Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Day 2 – Snow, scarves and weak shots

It snowed all day as I explored Copenhagen - but it was a fine snow, almost too fine to be real, like it was little flecks of polystyrene. The temperatures weren't rising above freezing though, so it stays on the ground and slowly, almost unnoticed, builds up as the hours pass.

Copenhagen's boats

After doing a couple of reports into Radio Manchester's breakfast programme and going for my usual match day run - this one was about three miles or rather twice around the nearby frozen lake - I made my way into the city centre.

I got my bearings at the tourist information centre, which was efficient but less friendly than its Swedish counterpart, and walked off for a wander, past the 'closed for the winter' Tivoli Gardens and Funfair, and into the main square.

Copenhagen's favourite son is the children's story writer Hans Christian Andersen - hopefully a few more pages of City's fairytale, inspired by being in his city, will unfold between now and Istanbul in May.

The Copenhagen gritters at work

I posed for a picture with Andersen's statue, while I waited to meet up with Ulrika Martensson from the City's press office. She recommended I take the harbour and canal cruise later in the afternoon, but first I just had to see the 'Little Mermaid', one of Andersen's most famous creations.

It was a long walk and I wondered if I'd ever get there. Along the way, I saw a guy salting the footpaths and was fascinated by the fact that he wasn't using the gritty rock salt we use back home, but what looked to be, to my untrained eye, sea salt - it was certainly white in colour.

The gritting lorries - and I saw three of them working in front of one public building, which I can't imagine seeing in England - also use the white salt, which doesn't leave a residue but seems very effective.

Ian and the impartial 'Little Mermaid'

Eventually, after passing many City fans returning from the statue, I reached the 'Little Mermaid'. I posed for a picture and noticed she was a football fan too - but seemed to want to stay neutral - a wise move.

After that, it was onto the boat trip, which was a delight, thanks to our guide, Lars. We went out past the 'Little Mermaid' again, through the old naval dockyards, and back along the narrow, picturesque canals. An hour very well spent. By now, the city was filling up with good natured City fans, some moaning about the high prices - and I couldn't argue.

Finally it was time for the match, and to my surprise the roof of the Parken Stadium was open when I got there, so the lightly falling snow came down throughout the game.

It will have looked much worse than it really was on TV or to the spectators looking up at the snow falling against the bright lights of the floodlights. Someone told me they'd heard that six inches fell during the day - I'd say there might have been up to an inch.

City and Copenhagen line up before the game

The game was full of bizarre goals, with Nedum Onuoha being gifted the first, after their keeper let his weak shot slip into the net. City should have taken full advantage, and though a 2-2 draw would have been seen as a good result before the match, I was left feeling a bit disappointed. There's still work to be done in the second leg.

All that's left for me to do now is pack up, and return home the long way - and the cheaper way - via Birmingham.

• Next