I feel like I am making quick work of Bulgaria, but alas the fact that I am now behind schedule and have to be in Iran in about 3 weeks time (due to my visa) means that I am going to have make it a brief visit.

Having spent a day in Sofia, I felt I had seen most of the sights and left this afternoon to make for the ski slopes of Bansko about 3 hours away. Irwin, who I had met in Sarajevo, had given me the contact details of a girl called Ralitsa who is a ski teacher in Bansko and who I e-mailed to sort out some accomodation. She's been amazing - she picked me up at the bus station and has sorted me out with accomodation for 6 euros a night for a whole appartment. It's lovely to arrive somewhere and not have to march past the hordes of touts and rip-off taxis and then have to hike with 20kg on your back to find a suitable hostel.

We ate out that evening at one of the many Mehana's which are kind of small bulgarian inns with a few rooms and a great restaurant. Ralitsa has been doing the ski seasons for a few years now and it's great to have a guide around town! Sadly it's pretty much the end of teh ski season and the twon is pretty quiet, so much so that on Sundays and Mondays they don't bother opening half the restaurants or bars. But after a few more beers I headed off to bed, in anticipation of an early start for skiing tomorrow.