Aventura 11: Frankfurt

Wednesday night was an incredible adventure if there ever was one.  One of those totally unexpected moments, unexpected nights, that you will always remember with a smile.

So Wednesday night, for those of you who don't know, was the semi-final round of La Copa del Rey tournament for La Liga (Spanish footy league).  This semi-final game meant even more though because of the match-up.  Barcelona vs. Real Madrid.  An unexpected Clásico game.  Madrid has been in first place en La Liga for a good few weeks, but Barcelona has almost always won in the most recent Clásico games. So this game, this game was a great test, let alone a semi-final.

http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2012/1/18/2715798/real-madrid-vs-barcelona-2012-el-clasico-copa-del-rey-quarterfinals

I've bonded with my padre over fútbol, so we'd basically been talking about watching this partido for a week or so.  Come 22.00h on Wednesday night, we turn the television on to La Barca channel and see the two teams walk out.  The take their positions on the field, the ref is about to blow the whistle, and then the screen shifts to the commentators.  Okay, just a second, that's okay.  But no, it stays on the computers.  For five minutes I watch the commentators talking to each other furiously, watching something that's not the audience.  That's when I realize that they are watching the game....without us.  We are sitting watching people EXPLAIN the game to us.  I guess my family hadn't paid for the actual game channel....

The green Frankfurt.  If the DHL in google street view wasn't in the way....

Refusing to watch people watch the game, I went down the street to el Frankfurt (there are many Frankfurts here).  I look in the windows and it's packed with people - I am 7 minutes late.  There's a TV above the doorway and a table right in front.  Two people are sitting in the prime seats, but I sit down in the open seat closest to the TV, akin to sitting in the front row of the movie theater.  I'm craning my neck, man is it going to be sorry tomorrow (it is), but I forget about it and fall into the game.  

Madrid score's first, in the first 11 minutes, but the rest of the game is Barca's.  So many amazing opportunities, passes, touches, headers, tackles, more beautiful touches and dribbling - it was an incredible game.  And everyone I was watching it with was super passionate about fútbol and Barca.  In the second half, the girl across from me left.  I switched to sit across the table, in those prime seats, and I talked to the boy sitting next to me.  We talked about footy, rock-climbing, footy, Barca, Barcelona - all in spanish.  And then the second half, and this time, I had someone to high-five when Barca scored twice or someone to shake my head with when Pepe on Real Madrid was being a HORRIBLE sport and stepping on Messi's hand or being overly dramatic.  I had someone to shout with when Barca won at the end, along with a whole restaurant of fellow fans to celebrate with when Barca pulled out the win, 2-1, at the end.

http://search.espn.go.com/barcelona/

I left the restaurant and walked one block to my apartment.  Totally not expected, but this night was awesome.