Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Morning all, got back last night and I have to say the weather down the M4 was trully appaling!! Left BG to fine sunshine and just a little chilly. Ive read some of the listings just to catch up, and yes it snowed on Tuesday and through the night, didnt last in Samakov but up in Borovets there was a fine dusting, and further up the mountains there is a layer building up. For those of you going early, the season starts on the 18th, the more important thing is the actual temperature, because there are now a lot more snow cannons and the new ones are a lot more easy to move around, so as long as its below freezing there will be snow, thats one pint out the way. The new four man that replaces the old one man was having the main cables run through and WILL be ready for the new season. If youre staying at the Yastrebets Hotel,........tough!!! that wont be ready, the building plans were delayed and they might get acouple of floors ready, but its going to be a building site, and anyone who used to like to sit outside and sip the odd brandy, well that might be difficult as the veranda is now a huge hole, for a new night club. However the new chairlift that replaces the awful 1400mm t bar will, bar very severe weather, also be running for the new season, and apparently the finish is now up by the top of the gondola. The building work on ' Low Borovets starts next year, and the slope coverage is increasing to around 90km over the next 4-5 years, the new green run from top of the gondola to the bottom is also going to be up and running this season, and a new area for beginners between the slope outside the rila and the next slope to the right, has also been created, this will help to keep the slopes themselves clear from beginners wondering across (hopefully) in front of full throttle mad skiers. Borvets itself remains little changed there is a couple of new shacks gone up , and the Hotel olmp is having some new works going on...... other than that, and the fact that if you get a chance, get in a taxi (10 lev) and go down to Samakov, there are a good selection of restaurants, the 'off-licence' are a lot cheaper and the foods loads cheaper as well, well worth a night out..........I will try and answer any queries anyone may have, and yes Ellie we now own part of BG!!!!!! all the best F&S

Kevin, yes thats part owned by the same guy who has peters bar in Borovets, there is a new restaurant called 'central' near the town hall only been open a couple of weeks, the owner used to be a chef at the rila hotel, the best one for food i found is 'the old house' though booking is advisiable, dirt cheap and the food is good. Try the chinese as well, is practically under the panarama restaurant if you know what i mean, Kris an ex instructor owns this, and again the food is brilliant, we tried a really 'locals' restaurant on weds night on the main square very popular at the week end great food but they dont have an english menu , so youll need some local help!!!
our problems will be more administrative as were building some chalets from scratch!!

Hi Guys,

Well the project sounds like a lot of fun and I am glad that you chose Bg over France. Whereabouts did you buy the land to build them on? I have been to the chinese under the panorama on a number of occasions and it is always a suprise, well the order that the food comes out is always a suprise. I am always stunned at the amount of food that they bring and one day will learn to order just enough rather than enough to feed most of Samokov. This is the second time that I have heard the 'old house' mentioned but you will have to let me know where it is, maybe I will give it a go next weekend. The pizza place just off the main square is pretty good, no english menus but if you can decipher the cyrillic most of the names are the same, Roma, Margerita etc.
Don't suppose you know the name of the locals place as I am always willing to give these things a go and will go armed with dictionary +phrasebook, took a particular liking to the tripe soup when I was over there a couple of months ago.
Look forward to hearing from you and glad you had a good trip.
Kevin

Wow Fraser!!

Great to hear your news and that you have finally taken the plunge which obviously you have been contemplating for a while now. Do I take it you are out of Borovets town bearing in mind your concerns over land ownership?

It all sounds really exciting and looking forward to hearing more about the project as things progress.

The news of the chairlifts and future development sounds great as long as the village keeps it's friendly atmosphere.

We are not actually planning a trip this winter mainly due to the fact I have to go in half term. I'd like to go again in 2006 so best start saving.

Congratualtions again to you both

Ellie