Bulgaria

Since the early 1990's Bulgaria has morphed into a more modern version of itself, attracting tourists with its cheap skiing, beach holidays on the Black Sea coast, bustling capital Sofia, dramatic mountains, haven-like monasteries, Roman and Byzantine ruins, and excellent coffee. In the villages you can still find folks who ride a donkey to work, eat homegrown potatoes and make their own cheese, the difference now is that dinner is eaten in front of a satellite TV. Monasteries, feta, rose petals, hearty meat and vegetable stews and traditional fire-dancing are some of the trademarks in Bulgaria. There are over 160 monasteries, rose oil is a major export and Bulgaria is the world's fifth-largest exporter of wine.