This is a very late post about our hectic return to America...

Leaving Spain today (August 17th)! It’s sad to leave because it has been so much fun, but I think the majority of us are ready to get back to the States. We left the hotel around 10am for the airport. As we said goodbye to our amazing tour guide and we went through security, it became apparent that our flight had been delayed by an hour. So we wandered the inside of the Madrid airport for a few hours and took a little catnap at our gate before finally boarding our plane for Dallas.

The eleven-hour plane ride felt as though it was never going to end. My seat mate, Mae, had a very difficult time dealing with the length of the flight. She would close her eyes, tiredly open them a few minutes later, and ask the time, thinking she had been asleep for hours. Unfortunately, I had to be the one to continually inform her that the flight was still not over. She was temporarily distracted from the plane ride when the animated movie, Rio, began. We all know Mae loves her animated movies, and she was super pumped to watch this one because it was one of the few she had not already seen. The movie was a big hit with the team, especially one song in particular... "Let me take you to Rio, Rio..." Mae has already planned to have it on our warm-up CD. 

The last few hours of the flight were definitely the worst, everyone started to get antsy to get off the plane and our team began to crowd the isles as we walked around to talk to each other. We were also starting to get a little nervous about catching our connecting flight. Due to our delay in Madrid, we were scheduled to land in Dallas with only 30 minutes to get through customs, recheck our bags, go through security and board our plane. As the plane landed, we weaseled our way through the crowds to get to customs as quickly as possible. Running didn't seem to help though because the lines at customs were already crowded. Luckily, the airport staff was notified of our late arrival and allowed us to jump all the lines to get to our flight. After our mad dash down the terminal, all 21 of us were safely aboard the plane, heading back to Memphis. 

Upon arrival in Memphis, we got out bags, loaded up the bus and headed to campus. We ended up getting back around 12am but thankfully we had a day off to rest before our first day of preseason.

- Sarah Parkerson '14

Toledo

     Monday we ventured to Toledo to explore more of the historical sights Spain has to offer. The city is about an hour outside of Madrid and as the original capital of Spain, it has a rich collection of history. The town is set up much like a fortress. A river protects 3 sides with a wall protecting the 4th side. It is obvious upon arrival that much of the cities architecture and layout stems from the Middle Ages. We went up six escalators in order to get up to the highest point in the city. Our tour guide was born and raised in Toledo and was able to give us insight into what it’s like to live there. Following our guided tour we had a chance to wander the narrow streets of the city. The town is known for its handmade gold plated jewelry, plates, and swords. This was an amazing thing to witness because we saw all the constant care and effort it takes to make such beautiful objects. We enjoyed shopping there and many of us purchased some pieces of this gorgeous jewelry. We enjoyed delicious Spanish food, gelato, and shopping while wandering the streets. We took lots of pictures throughout the trip and Toledo was no exception. With the awesome scenery and multiple churches, we were able to capture a little bit of the beautiful city. It was a memorable experience and the stunning views of the Cathedral and mountains only made it better. After our afternoon in Toledo we returned to Madrid for dinner where we observed a Catholic celebration honoring the Virgin Mary. Upwards of a thousand people were gathered in the streets just outside the city center. After an exciting day in Madrid and Toledo we returned to our hotel to rest up for our final day's activities. 

-Maddy Esther ‘14 and Sarah DiLella ‘14 

2nd game in Spain

Today was a SUPER fun day of traveling, we spent around 5 hours on trains and subways to spend a grand total of 55 minutes in Monserrat. Don't get me wrong, it was amazing! The view from the top of the mountain was incredible! There were lots of people touring the monastery because people are making pilgrimages to Madrid to see the Pope. There was a group from Panama who was singing and chanting with their flags raised. They were so passionate and enthusiastic about their journey to Madrid. The monastery, called Monserrat, is located on the top of the mountain in between two huge peaks, which is very secluded from civilization in the valley below. We didn't see many monks, but we were able to shop and look at the honey, wine, chocolate, etc. that the monks make themselves. The experience was definitely worth the long trip and we still had a lot to look forward to for the rest of the day!

Next, we stopped for a pre-game dinner. After quickly stopping by the hotel to gather our soccer stuff, we headed to the RCD Espanyol complex for our game. One interesting fact about the games so far is that each futbol complex has watered their turf field before the game. They say it is done to make the speed of play faster, as if the pace of the Spanish teams' play wasn't already fast enough!!!!! Upon arrival, Betsy soon realized she had forgotten one cleat back at the hotel, fortunately, size 7.5 is the most common shoe size on our team and we love to share, thus she was able to borrow the subs' cleats and play in the game. We ended up losing the game, but we played much better since having played another Spanish team and knowing what to expect. Cat and Caroline, who arrived in Spain just before the game, easily slid back into the groove of things and played awesome for their first game back. It was so great to have the whole team back together again. Once the game ended, we went back to our hotel, showered, and packed our things for our 5am departure for the airport the next morning. Some girls went to the local Irish pub to grab some food before heading to bed, others opted to stay in and get as much sleep as possible. Overall, it was a very exhausting day of constant movement, but an incredible experience nonetheless and we are having an awesome time bonding like CRAZYYYYY in Espana!!!

Ashley '12 and Park '14

08.14.2011

August 14, 2011

Hola from Madrid! This morning we left our hotel in Barcelona on a bus at the ridiculously early time of 5 am. Leaving Jan at the airport, we flew to Madrid where we met our new guide Ismael. Once in Madrid we dropped our luggage off at the hotel and headed out for a guided bus tour slash orientation to the city. Another guide, Mauricio, gave us lots of information about buildings and different areas of the city, especially some of the historical context. The streets toward the center of the city and the old town were kind of hectic because the entire city is setting up for the arrival of the pope next week. We were able to get out at several stops for pictures including one of the palace gardens, where we were able to walk around and saw black swans. Being able to drive around the city allowed us to get oriented to Madrid, for when we walk around the city and tour different areas later in the week. 

After the bus tour, we were able to get into our rooms at the hotel. We then had free time where some took advantage of the spanish siesta after a long morning of travel in preparation for the game later that night. Other groups went and grabbed lunch and we did a little exploring of Madrid. After a little research, a helpful map from our tour guide, successfully navigating the subway, Beth Ann, Allison, Emily, and ourselves headed into sol, the city center. Full of people in all directions, the city center had so many different shops and restaurants everywhere. It was really awesome to see the blending of shopping and eating with historical buildings and statues, and to hear all different languages all around. After just walking around and enjoying the city center, we made our way to a food market, Mercado de San Miguel, which was so crowded with people and fresh food, especially lots of Spanish food. After great deliberations and multiple laps around the stalls, we each grabbed a different food, ranging from fresh fruit smoothies to kebab skewers and empinadas, and met in the middle to try as many different things as possible. We then continued our walk, making sure to stop by and get some gelato, which absolutely no day is complete with out, and made our way to Parque del Buen Ratiro. After the hubbub of sol, the park was a relaxing space filled with lots of people enjoying their Sunday afternoon. One of our favorite parts of the walk was coming across the multiple soccer fields in the park, reminding us how important soccer is to the Spanish culture. Walking through a park filled with trees and a large pond where you can rent row boats, it was hard to believe we were only ten minutes away from the center of a capital city. 

Going back to the hotel to freshen up before dinner, and being the science geeks that we are, we continued to notice how environmentally aware Spain is, not just on an individual level, but through conscious city wide efforts, like compact cars, escalators that only move when someone is on them, and lights that only turn on when some one is in the room. 

The team then met back up with Ismael for dinner, where food just kept coming out. Multiple Spanish appetizers later, we had some amazing paella, making the meal easily one of the best and most authentic Spanish meals that we've had. The super friendly staff giving mixed reviews to Betsy's real Madrid jersey, dancing with Mae, and serving family style dishes only added to the fun of the meal. It was full of laughs as Ismael tried to guess our positions, adding that normally female soccer players "are more man". 

After dinner, we took a subway to Bernabeu Stadium that was completely jam packed with supporters for both Real Madrid and Barcelona, but mostly Real. Once we got to the stadium, everyone was given their tickets and we all headed off to get into the stadium to enjoy the pre-game atmosphere. Inside the stadium, we were immediately surrounded by 80,000 flag-waving, chanting, singing fans, many carrying vuvuzelas. Walking to find our seats, we walked by an opening and couldn’t help but stop and look at the massive stadium full of insanely passionate fans. The noise level grew so loud when the players were being introduced, you couldn’t even hear the person next to you, and it stayed that loud for a majority of the game. Between the two squads, we were able to see over half of the Spanish national team starting line up, in addition to top quality players from other countries around the world, which we were reminded of with so many touches and passes that left us wondering how some were even possible. Even though it wasn’t a league game, the intense rivalry between the two clubs assured that the match would be full of excitement. Despite our lack of knowledge of the Spanish language, there were points that you couldn’t help but join in singing with the fans. With a final score of 2-2, each team having the lead at one point, the intensity stayed high the entire game. Getting to see the goals live that we would normally see on tv was definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity that none of us will soon forget!!

Shannon and Paula ‘13

Figueres, Girona, and Park Guell

A full day of soccer, good food, art, and sightseeing! We started off the day with soccer practice at a local field. It was awesome to have the mountains and buildings of Barcelona as our backdrop as we did our drills.

Next, we were able to sample some authentic Spanish cuisine for lunch. We were all a little nervous about the appetizer of white asparagus with mayonnaise and an orange cold soup called gazpacho, but we really liked it all! The main courses included chicken, pork, ribs, and sausage. Dessert was delicious crema catalana, which is similar to crème brûlée.

After practice, we took a bus to the village of Figueres, the birthplace of Salvadore Dalí, a 20^th century artist. We visited his museum that contained bizarre but fascinating pieces. One piece that stuck out to us was an optical illusion that showed a woman at the Mediterranean Sea, but turned into Abraham Lincoln at a distance. One of his most famous works, “The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory”  (AKA the melting clocks painting) is actually kept in New York City. However, we did get to see another copy in blanket form above Dali’s bedroom.

Later we traveled to Girona which is located on the River Ter. Girona has beautiful architecture, shops, and a magnificent church called the Collegiate Church of Sant Feliu. We explored, took pictures, and some also took a visit to see the Turkish Baths.

The next stop was back in Barcelona at Park Güell. Park Güell contains architectural structures by Antoni Gaudí, a Catalan artist who lived in the early 1900s, The structures included modern and colorful mosaics on domes, benches, and serpents. If you are like Mae Casey or Sarah Parkerson, you may be familiar with Güell Park from the award winning film, The Cheetah Girls 2.

The highlight of Güell Park was its high point with a large cross that provides a panorama view of the city of Barcelona.  We were able to see la Sagrada Familia as well as many other sights we have seen during our trip. We took tons of pictures of the skyline.  However, we were really disappointed when Jan later informed us that the beautiful castle we kept taking pictures of was actually a theme park (think the Magic Kingdom) and was an unsafe place to visit.

           

Also at the top of Güell Park, the senior class decided that it was the perfect spot for some mock senior pictures. Each senior has been photographed in different backgrounds and poses. Laura has mastered the pensive look while Stephanie is proficient at the 45-degree head tilt. Our portfolios should be complete by the end of the trip.

From Güell Park, we made it to Barcelona’s city center. We split into smaller groups and ate dinner, shopped on the streets, and enjoyed gelato on the waterfront. During our time at the city center, we acquired many new skills. We all became experts at negotiating prices with street vendors .  .  . fake Ray Bans (Ray Beris and Roy Bams) can’t REALLY cost more than 10 Euros. Also, we learned that there is a woman dressed in a gray furry outfit, “The Cat Woman.” If you see her—RUN! She will hiss at you and chase you down the street. Ask Stephanie for a first hand account!  We also experienced constant advertising from different clubs giving us flyers. Taking a cue from Cat Woman, the sophomores learned that barking at these people would scare them away.

Although we were tired from a long fun-filled day, we were all thankful that we were able to walk at our own pace instead of “JAN-walking” as a different tour guide substituted for the day.  Next you will read about our last day in Barcelona!

Sarah Doherty ‘12

Espanyol and Real Madrid

Pictures from Barcelona