Bansko In Your Pocket - KISADO

4
ForeWord
As days get shorter and the smell of winter fills the chilly air
of December mornings, vacation, partying and hitting the
mountain slopes becomes our top priority. While you are
sharpening the edges of your skis and snowboards, the
people of Bansko are preparing for the winter season with
all their strength. The piles of firewood are ready for the long,
cold nights, wines, rakias and the good old Banski Starets
are seasoning in the basements and vigorous maintenance
gives a new life to the lonely lifts and ski runs. They are all
waiting for the colorful throngs who come each winter to
enjoy the snow and the mountains.
Going uphill on Bansko’s main Pirin street, we can see
that things are changing for good. You can still step into
an occasional muddy hole, or get splashed by a heavy
cargo truck, passing by, but there are few construction
sites left to litter the picturesque vicinity. It is an end of
an era of uncurbed, megalomaniac building, which almost
ruined the magic of this cosy, rural community. Apart
from some finishing touches, building has stopped and
entrepreneurs are mostly investing in quality and comfort
at reasonable prices.
Talking of luxury and glamour, we have visited some new
and pretty posh places for you to stay in and some recently
opened food, drinking and party-time joints for you to check
out while not skiing or snowboarding. See the newest accommodations
in town on page 13 and find out where to
fill up those empty stomachs on page 20. Learn about the
cool places for partying on page 24, but drink reasonably,
because Bulgarian alcohol is pretty strong.
We should not forget all these old and traditional features of
the place as the mehanas with their “kapama”, ”chomlek”
and revolutionary Macedonian music, the beauty of the Old
town and of course, the Pirin mountain and winter sports,
which made this trade and agricultural centre into the biggest
winter resort in Bulgaria.
As most of us will go to Bansko for skiing and snowboarding,
on page 30 there is some useful information about the
slopes, mountain rescue service, the lifts and gondolas
and even about a helicopter service which will take you to
the best ever free ride spots. Do not forget that this year
Bansko will host the World cup Skiing event for women, as
well as some local race events. Go check them out for some
inspiration, but know that these people are professionals
and if you are new to winter sports, you would better “ride”
with the little kids next to the gondola.
Be safe, relaxed, take your time with fun and may this winter
in Bansko be your best ever…
ESSENTIAL CITY GUIDES
Bansko In Your Pocket
Mladost 4, bl.473, vh. 2-3,
pristroika, parter
(opposite the Business Park)
1715 Sofia, Bulgaria
tel:+359 2 881 01 02
fax: +359 2 881 53 32
bulgaria@inyourpocket.com
www.inyourpocket.com
ISSN 1312-742X
Discover Bulgaria Ltd
Printed by Delta High Print EAD
Published 1 time per year
15 000 copies
Bansko In Your Pocket
Editorial
Editor-in-chief Steven MacAulay
Assistant Editor Vesela Lyudskanova, Mitko
Nikolov
Research Mitko Nikolov, Rumiana Benova,
Maya Kozareva, Vesela Lyudskanova
Layout & Design Krassimir Apostolov
Photos Veronica de Boer
Cover Vladimir Hadzhiev - www.banskotravel.
com
Sales & Circulation
Publisher Discover Bulgaria Ltd.
General Manager Veronica de Boer
Marketing Manager and PR Petya Racheva
Sales & Circulation Vesela Lyudskanova,
Maya Kozareva
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Europe In Your Pocket
With the launch of Moscow In Your Pocket now
imminent, check out what we have to offer in the
Russian capital at www.inyourpocket.com: the full
content of Moscow IYP is now online. There are
also online guides to Sarajevo and Banja Luka,
Bosnia to enjoy, ahead of print editions to both
cities, to be launched in October and November.
Elsewhere, Glasgow In Your Pocket is in the
final throes of preparation: expect the guide to
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