The past two days have been days of many firsts. I went to my first European soccer game and I saw Michelangelo’s statue of David for the first time. The Fiorentina soccer team played against the Tottenham team from England. Me, Ann Marie and our friend Maddie were all super pumped for the game because neither of us had ever seen a soccer game in Europe. Before we went to the game we wanted to buy jerseys and beer, because you just aren’t doing sporting events right if you don’t have some beer. We were disappointed and surprised to discover that we couldn’t buy beer anywhere in Florence between the hours of 2pm and 6pm. Florence banned any sale of alcohol because of last weeks events in Rome at the soccer game. Last Thursday, February 19th 2015, Dutch soccer fans started a riot in the streets of Rome, severely damaging the Fontana della Baraccia and destroying window shops, cars and buses. These pictures from the riot will help you understand why they ordered a ban on alcohol. Bottles, and blood and drunkards were everywhere! Not a pretty scene…
We set out for the train station beerless, but in our jerseys, to find the bus to get us to the stadium. Per usual, we didn’t know where to go so we asked some official looking men. They were from the Tottenham team and told us that if we took off/hid our jerseys we could get a free ride on the Tottenham fan club bus. We did as told and zipped our jackets up to our chins to hide the purple jerseys. The bus was jam-packed with English men all eager for the big game. The bus also had a police car escorting it with flashing lights. It was very legitimate and intense. At times the men would bang on the flimsy windows and chant songs. We were scared of what would happen if they found out we were rooting for the Florence team so we had to quickly learn their chants and join them in song. It went something along the lines of, “Everywhere we go, everywhere we go, it’s Tottenham boys making all the noise, everywhere we go.”
I must say, it is a pretty catchy song and we couldn’t get it out of our heads once we got off the bus. On our walk to the Fiorentina gate entrance Ann Marie kept singing the chant out loud and every so often she would get people to join in with her, it was so hysterical. The best part was that she was wearing her Fiorentina jersey while singing so she probably threw a lot of people for a loop.
The game itself was really fun and exciting and I found that I actually enjoy watching soccer – much easier to keep track of the ball than it is in football. People get so into the game and the chants, there was more team spirit than I had ever experienced in my life. There was a Fiorentina chant but it was in Italian so I didn’t really know what they were saying, but I tried to follow along and sing with them.
It got pretty chilly mid game and I realized Maddie was only wearing a long sleeve and a jersey. I asked her if she was cold and seconds after she said yes she was given a puffy jacket, gloves and a hat from the men sitting behind us. Then all of a sudden I felt a hat being placed on my head as well to help shield me from the cold. In a matter of 30 seconds Maddie went from freezing cold to extremely warm, thanks to the kind men sitting behind us, who – may I mention – spoke hardly any English so I don’t know how they knew she was so cold.
We wound up winning 2-0 and some how, by the grace of god, made it back to Florence on the correct bus. This time we went back on the regular public transportation and we didn’t have to hide our colors.
The other first I experienced was going to see the David. I am kind of ashamed to admit that I have been living in Florence for a month and a half and I am just now seeing the David. I’m not the only one though, almost all the other people in my UNC program have yet to see the David/are also going this weekend. Additionally, I still haven’t climbed to the top of the duomo or gone up the bell tower… two more things on my bucket list that I need to check off.
I was really surprised by how large the statue of David was. He was much taller and bigger than I had ever imagined. I was also blown away by the impressive and accurate detail of his body. His hands were unreal, you could perfectly see every vain in his hand, making it look weirdly realistic. How Michelangelo created him out of marble will never cease to amaze me.
Me, Rachel, Jane and “Mr. New Booty”
I’m so happy that I finally got to see the David and go to a European soccer game. I’ve missed spending time in Florence, and finally staying put has made me realize just how much I love this place. I don’t know why I keep leaving this beautiful, warm, sunny city for freezing cold, rainy ones! Next on the Florence agenda is climbing the duomo/bell tower and going to the Boboli Gardens.
Yes… Ann Marie and I did indeed do the Zeta crown on top of the David…
When in Florence 