Today's Blunder: Culture Minister's Knowledge of Bulgarian Literature

A TV reports shows Bulgarian Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov speaking at a tourism conference in Karlovo, Central Bulgaria.

Rashidov comments on tourism opportunities in the region and in Karlovo in particular.

"I was even surprised, I didn't even know that Ivan Vazov is from Karlovo."

"From Sopot," a voice whispers, though the camera does not show whom it belongs to.

"Well, from Sopot. He is from the region," Rashidov retorts nervously.

Karlovo and Sopot are indeed just kilometers from each other.

But for decades two personalities, their work and their life have dominated Bulgarians schools: writer Ivan Vazov and national hero Vasil Levski.

Thus, everyone aged over 7 knows that Vazov, the "Patriarch of Bulgarian literature", was born in Sopot, and Levski's hometown was Karlovo.

Everyone, with one notable exception.

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