Got to go along with what everyone else has said, top, top Euro away and met some great lads off of here, Sweden Red (rawkite R.I.P!), Rhylred, Longworth, Pacman, ConnorYNWA.
Did the London to Lisbon on the Wednesday, so, so lucky with ticket prices. Bus for 1.40 to Marques De Pombal, brilliant price.
Met up with Longworth, Dean and Gareth, walked into town, couple of dodgy cocktails with some dodgy salty fluids and dishwater, say no more. Met up with Rhylred and Macca, just up on the train from Faro (Fair play to the real travelling KOP).
Headed into Rossio, nice square lovely evening. Few beers sat outside on a warm summers eve, nice change from the pants weather back home. Loads of dodgy crack and black dealers (or undercover bizzies?).
Rhyl red got one of them scarf sellers down from 15 to 5 euros, top haggle that.
Off to the Republic of beer (republica de cerveja) around the corner for some scran and watch the Gooners v Barca. Macca ordered us a 9 pint tower of Super Bock and became head barman.
I turned a few stomachs with my dodgy octopus starter, but held it down ok.
Andrew and i sneaked off for a couple of quad whiskies near the hotel before turning in for the night, 7 euros for 2 whiskies, which we thought was a great price.
Up next morning and off on metro to Oriente to see the longest bridge in Europe and harbour/docks area. 4 euro for a 24 hour travel card for all buses trains and trams, brilliant.
Then taxi'd over to the docks area (or docas as we are now all fluent in Portuguese) by the April 25th bridge. Great views, sunshine and cheap beers. Met Wayne and Mike. Great afternoon in the sunshine.
Back to hotel, i nearly got sliced in half by the ticket barrier at the train station, Waynes idea, not mine.
Went to team hotel 7.75 for a half a Sagres! Eventually got my shirt signed by Carra, great lad, even told me the pen wasn't working and said sorry, then had another go, thanks Jamie, legend. Phil got his photo with King Kenny, nice one.
All the lads great sports, Pepe, Stevie, Ryan, Dirk, Jamie, Rafa and last as usual Nando. Not sure what question SwedenRed asked Rafa but his face in the photo is a picture!
Went to the ground. Met loads of Benfica fans, Gareth and Dean bought us all a piss pot of beer, size of a small bucket.
Had a great chat with one of the Benfica lads telling me about the old stadium, all standing and 120 thousand and how intimidating it was and called the stadium of light - hell. Good lads.
great photo of Peter Evo sneaking in a group Benfica supporters photo.
Off to ground queued up in the wrong bit, but luckilly some locals put is right. No hassle getting in apart from all the searches. Proof of travel still not showing on the website, so not sure about all the fan card malarky.
Beautiful stadium (American owners, take note, this is what we need and what you promised to commit to 60,000 + stadium!).
Great atmosphere and that Eagle at the beginning was spine tingling stuff.
The less said about the decisions during the game, the better, but i am sure we can turn this around if we do a Benfica and put on a reciprocal crowd performance. Get campione going, or a variation of the old la bamba song going all around the ground.
On the way in a couple of lads were singing a recycled old Sissoko song, which made me laugh:-
Europa, its sad
Benfica away is not bad
Europa, its sad
But Hamburg in May is not bad
Back to Rossio afterwards, met Sion and the Carmarthen lot on the metro. Back to Republic of beer, more beers and Octopus, then bed.
Great trip, thanks to everyone. Can't wait for Atletico.
