Didn't get back to Manchester until 22.00 last night after leaving the hotel at 09.30 (05.30 British time) I was expecting to sleep for ages but guess my bodies in it's own time zone!!!!
I flew out overnight Tues/Wed on the Etihad flight from Manc on one of their Airbuses. Great flight, on each flight with them you get a goody bag comprising blindfold, earplugs, flight socks and a mini vibrator. Had a nice meal and a few comp drinks and settled down to the interactive entertainment built into the back of the seat infront. With normally only traveling on European holiday type planes this was great. You had the ability to watch the flight from a camera in the nose of the plane or one beneath it, watch the planes progress on maps as it passes around the globe, films, recorded tv shows, music or games. Treated myself to the new Ice Age film and then tried to get a kip.
Arrived in Abu at 0715 their time and shared a taxi with a Sheff Wed fan who was working over there. He arranged a price to drop him off at his hotel and then me in at my hotel for 80AED. When we got to mine the driver wanted an extra 30 and said the price was only for the first part of the journey. A few words exchanged and off he went without the extra cash.
Managed to check-in at the Novotel at about 08.30 even though check-in wasn't til 14.00 which was good. Got a smoking room on the 19th out of 20 floors. Great nice size room, big flat screen telly etc. Snook in a hours sleep and went out for a walk.
What a massive busy place it is. Building work going on everywhere from the airport into the centre. As I got back to the hotel I saw one of the guys from Bluemoon who was having his trip filmed by Endermol for the club and had a chat to the director while they messed around doing shots entering and having discussions with the check-in staff.
Went up to the hotel/pool bar and a short while later Spiv arrived along with his sister we had a chat and went for a Pizza Hut which was very nice and only about £7 each. We then attempted to walk to the beach but found the motorway between the city and the beach impossible to cross so, it was back to the pool where we all ended up asleep again in the shade for a hour or so.
Met in the bar later to go to the BBQ and a blue who lives over there came up and said he'd sort us out a taxi to the Emirates Palace he wasn't on the Official list but thought he'd give it a try to get in. The invites requested that we went to No.2 tradesman's entrance but we went in through the main entrance. It was like an airport with scanners getting inside. What an awesome place it was. Indoor fountains, corridor upon corridor of palm trees, It's without doubt the poshest place I've ever been and will stick in my memory long after the game as gone. We asked loads of staff where the BBQ was and nobody had much idea (goes to show that maybe we're not a popular/big as we think we are?). Must have took 1/2 a hour to find it. I imagine the BBQ has been covered elsewhere but fantastic food, free bar, players and management available, and a team talk from Gary Cook (most of which I missed going for a slash and again getting lost inside the hotel).
Headed back to the hotel for a couple more Kilkenny's and bed. End of first day and very very nice.
Read the Micky Francis book 'Guvnors' the following morning. Had it a while and never had time to read it before. A couple of other blues turned up who were staying at the hotel (don't think they post anywhere and I'm crap with names) had a chat with them. Ended up with 6/7 of us around the pool. We split up and went for a Burger king, again top nosh. These things always taste better abroad.
Headed over the Le Meridian for pre match beers probably about 100/125 blues there (Spiv will I'm sure gives names as he seemed to know them all). An English guy there told us that the traffic was rammed and to leave early for the game so 2 hours before KO myself, Spiv and sis jump a taxi. DISASTER!!!!!!
He was well aware where we were going he was shown the ticket etc to avoid confusion and dropped us off at what we thought was the stadium as we were all buzzing we paid him and he was off!!!! It then dawned on us that there was nobody there but only after we'd run inside and got to the pitch singing 'We're not really here' it was now 19.00 and after a quick illegal slash outside we had no idea where we were and couldn't get a taxi. Finally one stopped for us at about 19.45 he did a great job and got us to the ground just as the game was starting but on the far side from where we were sat. Running round the ground in that heat with a belly full of beer is not good for you. I was searched on my way in and had my fags taken along with many others so the last couple of hours had been a nightmare.
Found a seat in row 2 and met up with the Bluemoon lads and film crew. Who were filming in front of us all game. We were all given a goody bag (light refreshments as per ticket) with Nachos dip, stale butty and orange carton along with some little tickets to get various things during the game. Funniest bit was the lads being filmed had to discuss the pen for the cameras but neither had a clue if it was or not. Ended up watching the game on the big screen facing us as we were so low inside. Again the game will have been covered elsewhere. But a poor performance from a very understrength team.
After the game it was find a taxi time again with solid traffic and none around it didn't look good. We had a stoke of luck dubaimancityfan (I think but again I'm crap with names) drove by us and knowing Spiv gave us a lift back to Le Meridian which balanced out the problems we had getting to the ground.
The bar area was packed but we had a few with the guy who'd brought us back and his wife. What a nice couple. One of the guys we'd met a the hotel that morning has some back problems and fell over as his balance had gone and was unable to stand, as I was flying home the following day I took him back to the hotel and called it a night around 01.00.
No problems flying home watch some assorted films and got my vibrator pack again. What I will say is that Heathrow could do with a paint job. It was clean but looks so run down compared the Manchester airport.
I've taken some photos but not had chance to download them yet. My camera's in need of an upgrade as the flash only works when it feels like it. I'll upload later if I can. I was hoping POC would be home this weekend to do it for me but he can't make it. (See off topic)
A big thanks once again to the lads for running the comp and to the donor.
It was a great experience and if we as is expected play there again next year as a training complex/pitches are being built at the Emirates Palace I'd hope to go again.
Edit- fame at last made the day 3 vid on the OS 3.47 in wearing my red/black shirt.
Pics from the camera hopefully..... deffo need a new one. The flash had a mind of it's own.
Ground view from my seat
Spiv with his sister on each end.
On the way out.
Me and Zab at the BBQ
Hope these have made it through the web ok.
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