What Bulgarian real estate of Russian stars looks like: chain-link mesh, common beach

The scandal with the Bulgarian real estate of Russian stars broke out 10 years ago. Kirkorov was indignant that he had bought an apartment on the first line with a view of the sea, and a construction site was launched in front of him, although the developers promised to set up a park. Thus, the first line turned into the fourth. Other stellar neighbors of the artist were indignant that guests were placed in their empty apartments. They complained that terrible smells were coming from the sea – a sewage treatment plant was built a few meters from the residential complex, a pig farm was located nearby. In a word, the Bulgarians cheated the Russians.

We went to the residential complex “Emerald” to see in what conditions Russian pop stars rest.

“Manicurist did not recognize Udovichenko”

In Ravda, everyone knows the elite complex “Emerald”. You arrive at the central square, then you walk along Macedonia Street with restaurants and run into the residential complex.

On a hike to the complex, I didn’t hear the smell of shit, no matter how much I sniffed. One of the vacationers explained the lack of stench: “You are lucky that there is no wind. And when it blows, the stench is terrible, like sewage in the pool.”

The territory of the complex is fenced with an unpresentable mesh netting. At the main entrance is a dusty guard’s booth. Apparently, the gatehouse is here as an entourage.

Next is the gate. The car passed, I passed. Near the main entrance on the security bench. Zero attention to me. Although there is a sign with a warning: “Private territory. Protected. Entrance only for residents of the complex. But in fact, anyone from the street can pass.

The complex is covered with advertisements. One of them: “Only owners have access to the gym without obligations with Emerald. That is, those who do not have debts for a communal apartment.

The parking lot in front of the complex is filled with cars with Bulgarian and Ukrainian license plates. Among the foreign cars, there was only one old car with Moscow numbers.

In the complex live not only the owners of real estate, but also guests. The LCD still works as an all-inclusive hotel. There are a lot of people, in the dining room line. The cost of a double room is $124 per night. Reviews are so-so. For example: “Coffee is not tasty, scrambled eggs are bitter for breakfast, the sea is far away – the elderly will not pass. There is no private beach, only a city one, in the evening the whole village occupies sunbeds. The residential complex needs to be repaired, somewhere the tile breaks off, somewhere the wooden surface is cracked. Everything is old.”

At the reception, a Russian-speaking young guy, to my question: is it possible to buy apartments here, shrugged his shoulders: “I have no idea.” Then a woman came up, apparently, she is the main one: “Leave your contacts, the manager will call you back.”

– Are there any Russian stars here? – I’m interested.

– Who? What other stars? – the interlocutor’s eyes bulged and after a pause. – Has no idea.

It looks like the Bulgarians shook off the stardust from the representatives of our show business. Even Philip Kirkorov, born in Varna, is not a priority. But more on that later.

In the meantime, I went to the central pool, to look at the contingent of vacationers. I went down and was stunned – but there are hundreds of people, like in an anthill. Well, where to look for the stars? They are easily lost in the crowd of sunbathers.

At the time of my visit to the residential complex, Lera Kudryavtseva was resting, who noted the geolocation in social networks. The TV presenter posted a video with Larisa Guzeeva in the story. Producer Yevgeny Fridland also checked in. But I didn’t meet any of our celebrities.

In general, the people here are not simple. Apparently with money. During the day, at the bar by the water, the ladies drank aperol syringe and champagne. For comparison, ordinary Bulgarians prefer cheap Kamenitsa beer during the day.

The main building is huge. Living in such a dubious pleasure.

Around the perimeter of the pool, there are three rows of wooden sun loungers with battered mattresses. There are also reminder signs: “Sun loungers are not allowed to be reserved.” That is, celebrities will not book a personal box with a private pool.

I study the bar menu: homemade lemonade 5.20 levs (270 rubles), cappuccino – 4 levs (208 rubles), 50 grams of vodka from 5 to 13 levs (260-680), 50 ml of Baileys – 8 levs (416 rubles). Quite modest prices, even somehow frivolous for our stars.

From entertainment – a children’s club, animation, billiards (10 leva (520 rubles) per hour) in the evenings there are concerts of Bulgarian musicians.

Of the services – manicure-pedicure, hairdresser, spa, massage room (60 minutes – 155 leva (8000 rubles).

In local chats, the residents of “Emeradde” share: “I see Larisa Udovichenko. Sometimes I meet her in the park, like Guzeeva. They went to the beauty salon together.

“I once met Udovichenko in a regular hairdresser, came to dye my hair and sign up for a pedicure. She was a very sweet lady and very easygoing. When I sat down for a manicure, the master – a young girl, did not even know who was in front of her. She said she visits often. She asked: where did she shoot?

The territory of the residential complex is not only a giant complex and a swimming pool. There are also small pools, a packing area, several villas, where, according to some information, Kirkorov’s apartments were located, and a gym.

Where is the sea? It’s not particularly visible from here. Here is your first line. It was not for nothing that Kirkorov was indignant and Nadezhda Babkina cried in a television interview: “There is a decent descent to the sea, then it’s hard to climb back.”

Walk to the sea for 7 minutes at a leisurely pace. On the way to the beach I see a ditch and grass scorched under the sun – apparently here they promised Kirkorov to set up a park. On the other side are residential barracks. It’s likely that the maintenance staff lives here. Locals say that refugees from Ukraine settled there.

The beach is full. VIP zones for our celebrities have not been allocated. If you want the sea, pay 10 leva (520 rubles) for a plastic sunbed and sit shoulder to shoulder with ordinary citizens. He rushes to the container toilet, give me a couple more leva.

Are they famous people? Seeing them for the first time”

It is difficult to imagine what the stars are having fun in Ravda. This village is not about shopping, except for beach shoes for 20 leva, T-shirts for 15 and nothing to take souvenirs.

Restaurants are uncomplicated, without the slightest hint of pathos. In one cafe, I got into a conversation with the waiter. She showed photos of the artists: “Have you met them?” The man was surprised: “Are these some famous people? I don’t know anyone.”

Another interlocutor, a Russian guy who moved from Riga to Ravda a year ago, was also surprised: “For the first time I hear that they live here. They don’t really talk about them here.”

Blogger Varya Davydova blogs about Bulgaria. Here is what she wrote about Kirkorov: “Once Philip said in an interview that he was very popular in Bulgaria. Among whom? Among your neighbors? Personally, I have no acquaintances who would know him, listen to him, or, God forbid, consider him a Bulgarian singer. Very few people understand who they are talking about when they hear his last name. I had only one case when I was asked about him, describing him as a “tall, pop-eyed Russian singer.” And when I said that he considers himself a Bulgarian, the people were very surprised – they did not know that they had such a singer.

Finally, I looked into a luxury real estate company. I asked if Russian stars were selling apartments.

– Didn’t seem to hear it. And who will tell us, they do not sell themselves, they hire a realtor, – says an employee of the company. – This year we sold two apartments in Emerald, the last one remained. Two rooms, 100 “squares”. The owner reduced the price from 90 thousand to 70 thousand euros. You do not need? You will live side by side with the artists. They come here often. This year I saw Guzeeva several times. And the complex itself is solid, multinational, Russians, Ukrainians, Georgians live in it.

– How much is the support fee?

– The fee is unreasonably high: 30 euros per square meter. That is, for an apartment of 100 “squares” per year, you will have to pay 3,000 euros. The larger the area, the higher the price. Can you imagine how much Kirkorov paid, who scored a bunch of apartments? But you can refuse to use the pool and other services, sign an agreement and reduce the support fee.

Haven’t seen Kirkorov for a long time?

– It seems that he sold something, but I doubt that I could shake off all the apartments. If only cheaply gave. There are no millionaires here. There were nuances with him. The scandals were terrible. He himself has not come here for a long time. Anyway, I haven’t seen him in years. According to rumors, he bought something in Varna.