Now I know that I am supposed to be travelling the silk roads and that so far my travels seem to be turning into a cross-continental skiing trip, but I assure you this is probably my last ski day. Unless I go sand skiing in the Iranian desert that is!

I got up extremely early to get my passport registered with the police, something that you apparently have to do for every new address you stay in. No-one seems to understand a word of my very poor bulgarian, and even less of my attempts in Russian. Indeed when they ask for my nationality and I say "Swiss" quite clearly the man looks at me and smiles. "Ah ok, very cold in Sweden ya?". It only gets worse as I try to explain that Sweden is further north than Switzerland as he next thinks I am Slovenian. Finally I point to Switzerland on the map and he mutters something like "Svitcherski" to which I nod and breathe a sigh of relief that he has finally understood.

The ski slopes of Bansko are quite extensive and there are probably a decent 40km or so of runs and about 15 lifts. It pretty much takes me the whole day to ensure that I have skied them all and despite the weather allowing only intermittent sunshine it's great to be skiing. I meet a Bulgarian, who speaks excellent English, on the ski lift and who tells me he is stressed out from work and has taken 5 days sick leave to come skiing an dde-stress - apparently on doctor's orders... that's a great idea. We ski a bit together and have lunch in one of the outdoor cafes. I hardly notice the time go by, but by mid-afternoon the snow has become slushy and heavy and is far less enjoyable. In parts you'd wonder if you were water skiing as the snow is so transulcent and slushy.

I head down aroun 4.30pm pretty exhausted, but satisfied. A day's skiing here isn't as cheap as Sarajevo and costs he about 30 euros with ski pass and hire, so still not too bad and there are far more runs. As I am coming out of the lift I meet Ralitsa by chance as she has just finished teaching and she kindly offers me a lift back into town. We're meeting up again at 8 to go for a few drinks with some of her friends so that should be good fun - I anticipate another hangover for my 8am bus tomorrow... 

 Bansko Town & Pirin Mountains