Talk Bansko

Issue 1 - Winter 2008 www.talkbansko.com

Nights Out
What’s on Offer in Bansko

New Beginnings
Thinking of Moving to Bansko?

Trail Blazers
Biking in Bansko
TalkBansko. net
Accommodation
 Welcome to the first edition of Talk Bansko the magazine. Each
issue we hope to bring you interesting articles on life in Bansko,
things to do when you get there, tips and advice for travelling to
and staying in Bansko and information on local food, wine,
customs and entertainment.

For those who are into Bansko for the on slope (or on course)
action we will also be introducing you to some of the latest gear
and equipment releases from some of the leading manufacturers.

Inside Issue 1 Many thanks to those that have so kindly given up their time to
contribute to the launch and content of the magazine and share
information and their experiences of Bansko.
Nights Out in Bansko
Zagorka Index If anyone would like to contribute to the next issue please contact
Which Snowboard? us at info@talkbansko.com
Cellar Notes
New Beginnings Enjoy our first issue
Gear Guide
Trail Blazers
Classifieds
Axeman Cuisine

Talk Bansko.com
Bansko’s Online Community

Talk Bansko.net
Accommodation in Bansko

Contact Us
+0044 1902 568125

Email us at
Info@talkbansko.com
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 NIGHTS OUT
IN
BANSKO
Does Bansko have what it takes for a
good night out? Anastasia Voyvodova
explains what’s on offer at Bulgaria’s
number one destination.
Escaping the hectic urban life to a haven of snowcapped
peaks, streaked with green pines and white ski runs, is the
perfect solution for any holiday seeker, from the family
man to the whimsical adventurer, from the country cat to
the party lover. Bansko covers every facet of the ideal
holiday, being a tourist destination of diverse entertain-
ment.
Many people come across Bansko as a vacation opportu-
nity or as a gem in the investor’s portfolio, but some have
picked it as their new home. They have chosen to settle
here attracted by the wonderful weather with more than
300 days of sun, by the excellent skiing and snowboarding
conditions, as well as by the lucrative business opportuni-
ties. No matter what the reason, those newcomers-
turned-locals founded their brave new world right here in
Bansko. They have all come from different backgrounds
but have become a whole, strolling the same cobbled
streets, breathing the same crisp mountain air and dip-
ping in the same unique Bulgarian folklore traditions.
They have also assumed an air of expert advisors, who
would gladly help anyone seeking advice on what to do
while on holiday in the fastest growing winter resort in
Europe. As ambassadors of Bansko they spend their time
socializing while going out, having dinner in traditional
Bulgarian taverns (called mehanas), bowling or just hav-
ing a drink at the local bars.
As a modest member of that motley crew, I think I can
speak for all when pointing out our favourite venues. A
well-spent team-building night for us starts with bowling
at the ten pin ball alley at the Strajite hotel over a bottle of
beer. According to beer fans, the local Bulgarian brands,
Kamentiza, Zagorka or Pirinsko are not to be missed.
Then follows dinner. Some of the best ones we have had
are in Banski Han, a mehana which seems a bit further
off, located at the bottom of the town but offering amazing
Bulgarian food. With its BBQ grill in the centre of the
restaurant, heavy solid wood tables and benches, a wide
selection of Bulgarian wines and excellent service, Banski
Han is a preferred place for both Bulgarians and foreign
tourists. Must-haves from the menu are several tradi-
tional dishes like the chomlek, a veal stew with vegeta-
bles, or the kapama, a meal with chicken, pork, veal,
blood sausage, rice, sauerkraut and lots of spices, both
cooked in an earthenware pot.
Another mouthwatering dish is the sache (named after
the earthenware plate it is served on), or the skewer,
both consisting of various grilled ingredients – pork,
chicken, lamb, mixed or vegetables.
All these profusely washed down with Bulgarian wine. If
you are a red wine lover try the Mavrud and Shiroka
Melnishka which are indigenous to Bulgaria only and if
you prefer white wines, you will enjoy the Traminer or
the Chardonnay. For the adventurers I can recommend
a certain Bulgarian tradition, sipping rakiya (grapes or
plum brandy) with shopska salad (chopped tomatoes,
cucumbers, onion, peppers, parsley and grated cheese)
or Snezhanka salad (thick yoghurt with diced cucum-

“You should try some of

the appetizers offered in
Banski Han “
bers, garlic and dill). But be careful, rakiya can be tricky
and too strong for the unaccustomed palate.
In case you are up for a light meal, you should try some
of the appetizers offered in Banski Han – breaded cheese
and chicken bites; sauté potatoes with cream, bacon and
cheese; Roquefort mushrooms or breaded beans with
cream sauce.
Another tavern with excellent reputation is the Molerite,
again very busy and popular among both locals and (very close in taste to feta cheese) and yellow cheese
tourists. Apart from the exquisite food, the atmosphere (similar to ementhal or mozzarella in colour but milder
is further aroused by the Gypsy band heaving incredible in taste) are part of most dishes served in restaurants.
Jazzy tunes from traditional Balkan instruments. Anoth- You will be surprised how long a dinner can Bulgarians
er exciting performance in traditional Bulgarian folklore have while out at a mehana. They can spend hours
style, I witnessed in Chobanov Han. The group of nation- drinking rakiya and eating salads before they move on
al Bulgarian folk dances was so miasmatic that it made to the main course and dessert.
even complete amateurs from the audience feel confi- Keeping up the high spirit we usually move on to Sir
dent enough to go out on the stage and dance with them. Galahad (or Sir G’s, as some of us tenderly refer to it).
That and the best parlenki (a type of pita bread, a bit With its tradition in showing football and rugby match-
thicker though, garnished with savory and cheese) make es, serving draft Guiness and a wide selection of cock-
Chobanov Han an alternative mehana to consider. tails, my favourites being the Mai Tai or the Strawberry
Certain features of the Bulgarian menu and eating habits Daiquiri, Sir Galahad proved to be the focal point for
may seem awkward to foreigners. White salted cheese every local Brit, hotly recommended to new comers as
well. In a casual atmosphere one can enjoy friendly
conversations while having pizza, pasta, hamburger
and even curry, listen and sing along the live music
band, or dance. To continue the evening we move on to
Base Camp, a somewhat inconspicuous bar next to the
town park. What makes it an enjoyable place, though,
is the friendly staff, theme evenings with varied music,
from Retro and Latin to Hip-Hop, Trance and Rock and
live bands performing at the weekends.

“With a carefully planned week

every holiday seeker can enjoy
his time in Bansko”
Another option for night-clubbing is provided by Am-
nesia, recently renovated with a separate café and the
Retro Club (a combination of both a café and a night
club) in the same building.
Last in line will be Oxygen, where every staunch party
goer ends after 3 am. A night club designed as a cave,
Oxygen accommodates a younger audience with its mu-
sic being mainly Techno and Trance.
These of course are just a selection of the various places
one can go to while out at night in Bansko. With a
carefully planned week every holiday seeker can enjoy
his time in Bansko without getting bored or exhausted.
With so many new entertainment options opening up
this season both tourists and locals will have even more
varied choice – Murphy’s Bar, a traditional Irish pub,
several new piano bars and night clubs in the new and
up coming hotel complexes, and new restaurants with
international cuisine like sushi and Indian come as an
alternative to the Bulgarian taverns.
To sum it up, definitely, Bansko is the place to be.
 ADVERTISE
HERE
Whole Section
70 EUR / 135
BGN

Why Bansko?
Bansko....2 years ago we had never heard of the place!
now we are on the verge of owning our own apartment
there! Instead of moving home in the U.K we decided to
look abroad & literally stumbled across Bansko on the
internet.
What we found when we flew out on an inspection trip
totally convinced us that what we where doing was 100%
the right decision. Bansko is the most beautiful mountain
town tucked away in south west Bulgaria.
We fell in love with the town immediately & after another
visit during jazz festival week last summer we can not
wait to get back there.this place gets a grip of you which
is hard to explain in words!
Bansko is advertised as a ski resort(the best in eastern
europe)but to us the appeal is for walking,biking etc
mainly in the summer.
The old cobbled streets & mehanas which lead to the town
square give a great contrast to all the new development
going up all around with the views of the mountains being
a constant backdrop all the time.

Developing, charming, beautiful, a jewel unearthed,

BANSKO....watch this space!!!!

COVKIDS
 THE ZAGORKA INDEX
Zagorka lager is named after and brewed in the city of Whilst in Bansko be sure to try a bottle or glass of Zagorka
Stara Zagora in the Thrace region of Bulgaria. Owned by and let us know what you think. Nazdrave!
Europe’s largest brewer, Heineken, since the mid 1990’s
the Zagorka brewery was started in 1884 by Czech

TalkBansko. Net
brothers Bohdan and Jiri Prosek.
Zagorka is a full bodied, mildly-hoppy and richly
flavoured lager with 5% alcohol by volume. It is widely
available in Bansko at shops, hotels and mehanas and we Accommodation
are going to use the cost of a bottle of Zagorka to monitor
the change in the cost of living in Bansko. Our Zagorka
Index will collate the cost of a 500ml bottle from three
outlets in Bansko and will chart the price difference over
the coming years.
The first index will appear in our Spring issue once the
three most suitable outlets have been researched and
chosen!!
 WHICH SNOWBOARD?
When buying snowboarding equipment the first item on most minds is the
snowboard. So what are the basic 'need to knows' of the snowboard types?
By John Rodgers

There are three types of snowboard to consider:
Freestyle, Freeride (all mountain) and Alpine (carving
boards).
Freestyle Snowboards - These are wide, stable
snowboards that are forgiving to ride. They are very
responsive which makes them good equipment used for
snowboarding for novices. The snowboard characteris-
tics make them good for pulling tricks but less
responsive in high speed carving due to flexibility and
edge grip. They are often twin tipped and multi
directional making them good for tricks and half pipes
but ideal for beginners.
Freeride (all mountain) Snowboards - Generally the
most popular snowboard on the slopes. Good for all
mountain use, park or half pipe. Freeride snowboards
tend to float reasonably well on powder, can carve and
can be used to catch air, this makes them popular
boards. Freeride snowboards tend to be directional,
meaning one end (the tip) is wider than the tail. They
tend to be soft and manoeuvrable for beginners but
offer enough stiffness for fast carves in harder snow,
these boards offer a mix of characteristics between
freestyle and alpine snowboards.
A freeride snowboard should reach between chin and
eyebrows.
An alpine or carving snowboard should stand tall
enough to reach a point between the forehead and a few
inches above the head.
Foot size is important for determining the width of the
snowboard. If your feet overhang the board there is a
danger of catching an edge and tumbling. If your feet
are too small then it is difficult to apply pressure to the
edges to initiate turns. If you are an advanced rider
using a carving board with big feet it may be necessary
to alter your stance to avoid overhanging the edges.
Of course before you buy equipment used for
snowboarding you should rent a few snowboards first
to see what style, brand best suit you..
John Rodgers writes for
http://www.snowboarding-picture.com.

Alpine Snowboards - definitely not for the novice, these

snowboards are stiff, narrow, long and built for speed.
Built for speed carving and stability at speed with good
edge holding powers they tend to be either symmetrical
or asymmetrical but always built for one way travel.

Once you have chosen the type of snowboard that best

suits your level of competence and ride style there are
then several other factors to be considered in your
choice of snowboard before buying. Your height and
foot size play an important part in your choice of
snowboard.

The length of snowboard that will suit will be down to

the riders height and ridestyle. Snowboards are usually
100cms to 180cms long.

A freestyle snowboard should stand tall enough to reach

between the riders shoulders and chin when stood on
end.
Cellar Notes
Melnik 64 red

Vintage - 1964
www.melnikwine.bg
Type - Dessert wine
Grape variety - Melnik
Alcohol by volume - 18.0%

Not so long ago the world was oblivious to its existence ... Found in 1998 in a
dark stone cellar in Damianitza it was thrown so little light of its origin. Two 5-
ton butts of dessert wine, one from the Muscat and the other from the Melnik
grape variety seemed to have been lost for the world for decades to emerge as an
absolute elixir of a wine. Handpicked at its absolute ripeness in 1964 and fer-
mented in large wooden butts it was fortified and left to mature. It has enjoyed
the hot summers in the open and winters in the cellar for several decades before
being lost and forgotten. Complex harmonious and thoroughly delicious, no
wonder the butts were found one-third empty - the angels have taken their fare
share of this heavenly wine. Bottled without filtration, Melnik 1964 Dessert
Wine inspires wine aficionados and sommeliers all over the world but still
guards its secret.

The dessert wine from Melnik has the colour of an old wine, with yellow and
brick nuances. On the nose it shows rich fruity aroma of fresh and dry figs, al-
monds, raisins and grapes. On the palate the wine is rounded, smooth, and fresh
with a good balance of sugar, tannins and acids. The components of the wood
have been well integrated and perfectly balance the other elements of the wine.
The vanilla aroma prevails which further harmonises its fascinating flavour.
Blue Kangaroo Creche is proud to announce the availability of places in its new exclusive purpose built creche lo-
cated at the Kandahar- Bansko. We respect how precious your little ones are. That’s why we present a superior quality
environment focused on fun, safety and care, healthy fresh menus, activities in music, sport and movement and an ed-
ucational focus within the foundation stage curriculum. It is our goal at Blue Kangaroo to present the individual atten-
tion that will give your child the opportunity to grow and develop at their own pace while having endless fun.

What makes Blue Kangaroo so special?

* We appreciate that having time on the beautiful mountain slopes is key to your stay in Bansko, but your childs
safety and care comes before anything, and we pride our selves in knowing we offer the best child care possible, giving
you ultimate peace of mind while you are on the pistes.
* We offer exciting opportunitys to enrol your child in the method ski school while also providing all the encompass-
ing facilities necessary for outdoor pursuits such as tobogganing, nature trails and conservational education.
* Our heart is continually focused on providing the standard of care that you require for peace of mind enabling you
to enjoy your day. Therefore our staff are trained in paediatric first aid and are ready to deal with small accidents or
falls.
* Blue Kangaroo is British family run and owned crèche which is based on the British Standard National Strategy for
Early Education in parallel with the recognition of the individual needs of every child.

Our Services

Baby Roo’s Club: 6-12 months.

We provide a six day service a week from 8:30am till 5:30pm. We ensure that our nannies care for a maximum of two
children in any one session and that the same carer is used for the duration of stay creating a happy healthy continuity
of care. Naturally we adhere to the individual child’s feeding, nap time and any other requirements that maybe neces-
sary to keep your little one in their daily routine.

Wallabies Club: Toddler Club: 1-3years

Our stimulating toddlers club provides an excellent three to one ratio of nanny to child. Games music, stories, buggy
outings, snow play, we will fill your child’s day with excitement and educational fun. Our standard of keeping nanny
with child for duration of stay is also upheld, as always the benefit of continuity of care makes your child’s stay at Blue
Kangaroo a joy for all.

Kanga Club: 3-5years

At such a pivotal age we at Blue Kangaroo are ready to motivate and encourage your fast growing child with our excel-
lent entertainment schedule. Structured arts and crafts focusing on the Bansko environment and its artesian history,
face painting, cable car rides, educational games, snowman building, the options are endless. We pride ourselves on
the fact that no two days are the same at the Kanga club. We have a one to six ratio of key worker to child and we are
pleased to arrange either a full or half day ski school for the four to five years, with drop off and collection by our staff.

Big Blue Roo’s Club: 6-8years

We open our doors ready for action from 8:30-5:30 on weekdays at Big Blue Roo’s. Skiers are taken to and collected
from ski school by our team in the mornings and afternoons, while at lunch we reunite the skiers and non skiers at the
Blue Kangaroo creche. Its nonstop all day Big Blue Roo’s treasures hunts, tobogganing, hot chocolate trips, outdoor
survival with compass reading, shelter building, wildlife spotting, conservation education are a small selection of your
programmes. We listen to feedback at the end of the day from yourselves and your child and are constantly adapting
our activities therefore our standards continue to rise. Your children will have so much fun you will wish you could
come too!

Babysitting Service
Always in great demand whatever the season. Our first-rate sitting service is begins from 7pm for up to four hours.
The service is only available to those who use Blue Kangaroo at an additional charge. Due to the high demand it is a
first come first served basis and therefore we request that you confirm in writing at the time of booking into Blue Kan-
garoo.

CONTACT US
CRECHE: 00359 886 588515 RECEPTION: 00359 249 00100 UK OFFICE: 0208 133 1505
info@kandahar-bansko.eu or bluekangaroobansko@hotmail.com
 NEW BEGINNINGS
Nigel and Glynis Morgan are the very proud owners of Devonshire Lodge.
Here they share the story of their move to Bansko.

Having spent many years skiing and snowboarding in
Bulgaria and falling in love with the country, the people
and the culture, moving here seemed the natural thing to
do when presented with the opportunity of purchasing
our own property. We moved here from Devon in March
2003 and to be perfectly honest, have not looked back
since.
The idea of running a ski Lodge was borne completely
through our love of the snow. We couldn't get enough of
the white stuff through just taking holidays! And the
more holidays we took the more we wanted, so with a lot
of thought and planning we decided to take the leap.
The thought of running a ski Lodge/ Chalet was quite
daunting, but also very exciting. Having never worked in
this line before we were definitely going to be on a
sharp learning curve! Our new life-style couldn't be
more different than the ones we left behind in the UK.
Nigel worked for a small family double glazing company
and I worked in Admin for a company of Financial
consultants.
Tosh, our very close Bulgarian friend moved to Bansko
with us from Borovets and together we spent the next 10
very long, hard months renovating until we finally
opened our doors for the first time at the start of the
2003/2004 ski season. The rest as they say is History!
The Lodge as we bought it in 2003 was a project started
by a local Bulgarian Business man, but never complet-
ed. It had in fact laid unfinished and untouched and
un-loved for 8 years before we purchased it.
To be honest it was the snow that first attracted us to
our new life style, but since actually having made the
move we have found there to be so much more than the 4
months that make up the winter season. There are just so
many things to do here throughout the whole year that
when we get chance we take off and have have a go at
some of them.
We have had a go at White water Rafting, Rock Climbing,
Horse Riding (Nigel found out he was allergic to horses)!
We have taken up Mountain Biking and Walking in the
mountains on a regular basis, and absolutely love it.
When our guests say they would like us to show them
around, it gives us the chance to get out there even more
often.
just to make problems worse. Deciding whether to ski or
board!! Hmmm and you thought it was all fun!!
Actually life couldn’t get much better than it does in win-
ter, yes sure, we run a hotel so we do at some point need
to do some work. Having said that. Our guests are here
for the same reason as we are. WE ALL LOVE THE
SNOW. And when you have so much in common with
your guests life just gets easier from there on in.

“Actually life couldn’t get

much better than it does
in winter”
Living in a ski resort is maybe not as easy as most peo-
ple think. During the long winter months when you have
to cope with copious amounts of snow, when you must
keep stacking the fire with logs to keep the chills away, To learn more about Glynis, Nigel, Tosh and Devonshire
clear the drive so that you can get your car out and on Lodge visit their website at www.devonshirelodge.com
top of that you have the hardest decision of all to make
each and every morning, ‘Do I go boarding today’? and
Gear Guide
 Goggles by Adidas Hydration Packs by Camelbak

Adidas combine superb mountain per-
formance with urban chic style to make
the Yodai one of the most desirable ski
goggles on the market. Spheric vision ad-
vantage lenses give superior 240 degree
vision and integral frame ventilation pre-
vents fogging. Dual density face foam
gives a close and comfortable fit and a
clip buckle allows easy fitting over a hel-
met. Optical inserts are available for pre-
scription eyewear users and
interchangeable lenses allow complete
versatility.
Headed to the mountain for a day of fun?
Grab your gear and don’t forget your
SnoBowl 1 litre of hydration in a low-
profile package that can be worn under
your jacket. So comfortable, you won’t
even realise its there as you carve your
way down the mountain or ride up on the
lift. Padded harness keeps system com-
fortable for hours. New zip harness de-
sign insulates tube and keeps bite valve
close for convenient drinking. Low-pro-
file design can be worn over or under a
jacket. Insulated reservoir and tube are
protected from freeze-up. Includes OME-
GA Reservoir to make filling fast and
easy.

Skis by Fischer

This Fischer ski will take your speed

comfort zone into 6th gear, with a World
Cup construction and a new wide bodied
chassis to make this ski exceptionally
powerful! The addition of FischerOCOs
revolutionary Flowflex binding plate sys-
tem allows completely unrestricted flex-
ing of the ski. For those of you who think
youOCOre up to the challenge, make
sure you invest in a new set of goggles Hydration Packs by Camelbak
and a helmet! Features: Sandwich Side-
wall Construction / Air Carbon Ti/ Flow- Updated for this coming season, the
flex Binding Interface / ABS. Geometry: Classic hydration pack from Camelbak
123 - 82 - 109 Gloves by Burton now features an external access to the
reservoir for fast and easy filling. The
If you demand top-shelf warmth and ver- breathable mesh harness ensures that
satile, bombproof durability, BurtonO- you won’t get too clammy or hot on the
COs Approach glove is perfect. With the trail, and the low volume design helps to
convenience of easy-to-air-out remova- keep it stable and comfortable on even
ble fleece liners, gone are the days of the roughest terrain. CamelBak’s new
gloves which are still damp from the day Omega Hydrotanium reservoir offers su-
before! Thermacore* insulation provides perb tensile strength and improved burst
the warmth and stretch zones allow su- resistance.
perb mobility. BurtonOCOs Toughgrip*
palm gives waterproof durability and
Spinner Mat - Burton Snowboards All these and more can be found at
grip and protects from sharp edges. The
ApproachOCOs outer is constructed
Stops your back foot from sliding around
from Storm-lite * fabric which is highly
when getting on or off lifts with a stylish
waterproof.
stomp pad.
 TRAIL BLAZERS
Who says Bansko is just a “One Season Resort?”
David Bridges explains what the summer visitor has
to look forward to.
Bansko over the past couple of years has had a ‘one sea-
son’ tag, this is changing.. Bansko and Bulgaria have so
much more to offer than snowy winter breaks. People
have already started to explore what Bansko has to offer,
but at the moment this is limited, just how the winter
season was 5 -6 years ago. Over the past couple of months
there has been the start of this development for the sum-
mer season, and more particularly Mountain Biking.
Over recent years people have started to realise the poten-
tial of ski resorts as more than just that, this is similar in
Bansko.
Why would you not, 40 degree summers beautiful moun-
tains and varying terrain. These don’t just make a place
for mountain biking, much more than that is to get people
into enjoying the area.
The Processes. One of the most important areas that has
come up is the environmental effect that biking would
have on the forests and valley. This is something that the
municipality and forestry commission have been interest-
ed in, but also something that they are interested in, in the
form of help. When we first started biking and showing
interest in the area, they were concerned with the amount
of damage that biking could make to the terrain. So, they
allowed us to build a trail and repeatedly ride it to see
what would happen. After a period of time, the munici-
pality and forest commission were happy with what they
saw, and allowed us to continue with trail finding.
The municipality and forest commission have continued
with there support of biking in the area, even to the extent
of them coming with me to the UK to visit trails and visit
“Our aim was to try and
find a selection of trails for
all abilities”
their counterparts in the UK to learn how to have bikers,
trails and a happy forest in unison.
So, now with proper backing and support from the munic-
ipality and forest commission, we set out trying to find out
trails around the area. Our aim was to try and find a
selection of trails for all abilities and both disciplines.
One of the first areas we looked at was down hilling. We
started our search in Bansko, with our first ride down
from Vihren Hut down to Bansko. We did not know what
to expect, I have to say it was a mixed bag. The start of
the trail was fun, a really nice single track, leading to a
more technical rocky single track.
This is where the fun ended, this single track then started
to go across a really steep face with around a 60 foot
drop down to the river, not for the faint hearted. We
soon started to realise this was not going to be easy,
especially as one of us ended up going over the handle
bars. ‘Much fun’.
Soon, this terrain stopped and we entered the forest, now
slightly on a wider track and back to the fun. Within an
hour and half we were back in Bansko, but more impor-
tantly happy with our rides. This ride showed us what
the area has to offer, technical tracks, single tracks and
wider forest tracks, all important components of down-
hill mountain biking.
Although Bansko was great, one problem is getting up
the mountain. We looked to Dobrinishte to answer this
question. Not many people know that Dobrinishte has
two chairlifts, let alone that they run all summer. What
the chairlifts offer is downhill biking all day for a lot less
money and less damage to the environment. So to Do-
brinishte we went and we were not disappointed. As
good, if not better than Bansko from the trail point of
view. The best thing, we could ride all day, ‘fantastic’.
From then on, we declared Dobrinishte as the downhill
capital.

“Bulgarian roads are

not the safest places,
especially on a bike.”
From then on, many a weekend were spent riding at
Dobrinishte finding many trails. Until this point we had
ridden back to Bansko on the roads, and as many of you
know the Bulgarian roads are not the safest places, espe-
cially on a bike. We thought we should find a route, off
the road, back to Bansko.
This was not as easy as we thought. On one day we spent
nearly 4 hours wandering around the trails, after going
down many trails, which led to nowhere, we gave up, not
a good day. However, the next time we were out, we were
rewarded with a really nice downhill track back down to
Bansko. This has now become our favourite trail. These
events really showed us the highs and lows of trail find-
ing.
We then moved onto finding cross country trails, and I
am happy to report this was a lot easier, although there
were issues. There are many, many tracks in the Bansko
area which lead to absolutely nowhere, this is some what
of a problem. However you can see where you want to go
with cross country trails, as most of them are pretty much
flat. Which makes them perfect for people just beginning
in biking or people wanting to have an easy day out and
see the area and absorb the Bulgarian culture and nature.
The cross country tracks that we found take in some of the
most beautiful sites of the area, and leave the building
sites behinds.
On the tracks to Dobrinishte you can see such sites as the
waterfalls near to The Old Church of St. Nicholas, which
is also now the site of a major archaeological dig of the old
church. In Dobrinishte there is the famous Maccidion
short trail or have a whole day, with a spot of lunch thrown
in, the choice is really up to you.
So now as winter has set in, the bike is in the shed and the
skis are out, biking takes a back seat, but the summer has
been a good one. Many trails have been found and there may
be many still to be found.
As many of you realise Bansko and the area is still young and
developing, and the mountain biking is no exception, but
with support of the municipality and forestry commission
and most importantly the support of you, the tourist, Bansko
will not just be a “One season” resort, Bansko will be a place
of 4 seasons for the whole family to enjoy.

“The best things about cross

country tracks in the area
are the number of options”
Mehana or if you’re feeling in the hunting mood, you can
catch your own dinner at the trout farm.
After a feed, you can head back to Bansko, taking in the
forests and flowers as the sun sets between the Pirin and
Rila mountains. Heading out the other way towards Pre-
del and the new golf course, you really enter into the
forests and really start to feel at ease.
Personally I find there’s nothing better than listening to
nothing but nature and have the sun gently touching your
face. The best things about cross country tracks in the
area are the number of options, you can chose to do a
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IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF
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 AXEMAN CUISINE
Fancy something different for dinner? Let Emil, otherwise known as
“The Axeman” tempt you with an interesting Bulgarian starter.

Fried pannet cheese with

honey and walnuts
Ingredients:

1 egg
250 gr. white cheese, not soft
100 gr. Sesame
100 gr. bread - crumbs
30 gr. Walnuts
50 gr. Honey
200 gr. cooking oil

You have to smash the egg and after this put the
cheese in to it.
You are mixing the sesame and the bread-crumbs , put
the cheese in this mixture and fry into a hot oil.
The cheese is supposed to have a dark-golden colour on
both sides.
After you have to spread everywhere with honey and
put some walnuts on the top.

Enjoy the taste !!!

It is a hot or cold bulgarian starter. You can have it with

different wines or drinks.
Emil