El Copa del Rey (King's Cup - Soccer Championship)

This past Wednesday (4/20), Barcelona and Madrid took over Valencia to battle it out in the championship game, as in, the entire populations of the two biggest cities in Spain consumed the third largest.  This match up coincided with our first day of Spring Break, so needless to say, we were very excited to celebrate with the soccer fanatics.  Though our teachers cautioned us that it could get a little heated dangerous, we skipped out of class and hit the streets.  Choosing between the two teams, I am definitely a Real Madrid fan (only because of the '07 exchange and few friends that live there); HOWEVER, choosing between spending 35 euros on a jersey, I am unquestionably a Barcelona fan - WAY better color options (sins).   

 (Sarah and me (sporting my new Barca jersey) in the park getting ready to head to the tailgate/"official pregame.")

We now reach the point where it is imperative to explain the differences between an American sports fan and a Spanish one.  They.  take.  futbol.  very.  seriously.  Everyone in the states has their favorite football, baseball, basketball teams, but we can still enjoy a tailgate side by side.  An intermingled pregame in Spain would be unfathomable fatal.  The aficionados (fans) despise each other to such a great extent that the city has to designate two (equidistant from the stadium) areas in Valencia as "official pregame spots."  Hence, Madrid began its festivities in the park (riverbed) while Barcelona camped out in the university area.  My not knowing that we would elect the Madrid pregame prevented me from thinking twice about buying this (cannot understate how) BRIGHT orange jersey.  Sooooo, Jackie, Sarah, and I are walking through the park headed in the direction of the Madrid area (getting a few looks here and there; also got screamed at by a five year old kid for wearing Barca - they teach them young), and just after a tree clearing, we see it:  the SEA of white jerseys.  We're getting pretty worried about my provocative luminescence at this point but still decide to forge ahead (stupid American, right?).  About thirty feet farther, a few guys tell us "we're making a BIG mistake," and then a few other drunk ones down right told us that we needed to TURN.  AROUND.  NOW.  Two older (50s) Spanish men grew concerned for our lives and walked us back the other way..... in the direction of my house ..... where I immediately opted for a neutral gray Norfolk Academy t-shirt and black rain jacket.  Slightly embarrassing but fatality averted?!

 (Sea of white.)

(Note: (1) the outfit change and (2) the official Real Madrid tents - intense.)

After safely returning in the unbiased outfit, we joined the pregame at ease.  Though the game didn't start until 9:30 pm, most of the fans had been drinking in the rio since 10 that morning - dedication.  Since tickets were being sold that day for upwards of 2000 Euro (in relative terms, that's 571 doner kebabs, or at least like, 70 cute tops from Zara), we settled to watch the game in various bars.  In case you missed it, here's a youtube video of Cristiano Ronaldo winning the (at that point) scoreless game in the 89th minute - nice! --

Fun night.  Just remember, "Espain is edifferent!"