Renowned Bulgarian sex therapist Dr Roumen Bostandjiev recently visited Veliko Turnovo to meet teenagers there, discussing sex education and awareness with them.

Boustandjiev has over 20 years experience as a psychotherapist and sexual therapist. He has received an award from Sexual Intelligence, a monthly electronic newsletter that delivers news, media critiques, social commentary and political insight, all focused on sexuality.

Sexual Intelligence explained why Bostandjiev received his award: "Bostandjiev is Bulgaria's pre-eminent sexologist. To describe why he's being honoured, we can't do any better than excerpt the article we wrote about him last year.`Roumen runs a programme that's training 200 physicians and therapists, establishing national standards for the treatment of sexual issues; he is training over 1000 teachers in school sex education, funded by the UN and Bulgarian Government; he is running an HIV prevention programme, funded by the World Bank; and he is convening a series of conferences on health and sexual education, creating a collaboration with journalists, Government officials and professionals. In post-communist Bulgaria, Roumen faces political obstacles, hypocritical posturing and social prejudices as he attempts to bring sexual literacy to the country he loves (sound familiar?). In a nation with a highly religious population, very traditional gender roles, and an insufficient number of computers and fax machines, this is no small thing. Roumen epitomises sexual intelligence: in a time of social disruption, he is helping to steer his country away from sexual ignorance and fear, and toward information and empowered decision-making. We could use a few hundred of him here in the culturally backward US - where we have plenty of computers, but insufficient political and social courage'," the website wrote.

So when this highly respected man stays that he is concerned that Bulgarian youth are not being given enough education with regards to sex, people should listen.

He also points to a recent survey that indicates that at least 70 per cent of all Bulgarians are unhappy with their sex life. This particular statistic might account for the growth in the area of international dating.

Angel Malchev, one of the joint partners in the Together International Dating Agency, based in Veliko Turnovo, concedes that there is a strong interest by Bulgarians to date abroad. Previously it might have been assumed that Bulgarians were simply looking to marry a Westerner, to escape the often dire economic conditions within Bulgaria itself. However, the survey does mention that Bostandjiev might supply more basic motivation for the West is Best philosophy of many Bulgarians, not just for the financial dissatisfaction, but also the sexual dissatisfaction.

Wondering what the views are of the people in Veliko Turnovo, I decided to find out. I asked Mimi Kostova, 27, a bank clerk in the town: "Would you marry a foreigner?"

"Of course," she replied. "If I loved him, ... but it would appear that he would, somewhat, be less of a romantic."

When asked the same question: Kalin Petrov, 23, a motor mechanic, said: "Yes, if she was rich". Kalin then displayed his patriotic side by adding: "But Bulgarian girls are the most beautiful".

However, the whole East/West dating thing is far from one sided. Bulgaria as a destination is becoming increasingly popular with the West, partly due to its imminent entry to the European Union, and also, because the second home markets of Spain and France are becoming too expensive for many looking to secure their place in the sun.

Along with this, there is an increasing rate of Bulgarian-foreigner marriages.