Don't let the spit shower and the infrequent urine bomb put you off the game. La Boca V River Plate at La Boca Stadium is a MUST SEE!!!!!! If you are lucky like we were (or unlucky depending on your threshold) you will be in the local la boca fan stand level 2 below the river plate fans on level 3, shirt off and on head (spit shower protection) and chanting along with. Yes!!!!
The 20 min bus trip in was amazing. Standing room only, La Boca fans breaking into song, chanting, bouncing like an african tribe, outsinging neighbouring buses. Just crazy.
Then the crowded line up, riot police, pat downs, security checks. Near stampede when the riot police shot in the air and pushed the mob back. Was starting to reconsider. Finally in and then the concrete tunnel and stairs covered in urine emptying out into sunshine over a green filed and 65,000 crazed fans partying.
Players come out and the place goes off. Paper rolls, ripped up paper, smoke canisters belching out tons of yellow smoke 4 mtrs from us. When it finally cleared the pitch was awash, obviously common and a team of workers cleared most of it.
Kick off and the chants began. By half time (0-0) we were hooked. Everyone just sat down, no room but it worked. Then the rivally started. Amidst the rain of paper rolls (500 grms!) from 15 mtrs a guy about 6 people back and to our left got hit with a coke cup full of urine. Covered - unbelievable. We decided to move the 4 mtrs to the fence and just in time. A delightful River fans pissed through their fence down on the crowd missing us by a foot. After a while of dodging bombs the players came out.
The place erupted and a cascade of unravelling paper rolls poured overhead. The clearing and game on. La Boca 15 mins in scored a scoring goal right in front of us and the crowd went beyond anything I have ever seen. We (Jazzman (Mike) Young Harry and I) were swept up and we found ourselves cheering and bouncing. The stands were literally swaying heavily and my fear factor went up threefold but incomparable to the excitement level.
10 mins later and River scored, the crowd dulled heavily bar the stand above us. 10 mins later and it was done. Unfortunately for us being amongst the local folk waited 35 mins before being let out. Top stand and then bottom stand poured out first, strategically to get the bombers out dropping the violence probability.
A Ar$30 peso rip off taxi ride back completed this once in a lifetime experience (if I can help it). Loved it but once is enough but once is a must.
Get over here and do it! Words cannot explain but I tried.
