Lost your bank card? The police have loads

In this week’s Buzz:

• Municipality parking enforcement van seems to be blocking traffic

• Bank cards often left in ATMs end up at local police station

• Razlog installs early fire warning and detection system

• Takeaway.com to cease operations in Bulgaria

• Burgas to host Eurovision Song Contest in 2027

• Run N’ Rave with Bansko Run Club and Tipsy 360’s DJ Taxi

• “Feel” Bansko festival this weekend

• Experience Latin and Classical music on Friday and Saturday evenings

• BSD’s next quiz date/venue announced

Most of Bansko’s ATMs return your card after you take the cash, not before. It’s causing a lot of people to walk off without their card.

Ever walk away from the ATM after getting some cash and later realise you don’t have your card with you? Apparently, lots of people do, and the local police station is holding on to many cards that have been handed in.

Why is this happening so much?

Most ATMs in Bansko (and in Bulgaria in general) work differently to those in other parts of the world. You specify how much cash you’d like to withdraw, enter your PIN, then take your cash. You press a button (or tap the screen) to indicate whether you want any other services after taking the cash. The machine then returns your card.

In other parts of the world, you enter the amount, enter your PIN, receive your card back, and then take your cash (the machine won’t dispense the cash until you take your card). It’s second nature for people to grab their card, then their cash, and wander off (taking the cash feels like the end of the transaction). In Bansko, if you wander off after taking your cash, the ATM waits for you to tap yes or no. If you don’t, it ejects your card and holds it there for around 30 seconds.

Wouldn’t the ATM normally swallow the card and return it to the bank if it isn’t taken? Yes, if enough time passes, but it seems like people are coming across cards quite a lot before that happens: there have been a number of posts about this in the notice board group over the last year.

Something to keep in mind next time you use an ATM in town.

Read the media story here. [Translation required.]

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Inside the Bansko Notice Board Group

✍️ 113 New Posts, 💬 338 Comments, 👍️ 1,705 Reactions

I’m looking for a local architect
Simon is looking for a local architect in (or around) Bansko who speaks English. See who people suggested in the comments.

I’m fostering a cat in Greece. Is it easy to bring it to Bansko?
Jeanne is in Greece and is fostering a cat. She couldn’t find a sitter to look after it for two weeks (the time she wants to spend in Bansko). See what advice people had.

Where would you go to watch the meteor shower tonight?
Noam is in town and wanted to watch the meteor shower on Wednesday. See where people suggested he’d get the best view to look at the night sky.

Clamp van for the municipality (parking) seems to be blocking traffic
Dave posted a photo of one of the municipality parking enforcement vans (there are two) stopped on the road outside The Station, making it difficult for road users to pass by.

Bansko & Beyond

Razlog install new early fire detection system
Razlog Municipality is one of the first municipalities in the country to install an early detection and fire warning system. The system includes a 360-degree camera, central monitoring and control, and specialised software to detect and localise potential fires automatically. This should help the fire department respond faster and limit the spread of potential fires. Read more.

Minister for Regional Development likes Bansko “very much”
Bulgaria’s Minister for Regional Development and Public Works, Ivan Shishkov, recently revealed that he likes Bansko “very much” both as a town/resort and as a town/city to invest in. Read more. [Translation required.]

Bansko Municipality thanks volunteers at Jazz Festival
The local municipality brought together volunteers at the Jazz Festival to thank them for their effort and help. This year, an estimated 15,000 people came to watch the festival, which had around 80 concerts on the main stages and musicians coming from over 20 countries. Volunteers for these types of events are often unseen and help set up and organise things for us all to enjoy. Read more.

Other news stories
Here are a handful of other news stories you may find interesting:

• FC Bansko smash it out of the park, beating Razlog 3:1 [Translation required]

• Takeaway.com to cease operations in Bulgaria in September

• Burgas chosen as Bulgarian city to host Eurovision Song Contest in 2027

• How much does it cost to live in Bulgaria’s four largest cities? (good to compare with Bansko)

• Bulgaria plans drone fines of up to €50,000

• Commission for Consumer Protection imposed fines of around 1.31 million euros for violations during dual pricing [Translation required]

• Sculpture sold at Jazz Festival raises 1,300 euros for local charity [Translation required]

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Events Next Week

Days of Bulgarian Cinema
On Monday (17th), Tuesday (18th), and Wednesday (19th), starting at 9pm in the town park, enjoy the wonders of Bulgarian Cinema. The movies being shown are Birthday (Рожден ден), Wild Strawberries (Диви ягоди), and Coziness (Уют). [One movie per night.] The event is free. More info.

RUN N’ RAVE With Bansko Run Club
On Tuesday (18th) starting at 6.30pm at Altspace Central, Bansko Run Club is having a special edition of its 5km run around town with friends. On the night, they’ll be partying, dancing, and having lots of laughs while running 5km (following Tipsy 360’s DJ Taxi). More info.

Exhibitions at The Tourist Information Center
These run most days from 9am to 12noon and 1pm to 6pm at the Tourist Information Center (near the old tree). A painting exhibition called Soul (by Donna Atanasova) continues on Monday and Tuesday. Then, from Friday (21st) to Tuesday 25th, Asen Kirov displays an abstract art exhibition (Touch).

French Speakers Meetup
On Wednesday (19th) say bonsoir at the shaded bar in the park (located here) at 7pm. Practive conversational French with other French speakers. (Non-native speakers are welcome to join.) More info.

Summer Biathlon
Running from Thursday (20th) to Sunday (23rd) is this year’s summer biathlon where over 40 athletes compete to win the Balkan Summer Cup in Bansko. The competitions usually take place around Banderishka Polyana, with the opening and closing ceremonies usually taking place in the town square. More info. [Translation required].

Demonstration of Local Trade & Handcrafts
Outside the Tourist Information Center between 5pm and 7pm are a tapestry demonstration (Friday) and Art School (Saturday). Live folk music between 6pm and 6.30pm on Saturday only (see the singers perform here).

Main Event: “Feel” Bansko Festival
Happening on Friday (21st), Saturday (22nd), and Sunday (23rd), this is a different type of festival where you don’t just watch, you experience the festival. It includes live music, creative workshops, outdoor activities, a programme for children, and a Sensory Tour called “Trust the Path” (Sensory Tour price is 35€). More info. [Watch a video from last year here.]

Main Event: Latin and Classical Music Evenings
On Friday (21st) and Saturday (22nd) at 8pm on the main stage in the town square. On Friday, the Blagoevgrad Big Band, joined by Alexandra Polezhanova, will bring the stage to life with vibrant Latin rhythms. On Saturday, the Blagoevgrad Chamber Opera will take us into the world of musical theatre with The Best of Broadway. [The event is free.] More info.

New Orleans Cuisine at The Hub
On Friday (21st) enjoy a New Orleans cuisine night at The Hub, including dishes like creole chicken and shrimp gumbo, chicken and seafood jambalaya, and beignets. Price 10€. More info.

Mediterranean Evening at Pirin Sense
On Saturday (22nd) at 8pm, enjoy tastes of the Mediterranean at Pirin Sense with a 4-course menu that includes bruschetta, shrimp salad, sea bass with polenta, and pear & white chocolate cake. Price is 34€ for adults and 19€ for children. More info.

Bansko Street Dogs Pub Quiz
The next pub quiz for Bansko Street Dogs is on Monday 24th of August at The Avalon. The quiz starts at 7.30pm with Asian snacks/bites served. It’s a smaller venue, so book early.

Pirin Under The Stars
On Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th, join Plamen Gonev Visuals for an adventurous two days filled with beautiful views, starry skies, sunrise over the mountain, and practical lessons in mobile photography. Price 60€. More info. [Translation required].

Regular Weekly Events in Summer

Check with individual organisers/venues as event details may change.

• Mondays: Group fitness; Bear Functional Training at 8am

• Tuesdays: Run Club (5km); 6.30pm at Altspace (Central)

• Tuesdays: Chess club; 7.30pm at Dobrinishte Chess Club

• Wednesdays: no recommended events on this day

• Thursdays: Speak Bulgarian Social Club; Anita’s Art Studio at 6.30pm

• Thursdays: Pool competition; Tipsy 360 at 7pm

• Thursdays: Live music; ZZ Land Play Cafe from 7pm

• Fridays: Beers at Altspace (Summit); 6pm to 8pm (BYOB)

• Fridays: Latin dance party; DiVino from 9.30pm

• Fridays: Karaoke at Tipsy 360; 8pm to 11pm

• Saturdays: BSD’s Saturday Sale; 10am to 2pm (closed 22nd; open from 29th)

• Saturdays: Board games night at Treehouse Social; 7pm

• Saturdays: BBQ Evenings; Kempinski Hotel, 7pm to 10pm

• Sundays: Free walking tour; under the old tree at 11am

• Sundays: Cornhole competition; Pivoteka at 4pm

Planning Further Ahead?

Here is a list of events/festivals happening over the rest of the summer.

• 27, 28 & 29 August: Bansko Opera Fest. More info.

• 28 & 29 August: Bansko Pickleball Tournament. More info. [Cyrillic]

• 28, 29 & 30 August: National Folklore Festival (Banya). More info.

• 29 August: Magazine 8 Live. More info. [Cyrillic]

• 5, 6 & 7 September: Unique Bansko (culinary festival). More info. [Cyrillic]

• 10 to 13 September: Pirin Ultra (running competition; registration ends 24th of August). More info. [Cyrillic]

• 12 September: With a fishing rod, not a phone (Razlog). More info.

• 19 September: Chess Festival (Dobrinishte). More info. [Cyrillic]

Organising an event in or around Bansko? Submit it for consideration here.

Photo of the Week

The view from around Chalin Valog.

Follow @banskobuzz on Instagram.

Before You Go…