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We only needed a draw in Salzburg to automatically qualify for the Champions League round of 16. And since we were all confident we would achieve it and no one wanted to miss the party, we packed winter clothes in our backpacks and set off for the city of Mozart.

The train was the chosen means of transportation for most of us, and from Cologne, six of us traveled together. We had booked in advance and began marking our territory on the train by decorating the tables with the flags of the supporters’ group, on which we laid out an appetizing meal that sparked envy among the other passengers.

We started the year doing what we love most: traveling with Atleti.

When it was announced that Marbella would be our next opponent in the Copa del Rey, and we saw that Marbella was doing things right by offering affordable ticket prices and confirming that the match would be played in Málaga, we barely had time to think about it. Some members of our peña requested tickets through Atlético de Madrid’s virtual office, and a few days later, we were informed that they had been granted.

It is a fact that our beloved Vicente Calderón Stadium will always be remembered and missed. However, this time it won’t share the fate of the Stadium Metropolitano, which left no plaque to mark its location.

On December 9, 2024, the Madrid City Council officially inaugurated the Atlético de Madrid Park, built over the covered section of the M-30 in the Mahou-Calderón area. This park occupies the very space, next to the Manzanares River, where the legendary Vicente Calderón Stadium once stood, the iconic home of Atlético. This green area, which includes several tributes to the stadium, concludes the transformation of Madrid Río and fills the physical void left by the stadium’s demolition, though nothing can fill the emotional void.

On Sunday, December 15, the Atlético-Getafe match was played, marking the last game of 2024 at the red-and-white stadium, and the club wanted to celebrate in grand style. They also aimed to recreate one of the highlights of last season, when the match against Sevilla on Matchday 3 took place on December 23. To celebrate Christmas with football, every fan found a Santa hat on their seat.

Last Sunday was no different, this time against Getafe. The match was scheduled at the perfect family-friendly hour: 2:00 PM. Vermouth, Atleti, and tardeo. That was the plan, and it went off perfectly. The club announced various activities, including inflatables, trampolines, ball pits, and slides for children and their parents. And here came the twist, featuring the trendy concept of tardeo. In venues like El Brindis, Bendita Locura, La Gradona, El Bonanno, and El Gran Escenario, tardeo took center stage—and how!

There are blogs, vlogs, and other nonsense meant to replace the travel chronicles of those who truly travel. Because no one will ever understand what it means to follow Atlético Madrid if they prefer to try the local cuisine instead of mingling with the fans, take a car or public transport instead of joining the fan march and singing at the top of their lungs, and when they don’t fully immerse themselves in the red-and-white passion with everything it entails.