The rain in Spain, I learned does not fall mainly on the plain, but in the northern mountains. And while I felt a little like Eliza in the musical “My Fair Lady” trying desperately to lose my American accent by practicing Spanish speech exercises, I learned that it doesn’t really matter. Upon arriving in Spain a few days ago, our Spanish friends (who also spoke English) made me and my family feel more than welcome. They made our trip to Spain feel like home.
And we’ve only just begun.
Before we traveled four hours to Granada from Madrid on our first day in Spain, the Spaniards had a surprise for us. My 12 year-old son James is a huge European futbol (soccer) fan. So when our friends pulled some strings to get us a personal tour of Ciudad del Futbol(Football City) – a sports complex that serves as the headquarters of the Royal Spanish Football Federation – my son couldn’t stop smiling. Even this non-soccer mom realized what an amazing and rare experience this was. To tour the training fields of the Spanish national team, and tour the museum where the shirts of legendary players and the 2010 World Cup was “pretty cool,” according to James. Even better was to shake hands with Vicente del Bosque, head coach of the Spanish national football team and hero to all of Spain and beyond. If that wasn’t enough, we had lunch at the cafetorium.
“Just think,” said James, “I could have sat in Xavi’s seat, or Jordi Alba’s seat, or Busquets seat!”
We are travelling with another American family whose son is just as nuts about soccer as James is. Our two families are staying in Granada, Spain, the 13th largest city in Spain, nestled at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains. We’ll call this place home for 10 days and travel around the automonomus community of Andalusia in search of an otherworldly futbol experience.
Our sons will practice with youth academy teams from Malaga, Granada, and Almeria. In between, they will play futbol wherever and whenever they can. Futbol will transcend language and create bonds beyond our wildest expectations. As grown-ups, we will see, feel, smell, taste, and touch this beautiful culture, rich with history and take with us an unrequited love of Spain.
Learn something new
It sounded like you had a great time in Spain. After reading your articles I would have also been upset about coming back home. I really thought it was cool how the street were made of stone and had cool designs on them. It was also nice how the way Spain plays soccer and how it has a lesson to teach. It’s not much like that at home. It must have been really cool to visit a place as historic as Alhambra. And I also liked how many different traditions the soccer games had. When you mentioned how it was boring traveling with teenagers, I figured it would have been hard,but you got it easy. I had a question when you said that your kids stayed with host families, and I was wondering what a host family was.. It’s so cool how you get to do so many things in Spain. It sounds like a lot of fun!
It was a really interesting experience to read about all of your incredible times in Granada. I was completely unaware that there was also a Sierra Nevada mountain range in Spain as well as the Western US. I’d love to compare the experience of seeing them both if I had the opportunity. I’d also like to congratulate your son and his friends for getting to participate in Spanish life, culture, and futbol. I am also very interested in cultural foods, but like you I’m a vegetarian. What was your feelings about the food experience you received on your vacation, and how do you feel about becoming a flexitarian? Also, what was your favorite thing you did in Granada, Spain, if any, for you ate fresh olives, walked the beautiful streets, saw the pope, and met many nice people? Thank you for documenting your experiences.
how long has your son James been interested in soccer? it looks like he has been interested in it for a while. its a good thing that he found some one that loves it as much as he does. it must be fun to travel and learn so much about different culture styles of soccer and get the chance to have them try it out.