Bulgaria Away - 6th June 2009

[JT,New'09]

Were flying to Gatwick in 6 hours yahhhhhhooooooooooo.Then the Easyjet early flight 6.40am to Sofia roll on 5 pm.
Are you all planning on sitting in the gar in gatwick all night !! u will be all on a mad one !

sorry meant BAR not gar !

[NeilMcD]

Have you ever sat on Gar all night.

[Paddser]

Saw this map posted over on YBIG. It has the Sveta, Rodina and Radisson Hotels marked off, and then all the Irish Bars. Might be handy to print off and point to when you get bamboozled trying to read the signposts!

http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=112030028582359521131.00046437533f2f7be58a8&ll=42.695337,23.320456&spn=0.015581,0.027466&z=15&pw=2

[NeilMcD]

Fair play Paddser, just a comment for anybody that the map when printed out needs to have a key with it so you can match the Post with the name of the hotel or bar.

[Paddser]

Fair play Paddser, just a comment for anybody that the map when printed out needs to have a key with it so you can match the Post with the name of the hotel or bar.

Yea i just scribbled in a 1-8 beside each marker and wrote it down the bottom. :D Very Junior Cert geography-esque

[paul_oshea]

how can you colour co-ordinate the arrow thingies i know it can be done as ive seen it before....?!

[eaststand85]

That's known as Yuzhen park aswell. Is there anything special arranged for there on the Saturday? Whatever about organised meetings, alot of locals will be hanging out around the city centre on Batenburg. Its where the yellow cobbled stones are on the top of Bul. Osvoboditel. There's alot of fountains and chill out areas. You may have to tolerate some skateboarders around there aswell though. Also heard that an outdoor bar is set-up there in the summer.


Harpo, which end of the Bul. Osvoboditel is Batenburg, couldn't find it on Google Map. Is it North end or South towards the stadium? Sounds like a good central meeting point for Friday?


Also, anyone hear anything more about the possible fan zone for Saturday mentioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs in their Travel Advice (as below)?


"As Sofia has quite a small city centre, the local Municipality are considering setting up a “fanzone” area for the Irish fans on the day of the match. Although this has not been confirmed yet, the probable location of the “fanzone” is marked below."

1369

[Sligo Hornet]

how can you colour co-ordinate the arrow thingies i know it can be done as ive seen it before....?!


With coloured felt pens

[paul_oshea]

With coloured felt pens

Less of your cheek, and less of your mexican waves as well unlike down in the hammersmith end last week, where i spotted ye as chief instigator.

[NeilMcD]

Harpo, which end of the Bul. Osvoboditel is Batenburg, couldn't find it on Google Map. Is it North end or South towards the stadium? Sounds like a good central meeting point for Friday?


Also, anyone hear anything more about the possible fan zone for Saturday mentioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs in their Travel Advice (as below)?


"As Sofia has quite a small city centre, the local Municipality are considering setting up a “fanzone” area for the Irish fans on the day of the match. Although this has not been confirmed yet, the probable location of the “fanzone” is marked below."

1369


The fan zone appears to be just outside the stadium. The walk from city centre to the ground most be one of the easiest, after Cardiff. A straight walk basically from where we will all be drinking. Cant wait for the trip now. Should be a great one. Just about to leave work now. Not too early flight tomorrow but its going to be a long day travelling but should be great.

6 pairs of boxers or 5 lads thats the decision.

[Paddser]

With coloured felt pens

http://i42.tinypic.com/24g57kp.jpg

[eaststand85]

The fan zone appears to be just outside the stadium. The walk from city centre to the ground most be one of the easiest, after Cardiff. A straight walk basically from where we will all be drinking. Cant wait for the trip now. Should be a great one. Just about to leave work now. Not too early flight tomorrow but its going to be a long day travelling but should be great.

6 pairs of boxers or 5 lads thats the decision.

So they've confirmed there will be one? Not that pushed really but handy to know.

Go with the 6 pairs Neil, 29 degrees and €1 pints after all!!!:eek::eek:

[NeilMcD]

So they've confirmed there will be one? Not that pushed really but handy to know.

Go with the 6 pairs Neil, 29 degrees and €1 pints after all!!!:eek::eek:

No I am not confirming one just from your map with the circle is near the ground. I went with the 7 pairs in the end.

[HarpoJoyce]

Harpo, which end of the Bul. Osvoboditel is Batenburg, couldn't find it on Google Map. Is it North end or South towards the stadium? Sounds like a good central meeting point for Friday?


Also, anyone hear anything more about the possible fan zone for Saturday mentioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs in their Travel Advice (as below)?


"As Sofia has quite a small city centre, the local Municipality are considering setting up a “fanzone” area for the Irish fans on the day of the match. Although this has not been confirmed yet, the probable location of the “fanzone” is marked below."

1369

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/europe/bulgaria/sofia/
The map above, City Garden/Bul Osvoboditel/Ploshtad Battenburg are in the centre. Stadium is bottom right and the beginning of Yushen Park/ Nat. Palace of Cuture (NDK) bottom left. The NDK is a specific place within the park also. The further south you go in this park the more wild and intimate it gets. This park and the one surrounding the stadium (Borisova Gradina/Park Na Sobodata(?)) are both apparently chill out areas in the evening.

As NeilMcD and others suggest, everything appears to be 15 minute walk from everywhere else (give it a little longer for the heat.)

The City Garden may be more flower beds than green lawn to stretch out on but around there there are a few fountains and wide spaces, but these may be considered too fragmented for huge groups.

That 'fan area' does include an open area with plenty of room for overspill.

I'm bringing bug spray with me aswell.

[NeilMcD]

Just realised that Sligo Hornet is going to be in his flowers for this trip. :)

[Moscow Mule]

http://i42.tinypic.com/24g57kp.jpg

Class:)

[Naitch]

Anyone know if this "Fan-Zone" is confirmed?
What would be at it?

[eaststand85]

Just finished packing and travelling tomorrow so like a kid before Christmas. Quick beer before bed to make sure I sleep then Sofia here we come!!! :D:D:D

[NeilMcD]

Doing the same myself.

[AidoM]

No I am not confirming one just from your map with the circle is near the ground. I went with the 7 pairs in the end.

Well prepared for a dose of the tr*ts, Neil :eek:

[Greenforever]

Only a few hours to go..... back to Gatwick for 2nd time in a week, few beers, a yotel.....and then 630am flight to Sofia .....bring it on...

[4 in a row]

Have my alarm set for 4:45am:)

Cant bleeding wait

[captkeen]

Hope you all have a great journey and arrive safley.See you on Friday night in macs.:D

[paul_oshea]

i had my alarm set to, in the end i didnt need it, was out playing a game Gaelic yesterday stiff as fcuk and couldn't sleep at all last night. going to be asleep by about 7 this evening!!!wrecked tired :(

[magnumpi]

anybody know where abouts the arm-wrestling championships are going on? would be funny if you could enter on the day.............

[cobra]

Anyone know if this "Fan-Zone" is confirmed?
What would be at it?

Got the following e-mail yesterday;

As you know Ireland come to Sofia to play Bulgaria this Saturday, 6
June, in an important World Cup qualifying match. We're expecting
around 2,500 fans to travel here for the game, so it will be a busy weekend. I wanted to let you know of two things that you might be interested in if you're in Sofia this weekend: 1. A fanzone area will be set up on Saturday from 12 noon in the park with the Russian monument beside the Vasil Levski National Stadium in the city centre. The idea is to have somewhere big enough for the Irish fans to congregate before the match and then be escorted safely into the ground. Beer, soft drinks and food will be available all day and everyone is welcome.
2. The Embassy and Tullamore Dew are organising a mini-tournament on Saturday morning in Borissov Gradina sports complex, just behind the Vasil Levski National Stadium. There will be an Ireland team, a Bulgaria team, an Irish journalists team and a Bulgarian journalists team playing each other for the Tullamore Dew Cup. Some famous faces from Bulgaria will probably be making an appearance and it is sure to be a good way of getting Irish and Bulgarians together for some fun before the serious sport gets underway later in the day. Everyone is welcome to come along and cheer on their team - it kicks off at 9.45am.

[Claret Murph]

Just love the idea of a fan zone , six more hours of work then I am out of here and heading to the airport ....................

[Paddser]

5 more hours left in work then off to catch the Ryanair to Luton, and Wizzair to Sofia! Cant wait. One of the lads is in the airport suppin on pints as we speak. :)

[Jicked]

Heading off tonight, can not wait. Love the fanzone idea. Don't think i'll be up at 9.45am for the kickabout though :D

[MariborKev]

Sofia report

Weather great, not too many on the ground so far but there were plenty on the BA flight this morning.

[reder]

Car fueled up and ready to go. Flying out to London tomorrow at 6.30am and then onwards to Sofia. Cant wait.

[Claret Murph]

Well I am back , some trip I would say that everyone will agree on .
Bars that ran out of Beer , and change .
Police closing down bars and so on , you have to laugh .

[finbarrk]

There was even hookers that picked up an extra bit of change from lads!

[Ash]

... Bars that ran out of Beer , and change . ...

Bugger, I forgot to go back and pay the barman :p

[Rovers Maniac]

I could not make this trip due to Rovers playing in Europe in a few weeks time, was it a good trip lads? What was the craic like?

[lopez]

Police have improved since I was there in 1987. This time I didn't get electrocuted by these cattle prod type truncheons they had back then. :eek: :eek:

[Fr. Joe]

Fantastic trip, i think everyone will agree.

The fanzone was brilliant craic, the only thing i would complain about was the length of time it took to get a drink there.

[Paddser]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTB288C4kzY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdEidzymrC8&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXNKf2INR3M&feature=related

[gspain]

Fantastic trip, i think everyone will agree.

The fanzone was brilliant craic, the only thing i would complain about was the length of time it took to get a drink there.

Was told there was no alcohol in there. I didn't go in then.

Great trip.

[newrynyuk]

Yes it was indeed another great trip. A few downpours on Friday night, but otherwise the weather was blazing hot the whole time. Bars didn't jack up their prices by too much (if at all).

Locals were a wary bunch, but once you broke the ice and said hello they opened up. The girls were gorgeous and dressed for the heat, but mostly on the arms of a stubbled macho boyfriend.

It ws a tense game. Bulgaria dominated in the second half, but I thought MeGeady was gonna win it for us at the death. Still, happy enough with the point.

Most surreal moment was during half time when, for no apparent reason, they played Africa by Toto over the tannoy. A group of Irish fans down at the front got up to dance and sing along! They wouldn't have been born when it was a hit 26 years ago.

Only disappointment was the lack of match programmes. Though apparently some were being passed around one of the Irish bars?

[paul_oshea]

yer man in the 1st video,"12 pints" :D

fantastic time there. Have to say very nice city and the locals seemed frriendly enough, usual craic from taxi men but apart from that it was alright.

I went to the best nightclub ever on saturday, stayed in there on me own, just watching everyone dancing on the tables and bar tops. Unreal. The price of JD got dearer everytime i had one. Eventully 6.30 came and i started getting sleepy i noticed the bouncer coming over towards me saying come on, i just started laughing and i said, ya you are right, i do need to go home. Great banter. Thursday night was the same, some bouncer made a beeline towards me and said you have to leave, hadnt a clue what i did but there ye go.

[paul_oshea]

Yes it was indeed another great trip. A few downpours on Friday night, but otherwise the weather was blazing hot the whole time. Bars didn't jack up their prices by too much (if at all).

Locals were a wary bunch, but once you broke the ice and said hello they opened up. The girls were gorgeous and dressed for the heat, but mostly on the arms of a stubbled macho boyfriend.

It ws a tense game. Bulgaria dominated in the second half, but I thought MeGeady was gonna win it for us at the death. Still, happy enough with the point.

Most surreal moment was during half time when, for no apparent reason, they played Africa by Toto over the tannoy. A group of Irish fans down at the front got up to dance and sing along! They wouldn't have been born when it was a hit 26 years ago.

Only disappointment was the lack of match programmes. Though apparently some were being passed around one of the Irish bars?


That was us that got up and dancing, the fella turned to me and said is that really africa by toto im hearing, ****ing urselves, was one of many highlights of the trp.

[captkeen]

Fantastic trip.We had a great time .The holiday Inn was super and the result was what i think most of us expected. Have to agree about the locals not being able to keep up with our beer intake.Fanszone was good craic as well ,love the way they turned the lights off as we left the stadium. Our flight to Zurich was delayed last night and we missed our connection to london,and had to stay at the Zurich Hilton courtsey of Swiss Air . Hope they haven`t checked the mini bar yet.:D

[4 in a row]

Great trip and great result:)

JJ murphys was a disgrace. We went in on Friday night and we left after 1 gargle!!! The staff were *****s.

Hotel Downtown was a nice hotel in a great location. We ended up spending most of the time with a few characters, mad things:)

The Fanzone was a great spot aswel, except for the drink.

[LaoisLads]

another great trip overall.

agree that JJ Murphy's was a disgrace. charging Irish prices and one barman was a ******. great craic there Friday night all the same.

the craic never really got goin in Flannagan's match day i didn't think but once we got to the stadium the atmosphere was deadly.

[newrynyuk]

That was us that got up and dancing, the fella turned to me and said is that really africa by toto im hearing, ****ing urselves, was one of many highlights of the trp.

That was you? Respect!

Africa could easily become a chant if we make it to the finals. I can easily imagine everyone singing "Duh-duh, duh-duh, duh-duh, duh-DUUUHHHHHHHH!" in Cyprus come September.

[Colie]

Another great trip. Hit some retro club on Saturday. They only played music from 1992 & before! Gas. Thought the stadium buzz was better than in Bari coz we were all together & I think we worked bloody great. Fair play all; went at the singing non stop. Crokers is such a let down after the trips!!

[paul_oshea]

we didnt though, we sang for the first half hour and before the game, and that was it, once they scored ppl stopped singing. Thought it could have been a lot better.

[Chippy]

we didnt though, we sang for the first half hour and before the game, and that was it, once they scored ppl stopped singing. Thought it could have been a lot better.

I must say - where we were, everyone seemed to be singing throughout - i suppose it depends where you are as if it's only a couple of hundred around you it probably sounds like everyone ....
Great trip apart from the Radisson fc uking up our rooms so that all the journo's could stay there.
I don't think my voice will be right for a week !!!!

[Colie]

we didnt though, we sang for the first half hour and before the game, and that was it, once they scored ppl stopped singing. Thought it could have been a lot better.What? We sang for the whole thing, not a second off. Down the back lads, it's always going off down there!