Mi Primero Clasico

I cannot say I miss Dutch football. Ajax has not played one decent game this whole season. AZ plays good, but will ultimately fall short. And so PSV will easily become the champions again this year. Exactly, not much different from last season's story...
Here in Spain I am honored to watch a Barcelona that plays its best football in years. Lately, they play like they did in the beginning of the 90s or like Ajax did around '95. Combinations that make your mouth water, individual actions that make you agape with surprise. Eto'o,Deco, Messi: they all show things that are out of this world. But the man that sets a new standard in football skills is Ronaldinho. Watching him reminds me of seeing Bergkamp play in his best days. He does things that until now were thought of as being impossible. You think I am exaggerating? Look at this little video then. It start off like a Maradona imitation, but look what happens when he starts shooting. Count the amount of times he hits the crossbar, seemingly without effort.
'That is not football, that is magic, my friend':

http://www.dumpalink.com/media/1131971862/Ronaldinho_Shows_Extreme_FootballSoccer_Skills

Today Barca plays against Real Madrid in Bernabeu. El Clasico. I have been looking forward to this game for weeks. Mi primero clasico en Espana. And not just that. Everybody here expects a clasico we will remember for a while. Madrid plays like shit lately, but that hardly says anything about what they will do against Barca. That is why it's the best game in the world: it is a competition within a competition. A glorious victory against the arch enemy is as precious as becoming Spain's national champion. Barcelona and all its fans do not dare to speak it out loud, but they know this is a chance to give the people from Madrid something they will remember for years. Complete humiliation. I am all ready for it. I hope Ronaldinho too.

This one's for you Justin ;) 

Little Things I Like About Spain, Part I

Looks like Nesquick, but it's much better! You put a glass of milk in the microwave for a minute, add the magic powder and voila!

I recently bought a heater, but before that it could be damn cold in my room... I made a hot chocolate every time I couldn't take it anymore. Cola Cao tastes like hot chocolate, but it gives you the energy of a cup of coffee. They also have a new thing, Cola Cao Complet, which includes all the fibres and vitamines you need in a day. In one hot chocolate! Hostia!

Alfredo told me I am not the first 'extranjero' that is crazy about this stuff. He met an English guy who still buys dozens of packs of Cola Cao every time he visits Spain.

(This sure looks like my blog is sponsored... I should contact the Cola Cao Company, I might make some extra bucks ;)

When I came back from the bars last weekend, all was quiet... But my neighbor Donkey was up! He refused to pose for the picture though, stubborn bastard...

Out with Antonio and his friends, Friday Night, Planta Baja 

Friday Night @ Planta Baja, Granada 

Descending Sacromonte...

I mentioned before how much I enjoy walking down Sacromonte every morning, but you might want to see what I am talking about. Here is a little photo impression of the first 20 minutes of my day...

This is how I start my walk every morning: at the side of the road. Cars don't pay attention to you, you have to pay attention to them. Scooters are even worse. The road has lots of twist and turns and it is hard to see them coming. I am still a careful Dutchman, you know...

The Catholic inside me always wakes up a little bit when I pass this sweet little church... 

After about 10 minutes I get a little closer to the 'civilized world'.... 

I walk around the corner and catch a first glimpse of Granada and the Alhambra... 

After about 15 minutes walking I arrive at the place where you have an incredible view of the Alhambra. I always have to stop walking and look for at least a couple of seconds... 

This is the centre of Sacromonte and the place where all the tourist go to see traditional Flamenco shows. One more minute downhill and I am in the centre of Granada.