BRUSSELS, Belgium — The week of fun, frolic and excitement surrounding the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in Spain has come to an end, but the euphoria of the experience will forever be etched in the memories of the Heineken “Champion Di Trophy” winners.

Having represented brand Jamaica well on the all-expense-paid trip courtesy of the beer giant, the Jamaica team, which was the envy of the cluster of winners from different parts of the world, is scheduled to return to the island today.However, an air of melancholy is surrounding the group’s return as many within the 20-member contingent wish that the outing was at least one week longer.They departed the Spanish capital yesterday and arrived here in Brussels late in the evening to overnight at Holiday Inn Express, a few minutes away from the airport, before catching an early flight to Montego Bay.Exploring the culture of one of Europe’s most popular cities was indeed a once in a lifetime experience for all, more so those that were travelling overseas for the very first time.On Thursday, the Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago contingents were literally given a taste of the Spanish cuisine when they went on a tapas tour and were treated to a wide variety of appetizers and snacks, which obviously included unfamiliar delicacies.But the highlight of the trip was undoubtedly being among the over 50,000 spectators to witness Atletico Madrid’s 2-1 win over Real Madrid in second-leg semi-final action, as well as the reception to the little spec of black, green and gold that left many with goosebumps.The in-depth glance into the history of the Real Madrid club and their famous Santiago Bernabeu Stadium was also one for the highlight reel. Stephen Strachan, host of the trip and Heineken assistant brand manager, summed up the voyage as an overwhelming success.“The trip was a great success. our guests were not only excited by the game, but also the various elements Madrid had to offer; from the vast history of the city, the food, culture, and even the Real Madrid Stadium tour.“While on the last lap, the consensus seems to be that no one wanted to leave and everyone seems to now have a deep appreciation not only for Spain, but the premium international culture that Heineken as a brand has globally, so it has definitely been a great trip and we are looking forward to see the finals on June 3,” he told the

Jamaica Observer.Sydney Bennett, Red Stripe’s activation executive of modern trade supermarket and wholesale, shared a similar sentiment.“The trip overall was pretty good; it was good to learn about the culture of Spain, the food was alright and the weather fluctuated at times and the passion for football was also something to behold when we went to the match. “I mean we were in Madrid and its two teams from the same city, but the fans are so competitive. we have that in Jamaica but, not as much as they do here. In terms of the group, the camaraderie and unity among everyone was also amazing, so all in all it was an awesome experience,” he noted.Francois McDonald, one of the nine winners, pointed to the stadium experience as his most memorable moment.“The experience was amazing from the get go and I enjoyed every moment of it. But when we got to the stadium, from we came off the bus in our Jamaican colours and flags, the excitement peaked and the reception that we got made us feel like it was our game, and then when we got inside the stadium we got an even bigger reception. “I can’t express how much I really appreciate this trip that Heineken has given us; it was a lovely experience, so big up to Heineken,” said McDonald.Michael Chang dubbed the trip a learning experience.“This trip has been a learning experience for me; I have been to the United States and Canada before, but being in a European country has taught us about the culture and food. The people here are very laid back and, of course, the passion for football was very evident, so I have learnt so much and I would love to come back to either Spain or Belgium because this is my kind of thing,” he opined.