Last Meal With The Fam!

Andy had to go to Casa Paco one last time for a pre-dinner snack. A plate of Camambert al Horno did the trick
The day before our parents left Spain we decided to have one last meal at Gato Azul. Britney and Corro came out to help give our parents a nice Spanish goodbye.

Andy's pizza called the Panco Gord0- with 4 cheeses, Serrano ham, and salami

Jennie's pizza-Zucchine e gamberetti

Jan's Pizza- the Parma

My mom's pasta-Spaghetti allo scoglio

Good times It's so hard to say goodbye!!! (yes, she was crying)

Finishing off dinner with a shot of limoncello

The JOURNEY to Gijon!!!

Last weekend we traveled to the city of Gijon to play the Mariners with a playoff spot on the line. The bus ride was 12 hours and then some because the bus drivers got lost. We left at midnight on Friday night and we didn't get back into Sevilla until 9a.m. on Sunday. Weather in Gijon was cold and rainy and it definitely affected the outcome of the game. Gijon is pretty much the Seattle of Spain. We turned the ball over numerous times and that pretty much was the downfall of our team. We ended up losing the game 45-21 and with that lost our shot at the playoffs.

It was quite a journey!!!Pre-game meal with JennieCaptains for the game: Ricardo, Sergio, Me, Antonio Pitch Pass!!! Unfortunately it was intercepted and taken back for a touchdown. I'm obviously not a QB.

I also played cornerback and linebacker this game

Successful 2 point conversion

Far from home? The Mexican players David Lozano, Me, Marco Antonio Patraca and Sergio Gonzalez

It wouldn't be right without a Lars pic

Best Linces Fan!!! 36 hours with a bunch of smelly guys, what a trooper.

Flamenco! Ole!

Flamenco Show at Casa de la Memoria in Barrio Santa Cruz. 15 Euro a person for some very serious flamenco. The dancers were flamenco students but still really talented - especially the male dancer.

The Giralda at night

Some amazing shoes on the walk home at a Bridal Boutique in the Center

Trip to Granada and Antequera

Casa Aljarife in the Albayzin neighborhood in Granada where Jennie and her mom stayed - a super quaint little bed and breakfast run by a German named Christian with quite a sense of humor.

Street in the Albayzin in Granada

At the Alhambra in Granada

The cave dwellings where the gypsies live

Inside the Nasrid Palace at the Alhambra

The top of the fortress

Generalife

The Alhambra from the summer palace with the Albayzin (Moorish Quarter where Jennie and her mom were staying) in the background

The next day we went to one of the white villages, Antequera on the way home to Sevilla.

The dolmens in Antequera - just your average Bronze Age burial ground

The dolmens with La Peña de los Enamorados (Lovers' Leap rock) in the background

View of the Village of Antequera from the castle walls

Alcazaba gate

Nothing makes you want to nap like reading Merchant of Venice on the way home...

Aire de Sevilla and the Catedral/Giralda

Look who showed up in Sevilla!!! Two of our friends from UCD, Rich and Joe who were traveling around Europe... Obviously the first thing we did when they arrived was take them to Casa Paco (the waitresses all recognize us now - embarrassing) for some tapas. Nothing says welcome to Sevilla like Camembert al horno.

Morning walk to Aire de Sevilla - Since it was Mamax2 vacation time we thought a trip to the baths might be nice... and managed to sneak Andy in.

Super relaxed after visiting the Arabic baths

You never know when you might need to take some jumping pics

Afterwards we met up with Rich and Joe and took a tour of the Catedral - the largest gothic cathedral in Europe and climbed to the top of its bell tower - the Giralda.

Christopher Columbus' tomb in the Catedral - he was either a very small man or they packed him in there tight.

View from the top of the Giralda

Gelato with the family after our 34 floor climb to the top of the Giralda.

Us with Rich and Joe! Yay for Davis buds.

The Newest Member of the Sevilla Linces

As soon as my brother Andres arrived in Spain the members of the Junior team kept asking me if my brother could play in the game. My brother actually practiced with the team for 2 days and did very well on defense. Andres was going up against 20 and 30 year olds without ever taking a break. During a drill in practice my brother was actually the only person who ever tackled me!!!

Practicing his long snaps with the junior players.

I've always wanted to suit up and play with my brother. Remember Andy, i'm still one centimeter taller than you!!!

The future of the Linces?

Madrugada and Viernes Santo

As soon as Maria, Andy and Mama Hiley were all landed in Sevilla we took them to Gato Azul (per always) for some pizza and then off to watch the culmination of Semana Santa. No better way to cure jet-lag than staying up til 5am watching thousands of Nazarenos parade by.... Maria, Alex and Xavi ready to head down for some Semana Santa viewing
Nazarenos from the Basilica de la Macarena making their way toward the cathedral early in the morning on Friday - we tried to go see more of the famous pasos of the "madrugada" but the streets were so packed that we couldn't even pass the center of town. Luckily we got stuck in the path of this one and had a front row view.

The Romans following the float of Christ

The Virgen de la Macarena coming down Calle Trajano about 4 in the morning

Luckily, unlike the Nazarenos we were able to go home and catch a few hours of sleep before watching the entrance at 1pm

Waiting for the "entrada" into the Basilica de la Macarena with my mother and several thousand of our closest friends .

The paso approaching the Puerta de la Macarena - one of the original doors to the city when it was still a Roman city (see the beginning of the Roman city wall to the left)

People watching from their balconies

Virgen de la Macarena - when she passed by someone in the crowd would yell "Macarrrreeeena!" and the crowd would respond "Guapa! Guapa! Guapa!" At the entrada of this paso there were 3 different singers so the ever so slow entrance was exceptionally slower than normal and the bearers of the floats necks were sooo swollen and chafed from the weight that it was almost painful to watch them come out. The crowd however was moved to tears with the passing of the float and there were men and women of all ages crying.

Jueves Santo (Holy Thursday) - Los Negritos

On Thursday I went to the parade for the Hermandad de los Negritos which was founded in the 1300's to help Africans in Spain. Our friend Corro's grandfather is now the oldest brother of the brotherhood so it was a really big deal for his family and they walk alongside the floats for 10 1/2 hours. Juan's family also belongs to the same brotherhood so they were there as well.Some of the Nazarenos
Baby nazareno with caramelos to give to the crowd

The singer for the Salida who sang an a capella

El Cristo de la Fundacion, 1622

The book of rules for Los Negritos

Juan's dad preparing to throw rose petals onto the float of the Virgen de los Angeles

The petals being thrown as the Virgen emerges from Capilla de los Angeles

Virgen de los Angeles, 17th Century

Juan, Brittany and Corro

Brittany, Corro and me

Some local Sevillanas with their mantillas

Miercoles Santa at the Duke's Apartment

On Wednesday we were invited over to the Duque Alfonso's (one of the guys that started the Linces in 1992) to watch one of the Semana Santa parades that was leaving on his street.... Toasting the salida from Iglesia San Bernardo - The Hermandad de San Bernardo was founded in 1763 and 1,900 Nazarenos march with the floats for 10 1/2 hours.
The Duke and his wife Alejandra had a very fancy spread of appetizers and wines so that we could watch the parade in style... everything from little cups of soup, tortillas (the Spanish kind), croquets, shrimp salad, red wines, different Spanish cheeses and coffee in super fancy china.

Me, Duke Alfonso, Corro and Brittany

El Cristo de la Salud (Christ of Health), 8th Century People throwing rose petals from the balconies and rooftops onto the Virgin's float

Virgen del Refugio (Virgin of Refuge) 1938

Facing off with my new 8-year old biffle Carlos

Jennie was really tired on the walk home

Later on we invited a bunch of our friends over to the apartment for pizza from Gato Azul...

Antonio eating an entire pizza in under 5 minutes

Corro, Brittany, Iris, Pablo and Raul - it was nice to sit down after being on our feet all day watching the parades.

We've got visitors! :)

Waiting for dinner with Maria and Andy on Saturday night after the game in Madrid - we ended up at a Turkish/Hindu fusion restraunt that had both the best Doner Kebabs ever as well as a full Tandoori menu. We all had Doner Kebabs and split garlic naan and raita (a yogurt/cucumber sauce).

Assesing Alex's post-game bruises

We got super lucky and found a last minute deal at the 4-star Hotel Gran Atlanta for 60 euro- a double room with real carpet (that's a big deal in Spain) and a double mattress (not two twins pushed together) and a bathroom that was floored with blue tile and had blue tile walls - it felt like you were under water. Definitely reccomend the hotel, but not their 12 euro breakfast. You can get an amazing breakfast for around 3 euro per person at any local cafe.

The metro in Madrid

Plaza Mayor - sadly without flamenco dancers this time

Andy attack!

Palacio Real in Madrid

View from the terrace at the Palace - must be nice to be the queen... Andy was convinced that he must have been separated from the Spanish Royal family at birth...

The boys tiptoeing through the tulips

Spring in Madrid is beautiful - it was amazing to see how much had changed since we were there in February... Now everything is green and blooming and the weather is perfect.

I don't remember why but we thought this was a really funny idea at the time...

Fountain on the Paseo del Prado

Thyssen Museum where we got to see Dali, Georgia O'Keefe, Monet, lots of Picasso, more Jackson Pollock, Degas and Chagall.... and we seriously barely made a dent in the collection. Below are a few favorites....
"New York with Moon" by Georgia O'Keefe, 1925
"Dream caused by the flight of a bee around a pomegranate a second before waking up" by Salvador Dali, 1944

Lyre!! I miss my Alpha Chi Omegas!!

Our first Semana Santa parade in Spain! It was amazing - a huge crowd of people but almost complete silence as the Nazarenos/penitents (in the pointy hats) passed by with the candles and the float.

The float being carried threw the streets - I can't even imagine how much it weighs or how bruised up the penitents are after carrying it.

Game 7- Madrid Black Demons

This week we traveled to Madrid to face the Black Demons. This was a must win for our team in order to earn a spot in the playoffs. In this game I played running back and free safety. I started off a little slow but thanks to the offensive line and the rest of the blocking I was able to find the endzone four times. There was a scary moment when I got called for clipping in the last minutes of the fourth quarter which nullified a touchdown run by our quarterback but as the Demons were driving down the field to score during their last posession I intercepted a pass to seal the victory. This was also the first game that my mom and little brother got to see (they arrived in Madrid on Friday morning!). It was nice to have them in the stands to cheer me on again.Captains for the game: Javi, Myself, Ricardo and AntonioThe cheerleaders in full force. Vanessa, Iris, Jennie and they even recruited my mom!!!

Celebrating the victory, Lince style by sending the team members to run around the circle while everyone cheered them on for their part in the victory (Ricardo the QB is running here)Javi, Josue, Myself and Orlando

Look who showed up!!! I almost recruited my brother to play with our junior team.
Pablo and me

Lars Werner and me celebrating. I was following him into the end zone all day!

Dedicated this win to the fam!!!!

Alex Garfio ganó en Las Rozas

article from PrimerDown.com by Markus, translation by Jennie

Este sabado, en el Catizal (Las Rozas), Black Demons, el equipo revelación de la temporada, fue derrotado a domicilio por Sulime Linces, por un ajustado resultado de 21 a 24. Alejandro Garfio volvió a cargarse al equipo a la espalda, dando una exhibición de calidad y consiguiendo los cuatro touchdowns de su equipo. (This Saturday, in El Catizal stadium (Las Rozas), Black Demons, the much improved team was defeated at home by the Sulime Linces with a final score of 21-24. Alejandro Garfio continued to carry the team on his back, giving a quality performance and scoring four touchdowns for his team.)

Desde el primer momento se vió la gran igualdad entre ambos equipos lo que dejaba el partido muy abierto. (From the first moment there seemed to be equality between the two teams which left the game wide open.)
Black Demons se adelanto en el marcador, aunque los sevillanos remontaron, con Touchdowns de Alex Garfio, en un buen segundo cuarto, dejando el marcador al descanso en 6 a 12. A la vuelta del descanso, Linces se alejó en el marcador gracias a otro Touchdown (6-18) del crack del equipo sevillano, Alex Garfio. (Black Demos scored first, but the Sevillanos made a comeback with touchdowns from Alex Garfio in a great second quarter leaving the scoreboard at half-time to read 6-12. After halftime the Linces increased their lead thanks to another touchdown (6-18) by the star of the Sevillan team, Alex Garfio.)
En el último cuarto, Black Demons demostró porque es el equipo revelación de la temporada que ha hecho temblar a los más grandes y estuvo cerca de dar la vuelta al marcador gracias a la combinación de pasas y carreras de su ataque. La defensa del Guadalquivir aguantó la embestida, y Alex Garfio permitió con otro Touchdown que los sevillanos sigan soñando con los Playoffs. (In the last quarter, Black Demons demonstrated why they are the most improved team that has shaken the biggest teams in the league and were on the verge of changing the scoreboard thanks to a combination of passes and runs by their offense. The Linces's defense was able to stop them and Alex Garfio went on to score another touchdown so the Sevillanos can keep dreaming about the playoffs.)

Antonio Laguna, Head Coach de Linces opinó:”El partido ha sido muy igualado y ha podido caer del lado de cualquiera de los dos equipos. El gran trabajo de nuestra ofensiva, con una mencion especial al enorme esfuerzo realizado por nuestra linea de ataque, nos ha dado una importantísima victoria de cara a los Play Offs.” (Antonio Laguna, Head Coach of the Linces said: "The game was very equally matched and could have fallen to the favor of either team. The good work of our offense, with a special mention to the enourmous strength shown by our offensive line, gave us an extremely important victory in the face of the Playoffs.")

Poker Night and Salsa Night

POKER!!!Last Tuesday Jennie and I hosted a friendly poker game at our apartment. A few guys from the team made it out and we had a great night with good food and lots of laughs. Unfortunately, I was knocked out of the poker tournament within 5 minutes :( Jennie on the other hand was a shark on the the table and lasted longer than most of the guys. I plan on taking lessons from her!Cameron, Xavi, Selu, Rafa, Jennie and Cesar showing their poker faces.
Cesar, Pablo, Cameron, Selu and I. Selu and I are doing the Capitan Garfio (Captain Hook) pose.

2009 Casa de Alex y Jennie Poker Champion....Cameron Martin!!!
Cesar finished second to Cameron. Look at that poker face!

SALSA!!! Last Thursday we decided to go have tapas and salsa dancing for our friend Brittany's birthday. Our friends Bella and Juan are basically professional salsa dancers and have been wanting to take us....

I thought that dressing nice might make up for my lack of salsa skills, not the case, haha!!!Brittany opening her birthday present! Corro is so stoked that it matches his shirt! Juan and Jennie salsa dancing (mid spin) While Brittany took lessons from Juan, Corro had to use Xavi as a partner.... Xavi, I'm pretty sure he has a girlfriend Juan and Bella. Hands down the best dancers I know.
I guess my lack of salsa skills isn't that important to Jennie

Feria de Javi Benavente

In preparation for Feria de Abril and to celebrate his newly earned engineering degree, the fullback of the team, Javi had a "Feria" themed party last Sunday complete with flamenco dancing, baile sevillana and lots of Tortillas Espanola (eggs, potatoes and onions), barbacued pork, jamon serrano, olives and Manzanilla and Sprite (the preferred drink of Feria). Everyone either knows how to sing all the Sevillana songs, play guitar, drum or dance - quite a musical group for a bunch of football players... There wasn't a moment of the party where someone wasn't singing or dancing "Sevillana." Rafa and one of Javi's friend Macarena dancing "Sevillana" - Sevilla's version of flamenco

Rafa singing and playing the guitar - he is amazing!!

Rafa attempting to teach me how to play the traditional drum - it's not just a box!

Alex and I attempting to be Sevillano

Cesar teaching Alex to drum
Marta, Iris, me, Corro and Pablo

Iris, Mary, Kendall, Marta, Brittany, Mel and me (with Josue and Xavi in the background)
Selu, Mary, Javi, Juan and Josue

2009 Sevilla Linces vs. Baldalona Dracs

Your 2009 Sevilla Linces!!!!2009 Sevilla Linces Junior Team2009 Sevilla Linces BEERleaders.

Since our team does not have the funding for official cheerleaders, the group of girlfriends of players took it upon themselves to support the team in their own special way. My #1 Fan

Lars Werner and I

This week we lost against the first place Baldalona Dracs 33-0. Baldalona is a suburb of Barcelona. This was without a doubt the toughest defense we have faced this season. The team was very well prepared and they knew exactly what we were doing offensively. Everytime we would line up for a play the defense would yell my number and where I was going before the play even started. Unfortunately, this is the first game all season that we have been shut out without scoring any points. We have 3 games remaining and we must win them all in order to earn a spot in the playoffs. The good thing is that we are playing 3 of the worse teams in the league, but we are playing all of them on the road. Post-game BBQ at Orlando's house

Jennie and Marta at Buddha

The boys and I at Buddha (Corro, Javi and Cameron)

Ciao Milan!!!

The fabulous Hotel Mac Mahon

The Duomo is the largest gothic cathedral in the world

This is the entrance to the Galleria, an upscale shopping center with stores like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Armani and McDonalds?

Perfect timing? As we were leaving the Duomo, the rock group Metro Station performed a free concert in the plaza. Later while we were drinking coffee we saw ourselves on televeision on Italian MTV.

Enjoying the fashion on Via Spiga. A pair of socks on this street would leave me broke.

"Extreme Beauty in Vogue" Jennie and I went to an exhibit focusing on the most extreme photagraphy published in Vogue.

My kind of job! These models are getting paid big bucks just to sit.

The Church of Santa Maria Delle Grazie. DaVinci's "Last Supper" was inside, although we didn't get to see it without a reservation. They only let 15 people in at a time and reservations are booked months in advance.


Our last supper in Milan. There was a McDonalds on every block. These Nugs are dedicated to Valerie.

Our trip to Rome

Our first stop was the Trevi Fountain. Probably my favorite spot in all of Rome. It may be touristy but it's sooo gorgeous you don't care. We threw coins over our backs like tourists to make sure we return!

La Perla's window display on Via Condotti - which leads to the trend report for Rome: In - all shades of purple, trench coats, burberry scarves for men and women, spray tans, designer purses mostly Gucci and Louis, low heeled riding boots. I've seriously never seen so many girls wearing purple.

The Pantheon - rebuilt in 125 AD from whenever it was built before that. It's freakin' old. It also really got me to thinking - what do they do when it rains? As there is an open hole in the ceiling and apparently they have mass there, but the floor is marble. Hmmm. Note to self - don't wear heels there.

Alex inside the Pantheon

Michelangelo's Pieta which he carved at age 23. Made me feel slightly inadequate. I mean I haven't exactly carved any masterpieces yet.

Outside the Vatican in St. Peter's Square (more like a circle). We got really lucky and wandered into the Vatican right as a mass was starting and got to attend mass. There were nuns from all over the world visiting Vatican City and I don't think I have ever seen a happier nun than after that mass...

The best gnocchi - it just melted in your mouth - from a cafe on a side street of Via Nazionale. Look at that cheese dripping off. It just doesn't get any better than that.

Alex got a roasted vegetable pizza

After dinner we attended an Opera performance at a Episcopal Church near our Hostel. The opera singers were quite frisky and as the performance went on their personalities kept coming out more and more until the encore when one of the male singers grabbed a woman from the audience and started dancing with her while singing an aria from La Traviata.

Some REEEEAAALLLY old bibles at the Musei Vaticani

The Musei Vaticani gardens... I think my eyes are closed... oops. Oh well at least now we have proof that Alex and I were there at the same time... hahaha

Becoming coffee/espresso addicts - just as Melanie predicted.... but after looking through the Pope's collection of artwork for hours and feeling slightly depressed that 90% of it is still hidden, one needs a little pick-me-up.

The most amazing/expensive panninis - outside the Vatican and Cappuccino with chocolate sprinkled on top. Reaffirmation that you just can't get bad food in Rome.

The Forum. We discovered this amazing view of the ruins after accidentally climbing a hill behind the Bocca della Verita.... definitely worth the hike.

Jumping for joy at the Colosseum!

On our way to attend a dinner hosted by our hostel, everyone paused for night pics of the Colosseum. Dinner was all you could eat pasta and chicken and all you could drink red wine and was led by a crazy Brit named Jeff and a tiny life-loving Italian named Salvatore...

Salvatore (the Italian host) forces us to reinact "Lady and the Tramp" with bread since we were eating penne and not spagetti and perhaps out of a bit of consideration for my white top... He was quite the romantic and brought red roses for all the girls that attended the dinner and later made Alex propose to me with the most lengthy Italian proposal ever behind a parked car.

Our new friends from around the world - Tom (Austria), Natalie (Wales), me, Salvatore (Italy), Damir (Turkey/Germany), Alex and Gina (Wales) - the most fun-loving group ever. We frolicked through the streets of Rome drinking red wine and singing Back Street Boys and Spice Girls - it was quite a night.

Gina, me and Natalie on our last night in Rome.

Roman Holiday

While in Rome we decided to visit some of the sights from one of my favorite movies Roman Holiday. Apparently the Italians are just as obsessed (or they just gave in to tourists) because signs and photos from the film are everywhere. Below are the highlights from the "movie tour."

Trevi Fountain

Spanish Steps Via Condotti

Ponte Sant' Angelo

Bocca della Verita

Alex cuts his hair!

Alex gets a haircut (FINALLY) from Pelequeria Beth on Calle Feria and swears to only go to a barber from here on out.... Apparently there is something about a straight razor?

Bocadillo Serrano - ham, serrano chile, sauce and cheese... from a restaurant off Calle Sierpes.

This was what we got when we ordered Papas alioli - so much mayonaisse I will personally bet you can't find the potatoes...

We also attempted to order Churros but were told they are only available after 5pm. Very sad.

Taking a stroll through the park.

After an early breakfast (2pm), Jennie and I decided to take a walk around Parque Maria Luisa. The park has beautifully layed out walkways with trees and plants from all over the world. In the middle of the park is the Plaza de Espana (below), which has become one of the most recognizable buildings in Sevilla.

My grandma would be so happy that I found her maiden name!

Jennie was soooo excited about this building.

The definition of beauty!

We stumbled across the replica of the ship that Ferdinand Magellan used to circumnavigate the world for the first time in history. He sailed from this spot at the Port of Sevilla on the Guadalquivir River. The replica ship actually sailed around the world in 1991.

Every Sunday night Jennie and I eat dinner at El Gato Azul, a pizzeria within a hundred meters of my apartment. Since living in Sevilla, we have become accustomed to the "free-style ordering" technique. FSO is a technique used when you have no clue what the items on the menu are or when you just want to be a little spontaneous. Today, we ordered a penne pasta with tomato sauce, basil and 2 "mystery ingredients".

For an appetizer we had Frommagio al Horno. Baked cheese, with caramelized red onions, ground nuts and bread.

Topping off our dinner con fresas y nata (strawberries and whipped cream). SLURP!!!

ITALY HERE WE COME!!!! Since my team does not play again until the 28th of this month, Jennie and I have decided to pack up our back packs and head off to Italy. We are flying to Rome this Tuesday morning and are planning on visiting all the places in one of Jennie's favorite movies, "Roman Holiday". From there we found tickets to Milan that cost 0 Euro on Ryan Airlines (too good to be true), however, we had to pay every kind of tax imaginable, we even have to pay to use the restroom!!! In Milan, we are very excited (and by we I mean Jennie) to see all the Italian Fashion houses. We just looked up the weather forecast in Milan and we are in store for snow. We will try to update the blog from Italy!

-Arrivederci

Eating our way through Sevilla

Casa Paco for dinner on Thursday night - A shrimp salad, baked portabello mushrooms and our FAVORITE "Camembert al horno" - Camembert cheese baked onto french bread and topped with black currant jam and Rioja wine. AMAZING.
You have to wait forever for a table but it's totally worth it.
Cheese is amazing!!

So sad that I am too full to eat the last piece!

After dinner we wandered around the Alameda and got amazing fruit candies from a little stall. Everyone is out late at the cafes, eating, talking, drinking and laughing.

Friday

Zara (a clothing store in el Centro) is very dangerous for me and I bought a pair of shoes... Attempting to wear my new tacones on the cobblestone streets = not a good idea. I was later informed that the Spanish girls all wear flats walking around and then change into their heels when they get to whatever restauraunt/club they are going to. Oops.

Open Market in the Alameda de Hercules - where we have made very good friends with a man from Algeria who sells hot mint tea and lets you take home the tea glass afterward....

Xavi, Alex, Iris, me, Brittany and Pablo beginning our afternoon of Tapa-ing....

At this bar - close to Iris and Pablo's apartment - we had Foi Gras, Melted Goat Cheese on toast, lamb and potatoes in olive oil and herbs, Patatas Bravas, some sort of tomato soup thing and Tinto de Verano (red wine with Fanta in it... real good).

Iris, Brittany, Pablo, Xavi and me

Tapas on Alameda de Hercules with Xavi, Iris and Brittany.

Later in the evening we went over to Jose "Corro" and Brittany's new apartment for a housewarming party and even more amazing food - five kinds of pizza that rival El Gato Azul, even one with melted Brie on the top. The evening was spent with Antonio (the head coach) and Corro (another coach) re-enacting the best/funniest moments of the team over the last 15 years. The girlfriends of the other players/coaches (Brittany, Iris, Bella and Marta) are attempting to educate me on how to not look like a "giri" (foreigner) before Feria comes and are helping me to put together a flamenco outfit. I bought a skirt at an open market on Calle Feria but still need a blouse, shawl and apparently blue shoes to match the polka-dots "lunares" on the skirt...