EDINBURGH TO ATHENS TO DESPAIR.....
...but it was fun all the same! The story as told to Hibs.net by
one nameless Athens traveller
AS THE SUN AND HEAT poured
through the open door of the plane on the tarmac at Athens airport the look on
the Greek officials face said it all, a moments silence was ended as phones
started to ring and the news filtered through. I have never been on so much of
a high and 30 seconds later I was sitting with my head in my hand and the
depth of despair.
The game that I have looked forward to for over 9 years
had been taken away from me. As I raised my head and looked about I saw the
grim faces of the older guys and the tear filled eyes of the kids, then the
fury as we started to ask the questions, will we be going home, why did we not
turn back and is our money gone? The couriers had no answers for us and with
hindsight and no lager we maybe were a bit unfair to them.
Well we are here and have to stay so lets make the most of it was the cry from
further down the plane. As we stood waiting for our luggage in the airport the
atmosphere was like that of defeat. Onto the coaches and of to Athens, as the
journey went on the jokes started to flow and suddenly the despair lifted
although the anger was still there.
The Plaka area was rocking on Wednesday and Thursday evening (hibs.net)
Into the very nice hotel we trooped
and within 30 minutes we were out looking to fill our bellies before the
mammoth drinking session that we knew was about to take place. A nice little
restaurant just round the corner was recommended to us by the hotel doorman
and it has to be the best bit of pork I have ever eaten washed down with a
good few bottles of the local lager.
Into the taxi and into the city what surprises would the night hold for us?
Well for me it was to be a rollercoaster of a night.
The good the bad and the Russian beauty
As we strolled abut the small streets of The Plaka area
of the city we found a nice little bar with a few of the green and white army
in it, 2 hours later the place was swamped with us and rocking on it's
foundations as the songs got louder, the jokes got worse, the stories got
exaggerated and the lager ran out
The night rolled on but for me it was time for bed as the Tuesday nightshift
and the lager took a grip. I was about to make a decision that could have had
a tragic end for me. I said to myself get a taxi back to the hotel, so I
jumped in one and got talking to the driver, "you want to see some girls" he
asked well me being a male and full of lager I said yes so we arrived at a
strip club and in I went. Sitting watching the dancers and having a beer I
suddenly said to myself what the hell are you doing in here being ripped off,
settled the bill and walked into the street
Pat Stanton with the Hibee fans - Pat managed to keep clear of dodgy taxi
drivers! (hibs.net)
I looked about to get an idea of my location
but didn't have a clue and started to walk on a road to nowhere. After about
10 minuets I was approached by 3 guys and all of a sudden had a knife at my
throat, I wasted no time and emptied my pockets of about £50 and lucky for me
that seemed to satisfy them as they quickly walked off. I spotted a police car
and went to tell them and all I got was a shrug of the shoulders. So there I
was lost in a big city with no money. I walked and stumbled my way along the
street until I could walk no further and slumped down in a shop doorway, I
don't know how long I was there but I woke up with someone shouting my name. I
am pretty sure it was Alison and Jim if it was then I apologise for being
rude, obnoxious or anything else and thank you for waking me up.
I got up out of the doorway and started to walk again then saw a life saver, a
cash machine, now these things are easy to work but with my blood full of
lager, my head buzzing and my eyes looking over my shoulders they seem to be a
bit more complicated but I eventually got it to give money, how much? I will
have to wait and see when my credit card statement comes in, now I must find a
taxi.
Was walking along and noticed a nice looking bar and feeing a bit dry went in
for a quick one and to find out the time. There was a few locals in it and as
I sat at the bar I got talking to the barmaid who at the time I thought was
very, very nice, we talked for ages and I found out she was Russian and had
left a few years ago. Don't know how long I was there but she said it was time
to lock up asked me my hotel and got a taxi for me, I have to say I was a bit
unsure about taking another taxi but I was tired and didn't have a clue as to
my whereabouts. Just as I got into the taxi she came out and gave me a phone
number and said "in the morning"
As I got out of the taxi at the hotel I asked the doorman the time 5:45 was
the reply. "Did you have a good night" he asked, I replied with "don't
know can't remember"
And went in to try and find my bed. I
woke up with cramp in my leg and looked at the time 8:30 just over 2 hours
sleep - but I strangely felt ok! |
