[caption id="attachment_451" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Starbucks Coffee Mug in Sofia "]<img class="size-medium wp-image-451" title="Starbucks Mug " src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/dsc04667.jpg?w=300" alt="Starbucks Coffee Mug in Sofia " width="300" height="225" />[/caption]

It's official.  Starbucks opened in Sofia.  It's located at the corner of Levski and Gen. Y. V. Gurko.  I guess that there used to be a Pizza Hut in the present day location of the Starbucks but it closed and in it's placed opened another American symbol.

As I've mentioned in other posts, I don't really see the need for a Starbucks in Sofia.  There's lots of other great coffee throughout the city that is a lot less money.  But then Starbucks opened.  The corner store looks like it could be anywhere in a big urban American city.  This in fact scares me.

Once inside, the Sofia store I noticed that every thing is the same in Sofia as it is in the states: the colors are the same, the bags of coffee in baskets are the same, the large round cookies appear to be the same (although I didn't see any with m&amp;m's), even the red holiday themed cups are the same.  I don't love Starbucks.  I would always rather support the small local guy but in a city like DC this was sometimes hard to do given the poor quality of the little guy's coffee.  Starbucks however always promises the same not superior but not offensive cup of coffee--latte--mocha or Americano.  It's the same cup whether you buy it in Walla Walla, Washington DC or now it turns out Sofia.<!--more-->

That's the thing about Starbucks.  It tries so hard not to be offensive with its decor, service, and coffee that there's not very much that is interesting left in the end.

I however noticed a few interesting things.  In the States, Starbucks is taken to-go. I can't remember seeing real mugs

[caption id="attachment_453" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Short, Tall, Grande"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-453" title="Cups " src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/dsc04663.jpg?w=300" alt="Short, Tall, Grande" width="300" height="225" />[/caption]

or plates at any of the five or so Starbucks along the route I used to take to get to Georgetown University.  (Okay five is an exaggeration there were really only two but it felt like five).  Also two years ago the coffee size known as the Short was taken off the menu in the States.  It is still available but only if you know to ask for it otherwise the sizes are Tall, Grande and Venti.  Pretty funny if you think about it, Tall is now the smallest size in the States.

Well here in Sofia, nearly everyone was drinking their coffee in the store out of real mugs! Real Mugs.  I had almost forgotten that you could drink your coffee out of a mug rather than a red holiday Starbucks mug.  These people are so civilized. Unlike American, this is a country of people who have a coffee culture and they don't need to be trained to enjoy coffee.  Additionally, the Starbucks here doesn't serve a Venti size.  (Gasp!) They have Short, Tall and Grande.  Somehow this seems the way it should be.  Who really needs 20+ ounces of coffee?

[caption id="attachment_452" align="alignleft" width="225" caption="Toffee Nut Latte Sign in Sofia"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-452" title="Sign Starbucks" src="http://www.karolinkabulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/dsc04669.jpg?w=225" alt="Toffee Nut Latte Sign in Sofia" width="225" height="300" />[/caption]

So after all of my belly-aching about Starbucks in Sofia, how did I end up there? Well, I went with a Bulgarian friend.  She really wanted to go and I really wanted to go and check it out (and the special that the first Starbucks in Bulgaria is sure to be out).  I hate to admit it but it was pretty fun.  Also, I may think that because after I ordered in Bulgarian, the girl who was taking my order told me, in Bulgarian, that I have good Bulgarian.  And there's nothing like a well placed complement to make a girl fee good about herself and to make her like a place that much more.

The one thing I will say, is that sitting there talking to my friend, drinking one of the holiday sugary-sweet lattes that I would never dare drink the the States because I am opposed to them and prefer to drink only Americanos, I had a good time.  Yes, I had a good time in Starbucks.  Of course, it helps that I was with a friend and that it was cold outside.  But really, who wouldn't be warmed by the combination of friends, a hot drink and some of the pre-packaged holiday sprit that Starbucks serves with their door wreaths and unoffensive pop-Christmas music? I know I was.