Forum | Sofia by Watford_Ranger

Forum index | Previous Thread | Next thread

Sofia 09:59 - Oct 9 with 2696 views

Anyone been? I’ve got a few hours there to myself on Friday before the usual weekend in Europe stag shenanigans from Friday night to Sunday.

Sofia on 10:47 - Oct 9 with 2605 views

Konk

Went there for 48 hours with Fulham. Not one of the great cities of Europe, I’m afraid. Struggling to recall anything to recommend other than the people being very friendly/helpful, very cheap beer, and a few decent German-brewery-owned pubs knocking out schnitzel and cheap Weiss bier. That was in 2010, so things may have changed, but my memory is of a city with some nice-enough streets/buildings in a Mittel-Europa style, but not a lot else to explore. Oh, Alexander Nevsky cathedral, is pretty impressive. Worth a wander. Have a good trip. Fulham fans drinking in an ‘Irish’ pub were paying about 4 times the price for beer as in non-‘Irish’ pubs btw.

Fulham FC: It's the taking part that counts

Sofia on 12:05 - Oct 9 with 2511 views

Juzzie

I went on a no-frills snowboarding trip to Bulgaria in '98 and whilst I was nursing the mother of hangovers at the ski resort my mates went on a day trip to Sofia.
They said it was a waste of time.

That was 25 years ago though.

Sofia on 12:12 - Oct 9 with 2496 views

ChrisNW6

Sofia on 12:05 - Oct 9 by Juzzie
I went on a no-frills snowboarding trip to Bulgaria in '98 and whilst I was nursing the mother of hangovers at the ski resort my mates went on a day trip to Sofia. They said it was a waste of time. That was 25 years ago though.

This

I also visited Sofia as part of a day trip when skiing in the early 80s. I seem to remember department stores dedicated to white lace table cloths. I am sure much has changed since the fall of the iron curtain 😂

Sofia on 12:49 - Oct 9 with 2444 views

Watford_Ranger

Thanks all can’t wait now.

Sofia on 12:56 - Oct 9 with 2424 views

RamseyR

Can echo a lot of what has been said. Been through 8 times en route for a cheap ski week as recently as 2021. The new terminal is nice, but I prefer the old soviet block one as it's tiny and interesting with the old tiled soviet mosaics etc. It's quite a modern city in places, but quite bland. Cheap beer and accommodation though. Stay clear of the Romany camps by the airport...they are rough as fcuk. It's also the highest capital city in Europe so can be a little chilly.

Sofia on 13:03 - Oct 9 with 2418 views

r66

Hi
I went several times on business about 5-8 years and it changed quite dramatically in the time I was visiting. A lot of investment has gone in...presumably from the EU and so it has has moved on a lot since the 80s and 90s. Didn't have much time for sight-seeing but the Cathedral really dominates and is worth a visit. Strolling round the central area and its gardens is now fairly attractive. Many more pavement bars and cafes now too

Sofia on 13:55 - Oct 9 with 2320 views

terryb

Sorry Watford, I've not been & have no idea what is in the city, but I do know what would be the first & last place I visited!

The Vivacom Arena Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, the home of Levski Sofia to pay homage. I only need the slighest excuse to extol my admiration for this great player. On a par with Johan Cruyff in my humble view!

Sofia on 15:39 - Oct 9 with 2189 views

Boston

I liked Sofia, she was up for anything after a couple of drinks.

Poll:

Thank God The Seaons Over.

Sofia on 16:28 - Oct 9 with 2129 views

HantsR

I made a number of work trips there in the 1990s and got to know some really nice folk. It was still emerging from Warsaw pact and preparing for EU membership. It was otherwise a mixed experience but I went to see Levski Sofia and also, the opera and ballet - not normally my thing but amazingly cheap and could get good wine and champagne for very little. Worth going to the cathedral on Sunday morning, just stand and watch/listen, feel free to come and go as you please - sometimes some beautiful singing, chants etc. If you have time and energy, climb Vitosha, the mountain that overlooks Sofia. Lastly, not too far away is the ski resort of Borovets, I only visited there to see where the hotel caught fire and my neighbour had to leap from the 1st floor to escape! I guess many if not most things will have changed, but would be interested to learn of your experience.

Sofia on 17:09 - Oct 9 with 2083 views

queensparker

Like a lot of you I went there for work every now and then, I would have been there around the 2004-8 period.

Of all the other Eastern European towns I was knocking about in back then Sofia was probably my least favourite. Nothing against the people but it felt the most Soviet of the post Soviet towns and still fairly grim with not a lot going for it. Had some good games of chess in the park.

Odessa was the one place even grimmer than Sofia but I dread to think what it looks like now

Sofia on 01:41 - Oct 10 with 1886 views

NewBee

@RamseyR:
"It's also the highest capital city in Europe so can be a little chilly."

Don't mean to be pedantic - well just a little bit - but while Sofia lies at an altitude of 553 metres asl, Andorra Le Vella takes the title at 1,023 metres asl.

While if you want to discount Andorra as a microstate (fair enough), Madrid still exceeds Sofia, at 646 metres asl.

(I believe Spain is actually the second most mountainous country in Europe after Switzerland)

Sofia on 01:47 - Oct 10 with 1884 views

BazzaInTheLoft

Not helpful for you at all, but visit Spartak Plovdiv for QPR reasons if you can!

Sofia on 07:54 - Oct 10 with 1805 views

Watford_Ranger

Sofia on 01:47 - Oct 10 by BazzaInTheLoft
Not helpful for you at all, but visit Spartak Plovdiv for QPR reasons if you can!

I never knew of that connection. They’ve won 10 of 11 this season and already well clear at the top of the league. Might just move there.

[Post edited 10 Oct 2023 8:02]

Sofia on 09:33 - Oct 10 with 1718 views

BrianMcCarthy

Sofia on 01:47 - Oct 10 by BazzaInTheLoft
Not helpful for you at all, but visit Spartak Plovdiv for QPR reasons if you can!

Never knew this either, Bazz.

What are their fans like? If they're sound, I'll keeo an eye out for the results.

	"The opposite of love, after all, is not hate, but indifference."
Poll:	Player of the Year (so far)

Sofia on 09:46 - Oct 10 with 1710 views

RamseyR

Sofia on 01:41 - Oct 10 by NewBee

Happy to be corrected

Sofia on 08:12 - Oct 15 with 1479 views

Watford_Ranger

Surprisingly nice place. Weather has been good, food and drink is good and cheap if you do a little research. I’ve done nothing of any cultural value really apart from going to Bulgaria0-2Lithuania last night. The locals weren’t happy at all.

[Post edited 15 Oct 2023 8:37]

Sofia on 09:27 - Oct 15 with 1402 views

BazzaInTheLoft

Sofia on 09:33 - Oct 10 by BrianMcCarthy
Never knew this either, Bazz. What are their fans like? If they're sound, I'll keeo an eye out for the results.

I've no idea. I used to work with a cleaner who was a CSKA hooligan who told me all Bulgarian football clubs are run by drug cartels and nationalist groups.

He later went on to get deported because he beat the shit out of a female Eritrian cleaner over a mop and bucket at Watford Underground station, so I assumed he knows the subject well.

[Post edited 15 Oct 2023 9:29]

Sofia on 09:34 - Oct 15 with 1383 views

Lblock

I used to spend ages on mine - loved it.

Proper big leather beast

After my back surgery I can’t use it now though and have to sit in a hard backed chair

Cherish and enjoy life.... this ain't no dress rehearsal

Sofia on 09:47 - Oct 15 with 1365 views

cyprusmel

Plovdiv is a beautiful place to visit, I didn't like Sofia very much.

Forum index | Previous Thread | Next thread