternoon programme here called 'A place in the sun'. Usually Spain is the main country for prospective buyers. The female looking for a property did purchase an apartment in a modern complex with an inviting community swimming pool, an indoor pool, landscaped community areas and a nice flat with balcony. The purchase price with furniture...£20.500!! Incredible value. The date the programme aired though was 2018 so I imagine prices might have gone up a pound or two since :)
Does it not get very lonely as a foreigner living alone in rural Bulgaria? Apart from the occasional friendly neighbor and so on.
Nope. I'm so busy and the community is insanely awesome 🤷♀️
@@MayainBulgaria Great :) Im actually considering a few job offers i got in Sofia for next year, Bulgaria looks wonderful and i dont have much else going on here in sweden at the moment.
How much is it to rent a house with land on it in Bulgaria. And I and interested in buying an allotment garden with a waterproof shed on it. Thank you. Dobspato Newcastle Upon Tyne England. I am visiting Sunny Beach in May the 15th for two week's.
Sounds lovely! Enjoy your visit in May 👍 properties here are mostly connected to their garden unlike UK / Netherlands etc where the allotments are seperate.
I'm Bulgarian and I honestly had no idea property in Bulgaria was this cheap. A 2000 sq m property with a large house + renovation for $15,000, that's unbelievable, that's 3-4 months pay where I am. And you're saying it's a place that's popular with foreigners, so not one of those really sad half-abandoned villages? I'd thought about retiring in Bulgaria, I was thinking about a bigger city though, as I'm more of a city person and I definitely don't need anything bigger than a 1-2 bedroom. But in bigger Bulgarian cities, a decent 1-bedroom apartment could still be $60-70K and up. But this rural option for $10-15K... I could retire there right now and I'm in my 30s LOL. You probably don't need more than $300-400/month and as long as I have fast internet, that's all I'd really need... I'd even be able to buy a decent car. Hmm...
All of the above is correct :)
It's a village and it was half abandoned and now it's brimming with foreigners 😂 slowely bringing it back to life 🙌
@@MayainBulgaria Could you share the name of the village or the general vicinity/region? If not, I understand.
Did u imported your car, and if u did how much duty fees did u pay?
South African living in NL I am also looking to move to Bulgaria, would like to chat sometime.
Awesome! Send over an email :)
What’s your addy?
9:20 that should be correct as there is a guy that comes to check it every month :)
Wooooow!!!
Wooooow!!!
Are you in the countryside part off Bulgaria just how safe is it in Bulgaria for a man on his own. Thank you. Dobspato Newcastle Upon Tyne England. Neil
Hi Neil, very safe and yes I'm in rural Bulgaria
Thanks Maya. What area is this village in (if you don't mind me asking). Cheers!
Haskovo region, SE Bulgaria 👌
I have a question : I guess that you were working in germany ? How do you earn your life in Bulgaria ?
Great question! I think that can be one of my next videos :)
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Hi. What village you live in? What other villages or small towns you can recommend to buy a cheap house in? Thanks
Lots of lovely villages all over Bulgaria! start looking on the Fb groups 👍
I live in Sofia for fourteen years and seriously thinking about buying a house. What village is this? where did you find the house? any recommendations?
It was through a friend I found the house but it’s actually easy to find a house for sale in most villages. You just ask the people at the local shop :) it starts a chain action 🤗