Bulgaria is proud to be an European state, but sometimes we wish we had something of Africa, as well.

For example, we would have felt much happier if it didn't snow in this country. A symbiosis between Europe and Africa is an absurdity but what if such a miracle comes true on Bulgaria's territory of 111,000 kilometers: Swiss standards and African sun! A slogan like this would bring an election victory to any party.

The employees at the beautiful new Sofia airport regularly assure the passengers that everything is all right, but the passengers whose planes are lucky enough to land on time despite the winter traffic problems, find themselves in an unexpected trap.

The runways have been cleaned, but the approaches to them haven't had this chance. One arrives from Brussels safe and sound, but once in Sofia he/she faces serious difficulties reaching the passport control.

Every summer the state and the municipalities allocate considerable funds to cope with problems created by the winter elements. Usually they give this sum to the "right" person who assures them that measures have been taken and the situation is under control.

And when the winter is mild, the way it happened last year, everything goes smoothly for sure. The profit is high as the expenses are low.

This winter things went wrong from the very beginning and the year turned to be "unprofitable' for the concessionaire. Thick snow covered the country on the very first day of the New Year and the losses exceeded 170 million levs on the first working day of 2008, because many Bulgarians failed to reach their working place.

And while the millions in question were buried under the snow, we had been still waiting for a cent or two from the EU funds.

This is not the end of absurdity. The poorest European nation spent billions on foods and drinks during the holidays. The citizens of the state with the lowest living standard in Europe  celebrated the New Year's Eve abroad, because it turned to be cheaper.

In several minutes only we shot fireworks for millions of levs. According to experts, ordinary fireworks cost some 1000 levs per minute and on the New Year's Eve the cannonade didn't stop for hours.

Absurd. And while the government continues to claim that the prices' growth is under control, costs are going quickly up, following the European model.

It is absurd that the Bulgarian citizens are driven mad waiting at the desks of practically any state institution. On top of that all, another paradox makes the absurdity unique: on the first working day of the New Year, diligent citizens lined up to pay their taxes.

Ask them why.

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