The result aside I think most people have had a great time in Milan. Fans have filled the bars, spent cash in the shops, climbed the cathedral and are now waiting in the airports to fly back home for the last time on this European tour.
Three rounds was not a bad return to continental action, especially as most of the pundits gave us little chance of getting anywhere, and taking into account the hardly stunning League form. However, it has also whetted the appetite for further trips into Europe. However, the way things are looking at the moment the nearest we are going to get next year is a trip to St Mirren if the Scots enter the Worthington Cup next season as has been mooted.
We spent the hours prior to yesterday's kick-off taking a stroll around some of Milan's cultural attractions. The cathedral was as impressive by day as it looked by night, while La Scala hardly matched up to the cathedral's splendour, at least from the outside anyway. Still the touristy thing was done and photos were taken.
A late afternoon meal was at a vegetarian café in the centre owned by a mad Milan supporter who informed us that Inter fans were all ‘idiote!'
Then across town on the Metro to Santa Maria Delle Grazie and a chance to see Leonardo Di Vinci's Last Supper. Once we'd gone through the metal bars and electrically operated doors the mural is well worth the trip, even if the ravages of time (and war) have rendered it a less than perfect piece. As with everything there is a gift shop where you can get Last Supper mousemats, Last Suppers for your living room and Last Supper dart flights. OK, I made the last one up. I got a rather perplexed reaction in the Inter club shop when I enquired about dart flights. Not such an odd request given that you can buy an Inter frying pan.
We took the Metro to Lotto which is the nearest station to the San Siro, although not that near. Town fans were being encouraged to take one of the buses which was being laid on to the stadium itself by the numerous police. Unluckily for us we picked the same one as some of Town's more cerebrally-challenged fans who spent the entire journey singing songs more associated with Glasgow Rangers and rugby teams. The word ‘wankers' was widely and audibly whispered throughout the bus. This European tour seems to have brought out quite a number of people who two years ago would hardly have admitted to being supporters of Town let alone have attended a game away from home. I noticed people who I've either worked with or were at school with who never expressed any support for the Town when I knew them.
Once away from the bigots, we made our way to gate 10 and were searched before we went in. And in we went with no trouble. Gradually the Town end filled while the rest of the ground slowly followed suit. The top ‘ring' was not open and the Inter fans probably filled 5/8 of the rest of the ground.
We all know what happened on the pitch. Off it there was an odd contrast between the Mexico-waving, balloon floating Blues and the fire-cracker chucking and naked arse showing of the home supporters. When the game had ended Town fans were kept in for a while and made their own entertainment involving songs, a fat bloke and the lack of any home fans: "You're not singing anymore” the empty Inter sections were told.
After the game it was off into the city for more drinks and a toast to the end of the European tour.
Today has seen many leave Milan and make their way home. Our flight is early this evening so we've had a chance to visit one or two more of the sights. Like a huge number of other supporters we scaled the steps up to the Cathedral roof, which proved to be not quite as taxing as the away end at Newcastle. Once up there the view of the city was spectacular in all directions, although some of the buildings were hardly up to the standard set by the cathedral.
I nipped off to the Piazzale Loreto to see where Benito Mussolini met his end. It seemed somehow appropriate to see where a fascist leader's body once hung for public display, the European tour having started in Moscow checking out Lenin in his mausoleum. To be honest there wasn't anything to highlight the Piazza's role in Mussolini's downfall, but it was an interesting trip out all the same.
I also made a trip further out to Porto Lodovico, purely due to its role in an obscure short story by Italian novelist Umberto Eco. Quite a nice area, if not that historically important. The trip to the wider areas of Milan did give me the opportunity to see a couple more of the Metro's lines. Linea 1, which so far had conveyed us about the city, is pretty scruffy even by London Underground standards, however Linea 3 was cleaner and more modern, if signified by the colour yellow.
With time running out it was off to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the most exclusive shopping centre in all Italy (according to my guidebook). Some of prices were pretty exclusive, although plenty of the Blue Army did seem to be splashing the cash. It appears the de rigour item for the Tractor Girl this winter is a Prada purse.
And there the European adventure ends, well after a bit of mad taxi-driving through the streets of Milan. I suspect the Italian Job may have been a different story had our brave British lads in their Mini Coopers been chased by Milanese taxi drivers.
It's been great hasn't it? From the draw which paired us with Torpedo Moscow to the blow-up dolls on the Curva in Milan. It was a shame it had to end here, but end here it has. Wouldn't it by nice to do the same again next year. Here's hoping...