restday Bansko: walk around old-town Bansko

May 26, 2015

Physically another rest day was not needed, however, the two days of train travel were stressful, so we decided yesterday to take a day in Bansko. This was fine with our warmshowers host that we stay another night.

This morning seemed the altitude of 1000meters, was giving Rachel trouble and this extra time off the bikes will give us time to plan the next stage through Greece to Istanbul.

Bansko is yet another town that is declining even with being in a beautiful setting. This time due more from the 2007-08 economic crisis, rather than the demise of Communism. There was a boom for tourists for the ski slopes that just went away....and not anything developed for the off season months, like mountain biking. Evidence of empty hotels that look abandoned or never completely built.

A very relaxing day and re-energized for leaving Europe and entering the Middle East.

This stork picked a rather noisey spot for its nest right on the bell tower of the Bansko church.

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