Okay, so I´m a little late but even a week later, the country hasn´t stopped celebrating. During the semifinals (Spain vs. Russia) the Sara[h]s and I went to the Plaza de Colón to watch the game. All of Madrid´s young people flock to this plaza to drink with friends and then watch the game on two huge screens placed in the middle. Spilling over the sidewalks, the fans cover the streets and essentially stop traffic. It was a sight to see! And a blast to be a part of!
This is the crowd celebrating just outside of the plaza and the other picture is inside where we watched the game on the screen to the right.
Before the game, the Sara[h]s and I walked around and did some Spanish tailgating of our own. Once the game began, we entered the plaza and stood shoulder to shoulder with some of the teams biggest fans and watched as Spain won their trip to the finals! By the end of the game we were covered in every type of alcohol which was thrown in the air after each of Spain´s 3 goals. The celebration continued on the Metro the whole way home. It was so exciting!
During the next 3 days until the big game, Madrid was nuts! But the mood changed when President Zapatero announced he would be attending the game with the King and Queen. Apparently it is well known that Zapatero is a bad luck charm. Everyone was sure we´d lose if he was in the audience.
On Sunday, the Sara[h]s and I met up with another Iowa student to watch the game at a bar. Although we weren´t in the center of the excitement like we were in Colón, it was great to actually get to see the game. We ordered drinks and tried to blend in by cheering and yelling at the TV with everyone else. And in the final moments, we stood up and sang, "Que viva España!" with the whole bar. I´m not sure we fooled anyone, but we certainly had fun.
