Trust me I am far from rich. I took a year of sabbatical from my job to travel and saved up 6 months for this World Cup. I love football and Germany so I would do anything to watch Die Mannschaft live. I thought I was smart by getting the cheapest tickets for Croatia vs Iceland at just $70 USD and Japan vs Poland at $50 USD but it is a nightmare travelling in Russia. I was in Saint Petersburg and initially my plan is to attend the Argentina vs Nigeria game as it is my dream to see Messi live as I am sure its the pinnacle of all football fans but the tickets were too expensive. Even the cheapest was selling at over $1,100 USD. I ended up paying so much more just to see fecking Iceland vs Croatia which I have no affiliation to and only the last 10 mins of Germany vs South Korea. Even then, I don't even know if they would still allow me to enter the stadium.
This is how my travelling schedule has been like
25 June - Portugal vs Iran (I missed this game cause there is no more train/flight from St Petersburg to Saransk and I feel sick about this, so annoyed I missed seeing Ronaldo live even though I dislike him.
26 June - Iceland vs Croatia. As mentioned, I attended this match yesterday at 9 PM. Arrive in Rostov at 6:50 PM, rush to the stadium. Misplaced my passport and belongings outside the stadium 15 mins into the match. The stewards refused to let me go out because they said I won't be able to come back into the stadium. I mean what kind of fecking stupid rule is this?! I decided to stay on till half-time and left the stadium. Thankfully, found my stuff but still had to wait for the match to end as the fan shuttle bus has to wait for everyone.
27 June - Germany vs South Korea - Rushed back back to the airport to catch a 24 hour flight to Kazan to see Germany today where I am waiting in transit in Moscow now.
28 June - Japan vs Poland at 5 PM in Volvograd. There are no flights or trains from Kazan to Volvograd and it is impossible to travel there in just 24 hours. Also I forgot I had purchased the England ticket and obviously I would rather watch England live. I ended up giving my ticket away to a Japanese guy I met during the Iceland vs Croatia match.
28 June - England vs Belgium at 9 PM in Kaliningrad. Again, I'd need to take a flight from Kazan to Kaliningrad via transit in Moscow cause no direct flights.
I love Russia and but oh boy, travelling here is a bitch.
I think I might kill someone if Germany don't win/qualify.