xx xxx xxxx BARCA

After hearing how good the FC Barcelona team is, we decided that we couldn't leave Spain without having seen them play.  So, Jordan and I were on a mission to do the following:

1. Get to Barcelona on time Tuesday night after school
2. Find the large futbol stadium
3. Get tickets to the game at 9 that night
4. Find our seats
5. Find our way back to La Garriga.... without having to wait for the 6am train 

So after school, Jordan's teacher showed us which school bus we could get on to get into Barcelona.  After about an hour on the bus, it came to it's last stop.  The student getting off here pointed us in the right direction and told us to turn left when we see the big Juan Carlos hotel.  He was shocked that we were going to walk because apparently it would be easier and faster to take an above ground train, but we assured him we were much better off walking than trying to figure out another public transportation system.  We stopped at a Starbucks because we were both pretty drowsy from the long school day and bus ride and then continued walking.  We walked through the University area, where we observed lots of college aged students and lots of PDA.
We walked for about an hour before finding the large Hotel.  We had to ask to make sure we didn't pass it.  All the directions we kept getting were pretty vague such as : "just follow all the people in the jerseys" So somehow we walked around the other side of the hotel but found a little old man who led us to the stadium. 
Find the stadium. check.

just walk towards those lights and then follow all the people.

Now to get tickets.  We weren't really sure where we needed to go for this.  I guess we must have looked like we needed tickets, because another little old man approached us and asked if we wanted to buy tickets.  At first we said no, but then he showed us where they were and kept saying that they were really good tickets.  Jordan need more Euros so he pointed us to an ATM.  After we watched someone else use it, we figured it out and how to get it in English.  Even little things like an ATM are surprisingly confusing in another language.  So we paid him for the tickets, and he gave us his card in case we ever needed tickets again. ha
Tickets. check.

we made it in the stadium!

 Then looked at the Barca merchandise before entering the stadium.  I was very excited to get a Messi jersey, since being here I have watched several games and he is the best (so my students say).

Me sporting my new jersey as the players warm up 

We watched the game and attempted to follow along with the cheers, we got the clapping part down but some of the words not so much. Only when they say BARCA did we fit in.  It was exciting to see the game and how everyone one was so into it, from little kids to elderly, everyone was cheering on the best team in the world.
At half time, Jordan and I realized we missed the note to put a sandwich in our purse.  Looking around EVERYONE just whipped out a sandwich to snack on!

After our neighbor finished his sandwich, I asked him if he could tell us how to get to Rhonda St. Pere
(where we needed to be for the night bus).  He instructed us to follow all the people in jerseys to get to the metro Maria Christina and get on the green line to Placa de Catalunya.

We followed all the people.. which is tricky when they disperse.. we would just choose the larger group of people. Managed to find the Metro and find our way back to Placa de Catalunya.  We had about 2 hours to kill before the first night bus arrived... luckily we stumbled upon a Hard Rock Cafe! and they had English menus!!!
Finally got on the night bus. was thrown around on there for an hour on our way back to La Garriga. Then walked though town back to the school.
Yayy we didn't get mugged!

Off to Paris tomorrow to meet up with Angie and Peter!! sooo excited to see her!!!