Espa�a vs Scotland - the World Champions come to Alicante!

October 11th, 2011...

So, where were we? Ah yes! Dudes in skirts invaded Alicante!!! And why? All to see a beautiful trophy in a glass case? I don't think even the most ardent fans would fly all the way down here just for that (although the added incentive of the local beaches and sunny weather might help). Nope, they were all here to witness their teams' final qualifying match for the 2012 European Football Championship! What were the stakes? Well for Spain a matter of pride, hoping to win all their matches in a qualifying phase for the first time (something very few countries have done) and maintain their winning streak in Alicante (they've never lost here!), but for Scotland the stakes were much higher: a loss would mean farewell to their dreams of playing in Poland and the Ukraine next summer.

Now, although it might seem otherwise from the number of posts on the subject, I am NOT a big football fan! Except when the national team is involved... then I go kind of crazy... particularly if it's a World Cup year (see last year's football madness, lol!). ;o) In fact, I've only been once to see a live football match, and that was a big final in Mexico D.F. 16 years ago with a friend who insisted I had to see a live match (and we had a blast!). Although I've often thought it would be fun to go see another match with a group of friends, I haven't really done anything about it. The best time would have been last year when Alicante's local team - the Hercules - was in 1st Division and the best teams in the country all came to play here at some point, but I was out quite frequently so nada. But the Selecci�n comes to Alicante for the first time in 10 years?!?!?! There's NO WAY I was going to miss out on joining in in that fiesta with the reining World Champions! Add to that the fact that my dad had never been to a live football match (American football I'm guessing yes), and we were all set to make a father-daughter adventure out of it! :o)

He looks excited doesn't he?

We walked into the Rico Perez (the Hercules' stadium) barely 5' before the match started and of course the place was packed and the ambiance fantastic!

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Con derecho a queja

Seamos sinceros, para poder quejarse de cualquier cosa, es necesario que la tal cosa sea poca cosa.

Esto que parece un trabalenguas no es m�s que uno de esos convencionalismos que tan mal llevo: si a uno le pasa cualquier tonter�a es libre de contarla a diestro y siniestro. De hecho, lo m�s probable es que en poco tiempo est� rodeado de m�s o menos p�blico que le jalee. Si la cosa es de importancia... Pues nada, habr� que apretar los dientes y hacer creer al respetable que eso es una sonrisa.

�Y si alquien osa llevar la contraria? Pues entonces ser� recriminado por los que saben, es decir, por los que se quejan de nimiedades, de que debe animarse y aguantar, que dejarse llevar por los problemas no es nada bueno y que, en fin, se cuide, se distraiga, etc. Siempre se. Es decir, en solitario. No vaya a pensar nadie que est�n ah� para ayudar. Ah no, no. Que cada palo aguante su vela.

Porque con esta gente rara que siempre le est�n pasando cosas mejor pasar de largo, �no? Seguro que es por algo, las cosas no pasan porque s�. Aunque a veces s� pasan porque s�, pero mejor no trastornar a estas mentes de algod�n con hecho reales, ellos viven flotando en una nube y est�n muy bien ah�. Bueno, eso por no hablar de que cuando se les lleva la contraria se ponen un poco dif�ciles, �verdad?

Pero la realidad es tozuda y se muestra, por mucho que se intente que no sea demasiado a las claras y, entonces, �qu�? Pues entonces se hace lo que se puede, de todo menos hacer como que no existe o que uno se lo busc�. Porque, �sab�is? Hay actitudes que aunque parezcan inocentes y despreocupadas no lo son tanto. Y si no, quedaos por aqu� diez minutos m�s... y ver�is lo que pueden llegar a dar de s�:

Con derecho a queja

Seamos sinceros, para poder quejarse de cualquier cosa, es necesario que la tal cosa sea poca cosa.

Esto que parece un trabalenguas no es m�s que uno de esos convencionalismos que tan mal llevo: si a uno le pasa cualquier tonter�a es libre de contarla a diestro y siniestro. De hecho, lo m�s probable es que en poco tiempo est� rodeado de m�s o menos p�blico que le jalee. Si la cosa es de importancia... Pues nada, habr� que apretar los dientes y hacer creer al respetable que eso es una sonrisa.

�Y si alquien osa llevar la contraria? Pues entonces ser� recriminado por los que saben, es decir, por los que se quejan de nimiedades, de que debe animarse y aguantar, que dejarse llevar por los problemas no es nada bueno y que, en fin, se cuide, se distraiga, etc. Siempre se. Es decir, en solitario. No vaya a pensar nadie que est�n ah� para ayudar. Ah no, no. Que cada palo aguante su vela.

Porque con esta gente rara que siempre le est�n pasando cosas mejor pasar de largo, �no? Seguro que es por algo, las cosas no pasan porque s�. Aunque a veces s� pasan porque s�, pero mejor no trastornar a estas mentes de algod�n con hecho reales, ellos viven flotando en una nube y est�n muy bien ah�. Bueno, eso por no hablar de que cuando se les lleva la contraria se ponen un poco dif�ciles, �verdad?

Pero la realidad es tozuda y se muestra, por mucho que se intente que no sea demasiado a las claras y, entonces, �qu�? Pues entonces se hace lo que se puede, de todo menos hacer como que no existe o que uno se lo busc�. Porque, �sab�is? Hay actitudes que aunque parezcan inocentes y despreocupadas no lo son tanto. Y si no, quedaos por aqu� diez minutos m�s... y ver�is lo que pueden llegar a dar de s�:

More dudes with skirts! Football fiesta in Alicante...

So, no guesses on the reason for the Scottish invasion? *sniffles* I'd hope at least someone on this side of the Atlantic would have chimed in... after all, similar events were taking place in a dozen or so cities around the continent!

I'll give you a few more clues and let's see if you can't figure it out before the end of the post...

Number one, although lots of them were turning crispy red on the beach or downing bears on one of Alicante's many terraces,

many more were to be seen hanging around this place:

Ok, yeah... that's in Spanish and it translates as "World Champions - Welcome to the Club Selecci�n", Selecci�n as in Spain's national football team (soccer for those on the other side of the pond). So why were Scots hanging around a place dedicated to Spain's current darlings? Well, among the many tents set up on this Esplanade on the harbour, most people (including lots of Spaniards) came to line up and go in here:

Yes dear, that man is wearing a sheep on his head! lol!

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Invasion of dudes in skirts!

Check this out:

Saw quite a few guys decked out in skirts wandering around town this morning! (and yes I know they're called kilts, but I'm just giving you an Alicante reaction... that of most people 'round here!)

Let's see if anyone can guess the reason for this Scottish invasion? ;o)

Movie Madness: The Three Musketeers

I don't think there's any other way to classify this one than under Movie Madness, because the latest outing of my all-time favourite swashbucklers is definitely more than a bit mad!!!

I've been seeing this poster hanging up in my local movie theatre for almost a year now:

(warning: some spoilers ahead)
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Favourite Summer Moments 2011

One thing leads to another... in this case reading a post over at Snug Harbor Bay which led me to the Outdoor Blogger Network and their Goodbye Summer photo prompt, which got me to thinking about my wonderfully busy summer this year! I was way too absent from the blog this summer thanks to / because of "real" life keeping me busy and away from my computer screen! Which resulted in a lot of photos and a lot of adventures I wanted to blog about but haven't had the time... So consider this a summertime "greatest hits" and preview to one or the other future posts. ;o)

Summer in Alicante started off as usual with the Hogueras de San Juan

"Official" Hoguera 2011 (more here)

and I got to enjoy a couple of masclet�s from real close! ;o)

Then there was the travelling...
Morocco:

crossing the Atlas mountains in July

fun with henna tattoos for a Berber wedding

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