Drove up early on the day of the game - was gonna avoid trying to park anywhere near the ground after reading there'd be no parking and to use the Metro, but
so glad we avoided that advice as apart from a couple of streets reserved for buses there was plenty of spaces knocking about. Had a quick walk round the area
and found a few little bars but there wasn't really much around apart from apartment blocks.
Got the metro into town and a couple of us went to pick up our tickets from designated hotel in town. Felt a bit uneasy doing this to be honest as there were a few people hanging around outside watching people going in and out for theirs, and the fact you went through a side door and not the hotel entrance made it obvious what you were there for. Got tickets no problem, and wandered into the main hotel bit to find a quiet corner to phone the other lads and tell them we were sorted. Where we ended up, there were a few fans talking to Liverpool FC ticket staff as they'd been followed and had their tickets robbed off them. Didn't catch all the conversation but from what I did hear the club where in no position to help, as they couldn't stop the original tickets being used and couldn't get these people any replacements, as UEFA had handled all ticketing arrangements. Like I said earlier on, the fact you went through a side door, and not the hotel itself made you an easy target for anyone who really wanted your ticket, and that's why we hung around in the hotel for a while and left through the main entrance to make it look as though we were just staying there.
Met the rest in town afterwards and enjoyed a few bars. All the spanish were great and a few told us how they wanted us to win, as we'd knocked out Barcelona and
were very grateful for that. Waited for my uncles plane to land as he was on the TC flight, and told him not to come into town as it was gone 3pm by then, and that
we'd meet him in one of the bars we'd found near the stadium itself. Spent the late afternoon in there and it wasn't busy at all, as most were still in town. Again Bar staff really friendly and owner again made reference to us beating Barcelona and how they were all wanting to us to win, but no free Ale as a reward for doing so
(
Got to the stadium early, as I was in Athens and felt there could be more of the same getting in here, but getting there early meant it was fine. Got through the 1st ticket check point and then you were inside waiting for the actual gates to open. No issues with police or anything, there in numbers at this point but just watching over everyone. Saw a few being denied access into the actual stadium as they obviously had fake tickets, but don't think the tickets were actually taken off them, to stop them trying another gate or even selling them on.
After the game car was still in one peace, and finally managed to find our way to Motorway as all the roads we'd used to get in were closed except to the buses taking fans back to the Airport.
Really enjoyable day/evening and the spanish were great with us, and so were the spurs fans we met on the day, next time though think I'll get my tickets posted to us
rather than having to go and pick them up.
