With apologies to ravers Infernal but from Paris to Berlin my heart is pumping for sport this year.
Sports fanatics are on the move this year for the Euros and the Olympics.
With two of the world’s great cities showcased and putting on colossal parties.
Line up the Schotts
Berlin is first up with a host of matches and most importantly the final, featuring Schottland, on July 14 at the Olympiastadion.
This Schott will be going out on a recce next month ahead of the finals.
And, of course, what you’ll be wanting to know is where the party is going to be.
Now as more of a Dancing Dad I’ll leave Infernal, who claim to know every disco there and Paris, to give you the nightclubs.
And while yes sir I can boogie like every Scotland footie fan I’m more about the bars.
Whether it’s the Hofbrau or Lowenbrau halls at the Munich Oktoberfest or 11 Freunde die Bar in Essen I’ve drunk in German football fun.
Now our freundes in Berlin tell us that Belushi’s Berlin (Mitte) on Ziegelstrasse is where Jocks gather to watch Scottish football.
If you’ve been too pessimistic to have already bought your ticket for the final.
Book a table
Now a staple of the German sports bar is the Kicker-Tisch (table football).
And it’s as lively as the action on the screens down at FC Magnet just between Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte in the karaoke downstairs.
While it’s big balls and little balls, of the ping-pong variety at Schmittz, Gormanstrasse.
Where as an adjunct to the football they play Umlauf, a 20+ elimination game well suited for the main knockout football.
Now, should you prefer multi-games to just the Beautiful Game.
Then they’ll be striving Faster, Stronger, Higher – Together around Paris.
Here for the bier
Us Jocks gather when we’re in Paris to watch any Scot from Chariots of Fire Eric Liddell through David Wilkie and Allan Wells to Andy Murray.
At the Auld Alliance, Scotland’s oldest pub in the city on Rue Francois Miron.
Now because we’re all amis at the Olympics then us of the Scottish variety are allowed in English pubs too.
And the best one around is the Bombardier Pub on Rue Gaston Rebuffat which boasts serving up Football, rugby and everything in between.
And both bottled and traditional draught beers, brought straight from its brewery in Bedford.
Of course, the best bars anywhere as we all know are the Irish ones.
And while they won’t have a team to support at the Euros (apart from anyone who plays England) they’ll have Irish athletes to cheer in Paris.
And an Irish party
Now, Le Little Temple Bar on La Rue de la Soif isn’t as big as the tourist trap in Dublin but it matches it for noise on match day.
So from Paris to Berlin my heart is pumping for sport this summer… see you there and mine’s a Guinness.