Fifa Fever

Its almost a week now. Time flies when you're occupied.

I havent been able to write after I got back from the trip last Sunday.
Partially it was due to the fact that I was so tied down with work, I gotta complete something by this week so that the people here wont have an excuse to hold me back any longer.

The trip last weekend was really an experience. A new sensation that I've never felt before. A high one too.

I booked the taxi from my hotel in Mestre to the airport the night before, told them I wished to leave at 6:30am. I woke up late. Rushing out of my door, I made the taxi driver waited for 15mins. I was lucky he wasnt any typical Italian. And that itself, was already an exciting morning for me. An early dose of adreneline to kick start my day. Having to rush out the door and packed whatever's not packed from the night before. I remembered I was smiling in the cab after that.

Getting on the plane from Venice's Marco Polo airport at 8:55am, flying north-west bound for 1 hour and 10mins, I reached Cologne's Bonn International Airport right at about slightly past 10 in the morning. The weather was rather hot. The airport was crowded with tourists. There were counters everywhere with signs about the upcoming football match - the match I was gonna watch on that day. I managed to get the Fly and Rail with the air ticket I bought with an additional 19Euro per day. With this ticket, I get unlimited rides on trains to any destination in Germany. Save me alot of effort of having to queue up for tickets and worrying about how much to pay etc. Ease of mind. Something I dont mind spending when I travel.

Once out of the arrival hall, I followed the signs to the train tracks just two levels below. The train arrived at the platform in less than 3 mins. I boarded. It took me to the central station in less than 15mins. Pretty efficient. I like this place already. People speaks english, streets are clean, trains are good. I tried not to compare with what I get in Venice. But I just can't help it.
Once I got out of the train station, I flagged a cab, showed them an address and they took me to the place where I'm gonna collect my ticket to the world event. The place was a makeshift office, an apartment located at some narrow streets with no signboard except for a small doorbell with the company label. I bumped into a father-son czech. They were there to collect their tickets too.

Another cab ride after that took me to my hotel. Where I had just booked from the internet without really looking much at the details. The price was reasonable enough and location was (i think) good. So I just placed the booking. It turns out, the hotel was a surprised. It was all good. And better. Another surprise for my already good day. This is indeed A DAY. The building is not big, but its really classy and the room, is just...perfect. After I'm done checking in, and since the game was at 6pm...I still have 4 hours to go, before I need to head to the stadium.

I went out, and with the map the hotel provided me...I headed to the nearby subway station...which is only 3 mins walk. I took the train from the opposite side :P I should be heading to the central station again, which is only 2-3 stops from my hotel. But instead I went 5 stops to realize I was on the opposite track. Well, its an adventure anyway...so I got off, head across the street and waited another 15mins for the next train and back tracked about 8 stations to get to the central station.

Central station was full with people, with banners, flags, signs etc. Football fanatics. With bright costumes, heavy makeups. I can already feel the party mood here, and this is not even the stadium yet! The Catheredal was just outside the station, alot of people has been gathering at this huge open area and by the stairs to the cathederal. I went around shooting pictures, posing with all the interesting people i saw. It's a bright sunny day, the weather's perfect. I guess it's just a perfect day after all. Or was it just my mood? :P

I met an Indonesian there while taking pictures, she was there alone. So we decided to help each other with the picture. She has been in Cologne for 5months now and she speaks german. She is on one of those cultural exchange program. She was really surprised that i'm a Malaysian and even more, when she found out I was in Jakarta for 2 years...AND I SPEAK indonesian :P Though, my indonesian has deteriorated after I left Jakarta but i guess I havent lost all of it yet. From that moment onwards, I was blurting out words in Indonesian for my 2 days in Germany. Hmm...somehow its kinda ironic...i dont think i've spoken that much of indonesian in a day even back in Jakarta.

My newfound friend was not goin for the match. But she followed (or rather I followed her) to the stadium. When we got there, the crowd and the mood has gone up a few notches as compared to those at the station. Though most of them from the station did made their way to the stadium with us. The train was packed. Mostly czech supporters on my car. Singing along as we go. It was a fun thing. Everyone's smiling, cheering. The faces were so much different compared to the faces ... after the game. I guess they never saw that coming. Neither did I.

We took some more pics at the entrance. More people goin around with signs "I Need Tickets". Too bad. I'm hugging onto mine very tightly. Afraid that I might lost it. Before we parted ways, we exchanged emails and phone number. My Indonesian friend is a friendly one. She has nothing on the weekend, so she said if im up for it...she could bring me around on Sunday before I leave Germany. I told her I'd get back to her in the evening after the game. Then there's the goodbye and I queued up for the ticket inspection.

Inside the stadium, it was a completely different world. This is really a PARTY. And only privelleged ones are allowed to enter. The very few that has the ticket compared to the crowd outside. I met a Czech guy at the entrance, he said he was there with friends. He is very lucky he managed to get the ticket just earlier. I asked him, how much...he said "300 Euro! But I'm so lucky! There are alot of people still waiting out there...they cant even find a ticket!" And in my mind, I was saying to myself "Wow, and i bought mine at 190Euro...same category as yours...if i were to throw it out at 400 or 500. My trip here would be an all PAID one." Hmmm...but nah...that wasnt what I wanted anyway. I'd rather keep the ticket and enjoy the experience :P.

The game was a great one. I wont elaborate much. I can't even put into words what I felt during the game. It was a really grand experience. One that I would remember and cherish forever. The excitement, the passion, the crowd, the cheering, the mood...everything...was then one. And I felt it all at the same time.

After the Czechs lost to Ghana by 2-0, before I realize it...the whole stadium was left with the majority of Ghana supporters. Where has all the Czechs gone to?

I stayed till it was 9pm then headed back to my hotel. Hungry. Tired. On the way I sms my indonesian friend for the next day's plan. We are gonna meet at noon at the cathederal.

That nite after I have showered. I went out to look for food. It was already almost 10:00. The streets are still crowded with people at the sidewalks and sitting at cafe watching big screen tv's that was showing the match between Italy and USA. I made my way to a local brewery, suggested by the hotel staff. ordered a pork knuckle and beer. It was a sumptious meal. The very taste of Germany. It's a fine day indeed.

The next morning, there was breakfast in the hotel. Then I just went out to a nearby store to get a calling card and call home. By 1130, I had checkout from the hotel and headed to the Cathederal where I'm suppose to wait for my new friend. When I got there, she was already waiting at the stairs. She said she needed to visit the cybercafe to upload some pics she took from yesterday. So she brought me an older part of the town, where the charges for the internet cafe is just 75cents / 30mins. Cheap! Compared to the one I have in my hotel in Venice. Well, thats an entirely different story...perhaps another time.

After we're done with the cafe, she brought me back to the town centre where there was Rein and Boon. One was the bridge, one the river. Erm...I think. Anyway, there was this big bridge that spans across a river. It was quite a pleasant sight. Not bad for sight seeing. Then we went to some shopping district. Too bad its a Sunday, so most shops...like any other place here in Europe, do not operate on Sundays. So its all look and no buy. Good thing. Cause I've spent a bomb on this trip already. Gotta save up some.

At 4pm, it was time for me to head to the airport. We took our last pic together. Said our goodbyes. I hopped on the train, waited a while and it sped off to the airport. My flight back to Venice leaves at 6. But apparently it got delayed. And I got home...although rather tired...but still managed to spend an hour on WoW before I call it a day...or rather...a great weekend.

* I cant seem to post any pictures here...no idea why...everytime i upload, once done...nothing happen...i got tired of trying...i'm leaving for home in 5 hours...so maybe next time ;)

*Decided to upload to imagestation instead. Since I've got plenty and it's difficult to post everything here. So here goes...view album