[Travel] Reflections on Rome

tstanbur said:

I used Uber out there which had an agreement with the metered cabs. Whatever the meter price was automatically charged to me via Uber.

Worked very well and always had a cab pick us up within a few minutes.

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I have the Uber app but was recommended ItTaxi which was superb. The only odd thing is that it failed to get me a ride twice…..but we were able to hail a cab on the street within a minute of trying.

Herr Tubthumper said:

I have the Uber app but was recommended ItTaxi which was superb. The only odd thing is that it failed to get me a ride twice…..but we were able to hail a cab on the street within a minute of trying.

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Uber actually linked into ITtaxi when you chose a “standard” cab from the list of options

My order of preference was Athens, Amsterdam, Marseille, Rome. Had never been to any of these places before. Athens exceeded all expectations, so easy to see everything, wonderful people, food and weather. Amsterdam was great, loved the drinks, and the ease of travel. Tough to split Marseille/Rome. I think Marseille possibly edges it based on the excitement of being in Europe for the first time, incredible stadium atmosphere and had a lovely day around the old port. Rome - had some fantastic food and wine, but didn't find the people as friendly as Athens/Amsterdam. Sights seemed busier and less accessible than Athens with the queues and number of tourists. For whatever reason, the early flights, large amount of walking perhaps, I felt tired/stressed in Rome which probably didn't help. I'd like to go back again and see it properly.

Herr Tubthumper said:

I arrived home yesterday and been reflecting on this recent trip; I’m of the view this was my favourite out of Marseille, Ajax and Rome. Rome is an incredible and beautiful city where football seems to be a religion. Literally every single person who discovered we were from Brighton (hotel staff, taxi drivers, cafe, bar and restaurant staff) immediately mentioned the game and then declared which side of the Roma football divide they are on.

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My son arrived in Rome for a weekend break with his G/F a couple of hours after the draw was first announced. He said the hotel receptionist couldn't stop talking about the Albion game, and was super excited to be meeting someone from Brighton so soon after. My lad doesn't even follow football any more, so just made polite conversation lol

Fignon's Ponytail said:

My son arrived in Rome for a weekend break with his G/F a couple of hours after the draw was first announced. He said the hotel receptionist couldn't stop talking about the Albion game, and was super excited to be meeting someone from Brighton so soon after. My lad doesn't even follow football any more, so just made polite conversation lol

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It wasn't just us then. They’re mad for it in Rome!

I did all four trips with all four being my first visit to these cities.
Marseille with mate, 3 day trip. Being restricted (as mentioned) to the hotel we missed any restaurants or eating out although breakfast in the sun was great.
Ajax with mate, 3 day trip. Was great. Town very friendly, nice coffee bars (coffee not that!). Trams. Will return to Amsterdam with wife.
Athens with wife. 6 day trip. So friendly with easy to use transport system. Lots of restaurants and so much history.
Rome with wife. 7 day trip. Didn't really see any Roma fans. Lacked transport in the city centre. Came home shattered from walking. Not so many cheap 'locals' restaurants.
Overall had some great times that I'd not change. History in the making with BHA in Europe.
Water in the eyes moments when you realise this is my team playing with the big boys.

This is a strange kind of thread. A bit like what is your favourite sexual position.

I enjoyed all of them in different ways and would do them all or any again if i could stretch to it.

Marseille for the atmosphere ( which may never be beaten, unless we play them again)
Amsterdam for the social side and ease of getting around the city and to the ground.
Athens was cheap and easy to do the tourist bits, plus the joy of getting tear gassed for the first time since I left the Mob.
Rome was OK but the result put the dampers on it but it was nice getting pelted with lighters etc.

I didn’t go to Rome (I have been to a match there so the descriptions/locations that have been mentioned on here are all in my mind)
Athens was my best time ever watching The Albion. I love Greece anyway and Athens was a much nicer city than I expected. Walking round in the sunshine, half pissed talking to all and Sundry, eating and drinking in some lovely restaurants and bars.
I found plenty of friendly AEK fans and the negative of a bit of handbags down the front and the teargas rubber stamped the Euro experience.

I had a target of one away during the whole campaign. Having done two, I’ll die a happy man.

I loved Rome but the Wednesday night really soured the mood i think, and that was before we got tonked.

Just lucky to be able to tick off some fabulous new places and stadiums after quite a run of the same grounds and teams for the past few years

They all had +s and -s, I can judge only, results aside, by the food.
A close one between Athens and Rome, Athens by a gnat's nadger.

dazzer6666 said:

You mean they now have it now ? I want a plaque.

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You’ve reshaped the GDP of Burnley with you suggestion I reckon

Amsterdam definitely my favourite.

Had been to Rome before, and still love the buildings, the food, the people, but Amsterdam, everywhere you turned you heard Brighton fans singing in bars, it felt more relaxed….. just loved it.

ROSM said:

This is a strange kind of thread. A bit like what is your favourite sexual position.

I enjoyed all of them in different ways and would do them all or any again if i could stretch to it.

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The cities or your favourite sexual positions?

Bry Nylon said:

The cities or your favourite sexual positions?

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Put the 2 together and its perfection (with my wife obviously)

ROSM said:

Put the 2 together and its perfection (with my wife obviously)

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Hot, dirty and just a little bit dangerous?



(Talking about Rome, obviously).

Bry Nylon said:

Hot, dirty and just a little bit dangerous?



(Talking about Rome, obviously).

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More like marseille

I think I really completed Europe didn’t I.

Got locked in a pub in Marseille, fell down the stairs in my hotel at Ajax, Tear Gassed in Athens and Stabbed in Rome.

I enjoyed them all in different ways (yes, even Rome).

Marseille the atmosphere was amazing, it was special and I loved the city, the food was superb and the drinking establishments greater. People gave Marseille such a bad name in the build up, but I loved the edginess, the city had a real character to it, a siege mentality, such an amazing blend of cultures and people and most importantly football.

Ajax was like a 6,000 people stag do, complete and utter chaos at times, but thoroughly entertaining. Just every pub being absolutely filled to the brim with Brighton fans was special, seeing so many people I know from school, from football, from everywhere was something I’ll never forget, a real cup final atmosphere, as we saw off arguably one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Then it was Athens, my favourite of the lot. I’d never been to Greece in my life but as many of you know, I love their food. Taking an extra day before the game to explore the city was amazing, once again seeing so many people from away travels over the years. It was really special with the distance it felt like everyone was there, felt like they had to be there. I went out drinking that with some amazing people who I’ve met on this tour, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. The match itself was a spectacle, a bare bones Brighton squad scraping a 1-0 win away from home under the cosh, with the 18 year old son of a former Withdean Stalwart starring, it was Brighton. Fatboy Slim into the early hours of the morning with some great friends, another amazing day for the club. Special shout-out to the AEK Athens fans I met, who were so passionate about their sport, and so friendly (until they lost but I’ll forgive them, we all get upset when we lose, the Greeks are just passionate), and it opened my eyes to whole new footballing world. The food was 10/10 as well!

Finally Rome, well it was going so well. I had a lovely meal on the Tuesday night, a few drinks watching the champions league, then off to bed. A beautiful day walking around a beautiful city, seeing the Vatican, Trevi Fountain, Colosseum and Roman Forum. It was beautiful, and a city in which football runs through its veins (quite literally through my veins), I hold no grudge for the stabbing, it’s all love. The reception I received on entering the ground was something I’ll never forget, it was special to know so many people cared about me, and knew me, and thought so much of me. The response me and Andy got from people on here (even from some of my adversaries ) has been amazing as well, it showed what an amazing fanbase we have, and the amount of stories from recognisable faces has been amazing and hilarious.

This whole experience of European football has been something I’ll never forget, and when I’m old and grey I’ll remember this as the best season of my life. Shout outs are so many, but firstly have to go out to the Jarvis Brook reserve team members who I met who consistently were the most pissed people on this entire tour. The lads and lasses who run Dogma magazine and NSK for always finding somewhere decent to drink. The clever people who stocked up on Agricultural Rhum in the Marseille hotel and drank long into the night. My mate Adan who’s a county league referee, who had 3 separate people in Athens come up to him and moan at him about decisions he’s made, and so many more. But mostly @Bozza and @Guinness Boy for setting up Andy’s fundraiser, that has really warmed my heart, I’ve said previously I’ve known him since Year 7, and I’m so happy you helped my friend. Finally shout out to My Long Suffering Mother and @Bombardier for putting up with my nonsense and accompanying me to Ajax and Rome.

One final final final final shoutout to my Dad, John Stephenson, some of you may have known him. He gave me the middle name Albion and gave me this bug, he sadly died in 2004, and never got to see the Amex, or the premier league, or the Europa League, but I know he’d have loved every minute of this. So on Thursday let’s go and win 5-0 for him, or at least, let’s give it our bloody best shot. As I said after I’d been stabbed, Up the F****** Albion.

I had a great time there despite having to work a bit. But, ffs, for all its astounding cultural riches, I’d really like the place a lot more if I didn’t get fuxking ill pretty much whenever I go there - something that simply doesn’t happen to me in any other European country or even in other more northerly Italian cities like Verona or Venice. The (unsoiled) water in my hotel khazi smelt like I’d already badly defiled it when I hadn’t. Then there’s the stabbings, strutting dickheads banging on the buses back to town etc etc.

Sue me if it’s a bad thing to say but, for all the glorious churches and piazzas and museums and food Rome is also just a bit…shitty/3rd world/peasanty underneath it all.