I want to thank the Head Cowboy of the Hillbilly Empire and his lovely Squaw for a wonderful car-free Monday in the centre of Sofia. It was a pleasure to spend the entire morning on my balcony in Neofit Rilski Street savouring not only the peace and quite, but also the smells of the flowers and the remaining blossoms on the trees. Not since the Car-Free Sundays back in 1974 at home in the Netherlands have I experienced anything like this.

Of course Young Bush's life was permanently in danger while breathing the air of the Bulgars. There could have been be a sniper on every rooftop, around every corner a suicide bomber and even worse, there might actually have been be a Bulgarian Baba, carrying her shopping crossing the street.

The only real issues at hand that might upset some Bulgarians could be the Visa Discrimination issue and Kosovo.

The Visa Discrimination issue, where Bulgarians need a visa and are usually refused, while the blessed citizens of the land of milk and honey can freely wander in and out of the land of Orpheus, has been an irritant in this country ever since our own fearless leaders decided to send Bulgarian boys to die in the War for Oil.

Since this weekend there is the (to be expected) under-informed US position on the Kosovo independence issue which might cause Balkan Wars III `The return of the Hatred'. I watched his speech in Kosovo with total disbelief, his aim was obviously to upset the Serbs and the Russians...

Since there has been no major violent protest in this country against America the Great, nor its intentions to make this country a target by stationing Air Force here, this whole Sofia security operation seems to have been a total over-kill.

Bulgarians in general like the US and its people and they have always been welcome visitors in this country. I was there on Battenberg Square when Bill Clinton visited Sofia in 1999, the crowd was cheerful, and the atmosphere was festive. I believe that Mr.

Bush could have had the same crowd if his security people had been less fearful of the Bulgarians. I advise his Bulgaria-based advisers to spend more time with the locals and to get better acquainted with this country, to avoid this kind of embarrassing situation in future.

If George and Laura Bush were safe on the streets of Tirana, they would have definitely been guests of honour in any Bulgarian family's home.

I understand that nationals from member nations of the European Union can now stand for a place on municipal councils in Bulgaria. Last Thursday, legislative amendments to this effect were adopted. Such nominees for municipal councillors, will need to have a certificate for permanent residence and prolonged stay in the country. The job of mayor can only filled by a Bulgarian. EU member state nationals will also be able to cast a ballot in Bulgaria's local elections, after submitting a declaration to request this in advance. I am sure that several "immigrant villages" filled mainly with retired Brits who purchased Doer-Uppers will be the first to change the political landscape. They will be closely followed by the likes of me who are married to a Bulgarka and are doomed to spend the remainder of their days in this land of Love and Yoghurt.

Now might be the time to start a new Political Party for us immigrants. FIB is a good name... Foreigners in Bulgaria...

That reminds me, I want to say farewell to some of the best people I have met in my nine years in Bulgaria. My Dutch friends Amanda and Jan-Willem and my American friends Mary and John are leaving us after many years in this country.

I take the liberty to wish both couples Godspeed on their journey home and best wishes for their futures on behalf of all the people who had the privilege to know you during your stay.

Koos Jan Schouten (1954) was born in Amsterdam, has lived in Bulgaria since 1998, owns webfactorybg and has been married since 2002 to his lovely Lilly.