Day 6

Woke up in the morning and went running with Alisha while Thor and Andy went to buy tickets for the soccer game. We found a spiffy little exercise park that even had a metal elliptical. some of the machines were less than intuitive and there was a guy who tried futilely to show me how to use them with Alisha translating. Ran up and down the sculpture thingies and then back to the apt. Went to the science center/mall to see and IMAX movie but it was sold out. The science center, amphitheatre and IMAX were designed by Calatrava, the same guy who designed the twisting tower in Malmo that I saw out the window during my last Eurotrip with Nora and Thor.

At the mall, Thor ordered an OJ at the cafe and it was quite tart and tasty and, of the course of all the drinks in spain, came with a large packet of sugar. And being my usual sweet-toothed self, i had a waffle with chocolate. Bought a Valencian goalie figurine for my boss Kai and a spanish book of jungle animals for Z, his awesome fat screaming baby. Shopped for awhile but surprisingly didn't buy anything else. Back to apt.

Off to soccer game, unfortunately feeling abit sick. Quite cold at the soccer game but everybody was excited and shivering more in anticipation than for the cold. Our seats were behind the southern goal in the third and fourth row and a little bit scattered. Very cool. The lady next to me was a chatter box, big Valencia fan, didn't speak any english but chatted with me throughout the game. When the game was starting, the balconies threw confetti down on us. there was a drum pit near us and they were playing the whole game. Opposite us, the balcony threw down a huge flag that covered the entire lower deck. Valencia scored the first goal and also the second. Valencia won 3-2 and Mata was the big hero. We gathered outside the stadium. The team came out on the balcony and threw jerseys into the crowd. Andy caught one and managed to also keep his glasses in the fight. Lots of cheers. Mata was interviewed and the crowd went nuts. Then someone set off fireworks in the middle of the crowd and everybody surged away rather happily (woulda freaked people out in the US). Went home and Andy was really happy about the shirt and Thor was quite jealous. Tried to get pizza but once again my pescatarianism defeated me in this meatcentric country. Passed out right away - maybe the excitement was a little much for me.