Week two at the Bansko Summer Worldschool Hub was just as busy, just as fun, and somehow flew by even faster than the first week. We have settled into the rhythm of hub life: mornings filled with adventures, afternoons spent with friends, and evenings packed with activities, games, birthdays, and plenty of time just hanging out together.
We managed to get out for three morning hikes this week. Our first was up the ski road, where we enjoyed the beautiful mountain scenery and, of course, found a stream along the way. We couldn’t resist stopping to dip our feet in—and wow, that water was cold! It was the perfect way to cool off. Wednesday’s hike took us through the scenic area above Razlog at the Stapalata Scenic Walk. Along the way, we came across hay bales and goats, which made the walk feel especially Bulgarian and very picturesque. On Friday, we walked into town and were rewarded with one of our favorite discoveries: mekitsi—delicious Bulgarian fried dough, usually served warm with powdered sugar. Like elephant ears at the fair.
Monday night was adult/teen casino night, which turned out to be a huge hit. The teens and parents took turns dealing, and the best part was that the chips were unlimited, so nobody had to worry about losing the family fortune! Later in the week, Lucas and Henry volunteered at a kids’ casino day. They loved being the dealers. They were patient with the younger kids and really got into their roles. Poker is so popular that the group also has some impromptu games.
We also visited the Alpha Hot Springs this week. In the summer, it feels less like a traditional hot springs experience and more like a resort pool, but that didn’t stop us from having a wonderfully relaxing afternoon. The kids spent most of their time playing chicken in the water while the adults enjoyed some time to unwind.
We made another visit to Bansko Street Dogs, too, where we got plenty of puppy time. Like we actually just played with puppies for an hour. Sarah, who runs Bansko Street Dogs, works tirelessly to rescue these adorable dogs and find them loving homes. It’s hard to visit without falling in love with at least one—or five—of them. Henry desperately wants a dog.
Rock climbing was another activity this week. Lucas was feeling under the weather and decided to sit this one out, but Henry got in a few climbs.
Later in the week, Lucas and Michael headed off to play tennis one morning, so there was something for everyone. Calisthenics continued. Friday night was Bulgarian wine night for the parents. While the kids were busy with their own activities, the adults had a chance to sit together, drink some Bulgarian wine, and talk about life, parenting, travel, worldschooling, and everything in between. These adult conversations are such an important part of the hub experience. It’s nice to be surrounded by other parents who understand what it’s like to live this unconventional, constantly moving life.
The kids have been keeping themselves incredibly busy. There were game nights, endless hanging out, and lots of video-making. They worked on videos during the week and then shared them during our weekly meetup and presentation night. Watching the kids confidently share their creations with the whole group is one of our favorite parts of the hub. There were also several birthdays this week, which meant lots of cake, celebrations, and fun activities.
And in a wonderful small-world moment, our neighbor Maya showed up at one of the birthday parties to do face painting. She used to do face painting professionally. Even some of the parents got their faces painted.
One of the harder parts of this week was saying goodbye to some of our travel family. They had to head home unexpectedly because of a family emergency. It’s one of the strange realities of our life on the road. We meet people, become incredibly close, share adventures and everyday life, and then sometimes have to say goodbye much sooner than we expected. It’s especially hard when they’ve become part of our extended travel family. We miss them already, but we know this isn’t really goodbye. One of the best things about this community is that we find each other again somewhere in the world.
After the Blackburns left, Lucas and Jake moved into their apartment. They’re now getting a little taste of what it’s like to live in their own place. They’re still close by, of course, but it’s fun watching the boys get a bit more independence and responsibility.
It’s hard to believe how quickly this week went. Between hiking, hot springs, climbing, tennis, casino nights, puppies, birthdays, game nights, wine night and all the spontaneous moments in between, there was barely a quiet moment. But that’s what makes the Bansko hub so special. It isn’t just the organized activities. It’s the kids wandering off together, parents sitting down for an unexpected conversation, finding a stream on a hike, discovering a new food in town, or realizing that the person living next door happens to be an amazing face painter.
