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Arriving
The flight with Austrian Airlines was on time, but overbooked. The airport OTP itself is a disgrace for a city that size: looks outdated, signs are avilable where needed, only two luggage belts. The part with the toilets locked down, no WIFI available, UBER did not work via the local Mobile Network. ATMs charge a horrendous fee for withdrawel, almost no restaurants, shops or Bars in the arrival area.
(The departure area is a lot better, but overcrowded)
Vampires can be found at all different corners.
There were still some improvements since last time I visited Bukraest: there were Taxis available outside, and with years of delay and oppulent EU funding, the speed train to the city center is now available too.
PS: no bodybuilders in sight yet
The Hotel
Checking in at the Hotel was smooth as butter: no waiting time, key received, the guys at the desk answered all my questions, the room was clean, large and well equipped. TV only had 45 channels, but also was not there to watch TV.
On my way up I passed by Stefana Sandu: she was sitting on a large couch in the entrance hall. I did not recognise her at a quick glance, but when she turned around saw lush muscles spring up from her skimpy outfit. She impressed me more than some of the female bodybuilders onsite.
Another great thing in this hotel is the SPA area. An indoor pool, outdoor jaccuzi, sauna, treatment room and gym. As this is the official Hotel for the event, there are also athletes using the gym to pump up or practise posing. While I was training there one Pro FBB practised posing, another female athlete worked out, and two fit girls (maybe the new Fit MOdel divisions) hit the weights are as well. The area is equipped with the most basic stuff only, so it was not as frequented as I hoped it would be.
Raluca was obvioulsy as also at the event, posted a pic from the SPA, and gives impression whats going on in the gym on and off.
The restaurant was overpriced, the hotel bar nice and cosy, with a small outdoor seating area. Loved the romanian beer.
got me a second, and a third.
Not much of other facilities, apart from some large meeting and event rooms. The best entertainment is the flow of athletes passing by in full gear.
The one thing I hate about traveling to other countries is that it's annoying to get decent internet. the hotel wifi never works you can't use the mobile internet if you don't have a local Sim card. (well you can but you will go broke). in some countries it's harder to get them than in others. also I think it's not a big problem in most countries anymore. but even in 2019 the mobile internet in some countries was seen as a luxury and too expensive. with only a few gigabit a month for a lot of money but I think it's no longer a problem in most countries now
The close surroundings
The Romexpo is located in the north of Bukarest in sort of industrial surroundings. The old airport is close by, with earsplitting noise when planes are landing. There is not much else around worth mentioning, apart from an old historic Communist building, and the Expo hall itself.
About 15 minutes footwalk from the hotel there was a small supoermarket, nothing special, food and household basics. I went there to get some water bottles, and while queuing up at the till another female bodybuilder and her (supposedly) partner was standing there with four large filled bags with rice waffles, ham, water and other stuff. To get the communication rolling, I just told her to keep the chocolate for after the competition. Turns out they were Germans, so we could have a short communication in our native language. Its also becoming a habit to wish the girls all the best for the competition at the end of the convo, almost like saying "good bye".
Another place worth mentioning is the second hotel in the close surrounding of the Romexpo: the Ramada Plaza - (not to be confused with the Ramada Parc). It is a great alternative for those watching the event: better equipped, more modern, and also highly frequented by Athletes competing at the show. In addition, the restaurant has better value for money, thats why I went over for dinner).
The best thing about the hotel is the main area on the ground floor: there is a bar with drinks and small snacks, in front of it a lounge area, and in front of that a pool behind a glass wall. Whenever I am in Bukarest for a contest I come there for breakfast: having a coffee and croisant, reading newspaper, and just enjoy the summer vibes behind the glass wall. Occasionally a muscular woman pushes herself out of the pool and walks around to the rest area. Breakfast does not get any better than that.
Using E-sims solves any Internet cost issues when travelling*
- I realize my post and the one I'm replying to has nothing to do with the Alina Popa event
Using eSIM is already on my bucket list, just never looked into it so far. Good point!
@yotv: the WIFI in the Crown Plaza, the Ramada Plaza, as well as the Expo worked issue-free. I sent Clips via Whatsapp without any problem. Which was a positive surprise cause, as you say, usually its a nuisance to search for working networks.
Hope you´re having a good time, chilleus! I´ve mostly heard good things about the city as well.
The Expo
As mentioned, there was a Fitness Expo next to the Bodybuilding show. The areas were seperated by a large Curtain, however, quite a few bodybuilders could be seen on the Expo before or after their show.
Had to really struggle my way in, as there is no clear sign on which entrance to use (and the halls are big). Staff sent me for about an hour in circles, so I missed amateur FBB and WPD pre-judging. Apart from that I really enjiyed the Expo: workout equipment, food & fashion, and in addition odd treatment tools: oxygen chambers, hand freezing, bio hacking.
There was also plenty of opportunity to get active: trying out brand new gym equipment, meet and greet with known names, wheel of fortune, food samples.
Showing the bodybuilders how its done:
Why workout what can be changed at the click of a button:
Last but not least, WOS had their own stand next to the competition area. The ladies there were firendly, helpful, but only one of them spoke english and German.
There were two Sofas at the rear end of the booth: unfortunately not as many big names of the sport as I would have wished for. Jake Wood was sitting opposite of me for a while and having a deep conversation with Anastasia Korableva. Some other amateur athletes showed up, coulnt tell who they were. It really requires luck and good timing to catch one in a relaxed atmosphere.
On a general note: the Expo was crowded (not as much as FIBO, which also made it more pleasent to walk around), and roughly half of the attendees was female. Plenty of fit girls, aspiring young bodybuilders (always proudly showing their muscular arms in tight tops), stage athletes plus the usual entourage: coaches, partners, fotografers. You cant walk two minutes without bumping into a fit woman. Compared to FIBO, I found the place more welcoming and laid back, I had plenty of good convesration with people there.
Hope you´re having a good time, chilleus!
Thanks, already back home in Vienna, and most definitely yes. If things go well, I will attend next year again.
I´ve mostly heard good things about the city as well.
Really, its a pitty hotel and Expo are a bit off the central area. Maybe its worth staying one more day and making a city tour.
The show
The show was split in the Amateur Event and the Alina Popa Pro show (FBB only), spread out over two days. There were either Pre Judging and Main Event for each class/division.
Having the FBB Pro Show on day two, with the pre-judging before MBB, and the main event right after the break was spot on. It pulled in people waiting for MBB in the morning, and after the break everybody was relaxed and filled up. They played the Romanian anthem and everybody stood up (not sure who ever heard the Romanian anthem, but I was just waiting for the communist stormtroopers to come in and installing a red star over the stage).
The MC did a proper job before the show started, and there was an introduction on the rules on screen - a great service for visitors who are not well up in the rules of the sport. There were also more people in the room than I expected for FBB (would guess 300 - 400).
During the many events that I have attended now I more and more find fall into the true purpose of going there: it is NOT silently watching the event, but actively taking part: talking to people, grab drinks and snacks, study the order of events, choose a favourite, and shout for her so loud that it can be heard through the loud posing music (cables coming out the throat). In the positive case of events there are others joining in shouting for their favourites and a sort of friendly verbal fight starts. When the athletes in line swap their places, the crowd usually raises intensity. The climax of the atmosphere is, when the places are announced at the end.
I found my favourite at the amateur FBB competition: Jannicke Kireklund. She hit me with surprise. And as she qualified for the Pros with her success at the Amateurs, all my energy went towards supporting her at the Pro Event. Her posing was flawless, the shape spot on, she just appeared a bit nervous and was shaking during the comparison round. At the end she took the fourth out of eight - and had tears in her eyes.
More picures of the event can be found here
And here a short video wrap up of the show: link to youtube
Thanks my man. I just think its worth sharing the experience.
Travelling to events has become a serious freetime occupation, and I think its unlike anything else we can witness. Apart from the usual intense attraction we all share for the women, it is also a cultivated event, there are rules, it requires in depth knowledge, and there is an extreme physical component. You can almost feel the power when the bodybuilders walk by. The body is the complex result of food intake sticking to a strict plan, mass building, carving out the body. The timing must be right exactly for the moment when they hit the stage - sometimes they are off by half an hour and drop in the ranking. Even the moments before the contest there is fine tuning. And then you have multiple women bringing their bodies to the stage, flexing, bending and bulging to fight their way to the middle position on stage. One call from the judges can move them to the remote parts of the stage, the athlete still has to keep smiling and trying to fight herself back in.
And even the danger atmosphere surrounding the bodybuilding circuit adds to it, because after the show it feels rewarding to have overcome the fear of actively taking part in it as a supporter from the crowd. The same reason why we go sky diving or rock climbing.
VIP Tickets
Let me also give you a reality check on the VIP experience (I opted for the VIP ticket on both days, both Amateur as well as Alina Popa Pro).
VIP area access: yes, easy to find, security checks on the entrance. The wristband made things easy at every VIP area.
Meet Industry Legends: probably the biggest disappointment during the weekend. I hoped to meet Legends like Lenda Murray, but all that happened was a male bodybuilder (who I did not recognise) shaked hand at the entrance for a while. Could be that I was there at the wrong time. At least I could have a few friendly words with Isabelle Turell, but had to sneak through a restricted area for that
Front Seat: yes, with security personnal. The front seat not only gives a good view to the organizers area (first three rows), but also the judges panel, directly in front of the stage. This is also the area with the most intense atmosphere, as coaches and partners stay here to be close to the athlete of their choice. In addition: the stage is really close. I have stood up a few times and could look into the eyes of some athletes. Downside: the posing music is really loud (rock concert noise).
Refreshments: were served in the VIP area, better than I expected. Coffee and some alcohol free drinks, plus a variety of snacks: cure dried sausage and ham, cow and sheep cheese, turkey breast, grapes, nuts, bread & butter, snacks, pre-packed salads, joghurt and fruits. There was a growing queue at the coffee machine, 30 minutes later a second machine was installed and available. Later they served packages with small, vegan brownies and sugar free savory cakes.
Special Gift: nothing spectacular, a small goodie bag.
Dedicated VIP entrance: yes, but there were no long lines anyway.
Early Access: I was at the Expo on Friday and had to leave. So not sure what the early access was all about.
Special networking private group: havent figured out, what that means.
Spa Corner: special treatment within the VIP area: face relexation, neck massage, some sort of high tech workout machine.
Official Tshirt: did not receive one, but also did not ask for one.
All in all I was satisfied with the VIP tickets, and would likely take it again. The food corner saved me money, coffee was good, atmosphere relaxed. For a while, there was a DJ playing lounge music.
It rarely happens, but some sort of After Show Event would be amazing - ideally in combination with the athletes. I would even be willing to pay extra for that.
A few impressions and shared experience of my trip to Bukarest to watch Eastern Europe Amateur Olympia & Alina Popa Pro (links below available subject to individual access permissions).
Preperations
The tickets were sold via Sense4Fit (the organizer of the neighbouring Fitness Expo). I got the VIP tickets for 1060 RON for two days (saturday & sunday). Ordering process was semi-comfortable, as the confimation number after payment did not show up immediatly, just arrived a while later via eMail.
sense4fit summit
Booking flight into Bukarest Airport (OTP) was easy and cheap (I am travelling from Vienna, cost ~100,- EUR).
The Hotel Crown Plaza Bukarest booking was pretty easy via the IHG website. Interestingly, the price was lower booking directly at the hotel than via the organiser website. Cost: ~400,- EUR for three nights.
The Bodybuilding Pro Show was organized by Wings of Strength. Like for most of the other shows: the information available is very much tailored to the needs of the athletes (not ticket buyers). The list of athletes competing in the Pro Show was released a few days prior to the show (Amateur competition works different, did not expect any list of competitoters there).
instagram competitor list
TBC ....