...and the transfers were even worse.
The first time I went to Bulgaria the coach from Plovdiv to Pamporovo had a broken exhaust. We endured an hour or so of diesel fumes until, fortunately in the circumstances, there was a loud bang, a dense cloud of smoke drifted through the coach and it shuddered to a halt.
Five hours later a replacement coach arrived.
Clearly this left a deep impression on me. I returned to Pamporovo 6 times in the next 4 years.
One trip down the mountain about 10 years ago the coach rounded a corner and the luggage compartment flew open spilling about 10 suitcases all over the road.
People were panicing - but it was great timing for a fag break