Tuesday was Arsenal Day.
i made the long-awaited trip to Ashburton Grove (which is what most Gooners prefer to term The Arsenal’s stadium, rather than the Emirates Stadium), which will be for me the highlight of this trip.
i was not disappointed.
Walking out from Arsenal station, turning right instead of turning left, which would have taken me to the site where Highbury partly stands, i caught a glimpse of the magnificent structure that is Asburton.
And it took my breath away.
When i actually stood before it, i was overwhelmed, simply swept away. Apart from it being a technological marvel and all, it felt like home. Seriously, every person who claims to be a Gooner absolutely has to make a pilgrimage to Ashburton. You need to see it with your own eyes, to feel it with your very soul.
Man.
i’m still overwhelmed.
The trip to Ashburton was not without disappointment though. The only stadium tour scheduled for the week was all booked out, so i didn’t actually get to step inside the stadium (i walked a full round around it though). The museum tour went some way to making up for that but i’m more determined than ever to watch a game at Ashburton now.
Tickets for the Liverpool-Arsenal Carling Cup quarterfinal at Anfield that same day were still available but i decided against purchasing them because there were just too many unfavourable factors against making such a decision. i was glad for it too because i found out later in the evening that the game had been called off due to the fog in Liverpool. i cannot countenance the disappoinment i would have experienced, had i travelled five hours via coach, having made all the travel arrangements in Merseyside, only to be told at the last minute that the game was cancelled.
Thank You, God.
It was still worth the trip to The (New) Home of Football though, and i will attempt to organise a football-specific trip to England in two or three years time.
Till then.
We made our way to Camden Town after that.
The main feature is the Camden Town Market, selling primarily streetwear targetted at teenagers. There are shops that sell the requisite cool stuff (antiques, books and handicraft) but you get the idea.
We spent about close to four hours there, after which having reached our Citadines apartment, i promptly fell into a coma and awoke the next morning.
i will exclaim once again – Shopping. The most exhausting activity in the world.
