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THE FIRST DAY - 1st of APRIL We arrived in Como at near 12pm, we left our luggage and rapidly caught the bus for Appiano Gentile. Before our leave for Italy, i've found a map of the area in the Internet and we knew which is the street for the Training Center - Viale Dello Sport (i will remember this name forever). We were walking on the Viale Dello Sport a long time (it is 1.8km out of the town) and at one moment the Training Center was in front of our eyes. We couldn't believe it. We were walking to it (it was already 2pm) and were wondering who is there and will we have the possibility to see BATI or not. Finally we were in front of the gates where the Inter football players pass with their cars. In front of them were only 4 or 5 old italian men (true Inter fans), they were talking. There was nobody at the training ground. The training session was already finished. We still couldn't belive where we've arrived and where we are.

After maybe 3 minutes the gates opened and in front of us appeared a big, black Jaguar car.... The old men began to wave and shout 'BATI, ciao BATI'. Our BATI was in the car and he was leaving the Training Center. We couldn't belive it. We arrived at Pinetina only 3 minutes ago, BATI was in this car, he passed near us and waved from the car with a marvellous smile on his face. The ONLY Inter player who we saw on this day (1st of April) was GABRIEL BATISTUTA. We said to each other: 'Maybe it is a sign'.... After 10 minutes we left the center (very embarrassed, nervous and happy) and went back to our hotel in Como. We began to prepare our plan for the next day.

THE SECOND DAY - 2nd of APRIL

We knew that the training was sheduled for 10.30 in the morning. At 10 o'clock we were there - in front of the gates. We had prepared a little Bulgarian present for BATI. It was a hand-made horseshoe put in a little box made of wood. Here in Bulgaria the horseshoe is for luck. We wanted to give it to BATI for good luck. The previous night i wrote on a small piece of paper (with the incredible help of my Bulgarian-Italian phrase-book) that we are two Bulgarian Inter and BATISTUTA fans (mainly!) and we just want to beg someone to give our present to BATI.

So, when we arrived at the Training Center again, there were 3 men (door-keepers) at the gates. I was wondering which of the them is likely to help us. Finally i chose one of them and walked to him. He was 'our' man. Somehow i chose the right man... I gave him this small piece of paper with our explanation. I was holding in my hands the little package with our present for BATI. The man read eveything, gave back to me the paper, took the package with the present and told me 'O.K., no problem, i'll give it to him, you just have to wait here'. He asked the other men if BATI has already come or not. They weren't sure and then he asked the fans in front of the gates (they were maybe 10-11 children). They told him that BATI has still not come. We were waiting there, very nervous and wondering what will happen. After maybe 6-7 minutes we saw this big black Jaguar coming to the gates.... It was BATI's car.

The other men ('our' man was talking with fans) opened the gates and BATI stopped in front of them to sign some autographs. He stopped, opened the window and i SAW HIM! I saw his face, his eyes, his smile... Guys, i couldn't believe my eyes - inside the car was BATI, he looked like an ANGEL.... Now i understood why Katy has hidden behind her friend the first time when she saw HIM.

Immediately at the window were all of the fans waiting there, they bagan to push their's way to HIM. HE began to sign their papers and pads. I was standing near them, wondering what to do, holding my BATI's picture for an autograph. Immediately i understood i have NO chance to push them (i definately didn't want to do it) and maybe i will not have mine autograph.... I went some steps back to my husband, being very sad. After a very short time, BATI stopped to sign autographs and was already getting through the gates.

At that moment 'our' man came and shouted to BATI: "Gabriel, wait, wait." BATI stopped, 'our' man called me. At the following moment we were at the window of his car. He said him 'Gabriel, please, read this! They came from Bulgaria! They travelled 2000km to come here!'. He gave to BATI the small piece of paper with our explanation. Then i gave to BATI a pan and one of my favourite photos of him. When he took them inside the car to sign the picture, i touched his hand! Guys, it was UNBELIEVABLE! I touched his hand and i couldn't believe it... BELIEVE me, HE signed the photo with great pleasure!

After that, BATI turned to me, smiled and gave me back the photo already signed. By HIM. Guys, i will NEVER forget HIS face and smile in that moment... NEVER!

Then he went through the gates and dissapeared.... Me and my husband were standing there and couldn't believe what happened. 'Our' man saw us and our feelings and said me: "Hey, take it calmly. You are almost crying, take it easy". He was smiling with all his heart - this marvellous man who made one of our dreams come true. After that, we went to watch the training session. We were watching it with wide opened eyes, full of happiness. When the training session was over, 'our' man came to us (near the net which separates the training ground and the seats for fans) and said me very quiåtly: "Now the players will go to have lunch, after that you have to be at the gates." We couldn't believe our ears and wondering what will happen. We began to feel like we were in heaven, wondering if all these things are true or not...

Almost all of the fans were gone and we went to the gates, waiting. Suddenly 'our' man came, he was with an official Inter representative and said us "Come here, come". After that, we were already few steps behind the gates, shaking our hands with this official Inter representative. He smiled and said us "Hello. Now we will make it with big descretion and much calmly, O.K.?!". 'Our' man had already told him everything about us.

Guys, we definately couldn't belive what was happening - we were already inside the Training Center, at the place where nobody of the fans is allowed to be.... It was incredible! We were walking, the official representative left us and, we together with 'our' man continued to walk. Finally we were near a small building in front of which was Pasquale. All the other players were in the bath after the training. One by one they were coming out and going to have lunch. We couldn't believe our eyes and the fact that we were INSIDE the Training Center. 'Our' man was telling to everyone of the players that we came from Bulgaria travelling 2000 km to Italy with the ONLY purpose to see them. He was showing them the banner which we've made. On it we'd written (in italian) 'We are two Bulgarian Inter fans. We travelled 2000 km only to see you. The only thing we beg you is one photo with BATI, TOLDO and the rest of the team." Everything was incredible. We began to take pictures with Toldo (We even were talking with him for a while! He was very impressed!), Crespo, Cordoba, H. Zanetti, Pasquale, Di Biagio, Guly, Canavaro.... I really have no words to explain how we were feeling.

All the time we were waiting for the man called GABRIEL OMAR BATISTUTA.... Almost all of the other players were already out but HE still not. Finally HE went out from this building, after he was taking a bath.

HE was with wet hair, smiling, EXTREMELY good looking.... Guys, HE looks MUCH BETTER than at the pictures and TV (if you can even imagine him looking better). We couldn't believe our eyes. BATI came directly to us, said us: "Ciao!" and after this we were shaking our hands - me and my husband with BATI.... 'Our' man was saying him again that we came from Bilgaria traveling 2000 km, but BATI showed him that he already knew it - during the training we saw how BATI was reading our banner. Inside the little package with the present (i'm absolutely sure 'our' man has given it to BATI) there was a very short letter from us (and also another one from one friend of mine). Guys, in this letter i also wrote (except our words to BATI) the address of our forum. BATI already knows of it's exsistence! Before our leave for Italy, Katy said me: "Mariela, you are the Ambassador of this forum". Dear Katy, Mission Completed!

After shaking our hands with him, 'our' man took picture of us with BATI, after that BATI said: "O.K., let's make another one...". He was in such good mood, smiling, knowing that we had come from Bulgaria especially for him... After a short moment of embarrassment, my husband took a pic of ME and BATI! After that, i turned to BATI and said him: "GRAZIE, GABRIEL!". He turned to me, smiled, took my hand and said "GRAZIE! CIAO!". Then said to my husband: "CIAO! IN BOCA AL LUPO!". And went to have lunch. I really can not explain you how i was feeling in that moment, guys.

We left the Training Center feeling like people who were touched by God.... We really SAW BATI, HOLDING his hand... In front of us were his EYES, his marvellous SMILE.... We HUGGED him on the photos....

I want to thank the MAN who helped us to be inside the Training Center, near BATI... The man who made our biggest dream come true. And to my husband too, cause he feels all these things like me.

This is my story, guys. Mission called 'GABRIEL OMAR BATISTUTA' was successfully completed. I desired it so much and hardly, and it happened... I lived almost 4 months with thought of it. I don't know how, but it really happened.

Maybe the only thing i can say is:

IT WAS A MIRACLE! THIS WILL BE THE BIGGEST EVER EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE! I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS DAY - THE 2nd OF APRIL, 2003!

Good luck, dear friends! Best wishes to everyone,

Mariela

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