Sports – Robin Bell

September 3, 2018November 18, 2020 robin-bell.com Home, Sports

Summer in Kyiv

After completing required work in the UK it was possible to settle down and enjoy Kyiv. The summer was spent mixed between exploring the city and developing and recording video lectures for a new online MBA at Worcester. Within the space of a few weeks, I managed to get a reasonable understanding of the Ukrainian Premier League and the complexities of a winter break and a split in the season where the top and bottom clubs play again. This was required to underpin a couple of Dynamo Kyiv season tickets. Through this new affiliation with Dynamo Kyiv, the summer also involved watching a couple of Champions League qualification games, a win against Slavia Praha and a goalless draw with Ajax, which led to Dynamo’s being knocked out of the Champions League and entering the Europa League.

I have also managed to find a couple of local coffee shops and a patisserie to help break up the days when working from home. The cost of such things is generally very reasonable and it is possible to enjoy a break from work and grab a coffee from countless coffee vendors. I have never seen a city with so many coffee shops and ice cream stands. I am keen to see what happens to the ice cream stands in winter, whether they keep selling cream, close or sell something else required in snowy weather. There is also a reasonable craft beer scene, with numerous bars and restaurants selling a range of locally produced beers. The beers largely have a focus on pilsners, ales and black beers rather than the fruity and light beers which could be found in Beijing. This weekend I visited a craft beer festival at the Expocenter of Ukraine, which is great venue, with proud but aging buildings to explore a range of beers. I hope I am now ready for what the fall and winter have to offer in Kyiv, as after returning to Worcester for work, it will nearly be October before I return.

October 31, 2017September 18, 2021 robin-bell.com Sports, Travel

5 Days in Paris

This week I was able to spend 5 days in Paris before returning back to Worcester. During this time as well as exploring the main sights of Paris I was able to attend a Paris Saint-Germain game against Nice and visit Reims and explore several Champagne producers. France has always been a relatively under explored country for me given its proximately and the abundance of cheap EasyJet flights from Bristol. This is probably in part due to it not being a cheap place to visit, this is especially true with a depressed pound (or the new normal for the pound). It was the first time I had been to Reims and the champagne region which is only 45 minutes outside of Paris by high-speed train, and it was interesting to visit the cellars and ‘experiences’ to learn more about the champagne process. During the day in Reims we visited Taittinger and GH Mumm as well as Charles de Cazanove, a smaller champagne producer. The whole day and experience was great, made more enjoyable by ample tastings. I am now able to add Reims and Cognac to my French grape based tours and tastings.

On the Friday night we attended the Parc des Princes to watch Paris Saint-Germain against Nice. It was only a short walk from our base in the Saint Cloud region of Paris. The game was a little one sided with Paris Saint German winning 3-0. But it was a good experience. Luckily Stade Français were away, or I might have spent lots of the weekend watching sport. It is now back to the UK for 11 days before heading back to Moscow.

July 31, 2014January 3, 2018 robin-bell.com Sports

Manchester United in the District

Whilst in Washington DC, Manchester United were playing Inter Milan in a high-profile pre-season friendly at Fed Ex Field.

This offered the opportunity to see a ‘good’ pre-season friendly at a new venue close to home (having been a semi regular at RFK to see DC United over the last couple of seasons). The game was interesting as a draw led to a penalty shootout.

Manchester United won the penalty shootout (and went on to win the Champions Trophy in Miami against Liverpool). It was a great event to attend as the game brought a great atmosphere, which was similar to previous MLS games I have attended. There is no doubt the passion for soccer/football in the US is increasing, and there is no doubt they know how to run an event!