Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hi Lucie

There are lots of good mehanas/eateries in the Old Town which are worth a look. Depends on what you after really. They are good for local authentic food. There are other bars such as Lion, Sir Galahads and people seem to like the Fortuna. The Golden Fox is another one. Plenty of choice for food for sure.

Ski schools are ULEN (the operator of the mountain), Method ski school - well regarded from posts I have seen about it - I know of another chap as well who offers instruction if you are interested - have sent you an email re: that and taxi transfers. Night life - pretty good. There a nightclub - can't think of it's name at mo - I am sure someone on here will advise.

I am back in Bansko for 4th time in March. Hope you have a great time - you will have fab conditions!

Kim

I've just been waiting for someone to ask this question!

Our favourite restaurant in Bansko for two years running is the Mehana Bariakov (I think that's what its called) which, if you walk to the Plaza Vazrazdane (the small square with the big statue and wall, in it) and on one corner is a realestate agent or bank or something with a big lit up sign with 'Address' on it. walk 20 metres up the laneway right by that, and around a little corner on the left is a big wooden door to the restaurant, with a Chalet Odoroff wooden sign next to the door. I know, complicated, but well worth hunting down. Just good solid Bulgarian fare, (excellent salads - and try the home pickled vegetables and their bread) with no pizzas or english breakfasts or lasagne on the menu. I cannot recommend it enough!

Lots of people we met were complaining about the food in general - but of course they cook Bulgarian food really well, and English food not nearly as well, so if all people want is the same as they have at home - well it won't be the same!

Well we went for 2 weeks 1st two weeks in Aug07.

When we arrived it was 35 degrees and very hot not humid just hot.

I was aware that the last 4 days of our stay there is the annual Jazz festival in the square (which was really good) - to our pleasant surprise when we arrived and went to the square expecting it to be empty they had a beer festival going on - literall all day and finished about 1am ish starting 10am. Beer was under 1 lev and it was 1 ltr, they had BBQ's going on and lots of different BBQ'd food which I found really good. All day there was music some live some not, and from 6pm until 1am there was live singing & dancing every day some of it traditional dancing and singing and once or twice some very unusual Bulgarian Techno it reminded me of my youth.

It was a really good laugh.

In the days. we went Pony trecking - no helmets - in the middle of nowhere and then they served us with some great food and their Raki.
We went to the Bear sancturary and were lucky to go there when it rained as we saw 15-17 bears (steep hike) all saved from the dancing bear gypsies.
We had one afternoon half way up the mountain where we had a BBQ and they caught us fish from the rier to cook on the BBQ.
We went to the very very old Capital of Bulgaria South of Bansko where they make very good strong wine which W Churchill had at his daughters wedding (the heat the other ide of the mountain was very humid)
There is a massive 1000capacity outdoo swimming pool in Dobriniste which is pretty modern with nothing overlooking you so you can lay down catch a few rays reading a book looking at the mountains. Drinks here were a little higher than other places but all day there with hiring of loungers was very very good value.
Once a week they have a local market in the streets selling alll sorts of things from brick a brack to hand made stuff to tourist things but this is mainly a locals market.
We were supposed to go up the mountains for the 7 lakes walk and camp one night up there but it rained heavy to the extent there was a mini flood in Bansko - so we sat in a nice pub watching all the choas going on. e will be going up those mountains for the 7 lakes next time.

One thing we did find that a store we bought food in a tiny corner store didnt know the first thing about hygine and fresh food so we went to the supermarket at the entry to the town which is very good and cheaper.

I must say there were very few British people there and we spoke only to a few couples who were out there the rest of the time it was local Bulgarians/others on holiday there and we got by even though we can speak no Bulgarian.

There was a fair bit of building going on but from the year before when we went it was muchless and the roads had improved masively.

Were going there for a skiing trip in Apr 1st week and now that Easy Jet fly there were going to be going again in Aug for a week or two as its really nice and cheaper than staying in the UK.

Things we missed - with being there for 2 weeks there are no Uk papers and the Sky TV was terrible so we felt totally cut off from the outside world, which didnt bother me one bit but it might bother others.

There is one resteraunt not too far from the Supermarket and up towards the RIver with a huge outside space they had beer at under 1 lev and in the evenings live music played at your table.

We had a pleasant surprise when we arrived in Sofia to a brand new terminal mirroring Stanstead (which we like not too big and it has everything you need.