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angryprumphs 2:08 Tue Nov 2
Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

Currently travelling the world like Caine from Kung Fu and am staying in Pula Croatia for a month or so. Went for a bit of a trek this morning to grab some shopping, took the scenic route which took me down along the coast. Stopped to take some video, where this young lad was fishing and he asked if I was English (I was wearing a Hammers polo). I was a bit shocked, it is off season and not met another English person here.

Turned out he was a lad called Robbie Burton, Welsh under 19 international, living out here on his own. Plays for Zagreb but currently on loan to local side - NK Istra. Nice lad, hopefully going to head down to watch them play next weekend.

Anyone else met any random footballers on their travels?

OccupyGreenStreet 3:52 Thu Nov 4
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

Met a few players over the years. Absolute honour to meet Phil Parkes. A bloke I knew was working with QPR 5 or 6 years ago and had the prime VIP box next to the owners. Met a few players that way. After one game my mate sets up a meet to say hello to PP and his wife, both down to earth and humble, who were QPR guests. Total gent and giant of a man.

BillyBondsBirthday 3:42 Thu Nov 4
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

For our 25th anniversary stayed in a hotel on Capri, no other English staying except David Davies of the FA and David Mellor.

Complete pair of arses speaking loudly with their boring anecdotes. We never spoke to them, in fact I pretended not to be English around them.

oioi 5:01 Wed Nov 3
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

Cooling off in the sea next to me in Skiathos about 10 years ago Frank Worthington was happily chatting to anyone who approached him. I just nodded in recognition.

Manuel 4:30 Wed Nov 3
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

w4 - Cheers, but why would I want quiet?

riosleftsock 3:22 Wed Nov 3
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

I'd do half in Pula and half in Lovren/Opatija.

w4hammer 2:39 Wed Nov 3
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

Manuel 11:59 Wed Nov 3
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player
If one was going to Croatia for say 5 nights would 3 nights in Spilt and 2 in Hvar be a good shout? Don't fancy Zagreb, Dubrovnik I've heard mixed reports, and want the 2 places to be near each other, IF I get there next year, which is the plan.
______
id say two nights in split would be plenty - hvar is miles better - have a look at BRAC which is next door but alot quieter than HVAR and has a decent beach - ferries run all the time between them all so you can be pretty flexible

daveyg 2:33 Wed Nov 3
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

When I was about 7 met Billy Bremner and some other Leeds player I can't recall by the swimming pool in our families hotel. I was trying to buy an ice cream but didn't have enough money.Billy stepped in ,bought it for me :) .Even though I couldn't really understand what he was saying it made my day. (I think I could understand the spanish waiters better )

Swiss. 2:16 Wed Nov 3
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

Twice in the same place. My gaff is off the Cromwell Road RBK&C. There was a hotel called The Swallow now The Marriot.

First time I went ot meet a mate there at the hotel bar. Walked though the entrance and walking towards me very smartly dressed in a dark suit Italian looking slap head with a goatee beard. Thought he as the Concerge. I asked him where the bar was and pointed to the left and contnued past me. Seeing my mate he said "Did you see Vialli? " He was in the hotel lobby.

Same place I saw Dechamp sitting on a sofa with some old bill. Apparently someone had stolen his Rolex from his hotel room.

Manuel 12:45 Wed Nov 3
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

Cheers. I'm sure Dub is nice, but will only have time to go 2 places.

OccupyGreenStreet 12:36 Wed Nov 3
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

Manuel - yes, 3 in Split, 2 on Hvar would be a great shout.

Wouldn’t rule Dubrovnik out though. Our first Croatia trip (family oriented) we based half the trip in Cavtat, near Dubrovnik, and half on Brac, island off Split. The best thing, as riis has said, is travelling around by boat, so boat taxi Cavtat-Dubrovnik, and the big ferry from Dubrovnik to Split stops at some beautiful islands (Korcula etc.).

Manuel 11:59 Wed Nov 3
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

If one was going to Croatia for say 5 nights would 3 nights in Spilt and 2 in Hvar be a good shout? Don't fancy Zagreb, Dubrovnik I've heard mixed reports, and want the 2 places to be near each other, IF I get there next year, which is the plan.

angryprumphs 11:54 Wed Nov 3
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

w4hammer 11:27 Wed Nov 3

I can understand that, the reason I have done it is I have separated from my wife recently and both my kids are grown up. The UK is fucking expensive for what you get. As I work remotely anyway, I decided I would rather cut my hours, go part time but live somewhere nicer / hotter. I now work 3/4 hours a day and spend the rest of the time working on my own projects and still have a better standard of living.

I suppose the key thing is that I cant treat it like a holiday, I am living here, so no getting drunk by lunchtime. Given up weed and smoking since I got here and cut my drinking in half as it happens. Also doing tons more exercise. It is not for everyone, I am quite a sociable person, who doesnt mind chatting to randoms foreigners. I also have no issue being alone, dont mind my own company. Probably why I am posting on here a lot more.

Also VERY easy to do this sort of thing at the moment, due to Covid. You can get CRAZY deals on AirBandB (Paid £600 for the place i am in, when it should have been £1200) and flights are also stupidly cheap. Cost me £70 to get here with over 60kg of luggage (including a my pc and two monitors)

Best thing is my youngest daughter wants to travel too, so she is going to head out and stay with my sometimes, which will be great for both of us. I hate it when she goes traveling on her own, she almost got abducted in Matla a couple of months ago.

Worst part is I miss my dog but I hope to fly back to the UK next year, pick her up and my 4x4 then might do a tour down across to Laos / Thailand, via Iran, Pakistan etc.

w4hammer 11:34 Wed Nov 3
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

..oh and i also saw Dennis Irwin in BJ's bar on the beach in Quateria Portugal where he was eating a crab with Nicky Butt. Wierd thing was he came over and said hello to my pal i was sitting there with - knew each other well as my mates brother ran the MUFC supporters club/.

Nice chap, fit as fuck, bought us both a beer. Nicky Butt didnt say a peep

w4hammer 11:27 Wed Nov 3
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

back in the '00's i worked with a bloke who mid 30's said .... Ive had enough of this, Im selling my house and travelling the world and wont be back. About three months later i get in the lift and who bowls in, John, back in the uk and starting back at his old job...what happened? He travelled down through USA, central america and found himself on the 17th floor of a hotel in Rio with what turned out to be transbird with rather more down there than he was expecting, freaked out...woke up " the loneliest ive ever felt " and packed his back for home

I think i could travel alone for a while however id just be pissed by lunchtime every day...keep us updated-- croatia is a hard place to criticise- i love it there-- parts of it look a little grotty but the food people and birds are top dollar and Hvar apart, is fuking cheapo

LeroysBoots 7:13 Wed Nov 3
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

Cheers angry

Briano 12:33 Wed Nov 3
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

Neil Ardley and Chris Powell when out walking the dogs.

OccupyGreenStreet 12:14 Wed Nov 3
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

Pula’s a nice spot, we stayed in an airbnb facing that huge Roman amphitheatre where they were rehearsing a massive gig. Thought Rovinj was even nicer, beautiful and good places to eat.

Didn’t like the other side of Istria so much - near Labin iirc - catered more for big groups of lads driving down from Slovakia, Hungary, Germany etc.

riosleftsock 10:54 Tue Nov 2
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

We did 3 days in Zadar, nice place, but it was enough. Better when its hot, as you can do the islands nearby or rent your own motorboat.

I can send you the details of the apartment we rented if you want, it was a fantastic place and the landlord is a prize winning amateur wine maker who will give you a bottle of his wine if you show an interest. Its fantastic wine.

Did you try the grasevice?

angryprumphs 10:43 Tue Nov 2
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

Was thinking about heading down to Zadar for a couple of weeks before going to Split. Got to head back to Zagreb at some point, as it is the only place with cheap flights until March but until then got options.

riosleftsock 10:10 Tue Nov 2
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

angry

Its a lovely place, I love Pula, but I was referring to the whole region, Istria.

This year we did Pula - Lovren/Opatija (austrian empire riviera)- Plitvice (lakes mountains national park) - Zadar (seaside resort in Dalmatia).

All worth a visit, but I recommend Istria and the area around Pula in particular.

angryprumphs 9:57 Tue Nov 2
Re: Just met a Croatia Zagreb player

riosleftsock 9:09 Tue Nov 2

It is pretty great isnt it. Up there with Sans Sebastian for me (but not quite).

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