The European financial crisis has hurt every nation on the continent, but Spain has been hit especially hard. Unemployment levels have crept over 25 percent on the Iberian Peninsula -- over 50 percent for those under 25 -- and problems seem more likely to get worse than better.
For the thousands of Spaniards who descended on Kyiv for the final of Euro 2012, however, no financial challenge could prevent them from watching their national team lift the trophy in person.
Spaniards Thiago and Miguel Carracez paid 500 euros each for transit, housing and tickets for the final, while the trip cost Oxana and Carmen Gonzalez 1,000 euros. Standing in the Kyiv fan zone ahead of the July 1 final, surrounded by a dancing and chanting festival atmosphere, the group said that the experience more than outweighed the cost.
“For us, we’re just amazed at this country, the people, everyone,” Miguel said.
His brother Thiago said that the “beautiful women, cheap beer, cheap cigarettes, cheap vodka” helped to balance out the travel expenses.
No one in the group had ever been to Ukraine before, and they were enjoying taking in a new culture. The locals were just as eager to interact with the visitors, especially those wearing red-and-yellow face paint, as Thiago described with a laugh.
“Today, everyone wants to take a picture with us,” he said. “We haven’t had a moment for more than 20 minutes without a photo.”
Even before La Furia Roja claimed their third straight major tournament with a thrilling 4-0 blowout of Italy, the trip had already been worth it for these Spanish tourists.
“I love this country,” said Michelano Castro. “I love the women of this country, I love the beer of this country, I love everything of this country.”
Kyiv Post staff writer Matt Pentz can be reached at [email protected].
