Pirin Peaks and Perseverance...

Bansko Hosts Runners from 39 Countries
in the Pirin Ultra

This weekend, over 1,100 participants from 39 countries have been taking part in the Pirin Ultra. This involved running over rocky terrain and (apparently) dodging mountain goats while navigating through the Pirin Mountains.

There were four different events: 25km, 38km, 66km & 160km, with the longest (160km) taking some 27 hours & 21 minutes to complete: a mindblowing amount of running, endurance & preparation must have been put in for that. First place was awarded to Dimitar Atanasov, with second place coming in some three hours later (all of the top three finishers were Bulgarian).

A few residents and visitors took part in the 25km yesterday (Saturday), finishing in around 3-4 hours, so congrats and well done to you guys. I heard a few of you had a fall or two, so hope you have a nice relaxing few days with a deep soak in one of the local mineral pools/spas or a good deep-tissue massage.

Read more about the event here and here.

Inside the BNB Group

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What Bansko Looked Like in 1957
Emil shared a photo of what Bansko looked like in 1957. Quite interesting and especially great to see the Pirin Mountain range in the background.

D&Vino and Banski Samun Work Together
Deyan posted about the two companies working together to bring a great experience to customers. It’s great to see small, local businesses working together.

When Sheep Wander into Your Garden
Sometimes we forget how rural Bansko is. John shared a few photos of what it looks like when you leave the garden gate in Bansko.

Watching FC Bansko
When you’re in town it makes sense to support the local team, right? Michael posted that he wanted to go watch the local team and invited people to join him. (They won 2-1 in the end.)

Big Dogs Being Aggressive on a Cycle Ride
Ken shared information about how he came across some aggressive dogs when out cycling locally. Unfortunately, they’re most likely owned shepherd dogs and these instances are becoming more common. Maybe a media outlet will do a story about it soon…

Local/Municipality News

Banskalians Win Medals at Gymnastics Tournament in Romania
Individuals part of Bansko’s gymnastics club took part in the international gymnastics tournament in Romania. Collectively, they won one gold and three silver medals, which means they are now considered the top gymnasts in Bulgaria for their age categories. More info.

Local Kuker Group Cooks up a Storm in Bansko
Local Bansko Kuker group, the Bone Swamp, got together with other Banskalians to celebrate traditions and good food. If you see (or hear) the processions down at the courts up from Grosch then this group is involved. More info.

All Tunnels on Struma Highway Being Repaired/Improved
All of the tunnels on the Struma Highway (the main motorway between Sofia and Blagoevgrad) are being repainted and new lighting is being installed to make them safer. This could take a number of weeks/months to complete, so expect delays if you’re travelling from Bansko to Sofia (and vice versa). More info [translation required].

Worker Allegedly Beaten By Boss at Bansko Tavern
On his birthday, Vasil Gidjenov was allegedly beaten by his boss after having a celebratory drink after shift. Nova News reported that the incident took place at Voivodes Tavern (just up the street & on the right-hand side from Five M on Pirin Street), where he worked as a cook. More info [translation required]. However, the owner of the tavern shared a slightly different version of events with a local Bansko news outlet. More info [translation required].

Bansko Non-Profits

Three local charities do great work in Bansko and surrounding areas. Let’s support them: click/tap on their name below to donate.

Mountain Rescue Service
Made up mostly of volunteers, they’ll respond to a call 24/7, hiking to rescue someone no matter what the conditions.

Bansko Street Dogs
Helping street dogs in Bansko and the surrounding areas through emergency care, neutering, flea & tick treatment, and kennels/feeding stations to keep streeties warm, dry and well-nourished.

Sunflower
They continuously support the four safety homes in Bansko, the dementia home in Mesta, and the Sdravetz Centre for people with special needs.

Events Next Week

Autumn Rock Festival
On Sunday 29th of September at 6pm in Razlog the first autumn rock festival will take place. Those playing include Sweet Poison from Vratsa (rock & pop rock), Alex and Mila from Sofia (acoustic duo), and Kallo Malayo from Razlog (punk in Spanish). Entrance is free and it will take place on the main stage in front of the Community Center in Razlog. More info.

Spirit and Matter Exhibition Continues
An exhibition of watercolours and icons by Rosana Goleva and Dimitar Dobrevski is being showcased in Bansko. This continues on Monday (23rd) 9am to 6pm and Tuesday (24th) 9am to 6pm at the Tourist Information Center in Bansko. This is the final exhibition of the summer 2024 programme in Bansko.

Screening of the Documentary Vaptsarov
A week tomorrow, Monday 30th of September at 6pm, at the Tourist Information Center in Bansko there is a screening of the documentary Vaptsarov. The film tells the story about the life and tragic fate of one of the greatest Bulgarian poets, Nikola Vaptsarov. Entrance is free, but it hasn’t been confirmed whether there will be English subtitles available. More info.

The Wings of Good Motorcycle Ride
The Municipality of Razalog is organising a charity motorcycle ride to raise funds for children with special educational needs. It takes place on Saturday 5th of October around noon and includes a festival programme of food, music and local produce. Definitely something to think about going to. More info.

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Weather Forecast

The usual changeable weather this next week. Potential thunderstorms and showers, with spots of sunshine. Looks like it’s getting cooler in both the daytime and at night as we say goodbye to September. Visit the Meteo Blue website here for a close-to-accurate forecast for Bansko.

Before You Go…

Over the past week, it’s been good to catch up with people in Bansko, whether that was at the quiz on Monday, Avalon curry on Wednesday, or over the weekend. I appreciate those of you who have told me how much you like The Bansko Buzz: I enjoy putting everything together for it too.

—
Nick
Publisher, Bansko Buzz