[size=85:llnn0817]Sofia echo 26 April 2010

Underground

For many years the pedestrian underpass of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, permeated gloom and resounded to a terrible racket. During colder months it was practically flooded, and you had to walk on cardboard stepping-stones to avoid soiling your shoes or tripping over industrial cables.

Now the dark narrow tunnel has been transformed into an expansive underground plaza, lit by large polka dot lighting, glistening bronze surfaces and a selection of places to acquire information and do convenient shopping.

The Metro station is, of course, the primary use of the underpass, and it is a contemporary one with interesting blue surfboard decor on the ceiling and that undeniable metro scent I find so pleasantly European. There are two computers with free internet inside the station for a handy last-minute check of whatever it is you need.

One equally cool and awful feature at the metro is a fun flat escalator intended to connect Eagles Bridge to the metro station. However, it does so only to one side of the station, and doesn't reach the underpass shopping area. So the escalator, while free, only caters to metro users and not for people loaded with bags from the shops underground, needing to reach EaglesBridge. The only possible way would be to pay the metro fee to just sort of pop in for a minute to reach the other side of the station and, ultimately, the moving escalator. Otherwise, you have to head up to ground level first, walk for a number of minutes to locate another set of stairs leading underground again, then take the escalator for a minute or three, making it a serious case of exercise, aching hands and perhaps wet clothes.

To fill those carry on bags, as there is no parking, you can start with food supplies at Billa. Take note, however, that the supermarket is small and crowded, primarily with people streaming from nearby offices buying quick snacks, and elderly folk living nearby getting basic shopping. So this central supermarket is not entirely the success it should have been because it's really too petite, with unbearably long queues, and the express lines are not effective either. If time is of no concern, however, it is still a supermarket with a reasonable selection, and an abundant counter with ready-made appetisers and meals to go.

Right next to Billa is McDonald although it, too, is very small and is constantly packed with youngsters teeming in from neighbouring schools.

The underpass's most stylish food spot is Yogen Fruz, a Canadian frozen-yoghurt company focused on providing nutritional and healthy treats for today's fast-paced lifestyles. This specific location was their first foray into the Bulgarian market. Yogen Fruz discloses all their ingredients, boasting they have nothing to hide, and their products are made of yoghurt and milk, with fruit and real sugar and added healthy pro-biotic cultures. The bright establishment is a refreshingly captivating experience;
lounge music bubbles the air and your tasty frozen treats are mixed and handled by young and friendly personnel trained in proper customer service. And they really look to be enjoying themselves as they are all smiles and warmth.

If you are just visiting Sofia and need guidance, the spacious Tourist Information Centre and cultural information desk, are good first destinations. Also, the Sofia Public Transportation centre for monthly cards and so forth is useful, and pop by the Globul shop for all your mobile phone related needs.

For a little intellectual nourishment, stop by at Pengvinite (The Penguins), a large two-storey bookshop. Pengvinite has the arrangement and atmosphere of a western bookshop;
art-and-design books piled on square tables, and the space is quite broken up. English-language books are on offer too. The staff, however, has a tendency to keep a watchful eye, and follow you around even if you have declined assistance. Hopefully, this will change so we can enjoy more relaxed browsing.

Perhaps the underpass’s largest shop is DM (drogerie markt), a German and Austrian cosmetics shop. It offers all the familiar products that are sold everywhere, as well as their unique DM brand products, the main reason DM has such loyal fans. These are high-quality German products at humble prices, usually lower then their commercial counterparts.

Each DM product line has its own name but can be recognised by a small logo. To name just a few: Balea, for general face and body care, Alverde, for natural and organic body care products, Babylove, for the obvious baby-related items, Denk Mit for household cleaning supplies, most of which carry the "
sustainable cleaning"
symbol, Das Gesund Plus, for vitamins and supplements, and Profissimo for home-related items like sandwich baggies. Basically, DM covers a wide spectrum of products that all homes need. I must mention, though, that all the products arrive in Bulgaria labelled in native German, and while Bulgarian labels are attached, this leaves all non-German and non-Bulgarian speakers having to go by pictures alone. So bring some sort of a translating tool.

Underpasses are generally disagreeable places, damp and slightly alarming. However, this one has become enjoyable to pass through, and is even a destination in itself thanks to some good shops.