EUROQUEST SideTracks

Las Vegas has always been known as the the shimmering gambling metropolis in the middle of the arid Mojave Desert. Hardly anyone thinks of Southern Nevada when talking about Culture & the Arts. In fact, many would agree that culturally speaking, the greater Las Vegas area is just as much a desert wasteland as it is geographically. And in deed, High Culture seems far removed from the Neon lights on the Las Vegas Strip. Yet among the many missions of Euroquest Sidetracks, one has been to continuously question and dismantle stereotypes, and to seek alternative spaces amidst the mainstream. This week's contribution marks no difference, as we shall focus on the vibrant modern Las vegas Arts scene centered around E Charleston Boulevard. The history of Modern Art in Las Vegas is closely tied to the history of the FIRST FRIDAY event celebrated monthly since 2002. It nowadays attracts up to 10000 visitors and covers the 18 major blocks around the Las Vegas Arts center (locally refered

No visit to Bulgaria is ever complete without witnessing a traditional Folkore evening with local food, costumes, dance and customs. Most ethnographers and alternative world travellers would cringe at the thought of a Folklore Dinner, but as so many things in life, it all depends on WHERE and HOW it is done. For that reason, our fourth and last contribution on Bulgaria leads us to the remote mountain village of ERKETCH, nowadays called KOZICHINO, abour 30 minutes West of Nessebar/Sunny Beach, where such authentic Folkore traditions are still alive today. Most organized Folkore evenings begin with a visit to a genuine Bulgarian farm house in the countryside, and such visits allow guests a worthwhile glimpse into the real daily life of rural Bulgarians. Many dwellers in remote areas of Bulgaria are striving towards self-sufficiency, planting their own fruit and vegetables, as well as keeping their own lifestock for dairy products and meat consumption. Most old farmhouses still lack mod

In order to experience Bulgaria the local way, it is imperative to leave behind the tourist infrastructure on the Black Sea Coast and head inland for at least 1 to 2 hours by bus, car or motorbike. Here the true Bulgaria may be found, and the Balkan countryside may surprise outside observers by its stark beauty, variety of landscape and also its dire poverty. This is the forgotten Europe, and little has changed during the past two decades following the fall of communism. A combination of post-communist neglect and ubiquitous Bulgarian corruption has kept the funds flowing into the wrong pockets. Since much of said culture originates in the capital Sofia, most is kept and spent there, while little if any trickles down to the countryside. Equally, for young people it is thus important to seek opportunities in urban areas, as rural Bulgaria hardly offers sustainable prospects for their future. As we head East from Nessebar or Burgas, the next larger town, KARNOBAT, reflects the entire m

Most visitors to Bulgaria come during the summer peak as part of a hotel & flight package, flying into Burgas and staying at a nearby resort, such as Sunny Beach or Nessebar. While such visits are hardly inspiring beyond the hotel, beach & pool routine, there are several alternative attractions for visitors to discover in the area, which may break the package-deal monotony and introduce guests to more local sites and experiences. For such alternative activities, best to rent a car for a day or two, or to make use of local bus connections. The undeniable gem of the Bulgarian Black Sea is NESSEBAR, originally a Thracian and later a Greek settlement (Messambria) on a peninsula declared a WORLD HERITAGE SITE by the UNESCO in 1983. Here the key is timing, as Nessebar reveals its true magic only when tour groups are absent, which is in early May or late September. Otherwise the small town turns into a Bulgarian kitch Disneyland with hundreds of kitch souvenir stands catering to tho