Hole or bowl?

My kingdom for a proper euphemism

READING ROOM: The bear necessities in Transylvania

Gothic style, bears and Hollywood spirit mix in Brasov

Two things jump out at you as you arrive in the old town of Brasov, the second-largest city in Romania. The first is the beautifully maintained Gothic architecture that enfolds you, and which lurks down every side street and surrounds every square. Old town Brasov is a stunning place, and it is immediately clear that a lot of money is spent keeping it as unspoilt as possible, which makes the second thing you notice, the big white Hollywood-style Brasov sign in the surrounding hills, so jarring and incongruous. Evidently, the people of Brasov awoke one morning last decade to find that the sign had been erected in the night; such is the beauty of this corner of Transylvania, however, that the sign seems to add to its charm.

The Couchsurfing phenomenon

More than just a free night's stay, international hospitality services can add another dimension to a holiday

It was Karl Marx who said: "From each according to their ability, to each according to their need." While the evidence mostly suggests that communism doesn't really work, the idea of couchsurfing, to which this phrase neatly applies, seems to be going from strength to strength in creating a global, trusting community of travellers. Couchsurfing.com was first conceived in 2000 by the American Casey Fenton. Having obtained cheap flights from Boston to Iceland, he decided rather than finding accommodation he would randomly e-mail 1500 students at the University of Iceland asking for a place to stay. He received more than 50 offers, and couchsurfing was born.

Tour of the Boliarka Brewery

If there's one thing the Bulgarians do really well, it's beer. Just as well, really, because it's everywhere and very good it is, too. Despite the price rises since Bulgaria's accession to the EU, beer still remains reassuringly, almost embarrassingly cheap, but this is no reflection on the quality of the product, which is to say that Bulgarian beer is some of the nicest I've ever tasted. I've done extensive research into this, so that is no mere sweeping statement.

Architectural-Museum Reserve Tsarevets /Царевец/

Just as a trip to Athens would be incomplete without visiting the Acropolis, so the hike up to Tsarevets is an integral part of the Veliko Turnovo experience. The medieval fortress that watches over the city may not be as beautiful as its Greek counterpart, but it is steeped in history and well worth a look. Fortified as a Byzantine stronghold since the fourth century CE, it was taken in the 12th century and became the centre of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom

A war of words

Anyone who has peered in incomprehension at street signs in Bulgaria, trying to remember what sound a Cyrillic "b" makes, or driven straight past a ресторант in their search for a restaurant, might be alarmed by the news that the president of Russia has been calling for more Cyrillic on the internet. Dmitry Medvedev has made the campaign for a domain name in Cyrillic, the alphabet used by Russia, Mongolia and several