Bulgaria:
Eastern Europeans from former communist countries used to use Bulgaria as a vacation spot, holidaying at a number of Black Sea resorts. Those resorts are still around, and the rest of the world is invited to check them out. The country has two mountain ranges: the Balkan Mountains and the Rhodope Mountains, so hiking possibilities abound.
Bulgaria is now ostensibly a democracy, but many former communists are in power. Women are supposed to have equality, but in practice they are discriminated against in this macho society. Also, minorities such as gypsies and Turks suffer discrimination, and they are the poorest Bulgarians. As in other Eastern countries, pollution has ruined much of the environment. Muggings and robberies in the resorts are on the increase. Bulgarian may be a difficult language to learn, but not impossible.