Skiing in Bansko, Bulgaria

It’s official, I love Bansko and I love skiing! I am currently writing this on the plane back to Bristol with a severe case of the holiday blues. I’m also not particularly happy, as the passenger behind me has their shoes off and under my seat, to say the smell is the polar opposite to the duty free perfume I was testing out earlier would be an understatement.

Bad smells to the side let me tell you about my trip to Bansko. This was my first time skiing and I had so much fun. I’ve been snowboarding three or four times when I was younger, however the last time I went I knocked my tooth out, so you can understand that I was a little nervous. After a week of teaching myself how to ski, I managed to get down a blue slope which isn’t bad going for a newbie. For anyone that doesn’t know, the levels for the slopes are:

• Green
• Blue
• Red
• Black/Yellow
• Orange

Our friends have been living in Bansko for the past 3 months. They are travelling around Europe in their 4×4 with their dog, Pablo. They don’t have a blog but they do have an Instagram which you can visit here. They’re next stop is Turkey which will be in the next few days.

Getting there was quite interesting. We flew with Ryanair and of course, there was clapping as we landed (which I love), even though we were delayed by an hour. We landed in a very chilly Sofia and then had a transfer to Bansko, which takes around 2 hours. After 20 mins our driver pulled over and said “Okay we’re here” tired and confused all we could muster was a baffled blink and repeated the word “Bansko?” He eventually shrugged, nodded and we were on our way again. Later we found out that our friends wanted us to pick them up something from the shop but had changed their minds, and the message didn’t get to the driver. Our poor driver ha ha.

As we drove into the mountains I was shocked at how many stray dogs there are running around. Not only are there dogs but there are also wolves. I saw three playing in the snow but was too slow for my camera. I wish I had one implanted in my eye so I’d never miss a photo opportunity again.

When we arrived in Bansko we settled into our apartment and got our ski gear sorted. The next day we were on the slopes and I can’t begin to describe how beautiful they are. I’m sure the photos speak for themselves but to be there and see it for yourself was surreal.

Whilst I was skiing I listened to music and Paradise by Coldplay started playing. With the incredible views around me, I had a bit of a moment. Last week the same song came on as I was at work and I was looking around thinking “hmm yeah right, paradise… Couldn’t be farther from it!” And here I was in paradise only a week later.

Most of the time I went skiing alone because I’m a total beginner (and slowpoke) and everyone else is way more advanced. To most people this wouldn’t be ideal but I love being by myself. Especially with the beauty and quiet of the mountains. I can also stop as many times as I like to pet the dogs and take photos without having to shout out to anyone.

By the afternoon, my legs ached, my face burned from the wind and I was still a bit nervous going fast but all this was solved by a rum tea. Even if it did make me wince as I neared the bottom of the glass!

We skiied for four days and miraculously made it back in one piece. I did have a bad fall and twisted my knee which is giving me a bit of grief now, but it was my own fault for going down a slope that was too advanced for me. Whoops.