Well, here's your chance. There are already some HG folks from this area signed up to learn to fly PG. Why don't you join them next month? Away from the sneering looks of your HG comrades...
But seriously, we have two or three more spots available for the beginner PG course in Bulgaria. You would need to arrive by the 14th of September in Sofia, Bulgaria. The course lasts 6 days. Skynomad is actually offering us the beginner course out of rotation, so if you check the skynomad.com website you will not see it listed. I was in Bulgaria last year to do some XC flying (I am going back for some more during the time of the beginner course) and when I was there it looked like they have a good sized training hill(at least 100 feet, probably higher) facing almost all directions. We saw a beginner group at the home mountain site (launch is at 3000 feet over landing zone) on their 3rd day (in the morning before it got thermally) for their first high flight. The instructors seemed friendly, very competent and fluent in English (as well as a smattering of other languages). You will not get a USHPA rating after this course and would probably have to finish up with Juan (if he's still around then) or some other instructor to get your P2, but you will be well on your way and if this year's weather is anything like last year's, you should get quite a bit of training in a very short period of time.
Non-flying info for friend/spouse or those non-flying days:
There are a number of things to do. There's of course the tandem flying
But Bulgaria is a country rich in history and things to do and see. There are the world famous monasteries, there are some historically very interesting cities, there are the Thracian excavations close by, there is horse back riding, black sea beach, hiking, mountain biking, caving. I don't really know much about those things from personal experience, since we flew every day of our 9 day stay. But SkyNomad has offered to provide tour guide and car and driver if there are 4 or more people interested in this kind of thing. So, you could send your spouse/friend touristing, while you have fun in the air. Accomodations:
Last year we let SkyNomad take care of our accomodations. They were double occupancy in private homes. They were clean, but basic, i.e. not necessarily a TV, desk or telephone. Definitely no internet. The bathrooms were usually shared between two rooms and were clean and modern, but very basic, i.e. typically no hair dryer or bath tub, just a shower (and toilet and sink of course). Breakfast was included, but at a restaurant down the street.
Website for more info and prices:
http://skynomad.com/paragliding_training.htm - these are the folks who are doing the training.
Pictures from my trip last year (I didn't take too many. Too busy flying):
paragliding: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/560988982ASzUYU
general Bulgaria pix: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/560977178FuQVIu
Bulgaria: http://www.bulgariatravel.org/eng/view_ ... =geog&id=3
Bulgaria's currency is tied to the Euro, but nevertheless, it is still a very affordable country for us poor Americans.
So, sounds like fun, no?
If you are interested, contact me: e46kim at hotmail.com or (703) five-three-six 3209
-- ellis
Disclaimer: I am not a tour guide and make no guarantees for anything, flying, weather, accomodations or what nots. Just had a great time last year (thanks, Mike!) and am looking forward to flying this year.