Middle-aged flash packers

Velingrad -day 8 train to Bansko and back

A workout then breakfast ( fruit and a very small pancake) and we were ready to go on our train adventure. 

The section of the Rhodope Railway we rode takes about 3 hours each way. It’s state owned and is a functioning mode of transport for ordinary Bulgarians. The trains are quite old and do a lot of work, backwards and forwards between Septemvri and Dobrinishte 4 times a day. The railway’s attraction is that it winds its way through the Balkan mountains and has the highest station (Avramovo) in the Balkans.

We almost had a disastrous start having  parked in a place at the station where our car was in danger of being towed away but luckily I checked with the English speaking ticket lady who came and showed us where to park. Such a helpful lady.

The train was much more comfortable than we expected – padded seats, automatically reserved when you purchase a ticket in advance. We still hadn’t sorted out a return taxi but as the journey went on, it was so pleasant that we decided to take the train on the way back too. A lot cheap met too. Return tickets cost the equivalent of £10 for both of us compared to £70 for a taxi.

Unfortunately it was the other side of the train to our reserved seats that had the best views but we managed ok. Bulgaria, along with Romania, is the most forested country we’ve come across in Europe. The air feels very clean outside of the towns. Maybe that’s how Bulgarians manage to survive their continuous smoking. It’s shocking the amount they smoke. Vaping is for indoors only. And I’m not joking. People use special vapes  that don’t emit any haze or smoke inside restaurants if they can’t sit outside.

I digress – the train journey views were ones of meadows, forest, villages and eventually mountains. The time flew by.

We alighted in Bansko, a place we have been to quite a few times. This time we wandered around the old town, had a coffee and admired the snow topped mountains. 

Once back on the train, we realised our reserved seats this time weren’t great so as it was quiet, we moved to other ones. We think we may have been sitting in someone else’s seats who got on later but they seemed happy to sit somewhere else so all was good.

Ridiculously we both felt extremely tired when we got back so we availed ourselves of the spa and enjoyed a sauna, jacuzzi and swim before dinner. 

Tomorrow is our last full day before we return to chores and cooking. 😩