Bulgaria Ski discussion board

hi all!
Ive been back since mid March but got called away on work so have not had access to to the site for a while.
Have to say we still enjoyed the week we had, despite the Rila slopes being non skiable and the upper slopes via Gondola being busy.
However, had a few downers- the kids (10 & being placed in a group of total beginers (kids can both ski quite well, five and three years experience ), and neither really got to do their potential (ie learn more!) thats in the Samokov ski school, and was because there were not enough kids there that week, they were put into an adult beginners class!
Both were rather frustrated by the mid week stage at still doing snowplough turns when they wanted to be practising their parallels!
Again, however this could be resolved, and was, by me taking them out of class the last couple of days and training them myself, coming top of Gondola to mid station in bright blue skies and them enjoying every minute of it, even if they didnt do as i would say (which they would do if i were an insructor!).
Bright blue skies and sun protection factor of 30 on the little one, still left him with sunstroke and sickness one day unfortunetley (a days lost skiing!), butI I got a hell of a tan sitting on the hotel balcony that day!
A lot more dogs wandering about i noticed, indeed there were a few fighting outside the Rila one evening, and the local copper shot one I was told, because it attempted to bight someone! (rather that than a child be bit i say!).
The usual good old watering places as well doccumented, but I must say the guys who do the Horse and Poney trecking are really great with the kids and are well worth the money.
BO BOO!
i was not happy when the stall trader inside the samokov hotel (Near the Bowling alley and bar) sold my 8 year old a exploding packet of ciggarettes!, yep, does not matter age etc or what was sold, as long as it was sold!, he pulled out all the immitation ciggarettes at once. (apparantly you are meant to do this one at a time but he was not told!, in fact, later he said he did not want them but was persuaded to purchase them, but I was only a few hundred yards away talking with some people I had met, but he was advised not to disurb me!). hence they blew up in his hand as he pulled them all out together! BANG!!!
However, the Samokov have a good medical facility!!! A few Flamazine bandages later and he was fine! (insurance still pending!).
OK, we all know people will sell to ever they can, and I learnt a leason, dont let young kids loose with cash!
Overall we had a good holl and will be going back next year, just have not really decided when yet given the poor snow early on this year. The people were really friendly as usuall, and the value for money is second to none.
I have to say though the samokov ski intructors night at the hotel on the Wednesday when all you could drink for 15Lev was worth it!!!
Bulgaria, it has to be said, is developing, and it will take time. I only hope it doesnt get spoiled by the tourist agencies attracting groups of lager louts and the promise of cheap beer, and available women, before the thought of what really, are you your going there for, the snow?, as after all, thats whats important, and if theres enough to ski, great, if not, its cheap enough to enjoy a night out and enjoy the culture of a nation who I have allways found more than welcoming .
We will be back 2008 I hope!~
Will be in and off the site over the next few weeks, but will be a regular again come the next season!
Hope everyone has a happy Summer, and see you in the fall (as the say in the US where ive just been !)
Ian W