VIOLENCE - but there is hope on the horizon...

Lurking, there, right on the spot itself...!

Maybe the best video yet 

in this entire series of 

''Ostavka! BG Protests''...

And Also Remember... The 17th Of November!

Today, we remember a marquee match-up during FIFA World Cup qualification history: a game which decided who would move on to play for the World Cup, and who would, as the Frenski say, mordre la poussière!  As it turned out, and quite fittingly enough, on the 17th of November 1993, it was Team France that did, bite the dust - and Team Bulgaria moved on to bigger and better things!

France and Bulgaria are flat out dead even in international competition as it stands now; however, back in 1993, it was the most memorable victory for Bulgaria over those damnable Frenski for it came amidst an incredible run for Team Bulgaria - one that saw them come just a little bit short of actually winning it all! One commentator was so elated, he exclaimed, with this 2-1 win sealed and delivered, ''God Is Bulgarian!'' - nothing less!

Let's watch THE DECISIVE GOAL:

Gotta love that ''EUROSUCRE'' ad-banner - priceless! 

Emil Kostadinov played for FC PORTO, I hear...? 

Épa - Portugalia! ;) 

Bulgaria would go on to be in the Final Four subsequently. They stood toe-to-toe with all the elite teams left in the competition at the time: Germany, Argentina and Mexico in the 1994 World Cup. And, even though the magical run would have a bitter ending (gorshivo?) ultimately, this is remembered as the most impressive display of team unity and execution on the field ever put on by the national selection - something that made the entire country of Bulgaria immensely proud! 

Viva Bulgaria! 

Remember, Remember, The 10th Of November...!

It was today that the people won -

and oppression lost! 

It was on this very date, yes, that 

the dictator abdicated - 

ushering in a new age 

for all the land...! 

It was on this day 

that hope shattered 

the dismal grey firmament 

that had permeated the atmosphere 

for decades of insufferable, 

inept and inane communism. 

Aye, it was today, 

November the 10th - 

back in 1989.

On this day, 24 years ago, the official start of the transition in Bulgaria was given, as Todor Zhivkov, the general secretary of the Bulgarian Communist Party, was discharged from his position.

And today, 

November the 10th,  2013 

we can hope anew. 

For, if communism is like a mythical hydra 

with a thousand heads 

- you slay one 

and ten more spring forth - 

Bulgaria does not lack sharp blades 

and fancy swords... 

Although, 

we all know that 

the pen is mightier...!

And a single word suffices:

#OSTAVKA! 

We can do it - again!

And, HEY, YO - NO, the colors of the flag are NOT upside down!

They're in the proper order of priorities required for the task at hand now! 

À Bon Entendeur, Salut!

Or rather... 

Zdrasti!

;-)

#occupySU

The whole world means *us* - too! 

Somewhere in-between London and Nottingham! 

Did you spot us?

;-)

Music: that beautiful immigrant song 

about a little white cloud 

being the messenger... 

A trifle more classical arrangement 

- kudos to whoever did it! 

+++

Say Zdravei To The Foundation...!

Ostavka Man was there... 

and The Foundation simply never knew...!

Dobrei...!

What a fine concert it was, still; 

full of raw emotion, nostalgia aplenty 

and great rock! 

Five -count'em, five!- Bulgarian artists 

of immense talent: 

Kiril Marichkov (“Shturtsite” - The Crickets!)
Ivan Lechev (of “FSB” renown)
Doni (one half of “Doni & Momchil”)
Slavcho Nikolov (of “BTR” renown)
and drummer Venko Poromanski (“Te”)

Five representatives of different groups 

united to bring Bulgarian music to Bulgarians abroad! 

Beautiful! 

They went on a sort of mini-tour across North America 

performing in Seattle and Toronto 

before landing in Montreal - 

basically, everywhere that there are, now, 

flourishing Bulgarian communities!

The songs they performed were familiar to me, too; 

all the hit songs that inspired 

generations of Europeans 

to reach out for their dreams 

and deepest aspirations. 

And not just each other's various hits 

but other bands hits, too 

(such as the quite emblematic now Kukla...!)

However, for the partly-Canadian Barbarian observer, 

appreciative of the sounds, beats, emotions 

but only -possibly- of a fraction of the lyrics 

(hey - it's all Greek to me, okay?)

it was like seeing the most compelling assemblage 

of diverse musicians ever assembled on one stage: 

imagine attending a show featuring 

Geddy Lee (it was good Doni looks and sounds like him;

and not like Donny of Donny & Marie!) 

André Rieu (Ivan Lechev can give André a run for his violin...)

David Crosby (Kiril projects the same aura -

he doesn't just sport the same hairstyle!)

Robbie Robertson (Slavcho is another Robbie, methinks...)

and Nir Z (of Genesis renown) on drums...

That's what The Foundation looked like to me! 

And that is, admittedly, a great foundation 

to keep on building upon, 

indeed!

Bravo! 

Viva Bulgaria! 

+++

Thanks, Joro! 

;-)