Where would we go? What would we do? Fortunately, we had planned a trip to Camp Nou, home of FC Barcelona, one of the biggest football (soccer) clubs in the world. Cesar was our guide again and met us at the stadium around 10. The lines were long and the barriers high, but Cesar knew who to talk to and we flowed right into the stadium unbothered by the throng of waiting fans. Caesar has been giving tours for quite awhile and knows everyone. He has toured the families of footballers , perhaps even a Argentinian of significance. He has toured Silicone Valley workers and PepsiCo executives as well. Now he was stuck with us.
I started watching football with the girls when they were little. The English Premier League served as a gateway drug to the larger footballing world. Over the last 15 years Barcelona has been a club discussed in even casual circles.
Our day started with a 30 min car ride from the hotel to Camp Nou. Camp Nou has been the home for Barcelona FC since 1957 and has a seating capacity of 99,354. Camp Nou is one of the largest stadiums in Europe.
FC Barcelona was founded by Swiss, Catalan and German footballers. The primary leader was a man named Hans Gamper.
FC Barecelona history includes 3 stadiums. The first is Camp de la Indústria in 1909 with a capacity of 8,000 fans. Next came, Les Cortes in 1922 with a capacity for 30,000 fans. One of the nicknames for Barcelona supporters is Cúlers because the fans would sit on the stadium wall and as you approached all you would see is a row of butts. It should be noted that during these years Barcelona represent opposition to oppression and a defender of rights and freedoms. Finally Camp Nou was built in 1957.
Hans Gamper helped found FC Barcelona.
I would let you put that in my tombstone.!!
The first symbol for the club. Was football even a word back then?
Paulino Alcantara was philipino and the first club legend. Was his kick so powerful it could tear the net? We many not know. However this dude did score 357 goals in 357 games kicking a medicine ball. #badass
The boots were heavy. Think Red Wing work boots on steroids. The ball was stuffed not inflated so wet it was well over a kilogram. (Use your phone to do the conversation to lbs.)
Luis Suárez was a bad ass and the only Spanish player to win the Ballon d’or.
Joan Míro working on the Barca 75th anniversary poster
Johan Cruyff is a Barca and Dutch legend. If you ever watch Katie Anseth play she was a master of the Cruyff Turn. Once you love football you love Johan Cruyff.
Johan and Barcelona take off as a team. This image is a beatdown of Real Madrid 5-0.
Cruyff as coach changed Barca football. Total football is the term when all the players are involved in coming forward and attacking and also working back to defend.
Legends: Iniesta, Messi and Xavi. All came up through the youth development program. The idea for a youth development program came from…..Cruyff!!
The poster created for the 75th anniversary by Joan Míro. Nothing like having an international renowned surrealist paint you 75th anniversary poster. This original hangs in the museum at Camp Nou.
The original 100th anniversary of the club poster by Antoni Tapieś
Champions League trophy 2010-2011
Champions League trophy 2014-2015
Champions League Trophy 2008-2009. Maybe the best team ever in the history of football. Manchester United 1998-1999 winning the Treble May disagree.
Champions League Trophy 2005-2006
There is 1more Champions League trophies but I did a terrible job capturing it
6 golden boots for the scoring champion.
🇦🇷 born and Barca raised Lionel Messi!!!
#legend
This is awe inspiring 7 Ballon d’or trophies given to you by your peers because they believe you are the best footballer in the world 🌎. Standing in front of this is amazing!!
Kari and I in the stands.
Mes que un club…”More than a club”
Another shot of this dynamic duo. I was asking if they need a certified Pilates instructor on staff. If they did we could throw in an orthopedic surgeon for a discount.
Another shot of this dynamic duo. I was asking if they need a certified Pilates instructor on staff. If they did we could throw in an orthopedic surgeon for a discount.
Cesar with Kari and I. You couldn’t hope for a nicer person or a better guide. He shared his love for Catalonia with us for 2 straight days.
Johan Cruyff, the coach!!
Johan Cruyff, the player!!!
Zoom in for the first glimpse at “Total football”
Nuff said…..
On last view of Camp Nou
Iconography around Barcelona.
The Barcelona market!!
It is rocking and overpowering. So much energy and food.
Kari and Grace before we enter the Market of Madness.
Fresh fish!!!
Octopus
Cured meats. Jamión Ibérico
Selling cured meat to the masses
The market is crazy
More octopus
Fresh Turbot
I have a little serving of cured meats and cheese. ❤️ ❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥
Dude, you need to try this little sampler of cured meats and cheese. Cmon bro, just try it.
After the market, we walked down to the Christopher Columbus Monument. Columbus is much more warmly regarded here because he opened trade across the Atlantic. When you return home with gold and silver most will think you are alright. Eventually Barcelona was able to participate in trade across the Atlantic and this helped fuel the industrial boom within the city. Trade dyes and clothes in Cuba for rum and sugar then trade rum and sugar in America for cotton which you could bring back to Barcelona and create dramatic and extravagant dyed clothes with.
The monolith of Columbus
Columbus, pointing to the new world!?!?
Columbus Monument
The details in the middle of the column should get some love
1 Lion and 2 Lioness
The Columbus monument is beautiful
The Lions surrounding the statue.
The ladies and the Lion.
After our walk I enjoyed some free wine social hour time at the Kimpton while I worked on the blog. After my social hour we headed to Feroz for dinner.
Feroz
This is a Feroz cocktail
The restaurant.
Razor clams
Anchovies!!!
Paella!!!
Kari and Ashley after they crushed some Monkfish and Steak
Grace and I after crushing steak and Paella.
After dinner it was back to the Kimpton and back to bed. Some of us had real classes to go to and some of us had a cooking class to attend. Who do you think will have more fun???
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