Dave’s Ramblings – Atalanta – Diary 3 (Home Time)
Well, day 3 of our trip to Bergamo and, surprise, it’s home day. Chelsea, once again, went above and beyond in their mission to ruin the trip. At this point it feels less like supporting a club and more like being in a long-term, mutually toxic relationship.
I’ve already ranted about the game elsewhere, so I’ll spare myself the emotional damage of repeating it. Instead, let’s celebrate the absolute highlight of the evening: being kept in the stadium for nearly an hour after full-time. In the freezing cold. Truly the authentic European away day experience. Nothing says holiday like losing all feeling in your toes while stewards pretend they’re guarding the crown jewels.
Since we weren’t travelling until later today, we figured we should probably do something cultural. Unfortunately, Pete’s idea of “culture” is shopping… and the universe decided to test me by placing not one but two Christmas markets in his path. The man practically ascended.
Next thing I know, I hear someone yelling my name. I look up and there’s Pete, halfway up the giant Ferris wheel, waving at me like a lost child reunited with his mother… while proudly clutching a stick of candy floss the size of his head.
I am increasingly convinced that Bergamo has more statues than actual people. Honestly, I didn’t count them one by one, but at a certain point I started feeling outnumbered. Blink too slowly and another marble fellow appears behind you.
After completing our grand “statue safari,” and having been harshly judged for eating Indian food in Italy (even though it was Italian Indian!), we decided to go full traditional and have an Italian Italian. You know, when in Rome… even though we’re absolutely not in Rome.
Lunch completed we hopped on a bus to the airport for our flight home. Except, plot twist, Ryanair has apparently run out of planes. All of them. Gone. Misplaced. Misfiled. Possibly stolen by statues.
So now we’re flying with Air Malta instead. No idea where Ryanair have left their entire fleet, but considering most flights from here have been handed off to other airlines, I’m guessing someone will eventually find them down the back of a very large sofa. Probably next to some missing pens and three euros in change.
Well, I’ve made it back to Blighty in one piece, and early, no less! So a big thank you to whichever aviation wizard decided to put their foot down and get us home ahead of schedule. I owe you a pint, mystery pilot.
Bergamo was brilliant, even if the football performance was… let’s say, “interpretive.” Odd, really, considering football was the whole reason we went. But as the professionals say: these things happen, usually to us, and usually when we’ve paid good money to watch it.
Still, if Chelsea actually played the way we know they can, what on earth would I have left to moan about? Exactly. Chaos avoided.
Onwards and upwards!
Dave M.
