As you know Away Goals – Euro Chimes is back for Pompey’s pre-season tour to Portugal, we continue to sample this by looking at Guimarães for those of you that are going but are unfamiliar with it.
Copies of this will be dished out at Basingstoke tomorrow, I will be among those handing them out as you enter the gates, but they will also be available at Eastleigh as well on Tuesday and ‘should’ be at Smiffy’s and other local bars as well.
Also, just so you know there is a bar in the Basingstoke ground, as there is at Eastleigh!
To view a downloadable version – click here – please not this is not the 100% finished version as you would view if you got a copy.
Anyway, enough from me, the info you need is below…
PLAY UP POMPEY!
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EATING AND DRINKING
Guimaraes is a small town of about 52000 people, but some pleasant restaurants and bars can be found in and around the small squares in the centre of town (near the shopping centre.
Many of us made a brave effort to try as many as possible last time around so can tell you that the most popular will be the bars in the main square, Praça de São Tiago, are good. Prices vary only slightly so we will leave you to choose between Tunel, Utopia Bar, Secos e Molhados, Cara & Coroa, Cinecitta, Kamy Bar and El Rock Bar. A couple of hundred yards from the São Tiago Square, is the Rua Doutor Avelino Germano and at 100/102 you will find the Elvis Bar – there is much evidence on YouTube as to how much we enjoyed ourselves in there. But our own favourite was a little bar called Churrasquira do Toural Snack Bar, in Travessa de Camoes, just off of Largo do Toural (near the Santander Bank). A small bar where no-one speaks English but the service is exceptional. Your beer arrives in earthenware tankards and your food is cooked in front of you.
GETTING AROUND AND TO THE GROUND
The nearest airport is the Fransisco Sa Carneiro Airport at Porto, about 35 miles away.
You can catch the Aerobus or the metro, which runs an excellent service from the airport. It is on the Violet (E) line and takes about 30 minutes to reach Porto city centre. It runs at 20 or 30 minute intervals, from 6am till half past 12 at night. (A metro map and comprehensive timetable can be found at www.metrodoporto.pt/)
Trains run from Campanha station and São Bento station, Porto to Guimaraes. When you get to Guimaraes, the stadium is located to the north-west of the city centre, within 20 minutes walk of the railway station.
Returning from the match there will be a special train each night, leaving Guimaraes at 00:40, arriving in Porto at 01:50.
For up to date information ring +351 251 412351 or 808 208 208 or the fans’ helpline, +44 7932 312344 on the day.
Don’t be late
At the time of going to press, we have not been told what time the gates will open. For the game against Vitoria and probably against Benfica, our gates (PORTA) are likely to be 14,15,16 and 17. Ring the fans` helpline (+44 7932312344) for confirmation on the day.
Expect a thorough search by police and stewards before you reach the turnstiles. So the advice is – get there early. Non-alcoholic refreshments will be available inside. Prohibited items should only be the standard UEFA list ie any objects/substances that are likely to be used in acts of violence, or alcohol or fireworks of any kind. (Coins should be OK, flags [without poles] are OK – last time they allowed musical instruments in [well, the drums and Westy’s bell and bugle]). If any of you plan to partake of a white wine or two before the game, I must mention that UEFA rules also state : access is forbidden to known or potential troublemakers, or persons who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
To view a downloadable version – click here – please not this is not the 100% finished version as you would view if you got a copy.
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