It's fair to say that, in recent times, Greece has struggled financially. Some would even go as far to say they suffered a bit of a financial crisis, something of a meltdown, if you will. I won't bore you as to how and why the nation that paved the way for so many things in the modern world has landed in that situation for two reasons; Firstly, you likely don't give a toss, and secondly, I don't know. I'm not an economics scholar for a reason.
As a result, I felt my trip to Greece needed no pre-adventure research, and I flew with an open mind. No, okay, of course I didn't. The way the English press goes on, I was expecting immigrants to be swamping me at the airport, prostitutes on every corner, and to find myself sharing a tent with a Syrian over the course of the weekend. What we found was something quite different.
As a result, I felt my trip to Greece needed no pre-adventure research, and I flew with an open mind. No, okay, of course I didn't. The way the English press goes on, I was expecting immigrants to be swamping me at the airport, prostitutes on every corner, and to find myself sharing a tent with a Syrian over the course of the weekend. What we found was something quite different.
What we instead discovered was a beautiful, vibrant city, bustling with activity. Athens is located in the south of the country, right on the Mediterranean, and damn it, it's probably my favourite city of the year. History meets modern culture everywhere you look, alongside a lifestyle that seemed calm yet busy all the same. It didn't come across as a typical capital city, paved in gift shops, more one that was looking to reassess its direction following a crippling financial implosion.
Our first day in the city was as you'd expect it to be amongst a group of travelling English football fans. Struggle with the language, mooch around aimlessly looking at things, end up in the pub. If anybody else can offer me an alternative suggestion when deciding how to spend your first night in a country, I'm all ears. I'm now quite accustomed to this routine, and I'm quite happy to carry it on. Of course, we ended up in 'Athens Sports Bar', and it became our drinking hole of choice over the course of the weekend. Good drink, football on the box, and some cracking Prawns and Chips dinner. What a place.
Our first day in the city was as you'd expect it to be amongst a group of travelling English football fans. Struggle with the language, mooch around aimlessly looking at things, end up in the pub. If anybody else can offer me an alternative suggestion when deciding how to spend your first night in a country, I'm all ears. I'm now quite accustomed to this routine, and I'm quite happy to carry it on. Of course, we ended up in 'Athens Sports Bar', and it became our drinking hole of choice over the course of the weekend. Good drink, football on the box, and some cracking Prawns and Chips dinner. What a place.
Worry not, our Greek weekend wasn't simply a booze-up by the sea. We're all reasonably well-cultured people (we've all seen a picture of a Picasso painting before) and so Saturday was spent exploring the great, historical surroundings we'd landed in.
First stop however was a whistle-stop tour over to the Olympic Park, home of the Olympic Stadium, which, if you hadn't already twigged, is the home of AEK Athens, our primary reason for being in the country in the first place. With the game being played on the Sunday night, we took the sensible path, and purchased our tickets the morning before the big game.
Simply go to the metro stop of the ground (I won't try and spell it on here with my Western keyboard, but it translates as 'Olympic Stadium') and as you leave the station and enter the park there's a hut to your left covered in graffiti. Thankfully, the lad that served me spoke good English, and we were able to get good seats for 20 Euros a piece. Word of warning, security at Greek football is quite high (the Panathinaikos fans were banned from attending this fixture) and as such, you will need to provide some form of identification when buying tickets, passport being the preferable option.
First stop however was a whistle-stop tour over to the Olympic Park, home of the Olympic Stadium, which, if you hadn't already twigged, is the home of AEK Athens, our primary reason for being in the country in the first place. With the game being played on the Sunday night, we took the sensible path, and purchased our tickets the morning before the big game.
Simply go to the metro stop of the ground (I won't try and spell it on here with my Western keyboard, but it translates as 'Olympic Stadium') and as you leave the station and enter the park there's a hut to your left covered in graffiti. Thankfully, the lad that served me spoke good English, and we were able to get good seats for 20 Euros a piece. Word of warning, security at Greek football is quite high (the Panathinaikos fans were banned from attending this fixture) and as such, you will need to provide some form of identification when buying tickets, passport being the preferable option.
The rest of the day was spent exploring all that Athens had to offer, including the Acropolis, Panathaneic Stadium and the Parthenon. Thankfully, Saturday was the hottest day I'd known since our excursion to Norway back in June, and so a slow wander through the city was always going to be the order of the day. It also allowed me to take arguably the greatest photo ever, shown to your left as Andy waves back in the tunnel of the Panathaneic Stadium. There's absolutely no editing there at all, genuinely. |
After a long day of being academic, a lot of it was us nodding and appreciating that what we were exploring was pretty cool, we ended up back in the pub. Athens Sports Bar played host to some more prawns and chips, some more football and of course, what turned out to be the beginning of a night out. At some stage during the night, we managed to befriend a group of friendly Internazionale fans. Before I knew it, the entire corner of the bar was doing tequila slammers, and well, that's a tale for another day. Not that I remember all that much...
As an evening kick off, Sunday was spent simply recovering from a hangover, whilst continuing to enjoy Athens in all it's brilliance. I don't know if I've mentioned that I really enjoyed Athens, but trust me when I say this, I really enjoyed my time in Athens. Cracking city and all that. Eddy had spent the past few days chatting on about Souvlaki, a type of kebab panini that was apparently incredible, and we eventually caved midway through Sunday afternoon, found a vendor just up the road from our drinking hole of choice, and tucked in.
Not for the first time over the weekend, Eddy had played an absolute blinder. Souvlaki is a type of sandwich kebab piece of heaven filled with beef, salad, sauce, and chips, and christ was it good. So good in fact, I even took a picture of it for you to have a look at, don't be jealous. You should really be jealous.
The day was quickly wearing on, and so we decided it best to head over towards the ground, via some rock climbing as we looked to get away from the area surrounding the Acropolis. Olmpiacos had clinched the league title earlier in the day, whilst I was posing in front of sunny landscapes in fact, but we were going to watch an altogether different prospect. We were going to see an Athens derby, in the country's Olympic Stadium, between two of the countries most famous old clubs. Let it be known, I was very excited. Very excited indeed.
Not for the first time over the weekend, Eddy had played an absolute blinder. Souvlaki is a type of sandwich kebab piece of heaven filled with beef, salad, sauce, and chips, and christ was it good. So good in fact, I even took a picture of it for you to have a look at, don't be jealous. You should really be jealous.
The day was quickly wearing on, and so we decided it best to head over towards the ground, via some rock climbing as we looked to get away from the area surrounding the Acropolis. Olmpiacos had clinched the league title earlier in the day, whilst I was posing in front of sunny landscapes in fact, but we were going to watch an altogether different prospect. We were going to see an Athens derby, in the country's Olympic Stadium, between two of the countries most famous old clubs. Let it be known, I was very excited. Very excited indeed.
I bought a scarf as we clambered from the metro station down towards the ground. I got so caught up in the excitement and buzz, not only of the game, but the fans around me flocking to see their team, that I simply couldn't say no. I wrapped it carefully around my neck as we mingled with the swarm of yellow and black that was bearing down on the ground ahead of us. Let me tell you know, AEK's Olympic Stadium, Olympiakó Stádio Spiros Louis, looks incredible lit up. I felt like a kid going to my first football match.
We took our seats, to the left of the main AEK ultras, known as Original 21, and they were incredible.They put on a show before the game, and when Ronald Vargas scored the winning goal with a delicious free-kick in the 78th minute, they put on a show like I've never seen before. Sadly, Panathinaikos' Gate 13 weren't in attendance, the majority of away fans are currently banned in Greek football, but Original 21 certainly made up for that.
Before the game, as the pyro was launched and the stadium launched itself into party mode, I noticed a young lad sat the row in front of our small collective. He was transfixed on the AEK ultras, eyes agaze as they went through their routine, not too dissimilar to myself in fact. I could see it unfolding in front of my eyes, this young lad was already an AEK fan for life. I even allowed myself a half smile as I looked back to stare into the smoky wonder that was emanating from my right.
Before the game, as the pyro was launched and the stadium launched itself into party mode, I noticed a young lad sat the row in front of our small collective. He was transfixed on the AEK ultras, eyes agaze as they went through their routine, not too dissimilar to myself in fact. I could see it unfolding in front of my eyes, this young lad was already an AEK fan for life. I even allowed myself a half smile as I looked back to stare into the smoky wonder that was emanating from my right.
A lot of groundhoppers would turn their nose up to this place. It's a bowl, it's modern, it's surrounded by a running track. I certainly couldn't have nipped out of my seat and up the stairs to a nice comforting bovril. No, Olympiakó Stádio Spiros Louis was more than that, so much more than that. I felt a feeling of belonging, belonging as a football fan. The entire ground oozed with passion, and passion for only two things in this world, football, and AEK Athens. Everybody sang the name of each player as they were announced on the tannoy, everybody sang the club anthem, everybody erupted when Vargas scored the winner.
I felt a sense of disappointment as the final whistle blew, I was in no mood to leave so soon. It sounds deep, and it sounds silly, but I almost re-discovered my childish obsession with football that fateful night in the Greek capital. I think everybody did. Moments like those I experienced during those two hours, the tension, the giddy excitement, the passion, the sense of togetherness, that's why I fell in love with football. I've a beaming grin forming on my face just thinking about it.
I felt a sense of disappointment as the final whistle blew, I was in no mood to leave so soon. It sounds deep, and it sounds silly, but I almost re-discovered my childish obsession with football that fateful night in the Greek capital. I think everybody did. Moments like those I experienced during those two hours, the tension, the giddy excitement, the passion, the sense of togetherness, that's why I fell in love with football. I've a beaming grin forming on my face just thinking about it.
In a time of so much political strife across international borders, and almost hateful disdain towards those genuinely in need, it's interesting to know that AEK Athens were formed originally by a group of refugees, don't you think?
Cheers
Sheridan
Cheers
Sheridan