Arrivederci, Roma - Europa, Au Revoir

It is hard to believe, but in just a couple of days we will be sleeping once again in North America.  The European part of the journey will be done.  Except for a brief stopover in DC (it hardly counts, just at the airport to change planes) we will not yet be back in the good ol' USA - but we will be getting closer.

Right now we are really just hanging out in Rome, waiting for our flight.  We have been here three days, just strolling past the sights on our way to either pizza or gelato (depends on the time of day)  Having no agenda, after weeks of needing to knock down the 'list of 25' over and over, really is a treat.  It gave us time to squeeze in a football match, something that believe it or not, in five months in Europe, I still had not done.

But we are in Rome and that is home to one of our son Christopher's favorite teams (OK, he has at least three 'favorite teams' that I know of - but AS Roma is one of them).  When he was in Glasgow he had tickets with Kate to see one of the others - Rangers - but the cruel winter intervened, flooded the field and forced the cancellation of the match.  Sadly, Christopher went home without seeing a game - so we went for him.  I know it is really not the same (at all) - but what can you do?

These guys taught me some new words...

We went mostly to experience the atmosphere, and we were not disappointed.  One of the reasons I love college sports (so much more than pros) is because the fans have such a passion for their teams.  European football fans are the same way.  They have so much passion that to buy a ticket you have to produce a picture ID for every ticket.  They want to know exactly who is in every seat.  Your name is printed on the ticket and you have to produce the ID at the gate to get in.  Once inside, the stadium is carved up into sections that are hermetically sealed.  You cannot get from one to another.  Even so, that is not enough.  The home fans are separated from the  visitors first by plexiglass and steel, then by a ring of uniformed security.  There must have been 50 positioned every few feet apart, ringing the almost 50 fans who made the trek from Brescia to sit in the 'better' seats.  Brescia had more fans in the 'Ultra' zone, but I doubt even at home their Ultras, match the Romani Ultras.  They had passion.  They stood the whole game, waved their banners, sang, chanted, whistled and cheered.  The game was good.  A 1-1 tie, with both goals in the second half and a spirited finish, but the Romani Ultras were the highlight of the night.  Just a taste, enjoy.