A Look Back At Soccer's Spain Adventure

(Senior Heather Ward, a member of the soccer team penned a first-hand account of her Spain experience, a trip the Buffaloes took earlier this summer.)

Heather Ward

The University of Colorado women's soccer team scored a trip of a lifetime when the group ventured over the pond for a 10-day trip to Spain. We took in many historic sites, visited several cities and had the opportunity to compete in three international matches.

After a full day of traveling we arrived to our first city, Madrid. We enjoyed a late dinner and then it was lights out to get some rest before our first practice the next morning. While taking on the Madrid heat and embracing the culture, the first practice was held on a small street soccer court in the middle of 'Parque de los Pinos,' a local park near our hotel. It was exciting playing small-sided soccer that brings out our competitive edge and reminds us why we originally fell in love with the game.

Our first adventure into the heart of Madrid was a tour at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid. One detail that caught our attention was the hundreds of trophies and awards displayed on every wall. We walked through history and saw the evolution of the Real Madrid organization, which few people are able to experience. Having the opportunity to walk on the field and sit on the same bench as some of the greatest players in history was an indescribable feeling. After watching the games on television and following these inspiring players, standing on the sidelines created a different perspective. Looking up at the stands and only imagining how the players feel when it's overflowing with fans, left a powerful impression.

We played our first of three matches against Rayo Vallecano that same evening. We learned very quickly how theatrical Rayo's style of play was going to be. When a player felt any contact, they would holler and fall to the ground in dramatic fashion; making it challenging for us to play physical. After a back and forth battle, we secured a 3-2 victory.

The next day everyone woke up bright and early for an eight-hour bus ride through the Spanish countryside to Barcelona. In Barcelona we stayed about thirty minutes outside of the city at the beach town Santa Susana. The boardwalk was filled with different shops and little restaurants or cafés that lasted for miles. The first day in Barcelona everyone's' eyes were glued to the bus windows, staring at the beautiful city. The buildings towered above us with stunning iron balcony railings and each one was distinctly different from the next. Even tops of buildings had elaborate architecture with either molded designs or giant gargoyle sculptures. We drove to the optimal lookout point of the city where we were able to scan the entire town and see clear into the Mediterranean Sea. The view was so spectacular that pictures were unable to replicate how incredible it was. This look out point was at a historic military fort that was designed to protect the city because it was high enough to see an attack from land or sea. Driving back down the curvy roads into the city, we were turned loose and free to explore the city on our own, however we wanted. Some wandered down the beach to feel the sand in their toes and others ventured through the streets to town square for dinner. Many walked down Las Ramblas, which is the most popular street in central Barcelona and is recognized in the Top 10 for most famous streets in the world. This wide boulevard is tree-lined and filled with restaurants and shops that connects the busy square of Plaça de Catalunya and the Columbus Monument.

“Walking the streets of Barcelona and soaking up the culture was an experience that won't ever be replicated. The simple things like walking down the ally streets and discovering cute little tapa restaurants and unique boutiques was my favorite part,” junior Alex Huynh recalled.

Walking around and exploring city streets was the best way to embrace the culture because it opened our eyes to everyday Barcelona life and what makes it unique. The one event everyone looked forward to the most was watching Espanola play Real Madrid at the Power8 Stadium. The Stadium was exploding with noise and people were decked out from head to toe in their team's colors. The entire crowd knew multiple team chants and sung them all game long with such enthusiasm that made you want to join in. The difference from watching on television and being at the game are worlds apart. The atmosphere at the match was incredible and like nothing I have ever experienced before. Watching the game in person was an eye opening experience and to seeing Cristiano Ronaldo score a hat trick made it that much more exciting. Witnessing such an incredible and high scoring game as a team, was an unforgettable moment. The entire trip was about being a team and sharing these memories with each other.

“Spain was an amazing experience because I don't think I'll ever be able to travel to a foreign country with my 26 best friends any other time,” said senior Ashley Love.

The largest attractions in Barcelona includes the historic cathedral, La Sagrada Familia, and Park Güell, both created by Antoni Gaudí. La Sagrada Familia has been under construction for two hundred years and the concept is to continually add new elements to the building. This giant Cathedral can be seen from everywhere around Barcelona and has the most beautiful details imaginable. We gazed at the outside for what seemed like hours, finding new pieces because the architecture of the building was unbelievable. The inside was absolutely breathtaking. The giant windows were covered in vibrant stained glass and when the sun beamed through, the colors reflected on every wall.

“My favorite activity was visiting Barcelona, but especially the La Sagrada Familia, said CU head coach Danny Sanchez. “Seeing the cathedral from just the outside does it no justice. The inside was absolutely spectacular. When you visit the museum there and go through the history of what has taken place for it to get to this point, you appreciate even more of its beauty.”

This was the amazing culture we expected after first learning about our trip to Spain. I developed a new appreciation of the architecture other countries have to offer because you truly cannot find this kind of refinement anywhere else.

Park Güell is another popular landmark. This public park system composed of gardens and architectonic elements is located on Carmel Hill. Beautiful mosaic tiles cascaded down the outdoor staircase that had an amazing view of the city. The ceilings incorporated intricate designs using the same tile work and benches that lined the whole property. The expressive elements throughout the grounds and famous, giant mosaic lizard expanded our newfound appreciate of Barcelona art work.

We prepared for our second match against RCD Espanyol Women, an afternoon contest during the hottest part of the day. The turf radiated the heat, but the field was smaller than standard regulations, which made it essential to use the space available. We continued our undefeated spring record from the United States and earned a 3-0 win.

The last day concluded with a bus tour to Tossa de Mar to visit the old fishing town made famous in the films Pandora and the Flying Dutchman. Most of us wandered around to shops and restaurants that overlooked the beach and then we got ready to battle La Roca in our final match of the trip. We faced tougher conditions than planned as we played in a torrential down pour during the first half. The rain finally lightened up after halftime and we finished the match fighting puddles. Conquering the rain and our opponent, we won, 4-0 in a scrappy match that tested our abilities in a new way.

“I felt we played three good matches,” said Sanchez. “The level of competition wasn't the best Spain has to offer, but it was still a good test for our players. We had 22 players available to play and everyone played half of each match. We worked different players together and everyone adjusted well. We had some spells of very good soccer that was encouraging as we build towards the 2015 season.”

Looking back, this was an adventure that I could only dream of before CU and now is one that I will cherish forever. Every day in Spain was full of unlimited possibilities that allowed us to visit as many unique attractions, parks, and historic sites as possible. We saw the best that Spain has to offer and took advantage of every minute we had in order to embrace the culture. Playing soccer can take you to incredible heights and unforgettable places with determination from a group of passionate teammates who share a common goal.