Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Just back from my 4th and best snowboarding holiday ever.
Snow was great - we had about 3 small snows when we were out there, which freshened things up nicely - a couple of inches one night.
I'd class myself as an intermediate and I stuck to the blues. They were challenging in parts - pretty steep and definitely red sections, if not black. Started from the top of Todorka on the first day (route 11/10). HUNDREDS of people queueing for the gondola on Sunday and Monday - eased off after that, but 45 minutes to get board and boots then 45 more in the queue isn't good. First section at the top is a steep start, so I'd recommend that you firstly go from the gondola end to the bottom on route 1, which is out of the gondola and left past the toilets. This 5 mile section is empty in the mornings, but busy later in the day, when the schools finish. Gondola will be quiet by the time you get down, so try the other routes after route 1. Some lovely snow at the top and on route 6/4 from the left hand lift from the gondola station to Shiligarnika - and its a beautiful little tree lined avenue as you exit the lift. We had lunch at Shiligarnika every day - chicken kebab roll 7 lev, drink 3 or 4 lev. Exchange rate in the hotels 2.35, little booths 2.45, First Investment Bank ( just past the Strazhite (?) hotel as you walk away from the gondola/depot) 2.56 and open to midnight. They had commission - of 0.1 %!! = 10pence on the £100 I changed!!
Mehanas pretty mixed - the best 3 were on the main road ( we tried 6). One had a big name which began with a "B" and was on a corner opposite the Blitz Casino, just up from the icerink, I think - massive starters and portions. Another was on the same side (right as you walk away from the gondola) but nearer the gondola - you went into this one as if entering a hotel or shop and then turned right throught the toilet into the restaurant !! The last was about a mile away from the gondola, on the right again, with two massive wooden wine barrels outside and a big green Touborg bottle lit up overhead. All cost about 55/75 lev for 2, 2 courses including a litre of draught red.
We stayed at the fantastic Lucky Bansko apartments. Outside of town but a walk to the old town and a walk back after snowboarding if you want, but not an uphill walk to the slopes in the morning. Hotel buses good and not crowded. Hotel is in a building site, so it's muudy, but no work going on, so no disturbance.
ENJOY -- I REALLY did.