Happy New Year from the team

As the year is coming to an end, it’s time for recaps, resolutions and lists… We already did that back in August for our birthday so I will try to be short this time.

We were waiting at the Palace of Justice for our guests 738 times in 2011. 51 times nobody showed up, 70 times there was only 1 or 2 of you but we still did the tour. We did 687 tours in total. 9265 guests from 105 countries. Not just a tour but an experience:

Something very special indeed; freedom, fire, passion and erudition all masqerading as a leisurely stroll that even the weariest of souls can accomplish. Gerry Foley (guest from the United States)

Since I love quotes, I would also quote one of our team members:

Free Sofia Tour, the best thing that happened to me in 2011! Thank you!

We don’t plan on stopping. As we speak, the last tour of this year is taking place (6PM on the 31st of December), after 23 people from 9 countries joined the 11AM tour (see photo). Looking forward to seeing you next year a.k.a. tomorrow (1st of January 2012) at 11AM.

We would like to thank you for being with us through the whole year! It was YOU who kept us going. May you have an incredible 2012 and hope to see you again in Sofia next year 🙂

Besides, I would like thank personally the people who made everything possible.

I am not that good on big speeches so I would just use other people’s words (https://www.freesofiatour.com/testimonials/). I present you… the Free Sofia Tour:

The tour guide Kristian was funny, knowledgeable and kind. Absolute Must in Sofia. One of the best tour guides that I have ever met.

An amazing mixture of a sightseeing trip, history lecture and a fun conversation! Our guide Vanya was fun, open, friendly and well-infomed. We can advise anyone visiting Sofia to take part in the Free Sofia Tour, it’s a really extraordinary experience! 🙂

Theodora gave us an AWESOME tour last night, with her large amounts of enthusiasm and New York-style personality!

We peppered Dima with many diverse questions which she answered directly, clearly and in-depth. We would definitely recommend this Free Sophia Tour to everyone who arrives in the city.

Deni was amaaaaazing! I feel like going back to Sofia just to do the tour again with her

Nikolai was brilliant! Very well informed, honest and he spoke perfect English. This is a must experience thing-to-do for visitors to Sofia who are interested in the history of the Bulgarian capital. Nikolai was able to point out all the little hidden gems and highlight the detailed story for all the points on this walking tour.

The weather was amazing, our guide Misha was full of interesting info and couldnt be more helpful and the whole group was just perfect!

The Free Sophia Tour doesn’t need another glowing review, but I’ll give it any way.

I used to be a tour guide, so I am a very tough critic. I find half the tours I go on to be a waste of my time. They usually whiz you around but spend most of the time in transit, tell you almost nothing but the most boring of facts, and give you no insight into the actual importance to the culture of today. None of those problems arose on this tour. Dimitar not only pointed out the important places, but the little details. He talked most of the time, educating us not only on the past, but it’s significance on the present. He didn’t white wash the tour either. He not only told us many patriotic stories, but also included the less pretty and how all of it relates to the culture that exists today – both good and bad.

The city had just been blanketed with a 10 inch snowfall and the temperature hovered just below freezing during the entire 3 hour tour but it was so fascinating, we didn’t mind the conditions one bit. Our guide, Krasi, was totally passionate about his country and the city of Sofia.

From a distance, it looked like any other tour group.

But right from the start on Monday, guide Petar let his audience know things would be different. “You’re free to leave at any time,” he told them. “Free to ask questions. Free even to correct my English.” That operative word gets flung around quite a bit on the Free Sofia Tour, a year-old venture in the Bulgarian capital that doesn’t cost a single stotinka. And it’s not just about the price. Unlike paid guides, who might feel bound to a just-the-facts approach, Petar freely offered his opinions and perspectives during a casual 2.5 hour tour of the downtown sights.

My tour guide Kiril was great, kind and really knowledgeable and he took his time to explain all the small bits & details and answered all our questions. It was damn cold at the time of our tour, but still it was really great 2 hours!