THE “Welcome Scotland” signs which are hanging from the lampposts around Garmisch-Partenkirchen show a Lederhosen-clad German clinking a frothing stein of bier with a visitor dressed in a kilt and formal Highland attire.
The Scot in the picture, however, is very much a local now having spent the past 30 years living and working in the picturesque Alpine holiday resort in Bavaria where his national team have based themselves for Euro 2024.
Andrew Syme was born and brought up in Aberdeen - but he fell in love with the town during a ski holiday when he was a young man and he moved here permanently after he graduated from university back in 1994.
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“The first time I came to Garmisch I was 18,” said Syme. “It was always my plan to come back here. I didn’t care what I was doing, I just wanted to live and work in the Alps. It was my dream.
"I had a year out after I left school and came here. I went back to university to study sociology and politics and did that for four years. But even during that time I came back during the Christmas and summer holidays.
"I worked anywhere doing whatever I could to earn a bit of money, washing dishes whatever. When I left uni I thought I would do one year in Garmisch. But I never went back home. I settled down here.”
Syme, who still follows the fortunes of his home town club from afar, has done alright for himself since. In fact, he has, as one wag remarked this week, landed “the top job in Germany”.
Syme has been delighted to see Andy Robertson and his compatriots rock up in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to prepare for Euro 2024.
He was, resplendent in his Fraser tartan kilt, at the Bayernhalle in the town as Mayor Elizabeth Koch hosted a welcome reception for the VIP guests on Sunday evening. He also went along to the open training session at the Stadion am Groben on Monday morning.
“I couldn’t believe it when they said Scotland are coming,” he said. “At first it was just amazing to qualify. But to then to find out they were coming here, it just seemed to get better and better.
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“The rumours started in November. Do you know the Scotland team are coming here? I don’t believe that! Then it was official and it was a case of counting down the days until they came. It is brilliant to see them here."
His children Jack and Emma were also in attendance on Sunday - proudly wearing dark blue shirts.
So who will they be cheering on when the tournament opener kicks off in the Allianz Arena in Munich on Friday night?
“We will support Scotland at Euro 2024,” said Emma. “But when the match is Germany v Scotland we will support both teams.”
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