Optimism for Bulgaria

FourPlus were among half a dozen businesses that worked on the Basilica interactives, but the Sofia-based design and motion graphics studio was instrumental in connecting all the creative work into one coherent whole — “a job they did with remarkable success,” according to Diana Trifonova, program officer at ABF, who managed the Basilica’s interactive elements for the Foundation.

Crediting the work of all who lent muscle power to this project would cover a full basilica floor layer or fill a good-size book. This photo story celebrates them all and is a reminder that a project of such monumental proportions is the work of hundreds, if not thousands, of anonymous ALEs.

History in particular might benefit from VR reconstructions, according to Yavor Bonev, founder of Animajor Studios, the company behind the VR reconstruction of the Bishop’s Basilica of Philippopolis and the world’s first ever VR-enhanced city tour (of Vienna, Austria).

“We cannot create a normal business environment if there aren’t equal conditions for everyone, and if those in power do not play by the rules,” Iva says.

Illustrator Ralitsa Tchobanova has a message for her peers: Voting is important. Inform yourself. Participate. Vote.

By the time Louisa could vote in an election, democracy was well established in Bulgaria, but enthusiasm for voting was on the wane. The Bulgaria-specific reasons for this are manifold, but the outcome is also consistent with what happens worldwide. “Paradoxically, the more democracy you begin to have, the lazier you become as a democrat,” Louisa says.

We have all been there. The novelty is gone, and the challenges appear to loom larger than the gains in life quality we experienced since we have democracy in our lives. This six-step guide will help you reevaluate your relationship with democracy and ultimately make it stronger.

In that vision, the whole region has become a magnet for creative people building businesses that espouse slow consumption, honor traditional crafts, and promote a sustainable use of resources—and for visitors embracing those values. In that environment, guests and locals exchange experience and bond over shared meals of Smilyan beans and other local delicacies.

The Nadezhda bookstore in Plovdiv’s Trakia neighborhood is a special place. Everything from the positive name—nadezhda in Bulgarian means hope—to the welcoming interior and friendly staff is designed to make you feel at home. Inside you are not just a customer but a dear guest who is greeted by the biggest smiles you have seen and offered a small souvenir with a message—a small token of gratitude for your patronage.