[GoodT]

Hello

I am making a trip in Eastern Europe, just a little randomly. (I live in Asia since long time and visit my home country in Scandinavia about every second year. Now I combine this with visiting Eastern Europe.)

I arrived in Sofia and I am now in Plovdiv. Bulgaria seems like a pretty well organize place. Quiet, clean cities, at least this is my impression for the few days I have been here. (If the light is red you don’t cross the street, even if there is no traffic. That's ok.)

I plan to continue travelling a little around here. I will probably visit some more capitals but I often like smaller places more (or just the size below capitals).

I am usually not the hard clubbing disco type. (Only sometimes ) I am older and look for places where girls and others are open to foreigners. (And where the social structure makes it possible for them to be so without being looked down upon by other locals.)

I know many guys here are familiar with Eastern Europe. I tried reading the forum and for Bulgaria I will continue to Varna. For Romania, Timisoara, Constanta. In Poland I have seen recommendations for Wroclaw and Poznan.

For travelling I can afford simple apartments in most places in this area. But if I decide for long time stay it is better if the place is less expensive. Czech rep., Slovakia seems expensive, maybe Hungary too. Too many tourists in Budapest.

What I look for is cities with not too many tourists but where the locals at the same time are open to foreigners.

I know basic Russian and I have travelled in the region before but mostly tourist destinations. (First time in Bulgaria, though.)

Using Russian in Bulgaria falls in 3 cases
1. Some understand
2. Some don't understand
3. Some pretend not to understand but when needed they understand

But reading Cyrillic is a good advice for anyone coming. It does not take so long time to learn and helps reading many signs etc.
Just my quick impression, my Russian is only so so.

But I don't mind a little language barrier. English is often understood. I appreciate staying away from main steam tourist places.

Especially for Serbia I would be happy to get some advice for places to visit.

So far thus:
Bulgaria:
Sofia: quiet, nice
Plovdiv: quiet, nice
Varna, summer, party town

Romania:
Timisoara: ?
Constanta: ?

Poland:
Wroclaw: student city
Poznan: student city

Serbia:
??

Other countries?

Thanks for any pointers.