Sevilla F.C vs. Athletic Club (Bilbao)

Last night I went to my first Spanish futbol game. I have been watching a lot of games on TV here and I have been really anxious to see a game. The tickets were 50% off for the game, so Andy and I bought tickets on the Visitor Side on the 1st level. We were the 3rd row from the field. It was such a great spot to be.

Outside of the Stadium

Bought a warm up jersey of Sevilla FC

Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan

We made our way in and watched them warm up for a bit. It was interesting because the only beer they sold in the stadium was non-alcoholic which is probably a good idea considering how nuts these fans are.

Getting into the stadium trying to find our seats

Andy and I before the game

Sevilla FC warming up

Panoramic shot of stadium

Physical game

Another close goal off a header

The game was high scoring and aggressive. There was atleast 5 yellow cards and 1 red card. There was also three penalty shots, all resulted in goals.

Players love to act

Our view of the game

Bilbao trying to score with a header

Sevilla with a shot on goal

Everyone was so incredibly fast

Sevilla's goalie clearing the ball

Sevillan fans after a goal scored

2 on 1

At halftime I went up to the top of the stadium to take a picture.

Sun went down and the lights came on

Sevilla looked like they had the game in the bag. The score was 2 - 0 at half. Bilbao came back scoring 2 goals really quickly. The score was 3 - 2 Sevilla. One of Bilbao's goals came off a penalty shot. The goalie blocked it but it was rebounded back in by a player.

Sevilla Celebrating after 3rd goal

Celebrating after another goal

Bilbao Scores on Penalty Shot

Top of stadium (Futbol Club Flag, Spain Flag, Andalucia Flag, Sevilla City motto Flag)

Sevilla got their 4th goal of a penalty kick. It looked like it was going to be over but Bilbao came right back scoring another goal. It came down to the end but Sevilla ended up pulling out the "W"

Second Penalty Shot goal for Sevilla

The game ended 4 - 3. I had a blast. I am definitely going to try to see at least one more game. It was a lot of fun. After the game I headed home and was pretty tired. All and all it as a great time.

Final Score

Soccer Tickets and Free Concerts

On Friday when I was walking down by the soccer stadium and I noticed that Sevilla F.C was playing on Sunday and the tickets were half off! So Saturday morning Andy and I headed to the stadium to buy a couple tickets. We got great seats for really cheap! It only cost 35 euro a ticket.

After I bought my ticket I went home and made a little food then decided to go look for a Sevilla F.C soccer jersey. I wanted a nice one that also wasn't too expensive... HA. I should have just bought one at El Corte Ingles, it was discounted but I went and looked at a few more stores. It would be nice to have an authentic one because they are really nice and I would use it back in the states when I play soccer or am biking. I have to wait now because literally everything is closed on Sunday's here.

When I had my intercambio with this girl the other night she was explaining that the reason most stores are closed on Sunday is because it's a law here to protect small businesses. There are grocery stores here and bigger supermarkets but a majority of Spainards go to small independent stores to get there food. There might be a bread shop, fruit shop, fish shop all on the same street that only sell there respected product. Since most of these businesses are family run it is hard for them to compete with big companies that can stay open everyday and for more hours. To make it fair they implemented a law that makes it so all stores are closed Sunday. This gives the small businesses a break and that will allow them to lose business. The smaller stores cannot afford to hire more employees to stay open on Sundays like bigger stores can, like El Corte Ingles. This is how the country works and everyone is alright with it. It is interesting to live in an ACTUAL socialist country and see how it works.

ANYWAYS, the best part about our ticket is our seats! we are first level, visitor side, 3rd row! woohoo!

Sevilla vs. Bilbao

The Star is where our section is

While I was walking around to find a jersey I noticed they were setting up a huge stage in Plaza San Francisco close to the cathedral. I hung out for a bit and overheard there was a free concert starting at 7 PM. The car company SEAT was celebrating 60 years of business and had free concert series. Matt and I decided to go. It was a lot of fun. I wasn't familiar with the bands, but everyone there obviously knew who there were. Once again everyone just buys beer and drinks in the streets.

Just as it was starting

Plaza San Francisco

The first Singer was a girl named Georgina. She is really big in Europe and it was fun to see a spanish concert. here is some pics from the first two performers, I can remember the second persons name.

Georgina Performing

Fun Show

Enjoying the Show

Last song of Georgina

Another Performer, can't remember who it was though

After the first couple of groups we decided to head out. We met up with Andy and a few of his roomates but I went home because I was really tired. Tomorrow is the soccer game! I can't wait!

Thursday/Friday

Last night I went out with Matt and Andy to a bar downtown. We met up with one of Matt's teachers at his school. She was from Sevilla but lived in London for a few years so she spoke English really well. She wanted to practice it seemed like so we spoke most of the time in English. After the bar we went to Plaza del Salvador and got a few drinks. The Spanish way of drinking is either buying alcohol or beer and drinking in plazas. They call it a botellón. It is very popular in Southern Spain. It is a cheap alternative to going to bars because its legal and you don't have to pay for overpriced drinks.

(Andy, Lila, Me, Matt) at plaza del salvador

botellón

This morning I slept in and then took a trip to the "mall" they have hear. I wanted to check out what all was in there and also stop at the soccer stadium to see when the next Sevilla FC game was. They have a game this Sunday and the tickets are half off. I think I am going to go buy a ticket tomorrow. I am really excited to go see a game, hopefully someone else will be interested in going.

On the way back home I was walking past the train station. On the way over I saw two cops next to this guy who looked really messed up. I honestly thought he might be dead. He was in front of the train station slouched over on this ledge. He had no shirt on and looked like he had not showered in weeks. He was in the most awkward position and it looked like he puked earlier. I was a bit shocked and didn't really know what was going on. When I came back past the train station on the way home I noticed that there was an ambulance there and the guy was not where he was before. I maybe thought they had him in the ambulance but then looked a little bit down the hill and hey was passed on the top of these steps with like 8 police officers around him. A medic put a towel under his had from support. I finally saw the guy move a little bit, but he looked like he was in pretty bad shape. I don't know what that was all about but it was crazy.

Everyone was just staring at this dude

down for the count

I went grocery shopping and bought some BEEF. Finally. I went home and made a big hamburger with onions and gouda cheese inside with avocado on top.

BEEEEEEEEEEF

Spain says "ADIOS" to smoking in bars/restaurants

I read in the paper today that Spain is passing a law that would ban smoking in bars and restaurants. This is the final country in Western Europe that still allows people to smoke almost where ever they like. When I studied abroad in Granada 4 years ago I remember my teachers talking about how they used to be able to light up in class. It's pretty crazy to think how accepted smoking in public places and inside restaurants and bars is. It's pretty depressing when you have a group of 4 adults puffing away and there is a baby in a stroller or their toddlers sitting on their lap. Spain's National Committee for the Prevention of Smoking says up to 1,000 Spanish bar waiters die yearly from lung cancer, mainly from breathing in so much second hand smoke.

As expected, a majority of Spainards (the smokers) are outraged. Some argue the bill could affect tourism given that Spain was the last country where holidaymakers could go and feel free to smoke while they ate tapas and drank in a bar or ate in a restaurant. Spain's main restaurant and bar federation predicted the law will lead to 145,000 lost jobs and a 10 percent decline in revenue for the sector, but the Health Ministry said similar laws put in place in recent years in nations ranging from Britain to France and Italy did not hurt business too much.

The new law goes into affect on January 2nd. It will be interesting to see how it goes. It will be nice to come home from being downtown and not having your clothes smell like smoke for weeks.

The only other thing that I would like to see changed here would make it a law to pick up your dogs droppings. It's insane! I have never seen so much shit in my life. It's like they pick up everything else; wrappers, cans, bottles, but they leave the doo-doo for everyone to step in.

As far as my day went it was pretty eventful. I worked and then went to my teachers house again to help her son with English. It is actually really nice because I get paid and fed! She made a tuna salad and then a rice dish with pork. After we ate I helped her son read through a short english story that he was going to be having a quiz on the next day. I am amazed at how well he speaks English for only being 13. He read through the story and just asked me to clarify what some words meant.

After that I came home and went on a nice run around the town. It has been tough not having my mountain bike. The Sevici Service is great if you want to get somewhere fast, but isn't the best if you just want to ride a bike for a while. So running will have to do until I get back to the States. I contemplated buying a bike, but I have a bad feeling it would get stolen pretty quickly. I see bike frames missing everything attached to poles because people will steal the tires, seat, etc.

After the run I went and got a few drinks with some friends. I don't work until Monday so it will be a nice relaxing weekend.