BULGARIA TRIPS - HOTEL ACCOMMODATION RESERVATIONS & TRAVEL GUIDE

Bulgarian Ski Resorts Snow Levels And Skiing Conditions Reports. Bulgaria Ski Holidays Winter Season 2010

(updated 15 March 2010)

The snow base at most of the Bulgarian ski resorts which we report on has increased a bit last week, and the lower temperatures across the Bulgarian winter destinations keep the fresh snow in good condition. The skiing conditions are still more spring-like and the snow is a bit slushy on the lowest runs, on Vitosha Mountain above the Bulgarian capital of Sofia. The snow cover at Pamporovo increased a bit and the resort has good skiing and snowboarding on offer for this time of the year. The Bulgarian resort of Bansko (215 - 235 cm) still provides with very good skiing conditions and the deepest snow in Bulgaria, following the recent snowfalls and colder weather. The winter resort of Borovets is skiing very well, but for the best conditions head to the skiable terrain of the higher slopes. Higher temperatures and milder weather are forecast at the Bulgarian ski resorts this week which are likely to soften the snow at the Bulgarian ski villages.

Sofia International Film Festival

(4 - 25 March 2010, Sofia, Bulgaria)

The annual Sofia International Film Festival includes the best Bulgarian, Balkan and international shorts, documentary films and retrospectives. The popular event, which is held in the first half of March, promotes the innovative work in the industry, while stimulating the cooperation between local Bulgarian, Balkan and international movie makers.
A 5-member international jury judges the productions of the filmmakers in the International Competition and the Bulgarian national contest for short films. There are different awards to be won at the festival, by the best filmmakers, such as the Grand Prix for Best Film, the Special Jury Award in the International Competition, the Audience and the Jameson Short Film Awards for Best Bulgarian short film. The programme for the 2010 Sofia International Film Festival can be found on the fest’s official website. Sofia hotels.

Festival of Roses

(May - June 2010, Rose Valley, Bulgaria)

In Bulgaria the rose symbolizes the youth, beauty and wellness. There are thousands of different rose-kinds world-wide, but only 3-4 from them produce rose-oil. Of these, the Kazanluk rose, which has been grown in the Valley of the Roses for over three hundred years is the best. This traditional festival celebrates the rose harvest in Kazanluk, which yields 70% of the world’s rose oil - an essential ingredient in perfume production.
In the end of May and beginning of June each year the rose-harvest starts in the Rose Valley (located between the Balkan Range and the Sredna Gora Mounts), which is and the time of the Festival of Roses, usually on the 1st weekend in June. The celebrations begin on Friday night with a parade and dances from various groups across Bulgaria. The festivity continues on Sat., with a competition for the best local dance group and a choral concert, held in Shipka Cathedral in the evening. Usually these events are combined with a new art exhibition at the Archaeological Museum and Art Gallery.
On Sunday the Festival of Roses takes place in the rose fields, with singing, dancing and ritual rose picking done by both children and adults dressed in traditional Bulgarian costumes, after when the celebration heads to the Rose Museum for the ritual crowning of the Rose Queen.
Young women serve bread and rose liquor to the Rose Queen, Rose King and VIPs. Outside across the streets the Kukeries (Koukeri) begin, which is another traditional Bulgarian Festival - masked men with huge bells hanging from their costumes make plenty of noise to scare and banish the bad spirits, as well as to mark the end of the Festival. Additional tourist information on Kazanluk page & Kazanlak hotels.