Back home and ready to go again for today - comes round quick. Reflecting on an odd trip in Naples.
I'm glad to be home. Yet I enjoyed it towards the end. It took me about 3 days to relax into it and to 'get it' a bit more. It's noisy and chaotic - everything I'd read really. With the tight streets as well, all feels a bit on top of you.
There are police around, but they don't seem in much control - not many European cities you see with kids (under 16) with no helmets on riding around. It takes you by surprise a bit, because it feels more like an Eastern country, than a Western developed place.
There's no money there. It's a working city. Nobody seems one bit bothered about making any of it 'clean and new', which gives it some charm and problems at the same time.
The first days were Moody with a capital M. Honestly it just didn't feel nice or comfortable and I don't think it was all in my head. The days after the game it felt much nicer. The city itself, the churches, the underground parts - I visited most - and it was great. Amazing food as well. Them sfogliatelle things I could eat all day.
The surrounding area like Vesuvius, Pompeii and Herculaneum were brilliant to visit.
What to say about the travel to the game? Well I think some credit is deserved - this game and Rome - you honestly can't fault how many police and how much effort is put into all of this. You feel safe - though you feel less like they're protecting you, and more there to control you. It's all a bit too much, but then if the alternative is we're left to ourselves I'll take this every time. I'm not sure why these European clubs think we're all 'ultras' - time has moved on but they don't seem to have caught on that Liverpool (or any English club) have that type of fan anymore. Just normal working class people there to see the footy, a few sights and a drink. I don't like being made to feel like a dangerous criminal - I'm just going the footy. Not sure what can be done?
I got to the meeting point around 5:15 - well - got there at 5 but waited near the wrong coaches till I twigged on. On the coach at 6:10. Circled most of Naples and arrived about 1 hour later at the stadium - inside for about 7:30. Not too bad considering. Was glad to be in the ground and was maybe lucky to get on the earlier coaches. Journey was fine, as was in the stadium. A strange away end this was - flat, quiet. Shite game. Thought their fans would have been louder. They didn't seem arsed early on.
Also - nice one to whoever at the club put water/crisps on. It's a tiny cost and effort, but goes a long way. (Not sure if those on the 2 hour coaches will fully agree!).
I think with the coaches - it was always going to take 1 hour - the route is like a dual carriage way, and avoids city centres and obvious places for issues. The problem is if they tell you it will be 1 hour, people won't go on it - but by saying it's 20minutes and then being 1 hour and more, it winds everyone up. If you've done these trips for a while, you just sort of know to expect it. It needs some work though - otherwise people will just avoid it in the future.
LFC stewards - only saw them at the meeting point? Didn't see one inside or outside the stadium again. Always concerns me that does - would prefer more faces. A confusing wait for over an hour after the game with no communication. Honestly it's not hard to just let people know and treat people with a bit of respect is it.
Coach back - miserable. Packed.
Then after all that- just left to run the gauntlet I the city- because the taxis had all gone to those on the first coaches.
That walk was not pleasant. More taxis next time please. Back at hotel around 1:30.
Not sure if I'd recommend Naples to people or not. It's not an easy destination.
Where we off next. Belgrade isn't it. Can't wait.
