Even though I live in Switzerland, I decided to book a hotel for Thursday night, make it more like a Euro away. Booked Tuesday at late o clock after a few beers. 7 Km away from Sion, ah easy I can walk that at a push, wrong 7 Km as the crow flies on a google map. Sion is 500 meters above sea level, my hotel was 1,300 meters above sea level so 800 meters above Sion, the view was fantastic
Train was full of Reds, good fun but was not up for it at that time of day, I work nights....so arriving at 13;30 in Sion is a very early start for me.
Three or four buses a day to reach my dizzy heights (my ears popped more than once) so went for a taxi, 60-70 francs to get there..ouch. How much to wait for ten minutes till I check in and head back to town? 5 francs more...ok, happy days.
Hotel reception was empty...just keys sitting on the desk with names on them, picked mine up and dropped off my new stash of duty free smokes, thanks lads, job well done....I forgot about the whiskey though Tom...I'm sure the cleaning lady enjoyed it.
Met two lads at the hotel so we jumped back into the taxi and away we went back down the mountain, the group that arrived in the car, I hope you finally believed me and picked up your keys at the reception.
A quick drink in the bar with the never drink alone banner outside, was good to see a few familiar faces and then to that sports bar.
Managed to get a pint after a bit of waiting but that was the one and only one there, the supermarket across the road suddenly became more attractive, sorry pretty barmaids but at least I get full measures and don't get thirsty.
And then the miracle happened, I found a spare. Thanks, Mannu and Aline from the Swiss Liverbirds.
Continued with the supermarket cans, then the game.....
...after the game, after getting lost a bit and finding a garage with cans, met up again with the lads, and went for a bowl of cheese soup and small pieces of bread...commonly known as Fondue, sorry about the schnapps lads but that's the traditional way
After once again being memorized by bigredtom's song inventory, I ended up in the Sion's Ultras bar with a few others, most if not all were friendly but at that stage I did not really care....still had some cans.
Next thing I remember is waking up to the most beautiful sunrise on my hotel bed, took my trabs off then and slept for a few more hours.
Great trip, even the 3 and a half hour wait for the bus down the mountain didn't spoil it....although it was scary in my hungover state looking down that drop.
Cannot wait for the draw, no predictions just hope.