Bulgaria Away - 6th June 2009

**EastTerracer** · 07/05/2009, 5:21 PM

Originally Posted by danonion

Anyone want to adopt a yank for this qualifier. Don't know any other supporters here with enough money to travel...

How are you getting over Danonion? I'm flying from JFK on the Thursday night (via Zurich)

**Jicked** · 07/05/2009, 5:42 PM

I'm sure it's already been dealt with before, but I haven't seen it anywhere....anyone know what cost of a pint/meal etc is in Sofia? Cant be that much if we're paying �3 a ticket!

**mypost** · 07/05/2009, 6:09 PM

Originally Posted by AidoM

I have been in touch with First Rate, who have the foreign exchange in the departures area of Dublin airport and they carry it. The rate they give is 1.83 lev = €1. The rate is fairly constant. They charge commission @ 2.25% up to a maximum of €12.70 (which is converting €600). If you keep your receipt they will change back notes on the return without charging commission.

I know there are banks in Sofia and that they will change it but I think that they may rip us off maybe not quite as bad as foreign exchange places or hotels. If you use your ATM card in Sofia you will be charged for using it to get a non euro currency as well as the comission for converting it.

I just think that it might be better to get it here before we go.

You won't need €600 for a few days in Sofia. Half that will cover everything.

I wouldn't fancy lining up in queues trying to read the Slavic alphabet in Sofia banks.

As a general rule on travelling, I would change the cash before going over, use the bureau de change if necessary over there, and only use ATM's as an emergency measure.

**SouthAfrica2010** · 07/05/2009, 6:11 PM

Yep already looked on all the Bulgarian Irish bar meuns and they charge a wopping 1 euro for a pint of local brew. So guess the local bars charge 50 cent or less for it. For foreign beers beers except to pay max 2 euros a pint.

**Moscow Mule** · 07/05/2009, 6:29 PM

Originally Posted by AidoM

Just checked with some of the banks and they do not carry the Bulgarian Lev as a matter of course, you will need to ask your bank to order it and it may take about a week or ten days to get it in. The banks will charge comission.

I have been in touch with First Rate, who have the foreign exchange in the departures area of Dublin airport and they carry it. The rate they give is 1.83 lev = �1. The rate is fairly constant. They charge commission @ 2.25% up to a maximum of �12.70 (which is converting �600). If you keep your receipt they will change back notes on the return without charging commission.

I gave them the heads up that there would be a lot of fans heading through the airport in the days leading up to the match and that they should order a good bit in to have available.

I know there are banks in Sofia and that they will change it but I think that they may rip us off maybe not quite as bad as foreign exchange places or hotels. If you use your ATM card in Sofia you will be charged for using it to get a non euro currency as well as the comission for converting it.

I just think that it might be better to get it here before we go.

Good man Aido. Are you cheaper than an ATM?

**SuperDave** · 07/05/2009, 6:58 PM

make sure your atm card has a cirrus logo on the back of it, or something similar, otherwise it won't work over there. laser cards from the major banks should be fine.

**Newryrep** · 07/05/2009, 7:03 PM

Originally Posted by Polster

Come on, Amsterdam, Paris and Stuggart, I would say right up there with the greatest Irish atmospheres for an away game or any game. The Croke Park thing is a seperate issue, and I fully expect the atmosphere to be restored when we get back to paddy cullens chicken goujons and pints.

I'd love to see 10k+ in sofia if we could of, because you can be guaranteed it would add hugely to the atmosphere and help the boys.

Polster cant comment on the first two but there were enough reports on here from regular travellers about tossers who travelled who were too ****ed/doped up that they were barely aware of why they were there or where they were. Didnt see anything myself really untoward in Stuttgart just a couple of ****ed up fans ruining some street game played with empty bottles back near the square after the match and generally acting the *****.

At least one Irish fan with an english accent got abused, as she did in also in Prague and Bari by some ****ed up 'fans'. Safe to say if they are tossers in Newry/Dublin/Kerry etc they are going to be tossers in Bratislava, Prague Stuttgart etc.

Anyway heres to a great atsmosphere home and away what ever the numbers

**paul_oshea** · 07/05/2009, 7:24 PM

Originally Posted by JT,New'09

Is there some kind of Initiation needed to be accepted as a so called "Porper Fan" ?

Or if you cannot make every single away game does that mean your less of an Irish football fan or even 1/4 or 1/2 a fan ! ?

If you are female yes there is, and Neil can help out with that.

**cobra** · 07/05/2009, 8:37 PM

Came across this firm on a Bulgarian forum who does transfers from Sofia airport. The OK taxis would probably be slightly cheaper but there a lot of dodgy ones there too. Thought I would put this up for yez as some of yez might prefer this option, going for it myself as arriving at midnight and want to get to city centre quick as possible(5km away from hotel he tells me

)
This is what he sent me:

Hi ,

We have availability, to confirm booking pls provide name for the pick up nameboard, number of passengers and number for contacts.

The hotel is zone 1 about 5 km from center of city and 3 km from stadium.

you can use our email and web adress:

office@bulgariatransport.com
www.bulgariatransport.com

I can provide special rates for the fans, pls inform the people to email me, (ALEX ) for the rates as follows:

1-4 people by car : zone1 - 8 eur; center zone - 12 eur; zone2 - 14 eur.
4-6 people by MINIVAN: zone1 - 12eur; center zone- 18eur; zone2 - 20eur.
6-8 people by MINIBUS: zone1 - 16eur; center zone- 20eur; zone2 - 23eur.

Look forward to your reply,

Many thanks,

Alex (cool)

**captkeen** · 08/05/2009, 2:59 AM

Hi.Am travelling to bulgaris,where are most people going to meet up before the match.

**paul_oshea** · 08/05/2009, 7:52 AM

Originally Posted by captkeen

Hi.Am travelling to bulgaris,where are most people going to meet up before the match.

The pub.

**Newryrep** · 08/05/2009, 8:09 AM

Originally Posted by cobra

Came across this firm on a Bulgarian forum who does transfers from Sofia airport. The OK taxis would probably be slightly cheaper but there a lot of dodgy ones there too. ......... your reply,

Many thanks,

Alex (cool)

I was reading Trip advisor and the problem with the dodgy taxis is that they look very similar to the legit ones bar one change of letter which in the Crylic??? alphabet isnt easy to spot. The legit ones have a booth/desk in the terminal where you agree a price and they allocate you a taxi

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop...ead-Sofia.html

**cobra** · 08/05/2009, 8:43 AM

Originally Posted by Newryrep

I was reading Trip advisor and the problem with the dodgy taxis is that they look very similar to the legit ones bar one change of letter which in the Crylic??? alphabet isnt easy to spot. The legit ones have a booth/desk in the terminal where you agree a price and they allocate you a taxi

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop...ead-Sofia.html

Was there in Dec at Sofia airport and got one of the YELLOW OK taxis(the goodies) 10 lev(�5) to train station(20 mins in taxi), the dodgy OK taxis as far as I know are white(the baddies) and from what I have heard, they may have letter change but also have same phone number except have an extra digit. You will get quoted good prices outside by in your face taxi drivers(the uglies) but once you hop in them and get left to your destination, suddenly metre gets mentioned and your screwed.

Another thing in Bulgaria is some of the restuarants, menu for the tourists and a cheaper one for the locals, hard to compare prices between the 2 as the Crylic writing is totally different to ours.

**JT,New'09** · 08/05/2009, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

If you are female yes there is, and Neil can help out with that.

Cool this is me ill see you at the bar so !!

**lionelhutz** · 08/05/2009, 1:49 PM

Just checked the google map and the Radisson (where we're staying) is less than a km away from the stadium and just over a km away from Murphys Irish bar - go on ya good thing ya!!

**NeilMcD** · 08/05/2009, 2:49 PM

Originally Posted by JT,New'09

Cool this is me ill see you at the bar so !!

Not really my type ha ha

**Paddser** · 08/05/2009, 2:55 PM

Originally Posted by lionelhutz

Just checked the google map and the Radisson (where we're staying) is less than a km away from the stadium and just over a km away from Murphys Irish bar - go on ya good thing ya!!

As far as I can recall there is an Oirish Bar called Flannagans in the Radisson Hotel.

More importantly, does anyone where the main square for a meet up is?

**paul_oshea** · 08/05/2009, 3:09 PM

Originally Posted by JT,New'09

Cool this is me ill see you at the bar so !!

Do you like rabbit food?!

This is Neil,

http://thenastyboys.files.wordpress..../huggybear.jpg

**paul_oshea** · 08/05/2009, 3:17 PM

Originally Posted by JT,New'09

Nice Reply !! Bottem line is were all going for the same reason to support the team with the hope to win , and add points to the board to qualify for the World Cup.
Im going for the reason stated above .......oh and for a break from this country and the depression of this bluddy recession, its a trip to look 4ward too , for the atmosphere , the build up , the match , and the crack , the weather, the beer and good clean fun

.........

...and the riding. well not for me obviously.

**paul_oshea** · 08/05/2009, 3:19 PM

Originally Posted by danonion

Anyone want to adopt a yank for this qualifier. Don't know any other supporters here with enough money to travel...

You can join our group danonion, so long as you are not one of these:

ah no you'll meet loads of lads and everyone is sound. I am the soundest but everyone else will still chat to ye.