Bulgarian Polymeet in 2007

[Sir Og]

OK so far we have

Dauphin - can do early May
Vet - might do early May
Toni - ???

Not much so I will bump the thread in a month and see how things shape up then.

[VetLegion]

I'm definitely interested, but as I said I can't confirm anything at this moment.

[Heresson]

me too.

[Snotty]

hey man, we are definately looking into this, and will keep you posted as to the results of our discussions

[Spiffor]

I am extremely unlikely to go there. Sofia is pretty far, and I'm supposed to go to plenty of places in Europe this year already (where I won't go )

[Dis]

is it dangerous? I'm looking for something exctiting to spice up my boring life.

Actually I do have some questions. How easy is it to travel in Europe? If you have a passport can you freely travel from country to country on a train? How is the train network there? could I easily get from Germany to Sofia? Or would a plane be easier?

I really know nothing of international travel. In the navy we weren't required to have passports. And I never travelled outside the country the ship was docked (or anchored) in.

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Dis
Actually I do have some questions. How easy is it to travel in Europe? If you have a passport can you freely travel from country to country on a train? How is the train network there? could I easily get from Germany to Sofia? Or would a plane be easier?

Easy to travel on a train within the EU without a passport, in general. Exceptions for some countries such as the UK.

Train network is great. Plane is easier and cheaper for longer journeys, but the train is great for a few hundred miles. Berlin to Sofia would take about 30 hrs by train though....

[Dis]

this may be a dumb questions. But do american credit cards work over there? Such as mastercard. I would hate to carry a lot of cash. I hear robberies by street thugs are common over there. While I'm looking for danger, I don't want to be robbed of more than a few euros. Obviously I'd have to exchange my money somewhere. where would I exchange dollars for euros?

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Dis
is it dangerous? I'm looking for something exctiting to spice up my boring life.

Somalia

Actually I do have some questions. How easy is it to travel in Europe? If you have a passport can you freely travel from country to country on a train? How is the train network there? could I easily get from Germany to Sofia? Or would a plane be easier?

Many "adventurous" tourists use the EuroRail ticket. If you're interested in spending a long vacation in Europe, I strongly recommand you to look into that link.

Plane will be much, much faster (and certainly easier) to go from Germany to Sofia. Those two are quite far from each other, and the rail network isn't that fast in Germany, and only goes downhill after that.

I'm not sure how it works for Americans, but I think there are agreements between the US and the free-travel area in Europe. With your passport (and no visa on it, except if you want to go to Turkey), you should be able to enter the free-travel area (also called the Schengen area). This site seems to have quite a bit of info.
Also, remember that it is mandatory in most European countries to have an ID, not only at customs. A valid passport is perfectly acceptable, but it's a necessity.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Dis
this may be a dumb questions. But do american credit cards work over there? Such as mastercard.

Depends where you are. Visa is almost universally accepted in my experience (in ATMs: many countries aren't used to paying with a visa card in stores)

I would hate to carry a lot of cash. I hear robberies by street thugs are common over there.

Depends where you go, and of your common sense. Touristy and wealthy areas are generally well-policed. Rough and mixed areas will require you a bit of common sense not to get robbed (unless you're just flat unlucky).
If you take the Eurail ticket, and do like the students who do this (i.e sleep in trains and stations, in order not to pay any hotel fees), you risk of getting robbed or stolen in your sleep.
Don't carry too much, and carry things that are easily replaced. Have copies of your important papers handy (and emergency phone numbers) , so that you won't have to get through administrative hell in case your wallet gets robbed or stolen.

Last time I travelled in an area where I feared being pickpocketed (which is much more common than robbery), I bought a pocket that fits between the pants and the trousers, at a local sports store. You won't lose your valuable papers that way, unless you're unlucky enough to get thoroughly robbed, which is unlikely.

While I'm looking for danger, I don't want to be robbed of more than a few euros. Obviously I'd have to exchange my money somewhere. where would I exchange dollars for euros?

Any tourist place, including every airport and every important station.

Besides, IIRC you'll be able to draw Euros at the ATMs with your visa card, for a bank fee (back when such things mattered to me, the bank charged an almost flat fee, so tourists generally drew large sums each time they went to the ATM).

Also, remember that if you go to eastern Europe, and anti-Euro countries (UK, Denmark, Sweden) you'll have to change your euros into local currency.

[Dis]

yeah I just think Sofia is too far out for this trip. Though I would like to hit eastern europe someday. I'm really looking at germany, france, and switzerland. And even then, I won't have a lot of time to spend at one place. And maybe next trip would be eastern europe. As for scandinavia, I have no reason to go there. . Even if there are cool posters from those regions. England is a trip unto itself.

[Provost Harrison]

And what is wrong with the United Kingdom?

[Spiffor]

You don't have the Euro, ergo travelling there is impossible

[Provost Harrison]

Well, as I have said in the past, I am willing to do a Paris meet at some point...that shouldn't be too hard.

[Solly]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Well, as I have said in the past, I am willing to do a Paris meet at some point...that shouldn't be too hard.

I intend to go swimming at some point..I am willing to do la Paris at some point..etc etc