LA BOMBONERA - BOCA JUNIORS (pics click here)
Boca Juniors v Independiente, La Bombonera, Buenos Aires, Argentina: they had come, and they were ready. The spiritual home of Boca Juniors, la Bombonera, is known throughout South America, and indeed throughout the world, for its atmosphere, and it definitely did not disappoint on this cold spring night in La Boca.
I had been warned that taking my camera down to the stadium would not be a wise move considering the neighborhood, but after going with a bunch of people to Boca’s 4-0 thrashing of Gymnasia de la Plata I deemed the situation to be suitable enough for an appearance by my most consistent little friend all these months.
To mitigate some potential hairy circumstances, I decided to go with some friends not by simply purchasing match-day tickets, but to instead go with a large tour group, assuming that a camera like mine among so many bodies - and likely so many other cameras - would prove a scenario of which I should take advantage. Ultimately I had no problems; even in the stadium not only were cameras and tourists relatively common but everyone was too distracted by the ‘futbol’ to notice anyway.
The match was a disappointing 1-2 loss for Boca, and I would say even more disappointingly to some extent our seats were located above the “Jugador #12” section, the intense fans, so I wasn’t really able to get a shot of all of them in their glory. Even still though I think I captured a significant part of the experience. Next time hopefully some friends and I will be able to get tickets down there with the drums and the flags and crazy Spanish songs.
I very much appreciated the air of pride and history surrounding Boca Juniors, what with the loyalty and devotion of the fans and the atmosphere they created. The constant and face-paced thumping of the drums, wild songs about life, love, and La Boca, and of course I couldn’t fail to mention the unyielding passion of the Argentinean futbol fan.
PRE-MATCH
Here are just some interesting shots detailing the tour package in the hours and final few moments leading up to the Boca match. We had a lovely view of a different Buenos Aires skyline while walking up the winding steps in the Stadium.