Check out the ‘Maradona museum’ at this Kerala hotel
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How Hotel Blue Nile in Kerala has transformed its room 309 right into a “museum” ever since Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona’s keep in 2012
The information of Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona’s demise has left a void amongst scores of followers in a football-frenzy Kerala. Malayalis, nevertheless, are cherishing the recollections of the icon’s tryst with the State when he made a two-day go to to Kannur to advertise a jewelry model in 2012.
Hotel Blue Nile, the hotel suite in Kannur, the place the soccer legend briefly stayed has been become a “museum” of kinds, replete with real-life memorabilia and the articles he used and left behind. Room quantity 309 is now generally known as ‘The Maradona Suite’ and its proprietor, V Ravindran, says he needed to pay a tribute to his soccer idol. He provides {that a} commemoration was organised on Thursday in reminiscence of the soccer legend.
Diego Maradona arriving at the Blue Nile Hotel in Kannur in 2012
| Photo Credit:
S K Mohan
Ravindran remembers the time Maradona set foot in his hotel, to the wonderment of his employees and associates. “It was as if the God himself was visiting us,” he says, including, “Six months prior to his visit, we got instructions about a potential occupancy by a VIP but we were not told who it was. Following a security assessment and three months later, we were told that Maradona was going to stay here.”
In God’s personal nation
Maradona landed at the Kozhikode airport on October 23, 2012, and arrived in Kannur in a chartered helicopter. “Upon his arrival, we presented a bouquet and felicitated him with a ponnada (golden shawl). Through his secretary and interpreter, I introduced myself and, much to my surprise, Maradona came forward and hugged me, before proceeding to his room where he was offered tender coconut water,” says Ravindran, including that he was given a meals menu for Maradona’s keep.
V Ravindran, proprietor of the Hotel Blue Nile, in the room the place Maradona stayed
| Photo Credit:
S K Mohan
Ravindran says that Maradona preferred Russian salad and the employees had been well-equipped to make sure that he felt at dwelling. “We had already researched about his food preferences on the Internet. We roped in a top chef from Ernakulam who specialised in such delicacies,” he provides.
Naturally, safety was beefed up and the suite was customised to swimsuit his liking. “The entire room had to be modified as mandated by the authorities. We had imported and kept a brand of chocolate that he was known to be quite fond of,” he says, including, “We had also hung photos of his family on the walls to make him feel at home,” says Ravindran. The footballer left the following night after the photoshoot for the jewelry model, the association of which was made inside the hotel.
V Ravindran, proprietor of the Hotel Blue Nile, in the room the place Maradona stayed
| Photo Credit:
S K Mohan
Following the legend’s demise, there’s a renewed curiosity in the hotel with soccer followers dropping by to take a peek into the suite, whereas reserving enquiries have ostensibly gone up, says Ravidran. Among the issues preserved at “Mardona Museum” are cutlery and toiletry utilized by him, the outer shell of the tender coconut provided to him, and the shell of a large tiger prawn that was specifically ready for him.
“Maradona signed on the curated food menu and later autographed footballs emblazoned with ‘Diego 10’. We have kept them in the room since,” says Ravindran, “Before he left, he gave me another hug. I will never forget that moment.”
The hotel has since rented out its hallowed suite sporadically for “true-blue Maradona fans” at ₹7,500 an evening. Last month, Ravindran and his employees celebrated Maradona’s sixtieth birthday in his now-famous suite. He provides that plans are on to erect a statue in his reminiscence.
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