From the mailbox of Radio Bulgaria – letters from around the world

We continue to receive congratulations on the anniversary of the multilingual programme of Bulgarian National Radio – Radio Bulgaria! Thank you, friends, for your attention, encouraging wishes and inspiring reviews. We are sharing with the entire audience some of the letters we received in March:

“I wish you all the best for 90 years of Radio Bulgaria,” wrote Dieter Sommer from Germany.

“I send you warm greetings and many 73s from Guadalajara, Mexico. I would like to express my congratulations and appreciation to this legendary international shortwave station on the occasion of its 90th anniversary. Personally, I consider Radio Bulgaria a unique radio station in its style, as well as very professional and impartial. I wish this station success and a long life.
Your friend, Javier Gonzalez Nungaray, Mexico.”

“Nine decades of wisdom, music and magic. The world is better with your sound still being heard. Happy birthday! Do you remember when you were Radio Sofia? Your long-time friend and listener, Marlene Sherburne.”

Yes, Marlene, we remember you and thank you for the wonderful card! We hope we will remain on the same wavelength for many years to come.

Many kind words also arrived for Bulgaria’s National Day – 3 March:

“Dear Team of Radio Bulgaria, Warm greetings from Pakistan! On the occasion of the National Day of Bulgaria, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you and the people of your beautiful country.
This special day is a symbol of freedom, courage and national pride. May Bulgaria continue to grow in peace, unity and prosperity. As a regular listener of Radio Bulgaria, I truly appreciate your informative and cultural programs that connect people around the world. Wishing you continued success and a bright future,” wrote Abdul Karim Malik from Pakistan.

“I would like to congratulate you on your country’s national holiday and send you my warm greetings,” wrote Horst Cersovsky from Germany. “I listened to the German-language programme of Bulgarian Radio in the resort of St Paul’s Bay in the northern part of Malta.

In fact, I was inspired by the events calendar of the Maltese resort destination. A classical concert by the Maltese-Bulgarian Circle with the participation of Bulgarian artists was announced there on the occasion of Liberation Day on 3 March 2026, held at the Malta Society of Arts in Valletta. The capital, Valletta, is somewhat far from where I am spending my holiday, but I was pleased to tune in again to Radio Bulgaria in German and follow the programme online. There was a lot of interesting classical music worth listening to, as well as engaging information about the famous Bulgarian composer Pancho Vladigerov. Unfortunately, the news was dominated by the military conflict in the Middle East, but I was happy to hear your broadcast from Sofia again.”

We also sincerely thank you for the greetings addressed to the women in our radio:

“I want to send my best greetings to all women of BNR on International Women’s Day. I hope you had the opportunity to celebrate this special day! I wish you all the best for your next programs!
Your listener, Eckhard Röscher from Germany."

Alongside the many wonderful wishes, our listener Bernd Seiser from Germany, through Radio Bulgaria, extends an invitation to all shortwave listeners and radio enthusiasts to the 45th International Regional DX Meeting, to be held in Ortenau-Murg Valley on 16 May.

“With my warmest greetings on the occasion of your national holiday on 3 March! I would also like to send friendly greetings to all the ladies of Radio Bulgaria on the occasion of International Women’s Day,” wrote Mr Seiser.

We are very pleased that with each passing month, more and more new listeners are writing to us.

“I am a 58-year-old Japanese woman living in England. I started to be interested in listening to international radio broadcasts in 2018. I am a member of the British DX Club,” wrote Misayo Tanaka from the United Kingdom.

“I am pleased to inform you that I have listened to your radio broadcast, and I am so happy that I can listen to it in Japan! I found out about this on a Facebook group which deals with information about world radio. Even as a Japanese person, I really like Bulgarian music and love it. I hope your radio station will continue these broadcasts forever! I am also celebrating the 90th anniversary of your radio station,” shared Satoshi Tanaka from Japan.

And here is a letter from Héctor Goicoechea from Uruguay:

“Hello, I would like to inform you that I am a Uruguayan DXer. On this occasion, I am writing to you since I made a summary of the program listened.”

A fond memory is shared by Norbert Reiner from Germany:

“Since 1962 – when I was 11 years old – I have been a radio enthusiast. One of the treasures in my collection is a QSL card for my reception of the German program of Radio Sofia, heard on 6070 kHz in November 1962.”

We also received countless kind words about our work and Radio Bulgaria’s programmes:

“Good morning, I am sending you the listening report for the Spanish-language podcast on Bulgarian National Radio. I would like to congratulate you on the content and quality of your programs, as well as on the professionalism of your presenters, Cristina and Sorayda. I would be grateful if you could send me your QSL cards, both new and old. Best regards from Zaragoza, Spain,” wrote Sergio Andreu Gracia.

“As I do every month, and with the hope of being able to continue doing so for a long time to come, I am sending you my report on your radio station reception. I would like to sincerely thank you for the replies you send me; it is a gesture that I greatly appreciate and that encourages me to stay in touch with you.

I send you my warmest regards and best wishes for this month of March. I hope you are all well and that you continue with the energy and enthusiasm that you transmit every day.

Hugs, Juan Carlos Pérez Montero, Spain.”

“Thank you for preparing and presenting your wonderful programs!” – a concise message from Roger Roussel from Canada.

“I regularly visit your website. From it I receive information that I cannot see or hear elsewhere. It is a pity that the broadcast time is as limited as in the past. I also like the historical reports about Bulgaria’s past. I wish you all the best and send my greetings.

Your listener, Dieter Feltes, Germany.”

“A Bulgarian priest living in Germany regularly travels over 350 km to the Netherlands to serve Orthodox believers, supporting a diverse community and emphasising faith, church life and religious education for children,” quotes one of Radio Bulgaria’s publications Geoffrey Leech from Japan, adding: “Today’s story about the priest was very interesting and deeply moving. Here in Japan, the Orthodox Church itself is not well known, and many compassionate people remain forgotten.”

• “In 2026, I will continue to be just as loyal and tireless in sending letters related to my favourite German-language editorial team of Radio Bulgaria. The world without your German-language program would be a little greyer, almost like a stormy winter day without snow. But it would be even worse if one day our contact through letters were to stop for some reason, so I hope everything will continue as well as it has so far.
  
  It would be a wonderful radio experience if your program were ever to return to shortwave, although I suppose that is about as realistic as snow in summer. Still, I say this with some nostalgia.
  
  The German broadcast of 2 January made me very happy, because it touched on a topic close to my heart – thermal baths, which for me are a symbol of relaxation and well-being. I am sorry to hear that most of these places are neglected and without investment. This is a problem that can also be seen in other countries, including Germany, where some of these baths are struggling to survive or have to close.
  
  I am very happy that the postcards you send me are the most beautiful in my large collection so far. When I arrange them in a large square, they form a wonderful mosaic of Bulgaria with its most beautiful tourist attractions. In this way I can get to know Bulgaria without packing my suitcase. Nevertheless, nothing can replace a personal trip to your country, because only then can I experience your warmth and hospitality. Many of the places shown on the postcards I have visited in person.”

Michael Lindner, Germany.

• “I like your beautiful Bulgarian songs. Bulgaria is a beautiful country!”
  

Reginaldo Anunciação, Brazil.

• “I am a regular follower of your programs, and I really enjoy them. Your news and current affairs reports are always based on true facts and show strong journalistic quality. I read your reports with great interest because they help me understand world events in a simple and clear way.
  
  I recently read an article on your official page about the summer tourist season 2026 in Bulgaria. It was very informative and easy to understand. I read that Bulgaria is expecting moderate growth and wants to present itself as a safe and welcoming place. It was interesting to read that bookings from big countries like the UK and Germany are slightly higher than last year. I also read about the strong role of local tourists and government plans like reducing VAT and helping with fuel and electricity costs. These steps look helpful for tourism growth. The article gave a clear picture of how Bulgaria is preparing for the future and facing global challenges.”

Muhammad Aqeel Bashir, Pakistan.

• “The Botanical Garden of BAS offers a vibrant escape in winter, with blooming azaleas and orchids bringing colour to Sofia’s colder months. I greatly enjoyed reading on the internet. Thank you for the excellent content.”

Kanu Kumar Paul, Australia.

• “I enjoyed World News and the news event program ‘Bulgaria Today’, which brings a summary of the leading news stories from Bulgaria and the weather forecast for the weekend. I enjoyed ‘Ramazan Bayram unites Muslim families in Bulgaria’, as tradition and flavour take centre stage, with baklava on every table. All your program is always my favourite for reliable information and enjoyment.”

Mr Najimuddin, Director, International DX Radio Listeners Club, India.

• “I am submitting my reception report on a topic I heard in Spanish – the magic of hand embroidery in Stara Zagora. I always follow national traditions with interest, and this is one of my favourites – traditional costumes and ornaments. This is a true work of handcraft, which certainly has a long tradition in Bulgaria. It is also important to organise an exhibition on the occasion of International Women’s Day. I take this opportunity to congratulate all Bulgarian women.”

Hugo Longhi, Argentina.

• “Namaste from India to you and all my friends at Radio Bulgaria.
  
  I have been drawn to one of your cultural news items, which I found to be so absorbing and meaningful. I am referring to the Bessarabian poet Niko Stoyanov, whose 80th birth anniversary has captured headlines. This gifted Ukrainian-Bulgarian poet, publicist and writer has been instrumental in inspiring and giving a voice to Bulgarian compatriots at home and abroad. His mission was to give a voice to appreciate the cultural heritage and rich language through his moving verses. I learned that he is being honoured with a memorial book as a fitting tribute to his contributions. Through a life of dedication and discipline, he proved to be a true Bulgarian at heart. I learned that he was also the founder of the first Bulgarian-language newspaper, which highlighted the cultural and spiritual aspects of the Bulgarian community. His literary career included 18 poetry collections, 20 documentary films and poetic renditions of the mother tongue for children. A true lover and patriot, Niko Stoyanov will forever remain a shining star in the annals of Bulgarian literary greats.”

Jayanta Chakrabarty, India.

• “The German-language programme of Radio Bulgaria was again very pleasant and diverse. I am especially delighted by Bulgarian folk music and the wonderful series ‘Samples of Bulgarian Musical Culture’. It is simply great that Radio Bulgaria still broadcasts such good programs. As for my book, which is almost ready, it is titled ‘Here is Radio Sofia Speaking’, with the subtitle ‘The Long Road to Freedom’.”

Helmut Matt, Germany.

• “I am enjoying your informative programs and sending a reception report. I enjoyed your ‘Bulgaria Today’ program of 30 April from an internet podcast. I like your news and the information about celebrating the 45th anniversary of the National Palace of Culture in Sofia. Finally, the music on the 50th birthday of Dimitar Hristov was really fantastic. Thank you for your nice presentation.”
  

Ratan Kumar Paul, a teacher from India.

And finally, an important observation from Malik Khokhar from Pakistan, who listens to our English-language programmes online – though we believe his words apply to all Radio Bulgaria broadcasts:

“English service radio programs play a very important role in spreading knowledge, culture and information across the world. For many listeners like me, these programs are not only a source of entertainment but also a wonderful way to learn about different countries, traditions and global affairs. As a shortwave radio listener from Pakistan, I listen to many international English service broadcasts regularly, and they always provide valuable information and enjoyable listening experiences.

International radio stations broadcast English service programs to connect with listeners around the globe. These programs are designed especially for international audiences who want to learn about world events, cultures, education, science and technology. Through these broadcasts, listeners can easily understand what is happening in different parts of the world.

One of the most exciting aspects of English service radio programs is their rich and diverse content. These programs usually include world news, current affairs, cultural features, interviews, documentaries and music shows. The news segments keep listeners informed about political, economic and social developments happening worldwide. Current affairs discussions help listeners understand global issues more deeply and encourage critical thinking.

Cultural programs are also very interesting and enjoyable. Through these features, listeners can learn about traditions, history, food, festivals and lifestyles of people from different countries. For example, many international radio stations introduce their local culture through storytelling, travel programs and interviews with artists and historians. These segments create a bridge between nations and promote mutual understanding and friendship among people.

Another valuable segment of English service radio programs is listener interaction. Many radio stations broadcast special programs where they read letters and emails from listeners around the world. These programs allow listeners to share their opinions, reception reports and suggestions about the broadcasts. It creates a strong bond between the station and its audience. Listeners feel happy and proud when their letters are read on air.

In conclusion, English service radio programs are a wonderful source of education, entertainment and international friendship. They bring the world closer together and allow people from different countries to understand each other better. I sincerely hope these valuable broadcasts will continue for many years and reach even more listeners around the globe.”

The Radio Bulgaria team highly values the feedback we receive from our audience around the world. Every letter inspires us – so please, keep writing, dear friends!