After Newcastle fans suffered fan herding in Paris in 2023 and Marseille last year, they have more freedom in Baku
The scene in Baku. Pic: Lee Ryder
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Newcastle United fans woke up to bright sunshine in Baku this morning with temperatures set to hit a high of 13 degrees today.
It is not as warm as it looks with a cool breeze sweeping off the Caspian Sea, but shielded by some of the illustrious buildings in some of the city's long winding parks, the weather is pleasant.
The pace of life is slightly calmer than back in the UK, and as local business workers spent their lunch hours getting a dose of Vitamin D from the sunshine, it became clear that Baku's love affair with wild cats was real.
The cats look remarkably calm and at home on park benches and street corners with bags of cat food available to buy, Dotted around Baku are cat hotels for the city's wild ones with the kennel like boxes actively encouraging locals to drop by a give them some love.
Newcastle fans get on famously with locals on night one
After the nightmare of Marseille and niggling restrictions in Paris, there is a lot more freedom for supporters here in Baku.
They have been made to feel welcome by locals and while they will be held back in the stadium after the game for half an hour and be given a police escort out of the ground, United fans were able to take in the sights here in Azerbaijan under no scrutiny.
There is a healthy police presence on hand here in Baku with officers on the streets. Fans settled in and drank local specialities such as high-proof fruit brandies together. Newcastle fans have been allocated the William Shakespeare Bar, which features a curry house upstairs, and Finnegans bar.
However, for there is also an abundance of coffee shops close by and even a Friends-themed cafe using the logo and images from the famous American sitcom.
Newcastle stars see welcome mat rolled out - literally
The Magpies will be based in a luxury hotel with wonderful views of the Caspian Sea on offer on Baku Boulevard.
The players will be set for a stroll along the seafront, and it may just feel like home from home! OK, it's 2,500 miles away from our own Geordie Riviera, but, given the thriving tourism scene in Baku, no stone has been left unturned in terms of commercial activity, and there are even fish and chip stalls on the seafront.
Just up the road from Newcastle's team base is the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, giving any culture vultures in the Toon squad or backroom team the chance to experience something different.
The building is designed to resemble a rolled-up carpet and celebrates the country's weaving tradition. It is the home of over 10,000 items on display and showcases carpets going back to the 17th century.
It has the largest display of carpets in the world! The team will also be able to see the Baku Eye from their hotel, a vast Ferris wheel that lights up at night and offers panoramic views of the Caspian Sea.
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