Chris’s concert – my dream lasted 24 years. Of course I had a chance to see Smokie on 17.06.1983 in Bulgaria and another chance to see Chris on 06.09.2002 in Bulgaria for a short concert together with other ‘”stars”, but… this time was something really special.

Being so big Chris’s fan (probably the biggest in Bulgaria ;-)), it's a shame for me that Chris had come only 2 times to Bulgaria, but I have not gone to see him on his concert in other country but just waited for him to come again. So… I decided that on this tour I will definitely go. The first question was – where exactly. In the very beginning I chose Austria as it is much closer to Bulgaria than Germany. But there are lots of autograph sessions during the Germany tour. How may I go on Chris’s concert and miss to see him personally? So, the first decision has been taken – I will go on 07.02. 06 in Erfurt.

I phoned to my cousin who lives in Germany to help in my trip organization there. I had to fly to Koln and after that to take a train to Erfurt. The price for the train only in one direction was… 90 Euros ??? If the ticket is bought 3 days earlier, there is a discount and it could be 3 times cheaper. So, my cousin did all reservation via internet – for the train, for some small hotels in Koln and Erfurt and I should have kept the fixed schedule without any delay for my entire trip within Germany in order to use these discounts. I agreed to take this risk.  Just to let you know that all these activities were done within 2-3 days just before the concert in Erfurt. So, all the decisions should have been taken very quickly.

But  .. .the most important thing has left – the ticket for the concert. Unfortunately in the meantime we were planning the trip the electronic tickets have finished. There were left only tickets that you may buy directly on the cash-desk. My cousin found a friend who lives in Erfurt and may buy the ticket for me. This lady agreed and… bought the ticket. I had to take it from the cash-desk when arrived.

But… meanwhile she was buying the ticket for me (I did not know this at that moment) I decided to find out how the things for the concert are arranged in Austria. I called to the given telephone number of the concert’s organizer in Austria. – “Event-connection”. I talked to a lady, called Petra and asked her for a ticket for Chris’s concert. We clarified all details by the phone and… just in 2 hours I got an e-mail from her with the following information: “you have a reserved ticket on the 3rd row and reserved hotel for 28 euros just on 5 minutes walk from the hall”. All went so quickly and smoothly than I really had the feeling that it is the “right time, right place” ;-). Then I took the very right decision – I will not go in Erfurt, I will go in Gleisdorf.

So in one and a same moment I had 2 tickets for Chris’s concert – one in Erfurt and one in Gleisdorf ;-)))). I’m opening a small bracket to recommend this lady – Petra Liebscher to everybody who would like to visit any concert in Austria (www.event-connection.at). She really does a professional job. Later in this report you will see as well what a nice person she is.

Meanwhile I got an advice from Pete (from the official CN Fan club) that it is much better to be on a concert in Austria than in Germany, as the concerts in Germany are too crowded. Her advice appeared to be very true.

So, let’s go into the real point. This is how my trip started. I took a bus from Sofia to Gratz at 15.00h on 16.02.06. I arrived in Gratz at 6.30 a.m next morning. Just 1.30 hour later I took a train to Gleisdorf. I arrived at 8.30 a.m. The town is very small; the population is about 5100 people. I found very easy the way to the center and the Forum hall, what was the main purpose. I went in the office where the tickets were sold. What a surprise I had when the man found out that I was coming from Bulgaria, took out from a box a paper and read my name. So… fortunately everything went according to the plan. I bought the ticket and I forwarded to the hotel. The same thing happened there as well. The lady – the hotel owner read (with German accent of course) my name from a reservation book. So, I checked in the hotel, left my baggage and… back to the hall again. The big track and the bus of the band have been arrived already.

It is absolutely impossible to be in one and a same town with Chris and to spend the time somewhere apart from the hall where the concert will be. So, I spent the whole day in the lobby of the hall. There were huge windows, so I could keep an eye on the side entrance, where the band should come in. Meanwhile I got acquainted with the technicians of the Forum and a guy, representative of Event-Connection (company – organizer for Austria). They were assembling the sound and light equipment during the day. The guys were very impressed what a big fan am I, coming from Bulgaria, traveling all the way long and… spent the day in the hall. The band came at 15.00h and the sound check started. I recognized Pete and George – Chris’s manager, but the others – I have seen for the first time.

I bought a white rose for Chris and gave it to the Forum guys to put it on the nicest seat in the hall to reserve it just for me, as there were no fixed seats on the tickets.

While I was waiting I started a conversation with a guy from "Event-connection" and I asked him if he knew Petra, who made all the reservation for me. He said: “Of course, she is here, she just arrived. Would you like to meet her?” Of course I wanted to meet her and to thank her personally. So, the guy introduced me to Petra and we both were very glad to meet each other and we made a picture together.

So, the long-expected hour came – 19.00h when Chris should have come. I stayed at the inside entrance and waited for him. He arrived with a grey metallic Mercedes, went out and … my heart stopped ;-). He wore a black coat and he looked magnificent. There was a 10-years old girl who was waiting for him too. I let her to go first to ask for an autograph and after that it was my turn. I handed to Chris for an autograph my photo with him. He asked me: “Where is it from”. I told – “From Bansko (Bulgaria) 4 years ago”. He did not tell anything else, just signed the photo and went in.  I went in the hall as well from the main entrance. The people were going into the hall as well. I tried to find my reserved seat with a rose on it. And then … surprise. I saw my seat on the very first raw in the very middle with a label, stuck on the seat “Reserviert fur Galina Koleva” and my rose on it. This view made me really very glad and… very proud. (Later on I found out that the idea of this surprise belongs to Petra).

The band came on the stage at 20.00 exactly and just a minute after them – Chris appeared. The first thought that came instantly into my mind was: “Oh my God, What a boy he is still”.

Chris started with: “Alles Klar” – although, I personally prefer all Chris’s lyrics and ballads, I have to admit that this song really gives a powerful energy charge. He continued with the next songs, given in the list above.

“Million miles to nowhere” is incredible song. Chris sat at the piano and said that this phrase is told by his grandfather, who has traveled a lot and he (Chris) does considers him as a very great man. Listening how Chris is singing it, his voice, his appearance, it really could make you cry. Pete played on the flute.

Some words about the new band. I liked all of them. Joye was very energetic on the stage. Axel - too. Shannon and Martina are very beautiful women ;-). So, the whole band looked very fresh.

It seems Chris really enjoys very much to play rock and roll. Playing this kind of songs he made the audience to stand and to dance. Lots of people came just in front of the stage to dance and see him closely.

After the last song the band all together made a bow to the ground and… disappeared inside. The concert lasted exactly 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Fortunately the technician guys showed me the inner door and let me in. There were several other fans that were waiting for Chris to come and to make a picture with him. The canteen was on the second floor where the band relaxed. George came downstairs and informed us that Chris would come within 10 minutes. After 10 minutes he came very smiley and agreed to give everybody an autograph and to make a picture with him. It was my turn at last. Somebody told to Chris: “This girl came from Bulgaria just for the concert”. He turned to me and I started to explain to him that I have been on their concert in Bulgaria in 1983, later on I was on his concert in Bansko in 2002 and I am very happy to see him again. He just smiled and we made a photo together. After that he went upstairs. George came again and I asked him that I would like to have an autograph from Pete as well and I gave a CD cover of original Smokie to him. He was glad to hear this, took it and went again upstairs. You can not imagine what a surprise was when he appeared just within 2 minutes, pointed a figure at me and said: “You, please come with me”. Unforgettable moment ;-) All others looked at me a little bit envy ;-) for this incredible luck. I went upstairs and found out that Pete has wanted to see personally the girl who wants an autograph from him. I told him that I was very big fan of Smokie before and I was glad to see them in Bulgaria in 1983. (Just 2 days after I found out that Pete has not been with Smokie at that time ;-) and probably he has never been in Bulgaria at all, but… who cares ;-)). He smiled to me, kissed me and Joye made us photo. After that I said to the whole band “Good luck” and all of them waved me for goodbye (you may see the picture of this moment). Just to tell you that Chris was not at that room at that moment. He was talking with George in the next room.

I left the room so happy and still could not believe for what has just happened.

I went outside. The people were still going out of the hall. There was a small desk in the lobby with some things from the Fan shop. I bought “My best songs” CD (2005) and went out.

There was another moment when I saw Chris. It was the last one. He went out from the inside door and just before to go into the car, 2 girls stopped him and asked him for a photo. Chris went in to the same car that he arrived with and… disappeared.

Thank you very much Chris for these magical moments! Thanks to them the life really seems much lighter and nicer, and you can go on filled with energy and desire to live it!