In the city of Plovdiv, on the eve of New Year 2026, an old bakery seller named Elena brushed the dust off her register and carefully replaced the last paper lev notes with euros. Her grandson Petar rushed into the shop, holding a smartphone with the headline: “We’re in the Eurozone now!” he exclaimed joyfully. At that moment, Elena remembered hearing about Bulgaria’s plans to join the eurozone twenty years ago. Back then, it seemed like a distant dream. But today, it had become part of their everyday life. Outside, people laughed, music played, and even a modest one-euro pastry felt like a symbol of something greater — unity, hope, and a new beginning.