On the road to Bansko

After all the dire warnings about heavy traffic yesterday we had the easiest of drives, only 4 hours, to Birmingham.

#2 daughter and family arrived about 8 and we had a chat before all heading for an early night. We all met in the foyer at 3.15am for the 15 minute walk to the airport. 4-8am are the busiest times at security but we had time for a coffee before departure for the 2 hour 50 minute flight to Sofia where it was snowing.

The first part of the journey was through snow-laden trees before we descended to rain on the plain, but then we climbed again to reach Bansko, around 930m, the height of a small Munro, arriving 12 hours after we got up.

The bus dropped people off at different hotels around the town. We have an old-style room with hostel-type wooden furniture but it’s fine. The others are next to us in 2 rooms. Though we are with TUI /Crystal Ski so far there’s only one other British family in the hotel, the others being young Bulgarians.

Mr C and I walked up the street to the ski store to pick up our hired skis and poles. They are similar to the ones we had in France when we first learned, 15 years ago. Bulgaria’s ski reputation is cheap and basic. There are no green runs, only blue, red and black. Then we went to the gondola to buy our lift passes. 6 lev each for over 70. About £2.50 for the week.

There’s a pool so the boys have gone for a swim before dinner which is at 7. They have to be at the gondola at 8 to meet their instructor.

It’s very cold and icy outside so we’ll not start early. The ski shop is looking after our skis and boots which is hardy as it only a short walk to the gondola from there.