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Day 207, 27 January 2013, Bansko, Bulgaria. It being Sunday and officially one of the craziest days to risk life and limb on the mountain, it is a day of rest for the non-grownups. The clouds that have blanketed the valley for the last few days finally lifted and by midday it was the bluest of blue skies and warming sunshine. Which was lucky because it was still below freezing. Bundled up we headed out for fresh air and a stroll around the quaint cobbled alleyways of the old town. (If it sounds cliched that's because it is. Tell anyone you're having a rest day and immediately after they try and flog you a day trip to Greece, they'll suggest a walk around the quaint, cobbled alleyways of the old town...) There is a market on Sundays down near a park and we headed there. Lots of snuggly hats, gloves, tracksuits, passion-killer knickers and Bulgarian blankets. And a single car full of skis and poles. All for sale. Hmmmm. Might have found where the skis go that get stolen off the mountain if you so much as turn your back for 5 seconds. Stunning day to be out and about. Probably safer all told on the mountain however. Cars are king here and streets get cleared of snow - though still remain icy. Pavements on the other hand are for peasants - so no-one clears the snow and ice. So you take your chances skating on the cobbled pavements or take your chances walking down the middle of the road playing chicken with the traffic. We asked one of the spruikers who is persistent if nothing else, why doesn't he clear the frontage of his restaurant of the ice and snow? He replied, "it's not my problem". I think my reply that because it's no-one's problem it becomes everyone's problem probably strained his comprehension a bit much. Rest assured he'll still be encouraging us to come in for a meal tomorrow. (PS - today's photo is a classic rendering of Bulgarian Building Codes meets Greenpeace. Trees have a myriad of uses round these parts... holding up power lines is one of our favourites).
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