European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 27, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Skiing Don t balk at the Balkans Bulgaria offers Friendly Fri by Rosalie Horner London observer service you re skiing in Bulgaria the response was always the same a mixture of perplexity and pity. Never Rind that our Holiday for four was less than half the Price of its Alpine equivalent i did have a few doubts of my own too though i tried to conceal them. How wrong we All were. Bulgaria was wonderful a place where children could make friends with other Young English speaking skiers. The bulgarians themselves were Friendly with none of the austrian arrogance French cynicism or Swiss snobbery associated with european skiing. It even snowed the night we arrived. We had Long wanted to take our two sized Pool Sauna snooker tables and Bowling plus a variety of shops Coffee bars and an ice Cream parlor would be Ideal. We were right. We swam after skiing the exercise proving an Ideal Balm. For my unfit body and at night the children played Pool or bowled. Our split level family room had a living area Balcony and cloakroom downstairs arid on the North face of the 6,356-foot Mountain with two Green runs one Down to the Village and ski school and four reds three of which incorporate Black sections. The most challenging Black run is the. Wall which begins innocuously enough in a wide Flat Road near the top of the Mountain. Without warning it Falls away to reveal the Village As a tiny toy town at Alkan hospitality is at its most dangerous when serving drinks. Measures Are huge and prices Low a very Large Glass of spirits with mixer costs $1.50. Bathroom and sleeping quarters upstairs. Each morning we left the children happily settled with their instructor and children skiing but the Cost of a Holiday jrc1took a chairlift Over Snow dusted Trees to Austria France or Italy seemed prohibitive the top of mount Snezhana one of the for what was essentially an Experiment. A Chance meeting with a Cousin about to embark on her second bulgarian Holiday Wilh her family showed us the Way. The package was so reasonable we decided to go for the top choosing the Zerelik hotel in Pampo Rovo Bulgaria s leading resort a two hour drive from the Airport at Plovdiv. We thought a hotel with an olympic highest of the Rhodope mountains which extend into Greece. The equipment we rented was up to Date most of our fellow skiers were English and the instructor had a reasonable command of the language. While Bulgaria does t have the grandeur of the Alps and the skiing is limited the runs should keep an average the Bottom. If you re Lucky you begin your journey Down Over the moguls Large bumps at a 45-degree Angle. The less fortunate descend with their legs in the air. Lunch on the slopes was fairly Basic chips and pizza in Moutain huts but Overall we enjoyed the food. For breakfast there was a cold selection of Cereal yoghurt salad cheese Ham and sausage plus hot dishes. The hotel s evening meals were acceptable if not exciting and there was plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Balkan hospitality is at its most skier occupied Over a week. The skiing is dangerous when serving drinks. Measures Are huge and prices Low a very Large Glass of spirits with mixer costs $1.50. A Folk evening Cost $18 a person which included a meal of barbecued Lamb a Tumbler of hot Brandy to give the evening a kick Start All the wine we could drink and Champagne to accompany the Pancake dessert. The costumes and dancing were a reminder that Bulgaria was ruled by the turks for 500 years. The country is also still trying to distance itself from the legacy of. Four decades of soviet style communism. Still we should t complain while Bulgaria struggles to establish a Market Economy skiers can Only Benefit. Distributed by scrupps Howard Newt service travellers tips hotels seven nights at the Zerelik hotel costs from $370 to $570 half Board. The first child under 12 sharing a Jamily room pays 50 percent and the second 40 percent. The cheapest hotel in Pampo Rovo is the Malina Village chalets $320 to $515. Packages a ski pack of lift pass skis and boots costs $124 $92 for children while a separate lift pass costs $44 $35 for children. Dollar conversions Are approximate. Rosalie Homer i if you have merchandise for Sale that s $50 or less Well run a 1-line and for 2 Days Folfree if you have merchandise for Sale that s $51-$160, Well run a 1 line and for 2 Days for just $2.00 just fill out the Coupon below and mail it in today use this Coupon for merchandise for Sale up to $50.1 line 2 Days free. Name _.  address Phon Price. Mail completed Coupon to stars & stripes attn classified treasure Hunt unit 29480 Box 266 or pos reach 11 14 37 Apoate 09211. 64278 Darmstadt use this Coupon for merchandise for Sale $51 $100 1 line 2 Days $200. Name. Address. Item. Price phone mail completed Coupon with payment to stars & stripes attn classified treasure Hunt unit 29480 Box 266 or. Postrach 11 14 37 Apoate 09211 64278darmstadt private Paties Only no bus Ess items treasure Hunt a i be i Luis nans in Ahnne  k. A �9 no  be Taen ails May be edited to conform to column Waitis 3 ads per Wii y per week. I i 26 stripes Magazine october 27, 1994