Perfect weather this morning meant it was a good day to go take pictures around the old town. When we arrived in the square, we noticed 8 or 9 armored police vehicles and a few police officers here and there. We knew something had to be up but nobody seemed to panic. We hung around and wandered the square for a while before we realized that there was a group of Sparta soccer fans gathering near the statue in the center. Before long, this turned into a large, loud, drunken group of some of Sparta Praha's most devoted fans.
After a few rounds of yelling, singing, chanting (and of course, drinking) they began to move down toward the river. It became immediately apparent that what was a few armored vehicles and police officers turned into hundreds of men in riot gear. Sweet. We followed and as the crowd (ushered on both sides by riot police) marched through the streets it grew bigger and louder. By the time we made it to the stadium (across the river and up a few large sets of stairs through a park) there were dogs, horses and smoke grenades involved.
The crowd slowly made their way into the stadium. Without tickets, or the desire to tread through thousands of hysterical fans, we decided to head back to Dejvika (where we live) and make dinner. I'm just left wondering how much more awesome it would be to see the fans (victorious or defeated) march back into town after the game. We'll get tickets next time.
3 comments:
hahaha! thats sick! by the way it would have been far more awesome to see the fans at the game....one of my most frightening experiences from last year was just this event.....the game ended a 0 to 0 tie and the fans still thought it appropriate to rip plastic seats right out of the stadium floor and throw them at droves of riot police. Also Included in the fans arsenal of things to throw were lit fireworks, toilet paper rolls , smoke bombs, beer, and the occasional article of clothing. given the ridiculous armament of the riot police I really do not understand the logic here. whatever you do you absolutely must risk your life again to get a soccer game klobasa. This is a giant sausage on a tiny piece of cardboard with mustard and a small piece of semi-stale bread. Topped off with a glorious pivo and the fear of death, this is one of the best meals I have ever indulged in . I also highly recommend a hockey game
by the way.... that is a loooong ass walk..... what were you guys thinking. Utilize that overcrowded strahov tram!
Hello,
i saw your pictures here and i would like to tell u, that on the picture is Slavia Praha, no Sparta Praha.
Lukas, a.s.c.
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