Sofia, Bulgaria (My Exchange Booth)
I Opened a Currency Exchange in Bulgaria for One Day
Bulgaria swapped the lev for the euro on New Year's Day. I set up a booth with excellent rates.
On January 1, Bulgaria switched from the lev to the euro, the 21st country to use it, at 1.95583 leva to the euro. Through January, people can still pay in leva and get change in euros. Lots of money changing hands. So I opened a booth.
Today’s Rates at Donny’s Booth
- One euro: 1.95583 leva. Official. I didn’t make it up, and believe me, I tried.
- One lev: About half a euro. Still a lovely coin.
- One compliment: Free, with any exchange.
- One handshake with Donny: Priceless. No refunds.
How It Went
Business was slow, because the banks were swapping leva for free. I don’t understand free. I’d never offered it before. Today I tried it, for one customer, and it felt strange, like a sneeze that doesn’t come.
The Lesson
Changing a country’s money is a big job, and Bulgaria did it overnight, at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. I once changed my tie at midnight. Similar energy, smaller country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why 1.95583?
That's the official rate, fixed for years. I tried to round it to two. The math people said no. Very strict, math people.
Did anyone use your booth?
One man. He wanted directions. I gave him directions at an excellent rate.