Dear Diary

A day in the life of soccer columnist Kurtis Larson on the ground in Russia

NIZHNY NOVGOROD — Colombia’s World Cup ended Tuesday night in Moscow.

My World Cup nearly ended here in Nizhny.

After exiting my Moscow-to-Nizhny train Thursday afternoon I approached a taxi and nearly left the station before realizing I’d left my backpack aboard the high-speed rail.

It contained my MacBook, my reserve laptop and my Canadian passport.

I darted back to security and eventually convinced them I needed to return to the platform.

I sprinted down a tunnel before returning to Platform 3 in time to see my train slowly beginning to roll out of the station.

I banged on the doors, frantically pushed a few buttons and attempted to make a scene.

I was just as likely to get arrested as I was to gain access to the train.

A woman sprung into action and miraculously got the train to stop long enough for me to return to Car No. 10, where my backpack remained.

While she didn’t seem to want any congratulations I gave here a massive hug and told her she saved my tournament.

She probably thought I was an idiot.

If you’re ever looking for razors in Russia check behind the counter.

They treat razors here like Sudafed and cigarettes. For some reason you have to request them.

You can buy multiple meals in this country for the price of one Gillette blade.

The same can be said for Tabasco.

I met a Nicaraguan man on the train from Moscow fo Nizhny.

Upon finding out I lived in Toronto he asked me if remembered when Toronto FC travelled to face Real Esteli in Nicaragua.

He more or less apologized for the conditions TFC faced in that Champions League fixture.

That said, he told me Esteli’s fans found it hilarious that Torsten Frings was made to play on such a garbage field.

It turns out Esteli has a new stadium with an artificial surface to guard against similar circumstances.

He was quite proud of it. For what it’s worth: Russian hummus is terrible.