Canals and Guinness

I've written all about my trip to Fiddler's Elbow in Venice to watch the May 5 match between the Irons and Bolton, but now I can share some of the photos that I took that warm, sunny day. The 3-1 result in favor of the Hammers was even better than the beautiful weather and the cold pints of Guinness that I drank.


As I mentioned when I first wrote about this trip, I decided to bring a little friend with me, a "traveling gnome" that the Marquette Grad had given me. Renamed Carlos, for obvious reasons, I took a photo of his altered "passport" before setting out on the journey to Fiddler's Elbow. That trip was short in distance but long in time as it's very difficult to figure out where you are going in Venezia. I finally found Fiddler's Elbow and took a picture of the outside. The gentleman standing outside the pub in this photo is the Sheffield United fan that I met after watching the Hammers. Well, at least then we could discuss things amicably and part on good terms. We shook on both of our sides beating the drop as I left to rejoin my family.


After taking that picture, I took a walk to grab a bite for lunch before the match. While I was walking around near the pub, I saw a very welcome sign that the West Ham-Bolton match would be featured at the pub that afternoon. I ate a slice of pizza and then headed back to the bar. I settled in a back room called the Lookout, where some Manchester United fans were watching their side in the derby against Manchester City. They left when the match was over, and I had the room all to myself.

After the game, I came out to the main bar and ordered another pint, and that's when I encountered the Blades supporter. We chatted over a pint or two before I decided that I had better get back to the hotel. I had decided that Carlos the gnome should make his home at Fiddler's Elbow, so I took a few pictures of him posed by the Guinness taps. Well, what can I say. I had had quite a few pints at that point, fortifying the natural buzz that I felt after the brilliant 30 minutes that West Ham had played at the outset of the match to take a 3-0 lead. I still can't decide which goal I prefer -- Carlos Tévez's brilliant free kick, or Mark Noble's booming strike off the volley on a pass from Tévez. I'll always remember that match and that pub fondly.