Broken limbs in Bansko!
Well, we have just returned from an, otherwise, wonderful trip to Bansko to experience the full season for ourselves! I say "otherwise wonderful" as our 6 yr old experienced every parent's nightmare ... slipped one way whilst her boot stayed another - and broke her leg. I am sure that most of you reading this probably heard her screams ... closely followed by mine! But, excellent service and a beautiful pink leg cast later and we are home a little wiser about the medical system.
I confess to being one of those people who, although I always took out medical insurance, had been fortunate enough never to have to use it! So, to experience our 'first time' in Bulgaria was a little daunting! However, from the very first instance to our safe arrival at Gatwick, we have experienced a level of care and attention that, frankly, puts some UK medical centres to shame. Whilst we both leant over our daughter trying to determine exactly what she had done, a ULEN Mountain Official skied to us and scooped Ellie up - to ski off with her down to the next stage and the medical hut! Once we had realised who he was, we followed and I then had the potentially risky experience of perching on the back of the skidoo stretcher whilst we were whisked to the Gondola. Once there, we were again sped through until we reached the bottom where a wheelchair was waiting. The Medical Centre is just inside the main Gondola building and we were immediately seen by the Doctor and Radiographer. Having only been used to having X-Rays passed from Doctor to Doctor without it being seen as necessary to include the patient, I was a little shocked to have Ellie's X-Rays passed to me to show me just how bad the break was! Once I had picked myself up, they assured me that it was a clean break and moved to set it immediately. Not great and a move that led to my daughter being promised almost anything she wanted once this was over - something I am now living through! One pink cast later and we were taken by a rickety, but mobile, ambulance back to our apartment.
The following morning we returned where the doctor saw us at the appointed time and took the time to talk directly to Ellie about her leg and what would happen. From here it was simply a matter of the Insurance company organising transport and Airport facilities and then home. Interestingly, it was only upon arrival at Gatwick that we encountered a lack of equipment and rather more chaotic proceedings!!
I tell you this to reassure anyone that, probably like me if I had thought about it, is concerned that, should anything major happen, Bansko may not yet be equipped to cope. From our experience, they are both ready and very willing to support the visitors to Bansko - no matter how much extra work we give them!
Apart from our dramas - Bansko Royal Towers is looking fantastic and we can thoroughly recommend the Zero Restaurant - although the hangovers are not good! The Spa treatments are superb and the snow was great too!
I couldn't, however, finish this entry without saying a HUGE thank you to a group of people who not only helped us down the mountain but also provided a shoulder when I lost it, a hip flask at JUST the right moment, supplies for both us and Ellie - and without doubt made everything so much easier! So thank you Angie and Willy, Peter and, of course, Natasha and Doug who always make everything go smoothly! We are really very grateful!
I hope that my next entry will be less dramatic ..... starting to get stories from all of you too so please keep them coming for the first Bansko Holidays Newsletter!
See you soon!
Carol, Jem and Ellie Hopalong!