Matt Corr’s European Diary – Honours even in wet, wonderful Copenhagen

Day 2 of this current trip starts off with a city tour on foot, the decision to walk past the covered red sightseeing bus outside the front door of the hotel feeling quickly like a bad one as, once again, we get a soaking. Unlike our previous visit, at least we see a bit of the place this time, and it’s a lovely city.

The world-famous Tivoli Gardens amusement park is directly opposite the main railway station, on our way into town. Passing the Irish pubs frequented yesterday, we see the magnificent Radhus City Hall, then head into the pedestrianised historic town centre, Indre By.

The main shopping street is Stroget, festooned with Chinese-style lanterns overhead and winding along forever, it seems. Further up Stroget, we pass some Celts standing under shelter outside the Dubliner pub. The Hoops are here in big numbers but very low-key in this part of the city.

The weather has put paid to the normal awayday practice of assembling in a central square for a party, as far as we can see anyway. Soon we are at an unusual building, the Rundetaarn or Round Tower. Too wet to care at that point, I later establish that it’s a 17th century observatory with stunning views of Copenhagen. We wander a bit further, rather aimlessly, the city map now also wet through and pretty much useless as a reference point.

We reach a main transport hub, the Norreport, named after the north gate of the old city walls I later discover, and half-jokingly consider going in just to dry off. I am not going to see the Little Mermaid at this rate and I have had enough. Time to head back to the hotel to check-out.

As we turn, I see a familiar face from the past. Mick was in the year below me at St Roch’s, back in the seventies, as was his wife, who then became our neighbours in Bishopbriggs a decade later. Our oldest boys then went to school together but l haven’t seen him in many years. Small world as it is, I then find out we have a mutual friend in Twitter’s Lisbon Lion. The rain is not conducive to a lengthy conversation so it’s a quick handshake and cheerio. Sightseeing trip is over for the day.

It’s matchday afternoon and we’re back in Rosie McGee’s. The jukebox is playing some great tunes, The Cure’s ‘Friday I’m In Love’ – the CD playing in my car back home at the moment – and Bowie’s ‘Heroes’, an all-time favourite. The bliss is shattered by the arrival of a musician in the corner, pointed out by Roy. He looks like Micky Donovan, father of TV’s Ray, a part brilliantly played by Jon Voight in the hit series, another of my favourites. Complete with pork pie hat, Micky commences the weirdest acoustic guitar set ever, Deep Purple’s classic ‘Smoke on the Water’ followed by Peter, Paul & Mary’s ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane’, one of the songs I learned to play on the guitar as a kid. Completely bizarre.

Next it’s Karaoke with Micky Donovan, as the Celtic supporters get in on the act. A chap sporting my hairstyle gets up to do his bit before announcing that it’s ‘one singer one song’. Over the next couple of hours, he breaks his own rule, several times, however the craic is good and the atmosphere great, one of the barman getting into the spirit by changing into the Hoops and belting out the songs. A guy is selling half-and-scarves, allowing me to maintain a tradition by buying one for my daughter. This has been going since long before such items could be spotted on television in the Sky Tourist league, in a Manchester derby for example, as passionate lifelong United fans wear them for their selfies with Pep.

Then it’s Roy’s turn to meet an old pal, or in his case, a neighbour. Jim lives back-to-back from him in Milngavie. He is in a company with the nephew of another guy who played fives with us at Goals in Drumchapel many ankle injuries ago. We have decided to go for some lunch before heading back to the hotel to pick up our bus to the game, then another two pints of Guinness miraculously appear on the bar, courtesy of this nice and very generous young man. Fair play. But lunch is cancelled. Again.