Was reading about the journey to the game today...1,000 fans got on without tkts, advised everyone else to get off, they then beat up some of the train staff and smashed up the train....think I read that they are now banned from all remaining away games... Reckon that's what we must have looked like getting off our ancient train up at Boro a couple of years ago, waving our flasks in the air :-)
Re: Oakster's point about toffs on Amalfi coast....hmmm, wouldn't class myself as that at all, never having been to any of the places he listed, but would recommend it to anyone for scenery, atmosphere, fantasic food and romance (if that's your thing)...when I was last in Naples (in June) ALL the streets were still piled high with rubbish and it was disgusting....(and no, I wasn't in the 'tourist area').....altho perhaps calling it a 'hell hole' was a little over the top...watched Italy win one of their Euro 2008 group games in a local bar and had a great evening....
love italy, want to do it properly, a grand tour, take in Florence, Milan, Rome etc.
only been to Naples and the Sorrento coast - hoping to get over for Roma v Lazio or Sampdoria v Genoa/another big game this year though - their Ultras' take on non-commercialised football is different class
CC wasn't referring to you specifically - just our observations from a couple of weeks in the area a few years back.
We did go down as far south as Salerno, which isn't always on the tourists itinerary but we found it a very charming town & like practically all Italian football stadiums, Serie B side Salernitana's was open & easliy accesible - we had a good wander round.
If you want to see a derby match with intensity, you should check out Palermo vs Messina. i went the year both of them were promoteds to Serie A - it was the most incredible atmosphere I've ever seen (and I've seen Barca vs Madrid AND Roma vs Lazio). The fans are absolutely insane - I'm not talking about the rucks outside (of which there were plenty) but the general noise they made - it was like you imagine the noise at the coliseum would have been when the gladiators were fighting. then again, Palermitani in general are nuts - Palermos is NOT a nice place to go. I once went there when it was 45 degrees - visiting the wife's relatives who lived on the fifth floor of an apartment block (no lift). I lost about six pounds in weight that day...
First time I went to Italy was Italia '90 World Cup, when England got to the semi's.
The quarter'-final against Cameroon in Napoli was just like watching Charlton ...... goal up and coasting, then right out of the blue 2-1 down, last minute penalty equaliser ....and extra time winner!
Okay, so the Italian's in the San Paulo spat on us and showered us with beer bottles, and we had to run the gauntlet of anti-English football gangs - but then it was only 4 years after Heysel, and revenge was in the air.
Everywhere else, the Italians were really friendly, in Napoli, Rome, Bari, Rimini, Venice etc as once England were knocked out, we did a bit of travelling around. And that warm friendliness included Sorrento, where most of the bawdy lary England fans were based for that Cameroon's match.
When my ex-partner was doing her year Uni-exchange in Rome, I spent a lot of time staying with her when I could.
I met very many warm, welcoming, interesting, passionate, Italian people and got welcomed into their circles and eating with their families. And the Millennium celebrations in Rome for 2000 were fabulous!
Pisa was the only place we had any trouble, as she was pickpocketed by a group of teenage girls and when we challenged them, one scrawny 14 year old girl pulled a knife on us!
Food, drink, culture, history, scenery and people are all fascinating.
And the weather never lets you down!
PS: I forgot to add - I work with Antonio from Sardinia .......... and every day, he does my head in!!!!
Comments
Re: Oakster's point about toffs on Amalfi coast....hmmm, wouldn't class myself as that at all, never having been to any of the places he listed, but would recommend it to anyone for scenery, atmosphere, fantasic food and romance (if that's your thing)...when I was last in Naples (in June) ALL the streets were still piled high with rubbish and it was disgusting....(and no, I wasn't in the 'tourist area').....altho perhaps calling it a 'hell hole' was a little over the top...watched Italy win one of their Euro 2008 group games in a local bar and had a great evening....
only been to Naples and the Sorrento coast - hoping to get over for Roma v Lazio or Sampdoria v Genoa/another big game this year though - their Ultras' take on non-commercialised football is different class
We did go down as far south as Salerno, which isn't always on the tourists itinerary but we found it a very charming town & like practically all Italian football stadiums, Serie B side Salernitana's was open & easliy accesible - we had a good wander round.
The quarter'-final against Cameroon in Napoli was just like watching Charlton ...... goal up and coasting, then right out of the blue 2-1 down, last minute penalty equaliser ....and extra time winner!
Okay, so the Italian's in the San Paulo spat on us and showered us with beer bottles, and we had to run the gauntlet of anti-English football gangs - but then it was only 4 years after Heysel, and revenge was in the air.
Everywhere else, the Italians were really friendly, in Napoli, Rome, Bari, Rimini, Venice etc as once England were knocked out, we did a bit of travelling around. And that warm friendliness included Sorrento, where most of the bawdy lary England fans were based for that Cameroon's match.
When my ex-partner was doing her year Uni-exchange in Rome, I spent a lot of time staying with her when I could.
I met very many warm, welcoming, interesting, passionate, Italian people and got welcomed into their circles and eating with their families. And the Millennium celebrations in Rome for 2000 were fabulous!
Pisa was the only place we had any trouble, as she was pickpocketed by a group of teenage girls and when we challenged them, one scrawny 14 year old girl pulled a knife on us!
Food, drink, culture, history, scenery and people are all fascinating.
And the weather never lets you down!
PS: I forgot to add - I work with Antonio from Sardinia .......... and every day, he does my head in!!!!
Great turn out though - ooh aah must have been so proud
I like the way it was followed up with some other informed insights into Italian football culture ; - )
Unfortunately, Messina have now fallen off the end of the footballing spectrum... withdrawn to Serie D this summer by their collapsed management