Sir
I believe the definition of economic growth is the increase in per capita production, and the consumption of goods and services. It’s quoted that the Bulgarian economy is still growing at seven per cent. I can believe that consumption is growing due to the increase in availability of credit, but not from any large increase in wages. I can’t for the life of me see what Bulgaria produces? Apart from tourism, which is not expanding, building, which must be in steep decline, and agriculture, which I don’t believe produces enough to make the difference. Perhaps someone could enlighten me where this (invented?) figure comes from.

David Clark

Sir
I see from your website this is an ongoing problem so thought I would email my experience of half an hour ago.

Travelling from James Bourchier Blvd to Slavyanska Street by taxi, a journey which usually costs three to five leva depending upon traffic, I was today told by a taxi firm that the fee would be 29 leva. After explaining I didn’t have that amount of cash, the taxi driver became very aggressive, locked me in the car and would not release me until I had gone to a cashpoint and withdrawn the extra money.

I have lived here for three months now and like Sofia and its people a great deal, but believe me, being six months pregnant, locked in a car and threatened is a very unpleasant experience and one which has shaken my confidence in the basic decency of people here. I am deeply saddened that as a foreigner I am seen as an easy target and hope no one else has to go through something like this.

Lise Nielsen