Alum’s book touts Bulgaria as underrated travel destination

Bulgaria’s allure as a tourist destination featuring natural beauty, centuries-old monasteries, archaeological treasures and diverse wine regions is touted in a new book co-written by Leslie Strnadel, a 1997 Texas A&M environmental design graduate who now works for [HOK] (http://www.hok.com/) in San Francisco.

In their book, simply titled “ [Bulgaria] (http://www.otherplacespublishing.com/bulgaria.html) ,” Strnadel and co-author Patrick Erdley, both former Peace Corps Volunteers, trumpet the Balkan country as an increasingly popular and refreshing European travel destination with an inviting atmosphere, exceptional value and array of activities.

“Outdoor enthusiasts can trek through the mountains or sun themselves along the Black Sea coast, while gourmands can sample the cheese, yogurt, wine, and rakia, an alcoholic beverage produced by distillation of fermented fruit,” states the publisher’s overview.

An [amazon.com] (http://www.amazon.com/Bulgaria-Other-Places-Travel-Guide/dp/0982261993/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top) review raved about the travel guide, published January 2012 by Other Places Publishing.

“Not only do Strnadel and Erdley provide essential information such as entry requirements, money, safety, medical, places to stay and places to eat, they provide optional itineraries for short or long visits, as well as hiking and camping in the National Parks, site seeing in major cities and the many monasteries,” wrote E.G. Scoggins on the amazon website. “The excellent descriptions of the rich Bulgarian history dating back thousands of years make me anxious to visit this mysterious and beautiful country.”

Strnadel and Erdley first visited the southeast European nation as Peace Corps volunteers in the mid 2000s. During her Peace Corps tour, Strnadel witnessed the nation’s entry into the European Union and reconnected with her Slavic roots.