Railway Lines

Escape to Victory! Euro 2012 blog, day 6

What a difference a day makes. As I write this from the lobby of our new hotel, everything is right with the world again. After reading yesterday's blog, Dave Buckley from Celtic Horizon Tours contacted us and arranged for us to join his party in Poznan's Moderno hotel. Never has news been so welcome. Never has a bed felt so comfortable. A hot shower, sheer bliss. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against roughing it. I've spent four stormy days in a tent at Oxegen and loved every minute of it. But there's roughing it and then there's third world poverty. Carlsberg don't do slumming it, but if they did it would be hell on earth.

One thing which has been shining in abundance since we came to Poland is how fantastic the Irish people can be. All the fans over here are really looking after each other and Dave's generous assistance is just one of many examples of this trait that has really struck home in the past few days.

After leaving the city fanzone yesterday afternoon, we saw a green jersey in desperate need of help and it was our turn dig someone else out of a hole. As he battled with gravity, it was clear this man needed to go home. He's eyes gazed blankly ahead, his bum bag barely clinging on by a thread. He had no phone, no money and no idea where he was. He just kept saying "tent" as Kenna tried hopelessly to get sense out of him. He was like Fr.Jack. When we mentioned the Carlsberg campsite, his eyes lit up so we brought him back. But it turned out he just wanted a pint, and had no booking at the fan camp. We must have brought him to every campsite in Poznan before he finally recognised where he was staying. I don't expect he will remember his adventure, but neither us or the taxi man will forget Dermot. Good deed done, and the normal balance of karma restored.

Many of the fans have now gone to Gdansk and Poznan is noticeably quieter. The locals can take a breather before they all flood back for the Italy game. One man still here is Hector O' Heochagain who we bumped into at a Cafe this morning just after his breakfast show. I spoke to him on the show 3 weeks ago after winning this prize and he was very interested to get more detail of the fancamp facilities. He had already spoken to to several others that had to leave it. Enthusiastic as ever in the AM hours, he predicted a 1-1 draw against the Spanish and a victory against Italy. Hopefully he's right. Hopefully that would be enough!

Recharged after a hotel power nap, I am now ready for the next 6 days. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be over at a European championship involving Ireland and we intend to make the most of it. There's plenty of time to sleep when we're dead. The craic in Poland too good to miss. Tonight we are Polish fans facing our fierce Russian rivals. We have even learned the Polska chants. Then another great night in the packed city square. It's a tough aul life, but someone has to do it!