VIVA BARCA!

So, I’ve got some major catching up to do on this thing. Lets see, where to begin…

Let me just start by saying that it was an exciting weekend for Barcelona. The protests were rioting (everyone really just sits around in their tents all day, with the occasional speaker), Shakira came for a concert, the men’s handball team won a big game (yes, I said handball) and Oh Yea, did I mention that FC Barcelona won the Wembley Cup, and I was able to witness the excitement in the streets of Barca! Being here for this was definitely something that I will remember for the rest of my life!

In the morning, I went with some friends to the beach where we ate lunch and hung out. We didn’t stay long because it was a tad bit overcast; not optimal sun-tan weather (wore my spf, dont worry!) We left to walk around on Las Ramblas, a long strip of shops and restaurants (keep your things close here, we've been warned. Lots of 'ladrones' or pickpockets.)

After tapas and sangria (how spanish of us?) we decided to head out to find somewhere to watch the game. The excitement and activity in preparation for the nights' game was everywhere. We stopped in one alley to take pictures of some of the celebrating fans, and they just so happened to spot us taking their picture.

They ran over and bombarded us, hoarding us into a bar where a table of friends was awaiting. (We couldn’t exactly understand them at first, they were speaking Catalan, the official language of Barcelona.) We decided to stick around and have a drink because this seemed like the perfect place to watch the game; among avid locals. Watching the game was so much fun! We attempted to learn some of the songs that the fans sing, but because they are in Catalan it is a little more difficult to understand them.

O le le, O la la, ser del Barça és el millor que hi ha!

O le le, O la la, being a Barça fan is the best there is!

our cheat sheet to the hymno

Midway through the second half of the game, the power went out in the entire part of the street we were on! This caused mass chaos, and everyone in neighboring bars and pubs to head into the streets and run around throwing their arms up in the air and screaming. There was really no one for the screams to be directed to, so most just yelled at each other. A few minutes later, the street was filled with light, and we could watch the game again.

GOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I should probably let you all know, that I have a new boyfriend. His name is Jaime, and he lives in Madrid. Just kidding. But this guy was a character. He kept telling me that I was his girlfriend, and it didnt matter that he lives far away, we would make it work. "Distance makes the heart grow fonder, right Yane?" What a charmer. I thought maybe a picture would make him happy and leave me alone,

but that only made things worse...

Dont worry mom and dad (and anyone else for that matter), our new friends Bruno and Alfonzo stepped up and said something that let him know he was creeping me out, and he left me alone the rest of the night. I dont know what exactly was said, but Jaime was later seen sulking in the corner.

The final score was 3-1, FC Barcelona taking La Copa. Following the award ceremony, we (new local friends included) went to a neighboring ‘mercat’ for some refreshments to take to the party in the street. This little market did not disappoint with litre boxes of Don Simon Sangria for 1.50 euros. What a bargain!

I can’t even begin to explain what the celebration was like. Fireworks, chants, screaming, you name it could have been heard within the crowd. People were climbing trees and light poles, hugging one another, dancing, etc, etc.

(I imagine it looked much like the celebration in Lawrence after we won the national championship, only bigger.)

The next afternoon, the team returned to the city, and paraded down the main street to Camp Nou, the stadium where they play. We took the metro to the closest stop, and made it just in time to watch them come through on top of a double decker bus. The day’s festivities mirrored what had gone on the night before. It was crazy.

Campiones back at home!

The pride and comraderie the people of Barcelona had for their winning team was obvious, as crowds welcomed them home to a packed stadium. After the parade, I went home to watch the rest of the festivities on TV with the fam. They live so close to the stadium that we could hear the crowd cheer a few seconds before it aired on TV.

Today i was able to go for a run around the outside of Camp Nou, now covered with signs exclaiming the victory. CAMPIONES!