Life in Germany and other adventures: Dortmund vs. Leverkusen

Paul was able to get tickets to the Dortmund vs. Leverkusen game this past Saturday from someone at work who had season tickets. We were so excited, finally, a chance to attend a European football match! We received help from Paul's boss's wife who gave us the schedule for the train that would take us directly to Signal Iduna Park Stadium. The train is free on a game day apparently, good for us!

Riding the train was quite an experience. As we got closer to the stadium, there were more and more fans boarding the train and they were wearing scarves in either black and bright yellow for Dortmund or red and black (I think!?!) for Leverkusen. Eventhough I know things are done differently here, I am continually amazed when I see things that would never be allowed in the U.S. People walking around, drinking out of huge beer bottles. Evidently, no open container laws. I guess this is the German form of tailgating: drinking on the train journey to the stadium. :) The fans were getting rowdy, drinking and singing football songs about their team and the train was getting more and more packed with people at every stop. Paul was saying, this would never be allowed in the U.S.-packing so many people on the train! We were just laughing and going with the flow but also eager to get off the train and out of the cramped environment.

Finally, we arrived! It was a beautiful day but also freezing. Maybe a high of 20? We tried to prepare by layering, etc. but after the half, we were ready to start heading back to our place and thaw out. We left the stadium a little early thinking we would beat the crowd of people, but our train was due to arrive after the game was over. We got packed in like sardines once again for the majority of the ride home with a bunch of drunk German football fans. Always an adventure! :)