Sigma Olomouc - first night in Prague, Charles Bridge, the Town Square and Wencelas Square then onwards to the surprisingly nice town of Olomouc. Drinks in the Tibetan Jazz Club that wasn't quite what it said on the tin. Sing song in the Vaults Bar - great trip. The home of good beer - full advantage was taken.

BATE Borisov - into the unknown. The great visa chase, the sprouts and broccoli for the hotel breakfast. We drank, cheap beer and cheaper vodka. Cheap food in the little delicatessans paid for with money with 000s to blow your mind. Minsk was a revelation, clean and orderly and wet!

Benfica - awful result but excellent trip. 8,000 Blues, two toilets in the stadium. Extra game at Belenenses, fun in Bairro Alto and the train through Docas bars. We drank Port and mojiots and cheap wine but left the chicken entrails soup. Great city, great trip.

AEK Athens - the required win, the clueless taxi drivers. Numerous bars and sight of the Acropolis. Torrential rain, pickpockets, snides and rogues. Giant kebabs and ouzo and rakki. Fine hotel and great laugh. And one of the travellers well and truly white on the way back!

Sporting Lisbon - European tour ended with a bad performance but a return to old haunts in a great city. Big meet at an Italian before high jinx in Bairro Alto. More mojitos, drinks from the corner shop, DJ Specs and a trip to Cascais. The laughter in Happy Harry's and the result no longer mattered.