Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Barcelona

The best team in the world plays 2 important games in 4 days. A quick 14 hour flight to Europe from Singapore is te least I could endure
FC Barcelona faces Real Madrid in yet another iteration of El Clasico. The biggest rivalry in club football.
Much less is at stake this year give our 10 point lead before the game,  but it will be a different story when th other Madrid team, Atletico , visits Camp Nou for th quarter final, Leg 1, of he UEFA Champion's league.
Jo and his friend Dani are visiting for h weekend, from Florida.
I invited them to arguably my favorite restaurant in he City,  Tapas 24.
Good good, great conversation.






















They went to camp Barca, I stayed in the Eixample quarter, tasting different local beers while watching the game with Santi,  my new Austrian friend, who's been loving and living in Barcelona for over a Decade now.





We eventually lost that game to arch rivals, Real Madrid but  still held a 7 point lead on them. 
Visca Barca!

I returned to Catalunya after a 2 day trip to Valencia. Clearly the team needs my support.
So I made sure I was as close to the pitch as the coach himself




It wasn't the easiest win, but we bagged the first leg.
What a stadium!
Such a great feeling to have all my favorite players yards from me!



























Vamos!


From one Captain to another


Good game!






























Monday, April 4, 2016

Valencia

My first trip to Valencia!

I have been to Barcelona every year since 2011. And besides Madrid, I have barely visited other Spanish towns.

Spain's 3rd largest city is just 4h away  by train or bus. When I realized it was La fiesta de San Vicente, heading to the birthplace of the Paella was an easy decision. 
But first... breakfast

3h 23 min away!


























Valencia's North Station



















Paella con mariscos






Sand Castle in La Malvarrosa






View from my room at the Miramar











No bulls fighting today...

Avenue Macarons





The owner is from Paris and vows to never leave Valencia






One of each, please!





Marketplace





















Plaza de la Virgen


















The following day was La Fiesta de San Vicente Ferrer, patron of the Valencia Community

Business is shut down. Traditional dresses are worn. Every square in the city is decorated. None more so than Plaza de la Virgen