Russia and the 2018 World Cup written by Lee Townley
As a tee-total non-drinking Football fan (yes we do exist) I was always looking for things to see and do apart from attending the matches. All the cities had their museums, exhibitions and zoos which as a former employee of London zoo was a must. Arriving in Kaliningrad I thought I had landed in Manchester by mistake as it was raining heavily. I was later to learn that the city along with St Petersburg both have more rainfall due to the nearby Baltic sea. Kaliningrad would not be most people’s choice when visiting Russia, in the past it had been off-limits to tourists because of the large Military base outer town with its missiles aimed at the west. I was staying at the hotel Moscow which was directly opposite the entrance to the local zoo which was convenient as most zoos are on the outskirts of town.
All the soccer stadiums I watched matches at in Russia were friendly and welcoming but the 3 games I saw in Kaliningrad went the extra mile by providing plenty of entertainment. As you approached the venue there were singers, bands, dancers and locals dressed in traditional plus weird and wonderful costumes. There were some good photo opportunities to be had but you had to be quick as it was like the paparazzi buzzing around. The city stadium had the smallest capacity at the tournament with 35,000+ but a good choice to begin my World Cup adventure.
Other attractions in the city were the Amber museum with its display of the local gemstone plus the German bunker with its fascinating history. Next it was on to hot and sweaty Kazan where I had the good fortune to attend one of the best matches of the tournament, France beating Argentina 4-3 in a knockout thriller. The South American fans with their enthusiasm, passion and vibrancy always make the World Cup a great occasion. The boisterous Argentinians were no exception making for a good atmosphere however this time it was not a happy ending for them, they were very quiet at the end. Just before kick-off I saw an Argentinian fan pushing a disabled French fan in a wheel chair, both young guys wearing their countries team strips. To me that is what the World Cup is all about when the world soccer family come together to make it a top draw event. Kazan also as its own Kremlin with a very attractive Mosque within its walls.
Then it was on to St Petersburg the pride of Russia with its picturesque buildings and numerous tourist attractions the Hermitage Museum being the jewel in the crown. One evening I went to the famous Mariinskiy Theatre to see an evening of dance, I had read that the locals like to dress up for these performances. When I got inside the theatre and observed all the various soccer jerseys I felt at ease in my casual clothes. At the interval who should I meet in the foyer the same couple from Israel who I sat and spoke too on the plane.
What about Russian food you ask? I don’t know I never tried it, being a fussy eater I thought it might be a problem however when you have a good buffet breakfast at the hotel and there are favourites like McDonalds and Subway plus local bakers offering tasty salad rolls and cakes you don’t have to worry, even at the stadiums they did a lovely hot dog.
Arriving in Moscow for the first time on the same day that England were playing their first W.C. semi-final since 1990 felt like a baptism of fire. A historic occasion, good match but disappointing result. The final itself was one of the best finals for many years and most goals since 1966 (a very good year!) with France lifting the trophy and unlucky Croatia playing their part. Of course, one does not go to Moscow without visiting Red Square, the Kremlin and the splendid St Basils Cathedral where all visitors gather and admire the sights. The Metro stations are not bad either. In all the cities wherever you went there were plenty of police and military around, but they were a visible presence to keep everyone safe.
The good thing about the World Cup is that you get to meet fans from all over the world who just want to come and enjoy the Carnival atmosphere whatever the results of the matches. The Brazilian fans with their smart yellow and blue colours always seemed to stand out from the rest. Mr Putin you should be very proud, your people put on Great World Cup. Where ever you went the locals were warm and friendly, the young volunteers who gave up their spare time and who spoke good English were very helpful which made it an enjoyable experience. My trip has filled me with many good lasting memories and images of the country. “Spaseeba” (thank you) Russia. Now where is Qatar on the map?
Last but not least a big thank you to Mandy who did a First Class job in making my trip a successful adventure.