Wow are football supporters loud

When I first found out there would be a World Cup qualifying match in Zagreb while I was there, I was excited and wanted very much to go. I tried with no luck to buy them online- you have to be a member of the Scottish Football Association to buy from them and a Croatian citizen to buy from Croatian football, so with little fanfare I walked myself 3 km to the stadium today- match day, and stood in line with another 50 people to buy my ticket. 

Of course when we arrived yesterday we started to see what we were in for. I booked a studio apartment just off the main square in Zagreb thinking what a great location, we can walk all over, etc. never did I think about the visiting team supporters OR the fact that Friday night would be a crazy loud spectacle... and probably underestimating the soundproofness of windows in a building right off a square in the middle of a very old city. Hmmm. These things might cross my mind next time- must have long memory for this. 

Anyway, last night (Thursday) there was much noise, talking, music playing, etc. until around 11, but there was still noise. Now, about 6:30 (game time is 8:15) there is a LOT of noise, and of course now I see the bar about 30 feet from our window. The music blaring and the off key singing...ha! They were very excited about that havering song just now. I guess it's a good thing I won't need to hear the game as I'm sitting in the stadium. These folks are loud. Oh, and there goes the bagpipes again. 

It is fun to see people throughout the city wearing kilts and jerseys, sometimes kilts with Croatian jerseys. In all they are football supporters, and seem to respect each other as they come together for the love of the game. I can't wait to see what I'm in for once I get to the stadium. Oy!