SOFIA (news.bg) -- Most citizens in the Bulgarian capital have become used to traffic jams from early morning to late evening, but the situation is getting out of hand according to experts from Sofia's public transport company.

"Boulevards are jammed 24/7 believe it or not. Buses are running 40 minutes late in rush hour," the chief coordinator of the company told news.bg.

The centre of the capital is worse off as streets are narrower and people flock there to visits the shopping malls, cinemas and theatres, banks and other important buildings.

The Mladost living district, on the outskirts of the city has 200,000 inhabitants and just one boulevard connecting it to the main road leading to the centre of the capital.

"It's awful. I get depressed seeing those engines running in vain for 20 minutes at each traffic light," says Mariana Hristova, 24 from Mladost's third section, deep into the housing complex.

"It's a real fight to get to work on time," she says.

The City that Never Sleeps

Traffic police say they need more people who could control the traffic lights at the main crossroads.

Also, they constantly need to adjusts the traffic lights not to switch off during the night. It's a non-stop world and although some go to sleep at night, many prefer parties and discos. It seems everyone wants to have fun. Work is not so important as the average salary in the EU's newest member is 300 levs (150 euros).

The mayor of Sofia said they need 1,000 traffic policemen more to prevent the capital from having a coronary.

Doggies on the Loose

Narrow streets jammed with dirty cars, plastic bags flying in the air, and lots and lots of stray dogs. Add thousands of people rushing to get to work on time and it is bound to become messy.

This is reality for many in Bulgaria, unpleasant as it is. Stray docs flock around kiosk where poor people buy unhealthy 'snacks' as they are called, made of flour, water, salt and sunflower oil.

Ever wondered how Bulgarians survive with 100 euors a month? It's because they eat 'banitsa'. It sells like hot cakes although it is not exactly a cake. A piece of banitsa costs 60 stotinki (30 euro cents).

And dogs like banitsa too. Most kiosk are located near bus stops, where hungry commuters are tempted by cheap oily pieces of dough. Dogs are attracted by the smell too and there is always someone who will drop a piece of food on the pavement as they rush to catch a tram.

It's sheer chaos. Hectic commuters have to kick the dogs in order to make way. Most people in Bulgaria cross when the traffic light is red. It's the way life is in Bulgaria.

But Somehow amid the chaos, the city thrives and construction is booming.

Sofia attracts by far the largest number of foreign investment. Despite the problems, "Sofianci" (i.e.citizens of Sofia) soldier on.

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