Groundhopping - A Tiddler’s Travels

No need to concern yourself about the sequence mate, as always.

 

The 'correspondent' will explain.
I got to the ground four hours beforehand to get a ticket and enjoy the build up.
Anyway, the lady at the counter was not interested in my story of being from England and wanting to go to the game.
She continually said that I would have to purchase online, I said this was impossible and repeated my situation. I still got a blank. Bear in mind this was conducted in Portuguese and I could not pass on my charms to obtain in my own language.
I then found another ticket office and there was a lady there who spoke very good English and was very receptive to my tale of woe.
I was taken to an office that was apparent this was not for normal tickets. Whilst a third lady went online to scroll through what was available I was offered one for £150, to which I declined. A smile and further looking I was offered one for £55, I said that it was more than I was expecting to pay but would take the ticket. Before I could contemplate main stand on the half-way line I was then told I would be in a VIP area of sorts and that three hours before kick off, during the game, and one hour after you could eat and drink all you wanted included in the match ticket.
The only 'catch' was that one hour before and during the game you could not drink .
The food was absolutely off the scale, you could play pool, there was a band, you could even get a beard trim(I am not joking)!
The atmosphere was fantastic tbf and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I'm not one for this sort of thing BUT it was really good value.

 

So a bit like a day out in Harvey's? Sandgaard plucking away at the axe, food, drink and all that's missing is the shave.

 

Quite a game at Corinthians

 

Quick update:
I have two more sets of 'travels' pics to post, they will be appearing shortly

 

Is that shortly or shorty?!

 

In due course

 

Monday 14th August 2023 Palmeiras 1-0 Cruxeiro Serie A - the last game of Elf's trip to Sao Paulo



Admission: £18
Badges (2): £10
Attendance: 38,000
Hat: £5
Total outlay: £33

Some terrific pics here - like the attitude of the fan bottom left of the second photo
Elfs says they have a strange ticketing system there. They take your mug-shot and show it back to you at the turnstyle.
Presumably they file it away too so you can be identified if you cause trouble
If he appears on the FBI's ten most wanted page, we'll know why

 

That guy in the second photo looks like a Charlton fan witnessing Charlie Kirk coming on as a last minute sub. There was another one with a guy in a T shirt that sported the phrase 'mancha verde' which in Spanish would translate as 'green stain'. Incontinent fans out there Elfs?

 

That's the name of one their fans groups.

 

Thanks for this Mr Guvnor
Even the away supporters to Palmeiras have to go through this system.
It took me an hour to sit down with the ticket office and register then Mrs Elfs was rung as my bank card was not being accepted!!! A good job I got to the ground at 10am rather than 10 minutes before kick off.
The refreshment stands in the ground were empty as they were VERY expensive, fair play to the locals for not allowing themselves to be ripped off.

 

Apologies for not posting in this thread for quite a while.

I do have one more set of travels pics to post. Haven't checked my WhatsApp lately either.
Will see what I can do this weekend

 

Oh, a bonus, I must have sent over something I thought I'd forget.
No more (new)Tiddler's Travels till March.

 

Hi guys!

Not updated here for a while. It seems every time I try to download some 'travels' pics from my mobile to my PC I get a message asking me if I want to install some fab new software. NO I F**KING DON'T I am not some spotty teenager obsessed with the latest app - I'm a grumpy old Git who just wants to download a handful of pictures !!!
Anyway, I got there in the end.

 

Saturday 11th November 2023

Banbury United 2-3 Nuneaton Borough ... FA Trophy



Admission - £11 (concession)
Badge - £3
Beer x 2 - £9
Total outlay - £23
Attendance - around 850
Programme ?

Proper non-league back in Blighty

 

Plenty of tea to keep warm.
A programme was £3, for the oddball collectors

 

The season has just started here, they start with regional cup games then move onto the leagues around March.
Today is Botafogo PB v Jacuipense in the Copa do Nordeste for my first game. A 19.00 start so with nightfall the weather will be a bit more bearable

 

Did you not realise it can get a bit hot in Brazil

 

Occasionally!
This ground does not have cover so am dreading 35 degrees upwards with an afternoon kick off in the sun

 

I believe I still have a couple of 'travels' posts to make - will download from my phone soon.

35 degrees