Girls on Tour – Match Day onwards
By Powick Eastander
October 13 2008
We up were at a reasonable time all showered, breakfasted and ready to go at about 10:30. We weren’t staying in Padova so we had a 40 min train journey to make. Which I have to say was as easy as pie because the Italian rail system, especially the ticketing is fab, but on with the story
We met up with some long standing Wuss fans in a Cafe within walking distance of the ground and much wine was drunk and some of the best Paninis ever! We then sauntered in the sunshine to the ground where we found out why Ladies got in free... No ‘facilities’ easily accessible and no loo roll!!! Especially as the beer was now flowing freely too, it could all have got a bit messy but we survived!
We were treated to a great show of running rugby by the Warriors and my favourite try of the 9 we scored was a Chris Latham classic. He sprinted down the left touchline, chipped the fullback, ran round him and scored... The Full back was none other than Ludovic Mercier not long of Glaws. Ludo won’t thank me for pointing out this particular phase of play as it wasn’t his best work. We had the pleasure of meeting Ludo after the game and he spent some time talking to us. He and Nicky Little are the class players in the Patrarca side by far.
After the match we all went back over the other side of the stadium and partook of much Tuborg and socialising with both sides players and fans. The fans were great hosts chatting happily in English and sorting out taxis when it was time for us to go. We went and had dinner, more wine, great food and even better company, thanks guys for letting us spend the evening with you, you know who you are!
We had been invited by some of the Petrarca fans to join them in a bar called the Two Arches and when we did it, turned out their players and ours were there too. More free flowing beer more long chats with Ludo and his mates along with finding out how bad Chris Fortey’s ribs were and why Matt Jones thought he got binned amongst other things
Now we weren’t staying in Padova, as I said earlier, and for some reason, rather than getting one of our new found friends to order a Taxi for us, we wandered off in the ‘direction’ of the railway station to find a taxi! An hour later we achieved our aim... Not good wandering through a foreign city, speaking little of the language at 1 in the morning!!! At this point the mis-functioning GPS (see day one part 2!) decided that it knew that it was in Padova Italy and not outside my house in Powick England!! So I was able to use it to show our taxi driver where we wanted to go. We rolled up at the Hotel at 2! Adventure over, beds fallen into!
We spent the following day sightseeing in Venice and very nice it was too, the waterbuses were a bit crowded to say the least, but didn’t spoil the day. All Venice’d out we made it to the airport to meet up with the same Wuss fans we flew to Italy with. The flight over baggage collected, car retrieved and a wizz up M5 we made it home for 00:45. Except for Tracy who had to get to Kiddy before she could get some kip. An uneventful trip back, bar I seem to have picked up case of Mussolini’s revenge but thanks to Imodium that was short lived!!!
There are many thanks due, Tracy for doing the driving, the Wuss fans we had lunch and dinner with for their excellent company, the Petrarca fans and their free flowing hospitality, players on both teams for their time and patience and the weather for being stunning all weekend. A special thanks to Ludovic Mercier for spending so much time talking to us and for keeping our beer glasses full, he is a really nice guy and misses England lots!! I think he asked us to put a good word in for him with Mike Ruddock, but may be a beer memory!
I went to the Two Arches after the game, walked past it twice and still didn't spot it. It was already very busy without any rugby fans there and I gave up trying to get anything to quench my thirst and went elsewhere.
A taxi back to Mogliano Veneto at 1am? Around 30 miles? Yoiks! :O
It was costing us around 15 euros for the 2 miles to our hotel in Padova!
Rather than start another thread I'll add my thoughts on the trip here....
Padova, nothing special as a city but it was ok. I wouldn't stop there again though as there was nothing much to see or do as a tourist.
The Ibis hotel was good value but too far out from the centre. There was nothing else near it open after Friday afternoon.
Buses ran out there from 6am until around 8pm on Friday and Saturday, there were none on Sundays so anything I had saved on the hotel room was lost in taxi fares and inconvenience.
The rugby - public transport was excellent, buses ran from near the railway station direct to the ground, the stadium had food, booze and some good supporters.
The toilet facilites for the blokes were as bad as for the ladies (closed!) but the excellent weather (and result) made it a damn good afternoon out.
Venice on Sunday - Superb, superb, superb!
I spent 6 hours wandering around the narrow streets, alleys, passages and loved it.
By being careful with where I stopped for refreshment I managed to have pasta for lunch, pizza and ice cream later and 4 beers, all for under 25 euros.
The main problem came in the early evening it seemed that the entire population of Italy were trying to leave by train.
I managed to travel one station on the way back to Padova before getting off the train. It was either that or pass out due to lack of oxygen along with the other 23 people (yes - I counted them!) that were crammed into the area at the end of the carriage on a train that had all it's windows locked.
I caught a later train and managed to cram into a first class carriage for a 30 minute standing journey to Padova, at least they let 1st class passengers open a window!
All in all though, a good weekend.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008:10:14:13:10:30 by MagicP.
We took one or 2 wrong turns and had no idea where we were so that's why it took so long to get to the station!!!
MP if you had found us at the 2 Arches you would have been able to get a beer...
Warriors Rugby Supporters Club Had a great weekend with cracking company. Getting lost was an experience and I know we weren't the only ones to struggle to get a taxi.
Venice was beautiful but very busy.
Had a nice glass of beer sat by the Rialto bring (€6 each) but well deserved.
Thanks to everyone who made the weekend special especially PE and Nytol for putting up with me and not managing to lose me on the way.
But all in all, a good weekend.
Magic, you're too easily pleased.
;-)
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G4E
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Hang on, I'll re-write it for the benefit of others who may go there on future rugby trips....
Padova: Stay in the centre, no need for taxis as everything is in easy walking distance.
Transport to the stadium is excellent, 1 euro each way for the bus.
Use the Ladies toilets as the Gents might be closed.
Bars: Hundreds of them so spoilt for choice.
The one recommended by the Padova fans was too busy for a bloke to get a drink. Girlies may find it less of a problem though.
Venice: Superb, superb, superb! Around £5 for the 60 mile return trip on the train, lots of food and drink for under £25 for the whole day.
However, I recommend not trying to get out of there early on a Sunday evening.
There ya go!
edited as poor software coding doesn't do smileys here
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:10:14:14:22:15 by MagicP.
Please don't refer to it as a chopper though, the double entendre crowd will have a field day.
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G4E
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Pleasant train journey on a double-deck train that stopped at every station en-route, arriving just before ten. Had a coffee in town, before visiting the Cathedral and walking around the market. Saw a few Worcester fans. Then we saw Cecil his entourage and after a quick chat we went off in separate directions to find lunch, Lucy and I decided to go to a Pizzarella on a back street some five minutes walk away. About ten minutes later in walks Cecil and his party, of all the restaurants in Padova! After Lunch Lucy and I grab a taxi to the Stadium,
Just before the game, when entering the stadium we see Cecil's party who have just arrived and discover their taxi took them to the Petrarca club ground in the south of the city, rather than the Stadium Plebistico!
After the game we only stayed for one drink before finding the bus (we had to change buses to get to rail station) back. We got back to our Venice hotel for 8pm.
The following afternoon Lucy and I are having coffee at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice, when once again we bump into Cecil! Did any other Worcester fans see Cecil, or other Warrior fans (apart from your own group) in Venice last weekend?
Great trip, and the warmest weather I have encountered at a European away trip including Catania.
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G4E
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Perhaps CD just wanted to say thanks for the Freedom of Worcester
....whilst looking for a new twinning opportunity with Venice?