Women's Soccer Tour Of Spain Blog
3/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
BARCELONA, SPAIN - The University at Buffalo women's soccer team arrived safely in Barcelona, Spain on Sunday and began their spring training in one of the soccer capitals of the world.
Below is a day-by-day blog of the Bulls once in a lifetime trip from the players perspectives. The players gave an inside look at what the Bulls Tour of Spain consisted of and what they took out of each part of the journey.
DAY 1 - Rachel Villalta
The UB Women's Soccer travel day has finally come! Viva España! Waking up, getting on the vans and traveling to the Buffalo Niagara Airport, there was a buzz in the air as the excitement of the impending trip made everyone anxious and ready to head off on a new adventure. Traveling to Chicago, then Madrid and finally touching down in Barcelona where we meet our tour guides, the experience of a lifetime began. Although we were jet lagged, we got right into the culture and started off by walking to a local restaurant where we had a fabulous first meal. Then we walked around the outside of Camp Nou Stadium, where the infamous Barcelona play as well as their star Lionel Messi.
After a few rounds of "ninja" (shoutout to Nicole Gerritz for winning), we embarked and traveled to our first training session, up in the hills where gorgeous views of the city could be seen. Such a sight and one thing I will personally will never forget. With the cobwebs shaken out of our legs and the stiffness out, it was time to experience the Barcelona night life. We learned how to take the metro downtown to La Ramba, the main strip where all food, shops and tourism takes place, where we found authentic Spanish food. Finishing the night off with some fresh gelato, it was an amazing first night and one to remember with all our best friends.
DAY 2 -Ashley Evans
Today in Espana, the UB Women's Soccer team got their first international win. The opposing team was technically sound with creative runs, as you would expect any European team to be. They moved the ball very well, but defensively we stayed organized for the shutout. On the attacking side we were able to finish our chances and utilize many of the runs we have been working towards for the 2-0 win.
Earlier in the day we took over downtown Barcelona. The team was split into four groups to travel around the city and complete a scavenger hunt. The hunt consisted of a gothic designed churches, a fresh fruit market, Monument de Colom, and much more. After the scavenger hunt was completed, we went to lunch at Taller de Tapas. There we all enjoyed Spanish influenced dishes in the heart of Barcelona!
DAY 3 - Isabella Borini
Although moods were still high from our win the night before, we kept our minds focused during our morning training session led by two coaches from Barcelona. The coaches were lively and full of energy as they led us through several technical drills that emphasized the quick finesse that the Spaniards are known for. Although the drills were completely new to us and our legs were a little heavy from the night before, we adjusted to training quickly and were able to take steps forward in preparing for our next game.
On our way back from training we were able to return to Camp Nou, but this time for a better look. With the full Camp Nou experience, we began with a self-guided tour of the stadium and finished with full access to the FC Barcelona museum and three story store.
We were fortunate to have some free time during the afternoon to explore the city more in depth. With the morning haze gone, the clear weather brought a mix of vibrant locals and excited tourists to the streets allowing us to fully grasp the culture of Barcelona on our last day in the city. We ended the day as one big group, coming together for dinner at a decedent Spanish eatery in downtown Barcelona. ¡Adiós Barcelona! ¡Gracias por los recuerdos!
DAY 4 - Alex Lambert
Early this morning UB Women's Soccer left Barcelona and traveled to the historical city of Valencia. There, we took a walking tour where we saw the fascinating architecture that was developed in the year 138 BC. We were lucky enough to experience the traditional festival La Fallas, that takes place during the month of March. Neighborhoods throughout the city prepare all year to display their ninots (sculptures/monuments) they created which eventually are burned as a cultural celebration. Parades took place where all the woman and children wear beautiful expressive dresses (that coast 5 thousand to 10 thousand Euros) to represent their families cultural depts.
DAY 5 - Julia Benati
Today UB Women's Soccer got to play their second international match under the lights in Valencia. The game ended in a 1-1 draw to a very talented team, Villarreal. Alex Lambert scored the only goal for UB as she received a great ball over Villarreal's back line from Angel Hart and took one touch to beat their keeper before finishing the play with a goal. After the game, we got the privilege to switch jerseys with the other team. You could feel the excitement in the air as we got to make new friends here in Espana as well as bring home a souvenir to remind us of this once in a lifetime experience.
DAY 6 - Andrea Niper
Hola Madrid! Today we departed the beautiful city of Valencia for the grand city of Madrid. Upon arrival, we went to our hotel, grabbed a bite to eat, and then quickly headed to a bike tour! Although it might have taken a few of us a bit of time to get used to riding a bike again, the tour was a major success. We saw sights such as an Egyptian temple, the King's Palace, and rode through the Parque de la Montaña. We also got to see the oldest restaurant in the world, the Restaurante Botin. The tour took about three hours and was well worth the multiple hill climbs.
