What a beautiful surprise... Chronicles of a business travel to Bulgaria

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What a nice surprise to Bulgaria!
It was the first of several trips in the coming months I will have to do for work will touch some parts of Eastern Europe and even further ... in the rest of the world.
As always this is for me a tremendous professional opportunity and the chance to spend a few hours to visit places that otherwise ... ... who knows when I've ever seen.
Leave for Bulgaria has meant a bit 'a leap in the dark. ... In fact, as far as I'm concerned, when I thought of a difficult journey the horizon brought to this land.
Few things I knew and, even still, I know a few things in this country, but I'm aware that a visit here worthwhile.
Unfortunately I have only touched the areas of greatest interest to tourists stay in the industrial town Sumen, Isperich, Kaspican, Montana and spent just 3 nights in Sofia.
The impressions that I have more real in my head are those experienced on the road, observing life and people passed me, rent a car at the airport of Sofia, me and my colleague Luke expected to travel 2500 km in one week into the unknown territory of Bulgaria, equipped with our GPS. ... despite the maps were not so full. ... We traveled like a dream!
The immediate impact was strong enough and I think that this country has recently entered the European Community and .... See how far should go to reach the rest of Europe. It's really sad to think that a little over an hour's flight from Bologna, one can still find so much poverty, degradation and poor prospects in the short term. For the people I met, for the new friends that I left, I hope that entry into the European community means a steady growth and a new light on the horizon.
That said, and left the gray suburbs of Sofia, the notes begin happy.
Along "our" streets, I think I made a long journey through time, entering inland ... ... ... .. do not know why but that is how I imagined Italy 40/50 years
Nature quite unspoilt countryside to the eye, the colors of nature (in this case the intense red and yellow autumn), plains and rolling hills, livestock grazing and free ... .. families around in the cab .
This just did not want to believe. ... The donkey pulling the wagon to drive the head of the family, the woman at his side, behind the children and the elderly.
Near Shumen, Isperih not much to see except for some memories of the communist era monuments, nature and a couple of sites historical and archaeological sites.
The same Sofia, excluding the restricted area of the old town, has much to offer. But I remember with pleasure the National Theater with its intense red color and Vitos pedestrian road, full of trendy shops, restaurants, bars and lots of young people around and shopping. From what I understand, were the other areas to visit ... ... heading towards the Black Sea, in the towns of Burgas and Varna, on Plodviv, with its famous amphitheater, and the many mountain villages, tranquil, quiet, set mountains, in the middle of the Balkans.
Why visit / return to Bulgaria?
Life for us is really very cheap compared to European standards. The cuisine is delicious for me, for most meat, and I got to say that, after Italy, Bulgaria is the place where I ate better. Among other products are truly natural, fruit and vegetables are delicious. There is a good local crafts, from wood carving to carpets stained, and also very interesting are the flea markets in Sofia, near the Russian cathedral, with objectively true and good imitation of Europe 30/60 years. The approach with people has been positive, I found so much friendliness and availability back home, among other things, good memories and some new friends.