October 26

Granada

Is it further to Granada than by bus?

[The next stop . . . ]

[But before we left for Granada we had to wake up in Madrid . . . ]

[Then go up to the rooftop to view the sunrise . . . ]

[A final look down on our neighborhood.  Rush hour begins early in Madrid . . . ]

[Then we boarded a bus for our 4 1/2 ride to Granada –  420 km (260 miles) straight south . . . ]

[Unknown obelisk in the middle of somewhere along the highway . . . ]

[Unknown fire in the middle of somewhere along the highway . . . ]

[Olives!  With the Sierra Morena mountain range as a backdrop . . . ]

[Olive trees are, literally, everywhere.  Spain has over 300 million olive trees and produces 40 per cent of the world’s olive oil.  Andalucia is the largest olive growing area on the planet . . . ]

[No olive trees was a rare sight . . . ]

[Settled in for the long ride . . . ]

[As we near Granada, a small village tucked amidst the olive trees . . . ]

[Granada, we are here!  Specifically, checking in at the Hotel Melia . . . ]

[Bags to the room, freshen up, and hit the streets just outside our hotel . . . ]

[Along a block-long colonnade . . . ]

[Where we burst upon a multi-street intersection. This is the Hotel NH Victoria in the historical center of Granada . . . ]

[Equestrian sculpture on the roof, Ayuntamiento, Barrio San Matias-Realejo, Plaza del Carmen . . . ]

[Three visages from the same original – a new record!]

[This is Granada.  Spanish is the native tongue here.  English is the money maker!  The cigarette butt in the lower right corner offers a hint of authenticity . . . ]

[I don’t remember the place, but looking at these photos again it was one of my favorite meals on the whole trip . . . ]

[The food, the portions, the beverages, the ambience – everything seemed good!]

[Again, my favorite aspect of Old Europe . . . ]

[Plaza de Mariana Pineda – Mariana de Pineda y Muñoz, generally known as Mariana Pineda, (1 September 1804 in Granada – 26 May 1831 in Granada) was a Spanish liberalist heroine . . . ]

[A continuation through the Mariana Pineda plaza . . . ]

[Bill points out the finer points . . . ]

[A major book sale was in the offing.  What better place to hold one but on the plaza of a liberalist . . . ]

[Book sales stands abounded . . . ]

[Yes, we actually were going in seach of books . . . ]

[The weather and/or the time of day or day of the week may have been affecting attendance . . . ]

[The Super and the young man were admiring the size the statue’s . . . feet?]

[And end of the first evening in Granada with a gelato . . . ]

How lazily the sun goes down in Granada, it hides beneath the water, it conceals in the Alhambra!  ~  Ernest Hemingway

Up Next:  Maybe basketball

January 28

[So, it was cold outside – damn cold!  The school would be shuttered for the next two days as locals try to figure out how to keep the chickadees warm!  But the game was on . . . ]

[I missed all of the JV game (I guess we won) but arrived in time for the coaching staff warm-ups.  We learned this week that [t]he National High School Athletic Coaches Association has just announced Wendy Kohler as a 2019 National Basketball Coach of the Year Finalist. Eight finalists from across the nation will be honored.]

[And Kaye Paschka (3) was honored as being the first player to fall under the gaze of my camera lens.  The Cards had broken a 3-game shooting slump in the previous game and appeared to be back on the road to recovery . . . ]

[I couldn’t find the camera’s “on” switch for the opening tip (at my age, it happens), so this was the first game action.  Mia McGrane (5) got us off to a running start, hitting our first 3, and then a couple of free throws . . . ]

[With friends McKenzie Duwenhoegger (35), Kaye, and Ella Grove (11) . . . ]

[Congrats from those teammates while the Lumberjacks’ 25 gives her the “eye” . . . ]

[The ‘Jacks came in with a good record, and we soon discovered they had a lot of players who could shoot . . . ]

[If that was a pass to an open player in the corner, it likely led to a 3 . . . ]

[The Cards aggressive defense made it hard for the ‘Jacks to find good shots, but they handled the pressure pretty well . . . ]

[All 3 of the ‘Jacks in this shot seemed to hit 3’s whenever they were open.  Fortunately, we didn’t let them get open that much . . . ]

[Ella in a maze of white jerseys . . . ]

[Mia and Mac calling, “Here I am” . . . ]

[The Cards are turning back down court like a basket was scored . . . ]

[Mia applying back court pressure . . . ]

[Emily Jones (33) in the middle of a 10-player convention under the basket . . . ]

[And up she goes for a two-handed stuff . . . ]

[All eyes have it.  I don’t know . . . ]

[Ella had had a 3-point shooting hot streak; then slumped with all the team . . . ]

[She appears to have recovered as she was 3-for-3 on 3’s in the 2nd half . . . ]

[And she’s been a good foul shooter all year . . . ]

[Alayna Strand (25) provides speed and quickness off the bench – a likely starter next year . . . ]

[At the half.  It was good.  We were turning the game into a track meet, and it was great to see the team get out and run enmasse.  Our speed was the difference, as it usually is . . . ]

[Mia on defense . . . ]

[Then Ella . . . ]

[Then Alayna lets loose and outlet pass as we head the other way . . . ]

[And then she shoots some free throws . . . ]

[Ella from underneath . . . ]

[Looks good?]

[I think so . . . ]

[The Cards got up to about a 30-point lead . . . ]

[But it closed a bit at the end.  The Cards were back in their pre-slump mode.  The five starters scored 16, 13, 12, 10, and 10.  With that kind of balance we usually win.]

They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they’d make up their minds.  ~  Wilt Chamberlain

Up Next:  Espagne

October 25

Madrid

Continuing our stroll through Madrid . . . 

[This small stone slab in Madrid’s city square marks the geographical center of Spain. The marker sets the Zero Kilometer point, the point from which distances are measured in Spain—specifically, it’s the starting point for measuring the the distances of the country’s six national roads, A-1 to A-6.  Kilometre Zero is also the starting point for Madrid’s numbered streets; the closer to the Km 0 mark, the lower the street number.  These traditional markers are common to find in many countries, often located in the capital city. (It’s believed they were also traditionally used to measure driving distances in guidebooks, as the spot where drivers marked their odometers at zero.) The most famous milestone marker however is the “Golden Milestone” (Milliarium Aureum) in Ancient Rome, which is believed to be the source of the saying “all roads lead to Rome.”  Spain’s Kilometre Zero is in the middle of Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, the historic semi-circular city square. The slab is quite easy to miss, situated on the ground outside the clock tower on the old Post Office building. (Incidentally the old clock is also believed to have kept official time in Spain.)  The plaque was placed here in 1950 and replaced with a newer stone in 2002 and again in 2009. It was turned around 180 degrees by mistake in 2002 during a reform of the square. The plaque was renewed in 2009, during the roadworks of the Puerta del Sol square, and this time placed in the right poistion.  (http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/kilometre-zero)  The Super and Anne are the models.]

[The Congress of Deputies is the lower house of the Cortes Generales, Spain’s legislative branch. It is located in the Palace of the Parliament.  It has 350 members elected by constituencies (matching fifty Spanish privnces and two autonomous cities by proportional representation using the D’Hondt method.  Deputies serve four-year terms.  The President of the Congress of Deputies is the analogue to a speaker and presides over debates (Wikipedia).]

[From this government area, looking down to the Fountain of Neptune located in the Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo . . . ]

[Cervantes’ statue in Plaza de las Cortes . . . ]

[And herrrrrrrrreeeeeeeee’s, Neptune!]

[The Paseo del Prado is one of the main boulevards. The Paseo del Prado is the oldest historical urban in Madrid and was declared Bien de Interes Cultural. It runs north-south between the Plaza de Cibeles and the Plaza del Emperador Carlos V (or Plaza de Atocha), with the Plaza de Canovas del Castillo (Neptune, and of the Ritz and Palace five-star hotels) lying approximately in the middle. The Paseo del Prado forms the southern end of the city’s central axis.  This densely tree-lined, wide and centric avenue is a landmark for the city residents and the location of important cultural and tourist spots in the city, including the so-called Golden Triangle of Art, which encompasses three museums, including the Prado (Wikipedia).]

[In other words, it was a really cool walk between the plazas . . . ]

[Fountain of Apollo, 1803 . . . ]

[City Hall on Plaza de Cibeles . . . ]

[The Plaza de Cibeles is a square with a neo-classical complex of marble sculptures with fountains that has become an iconic symbol for the city. It sits at the intersection of Calle de Alcala (running from east to west), Paseo de Recoletos (to the North) and Paseo del Prado (to the south) (Wikipedia).]

[Per Sebastian, this is where the Madrid citizenry comes to celebrate major soccer (OK, futbol) victories . . . ]

[The “weather ball”?]

[City Hall, closer upper . . . ]

[Some kind of artsy thing on the plaza . . . ]

[Banco de Espana, Spain’s central reserve bank (with the golden “weather ball” on top) . . . ]

[No leo español . . . ]

[Where everything is in relation to Puerta de Alcalá (Alcala Gate) . . . ]

[The Puerta de Alcalá is a Neo-classiclal monument in the Plaza de la Independencia. It is regarded as the first modern post-Roman triumphal arch built in Europe, older than the similar monuments Arc de Triomphe in Paris and Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.  It was a gate of the former Walls of Philip IV. It stands near the city center and several meters away from the main entrance to the Parque del Buen Retiro. The square is bisected by Alcala Street, although the street does not cross through the monument, and it is the origin of the Alfonso XII, Serrano and Olózaga streets. It was inaugurated in 1778 (Wikipedia).  This is the West side, front view.]

[Puerta de la Independencia, the northwest gate to Retiro park . . . ]

[Guide Sebastian is saying adios, leaving us all alone in the big city . . . ]

[From the East (“B”) side?]

[The grounds on the way to . . . ]

[We stopped for a rest and refreshments in the park . . . ]

[The service was indifferent, but it was a lovely day . . . ]

[María Cristina de Borbón, queen consort of Spain, located in front of the Cason de Buen Retiro . . . ]

[And Maria from the front . . . ]

[And then down the hill to The Prado . . . ]

[The Prado Museum is the main Spanish national art museum. It is widely considered to have one of the world’s finest collections of European art, dating from the 12th century to the early 20th century, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection, and the single best collection of Spanish art. Founded in 1819, it also contains important collections of other types of works. El Prado is one of the most visited sites in the world, and it is considered one of the greatest art museums in the world. The numerous works by Francisco Goya, the single most extensively represented artist, as well as by Hieronymus Boasch, El Greco, Peter Paul Rubens, Titian, and Diego Velazquez, are some of the highlights of the collection . . . ]

[The collection currently comprises around 8,200 drawings, 7,600 paintings, 4,800 prints, and 1,000 sculptures, in addition to a large number of other works of art and historic documents. As of 2012, the museum displayed about 1,300 works in the main buildings, while around 3,100 works were on temporary loan to various museums and official institutions. The remainder were in storage. The museum received 2.8 million visitors in 2012 (Wikipedia).]

[My guess is Goya . . . ]

[The base of Goya with a . . . well, interesting, expression . . . ]

[My guess is Velazquez . . . ]

[There is free entry to the museum after 5:00 p.m. (as I recall).  But the line forms early and goes on for blocks.  We were at the back of the line, and it took over a half an hour to get to here.  But we got in.  As you could see from the beginning signage, the Prado is 200 years old this year and is undergoing an extensive makeover . . . ]

[At long last, the entrance is at hand . . . ]

[Prado “stuff” . . . ]

[And we’re in!]

[After I took this shot, I was immediately put upon by several art aficionado museum employees.  My life passed before my very eyes.  Needless to say, I could take no more interior photos . . . ]

[Back to our hotel, then across the street for a nosh . . . ]

[Bill found a nice beer . . . ]

[And I found these deli sandwiches I’m going to dream about again tonight . . . ]

[“Home” to the Dear Hotel . . . ]

[Rooftop excitement . . . ]

[With a full moon over Madrid . . . ]

[Looking down on the street from whence we just came.  On the morrow we will be on the move again . . . ]

Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.  ~  Benjamin Disraeli

Up Next:  More Spain

October 25

Madrid

After four memorable days in Barcelona, a city that totally lived up to its pre-visit billing, it was time to move on.  Up next was Spain’s capital city . . . 

[From Barcelona to Madrid by high speed rail . . . ]

[Having a pre-trip nosh in the Barcelona train depot . . . ]

[Como offered a sense of Minnesota . . . ]

[A train with airplane services . . . ]

[But the seats were much comfier, of course . . . ]

[Moving apace – 617 km (383 miles) in under 3 1/2 hours . . . ]

[Arriving in Madrid . . . to a botanical garden train depot?]    ]

[Getting organized before going out to find the Dear Hotel (see map up top) . . . ]

[Checked into our hotel, then hit the streets.  The first storefront we noticed . . . ]

[The direction of our walk, likely looking for a fine dining experience . . . ]

[Never went over to see what Nebraska was all about . . . ]

[But we’re obviously in the heart of the city . . . ]

[Though this appears to be a significant piece of inner-city statuary . . . ]

[I could find nothing about it on the Google machine?]

[Plaza Callao square on Gran Via street (Gran Vía is the most famous and popular touristic street in Spain) . . . ]

[We have a side street goal in mind, Anne leading the way . . . ]

[As I recall, it turned out to be a longer walk than it appeared on the map . . . ]

[And looking in on Plaza Mayor.  Let’s have a look . . . ]

[First shopping for lunch in the plaza . . . ]

[The Plaza Mayor is a major public space in the heart of Madrid.  It was once the centre of Old Madrid.  It was first built (1580–1619) during the Habsburg period of Philip III’s reign.  Only a few Spanish blocks away is another famous plaza, the Puerta del Sol.  The Plaza Mayor is for the people of Madrid and tourists to shop, walk around, eat, and enjoy the outdoors (Wikipedia).]

[Casa de la Panadería in the plaza . . . ]

[Meanwhile, still perusing possible dining venues . . . ]

[Aha, found.  A place to peruse maps and ponder being amidst yet another reconstruction area . . . ]

[And whom amongst us doesn’t enjoy sangria?]

[I’m having a good time!  And whom amongst us doesn’t enjoy gazpacho?]

[A bronze statue of King Philip III at the center of the square, created in 1616 by Jean Boulogne and Pietro Tacca.  Giambologna’s equestrian statue of Philip III dates to 1616, but it was not placed in the center of the square until 1848.  The statue was a gift from the Duke of Florence at that time.  It was Queen Isabe II ordered to move it from Casa de Campo to become the centerpiece of the Plaza Mayor (Wikipedia).]

[Always wondered about the collar of the times – a fashion statement, or a neck brace?]

[On the move again . . . ]

[Appears to be an official building, but all I know for sure is that it is officially a building . . . ]

[Because I’m a very good reader, I know this is the Hotel Plaza Mayor . . . ]

[Generically identified as Government buildings in old Madrid center . . . ]

[Ditto . . . ]

[Self-identified . . . ]

[Ditto . . . ]

[Getting “the finger” from a restaurant and lounge . . . ]

[Our Madrid guide, Sebastian . . . ]

[King Charles III on Puerta del Sol . . . ]

[Hotel Moderno I believe translates to modern hotel (can’t fool me) . . . ]

[No leo español . . . ]

[Ditto . . . ]

[After a three year absence, the iconic Tio Pepe neon sign, which has dominated the skyline of Madrid’s central square, La Puerta del Sol, since 1936, has returned to its rightful place on the 8^thMay 2014 (www.tiopepe.co.uk/).]

[No leo español . . . ]

[Calderon de la Barca monument, Plaza Santa Ana . . . ]

[Pedro Calderón de la Barca y Barreda González de Henao Ruiz de Blasco y Riaño, usually referred as Pedro Calderón de la Barca; 17 January 1600 – 25 May 1681), was a dramatist, poet and writer of the Spanish Golden Age.  During certain periods of his life he was also a soldier and a Roman Catholic priest.  Born when the Spanish Golden Age theatre was being defined by Lope de Vega, he developed it further, his work being regarded as the culmination of the Spanish Baroque theatre.  As such, he is regarded as one of Spain’s foremost dramatists and one of the finest playwrights of world literature (Wikipedia).]

[Intrigued by plaza goings-on . . . ]

[Ahhh, be alert – Segways on the loose!]

[Ahhh, more fun than a Segway . . . ]

[Hotel ME Madrid Reina Victoria . . . ]

[The street of Cervantes is a public road located in Madrid de los Austrias (district of Cortes, district Center), which descends, in a north-south direction, from the street of Leon to the square f Canovas del Castillo, on the promenade meadow.  Before it was called Calle de Francos, until in 1835 it took the name of the author of Don Quixote.  Among its oldest buildings is the dedicated House-Museum of Loe de Vega, within the general set of the Barrio de las Letras (of “the muses or comedians”).  Like many other writers, poets and authors of comedies, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was a habitual neighbor of the neighborhood that for that reason would be known centuries later as a “neighborhood of the muses.” (Wikipedia)]

[Our guide, Sebastian, could not have been more effusive about his country’s pride in Cervantes, and this neighborhood of the muses . . . ]

[Don Quixote and Sancho . . . ]

[Don Quixote and Sancho?]

[Lope Félix de Vega y Carpio was a Spanish playwright, poet, novelist and marine. He was one of the key figures in the Spanish Golden Age of Baroque Literature  (Wikipedia).]

[The Super’s kind of place!  We’ll finish Madrid in Part 2.]

Once a year go someplace you’ve never been before.  ~  Dalai Lama

Up Next:  I’ll know when I get there.

January 22

Our Cardinals were hosting the Willmar Cardinals.  One week earlier their Cardinals ended our Cardinals run at an undefeated season winning by one point.  This rematch also included the penultimate performance of the Alexandria Aces, who are coming to the end of a 30-year run.

[The JV continued their excellent season . . . ]

[All the Cardinal captains meet the referees at midcourt to discuss string theory . . . ]

[Then the shooting warm-ups began . . . ]

[Our Cards were looking sharp . . . ]

[Coach Kohler meets with the starters prior to game start . . . ]

[The content of the discussion is on a need-to-know basis . . . ]

[Rockin’ ‘n rollin’ . . . ]

[And we’re off and jumping – McKenzie Duwenhoegger (35) for us . . . ]

[The opening tips this year, for both girls and boys, always seem to end with further swatting at the ball after landing . . . ]

[The Cards jumped out to a quick 9 – 3 lead and all seemed to be OK again in Camelot.  Here’s Ella Grove (11) patrolling center court . . . ]

[Kaye Paschka (3) has continued a long Cardinal tradition of having a defensively pesky point guard . . . ]

[McKenzie appears to be receiving a pass from Ella with Kaye and Mia McGrane (5) also on the scene . . . ]

[Kaye tracking down an opposing Cardinal . . . ]

[Mia at the free throw line, now also joined on court by Cate Bloom (21) . . . ]

[Kaye and Ella with full-court pressure . . . ]

[And Kaye again in pursuit of No. 11 . . . ]

[Our Cards shooting continued to be cold, a continuation of now a 3-game slump.  Our defense was keeping us in the game . . . ]

[Then the Aces performed at the half.  The program is ending after a long nationally-recognized run . . . ]

[Although I’m sure the group’s founder, Larry Novotny (in the background with camera), would say it was time, the kids in this age group (5 – 12, boys and girls) are now playing on traveling basketball teams instead . . . ]

[The always grand finale ball spin to the ceiling . . . ]

[Willmar came out in the 2nd half and couldn’t miss while our shooting slump continued.  You just have to bow your heads to them for playing a great game.  Willmar is still undefeated in conference while our Cards have lost 3 in row . . . ]

[With Kaye at the line, I just have to remind the team that a couple weeks ago they played a near perfect half against Fergus Falls – shooting 78% and making 4 of 6 3-pointers . . . ]

[A final note from your old Cub Reporter:  All slumps end.  Just look to your classmates on the girls hockey team.  For most of the year they had a real problem scoring goals despite almost always outshooting their opponents.  Now they have scored 30 goals in their last four games!  Just keep firing away . . . ]

Shooting is just like toenails. They may fall off occasionally, but you know they’ll always come back.  ~  Charles Johnson

Up Next:  Something exciting, no doubt

October 24

Barcelona

[After lunch at Xalet de Montjuïc, we walked “next door” to the 1992 Olympic games diving venue.  Bill vividly remembered the TV coverage with the spectacular views of Barcelona as a back drop!]

[Then again afoot, heading toward our final destination Barcelona . . . ]

[Park Guell . . . ]

[It was on a side street – and straight up hill.  This was just a place to stop and catch our breaths . . . ]

[A nice little plaza area about halfway up the hill . . . ]

[A religious icon, I assume . . . ]

[Good ole Villa Carmen . . . ]

[Looking back down at whence we came.  The little plaza area is just there on the right . . . ]

[The street just getting to the stairway was pretty steep . . . ]

[We’re almost there . . . ]

[And “there” . . . ]

[OK, let’s go in . . . ]

[You are here . . . ]

[And now walking in the park . . . ]

[Vegetation . . . ]

[The Super sits to determine our track . . . ]

[A “holey” tree . . . ]

[Looking back in the direction of the city . . . ]

[This is where we would return at dusk for a tour of the Gaudi Museum . . . ]

[Beautiful city vistas . . . ]

[Gaudi had his fingers in everything, so to speak . . . ]

[Oh no, it was decided we had to climb even higher (did I mention it was warm?) . . ]

[And from a higher perch . . . ]

[With the Sagrada Familia on the left side . . . ]

[Anne agrees about the warm climb, but at least it was mostly shady . . . ]

[Casa Trias e Domenech designed by Gaudi . . . ]

[Master of all he surveys . . . ]

[The Gaudi Museum on the right . . . ]

[And Casa Trias e Domenech closer upper . . . ]

[Evening the retaining walls were works of art . . . ]

[A rather unique columned walkway as we’re trending back down . . . ]

[I’m gonna guess a spire?  Yup, for the museum . . . ]

[The walkway from below . . . ]

[Colorful vegetation . . . ]

[Colorful vegetation, part 2 . . . ]

[The Gaudi House . . . ]

[Designed by Gaudi – so students could cheat off their partner’s desk?]

[In the living quarters . . . ]

[The House’s garden . . . ]

[And exiting . . . ]

[It’s dusking – you had assigned times to be able to venture out here for the view . . . ]

[We made it!]

[This sitting area was all about the tiles . . . ]

[(Four tile photos by the Super)]

[Now we’re working our way all the way down where we encountered Captain American and his significant other . . . ]

[A whole bunch of columns which I suppose support everything above them . . . ]

[Approaching the park exit . . . ]

[(From the Super)]

[Fairytale Gaudi contructions at park exit . . . ]

[An iguana and the Super . . . ]

[With a gift shop in here . . . ]

[Here comes Bill as we rounding up everybody for the trip back . . . ]

[As I recall these represented a dragon’s spine, or some such . . . ]

[A final look around . . . ]

[Then from here it was a walk back up the hill to catch a bus . . . ]

[Last day in Barcelona.  Anne said we covered 5.7 miles with 46 FLIGHTS OF STAIRS! I’m getting too old for this! Off to Madrid in the morning . . . ]

[(A final three from the Super)]

[DYK, obert in Catalan means open?  I had no idea!  We kept seeing obert signs all over Barcelona . . . ]

[But now adios to obert as we would be leaving Catalonia . . . ]

[Adios, Barcelona!]

Travel becomes a strategy for accumulating photographs.  ~  Susan Sontag

Up Next:  Moving on in Spain

January 19

Bemidji came to town with a 9 – 0 record; they left town with a 9 – 1 record.  Our Cards have now won 3 in a row and are 7 – 6.

[The action was fast and furious in the JV game . . . ]

[Our Cards pulled away at the end for a nice win . . . ]

[Then the varsity claimed the floor . . . ]

[And then the opening tip . . . ]

[Something you don’t see often in Minnesota high school basketball . . . ]

[The Lumberjacks have a 6’9″ senior center; the Cards countered with a 6’11” sophomore center, Treyton Thompson (42) . . . ]

[And as so often happens, neither got the tip . . . ]

[Cardinal guards sophomore Colton Roderick (35) and junior Carrson Jones (11) on defense . . . ]

[The Cards jumped out to a quick early lead and maintained it throughout the game.  Here Colton is joined by the game’s leading scorer, senior forward Anders Hedstrom (22) . . . ]

[Treyton is a very good shooter and likely canned both here . . . ]

[But he and senior guard Trey Hoepner (0) each picked up 2 early fouls and sat out most of the first half.  Nevertheless, the team held on to the early lead . . . ]

[Treyton didn’t have a big scoring game, but he dominated with blocked shots and rebounds . . . ]

[Anders is just a solid, non-flashy player who does well in all facets . . . ]

[Inbounding over Treyton has got to be fun?]

[Cards looking for a break out with Carrson on the far wing, freshman Kristen Hoskins (21) in the middle, and junior Cody Branson (3) on the left . . . ]

[The chaos clears – Kristen walks it up . . . ]

[There it goes . . . ]

[Colton under intense defensive scrutiny.  The Lumberjacks are a junior-senior team and used their strength to advantage in a physical game . . . ]

[Bodes well for the future when your guards are a freshman and a sophomore . . . ]

[Photo-bombed by the ref . . . ]

[At the half, the Cards were impressive . . . ]

[And Carrson, another starting guard, will also be back next year . . . ]

[Ready to inbound to Colton . . . ]

[Treyton can put the ball on the floor and drive . . . ]

[The collective fan brain trust . . . ]

[Colton with freebies . . . ]

[The bigs underneath.  The ‘Jacks kept going to their center to see if he could draw fouls from Treyton.  Treyton did a good job avoiding them . . . ]

[Kristen and Carrson with high defense . . . ]

[Can’t remember if it was a block or a foul, but Treyton kept out of foul trouble . . . ]

[Does this look 3D to you?]

[Trey pushes hard with Anders . . . ]

[Excellent win.  There were concerns about Colton and Carrson who both had to be helped off the court in the 2nd half.  I haven’t heard the extent of their injuries.]

[Good for us!!]

Our offense is like the Pythagorean Theorem. There is no answer.  ~  Shaquille O’Neal

Up Next:  Continuing with the sports/Spain conundrum.

January 15

I spent the early minutes of the hockey game listening to the Cardinal girls basketball game on the radio.  We lost on the road 45 – 44 to an also highly ranked Willmar Cardinals team.  Our Cardinals, ranked No. 1, were the last class AAA team to lose a game this season.  We will be back!  In other basketball news, I discovered today, while still “moving into” our new home, that I have been to 24 Final Fours (the last in 2010) . . . 

 

[The Cardinals were already ahead 3 – 0 when I arrived in the RCC about halfway through the 1st period.  Here our goalie, Hailee Bailey (35), attempts to keep herself occupied when most of the action is at the other end of the ice . . . ]

[Then the Cardinals scored goal No. 4, Alexis Heckert (20), from Anna Doherty (7) and Marki Oberg (10) . . . ]

[Here’s Mayson Toft (14), who always seems to be stationed in the same part of the building I’m in . . . ]

[Helping to keep Hailee safe from harm . . . ]

[With additional help from Hadlee Hansen (18) . . . ]

[Mayson, with Erin O’Kane (26) in the background . . . ]

[Ali Castle (22) on the defense . . . ]

[Opposition goal prevented . . . ]

[Ali is one of the large group of freshmen and sophomores who are fleet askate . . . ]

[Head manning the puck to center ice . . . ]

[And the Cards get goal No. 5, McKenna Ellingson (24), from Mayson . . . ]

[Total dominance by the Cards through the 1st period . . . ]

[And here comes “Mr. National Anthem” . . . ]

[Roger Riley, also an original Super Fan, has been singing the Anthem at girls’ games for many years now.  His winning percentage is about .95 . . . ]

[The varsity stays on the ice between periods so Cardinals-of-the-future can get in some ice time . . . ]

[The start of the 2nd period.  Then I was a victim of a photographer’s faux pas – a dead camera battery with no spare.  I was dead in the water.  As noted in the title, however, the Cards had a easy road to victory.  We led 11 – 0 at the end of the 2nd, when I left because the game was no longer in doubt, obviously.  The team now goes on the road for their final four regular season games.  They certainly appear to be peaking at just the right time . . . ]

I never thought I’d lose, I only thought I’d win.  ~  Elton John song

Up Next:  Better be Spain

January 10

Girls Hockey – 5, Willmar – 0

For the third time in a week, I followed a two-hour class at Senior College by going immediately to back-to-back high school sporting events.  I ain’t getting any younger.  I don’t know how much longer I can continue this pace.  What?  Sid Hartman did this into his mid-90’s?  Never mind . . .

 

[I was tardy arriving at the girls’ game, but I didn’t want to skip out of class early . . . ]

[As with the previous game, the first Cardinal to appear in the view finder was Mayson Toft (14) . . . ]

[And here she whaps a slap shot from the blue line with sophomore back line mate Ali Castle (22) in the foreground . . . ]

[These teams played earlier in the season at Willmar where our Cards (Willmar is also the Cardinals) put 68 shots-on-goal for a weirdly close 2 – 1 win . . . [

[Then our Cards opened the scoring with the first varsity goal by Micah Summer (8).]

[With goals come hugs . . . ]

[I’ve heard hugs are good . . . ]

[And here McKenna Ellingson (24) skates in on a breakaway . . . ]

[I suppose goalies look forward to this as a challenge, but I don’t think I’d care to have a hard rubber disc shot at me from point blank range . . . ]

[The shot . . . ]

[And she made the save.  In the two games against Alex the Willmar goalie faced 112 shots-on-goal and only gave up 7 goals.  Our Cards were more efficient in this game.]

[Kaci Trosvig (25) and Hanley Block (28), both freshmen, join the chase for the elusive puck . . . ]

[And here come our Cards with McKenna again . . . ]

[The goalie appears to have corralled the puck . . . ]

[But then Erin O’Kane (26) scored . . . ]

[More hugs . . . ]

[A dominating period but the Willmar goalie was keeping it close . . . ]

[Period 2, Hadlee Hansen (18) circles in the corner . . . ]

[Help arrives in the form of Erin, Makenna Aure (17) (another freshman), and Olivia Kopp (13) . . . ]

[Micah, Olivia, and Hadlee in our defensive zone . . . ]

[This looks like Micah from point blank range . . . ]

[And McKenna in again . . . ]

[But the puck escapes out the back door . . . ]

[Here’s Anna Doherty (7) with a backhander with fellow sophomore Marki Oberg (10) . . . ]

[With Alexis Heckert (20) also in the fray . . . ]

[And Anna scored!]

[Solid after 2 periods . . . ]

[And then in the final period, McKenna scored . . . ]

[And Hadlee scored to complete the scoring . . . ]

[Freshman Jordan O’Kane (1) started in goal and got her first career shutout.]

[Celebrate a convincing victory.]

Boys Hockey – 11, Willmar – 1

[Then the boys game . . . ]

[We had won earlier at Willmar 8 – 0, so this similarly did not appear to be a competitive game . . . ]

[After the opening face-off, Zack Wosepka (20) sprints into the offensive zone . . . ]

[Seniors Jack Westlund (10) and Ben Doherty (7) have been playing on the same line since they were freshmen . . . ]

[Ben excels in the face-off circle . . . ]

[Matthew Carlsen (26) on the point with Caleb Strong (3) in the Willmar zone . . . ]

[Matthew on a defenseman’s rush . . . ]

[With Caleb and Ben . . . ]

[Looks like the puck is in the air trending toward Willmar’s No. 24 . . . ]

[Jack circling back out . . . ]

[Ben . . . ]

[And Jack forechecking . . . ]

[And have recovered the puck . . . ]

[With that line in on goal . . . ]

[Aided by another Carlsen defenseman’s rush . . . ]

[A high shot . . . ]

[Then Caleb scored . . . ]

[And Alex Jost (29) scored to end the first period.  It had been a long day, so I departed here knowing the game was safely in hand.  The final score was 11 – 1, and our Cards had 63 shots on goal.  Some of the scoring highlights were a hat trick by Caleb and 6 points from Ben.  The team is now 11 – 4 overall and 7 – 1 in conference.]

When you win, nothing hurts.  ~  Joe Namath

Up Next:  Spain, again, is due . . .

October 24

Barcelona

[Our fourth and last day in Barcelona.  Strange how it’s taken me three months to blog four days?  Anyway, this is where we came out onto the street every morning from our hotel.  And every morning I would say I have to take this picture up (or was it down) the street.  But you had to take to take it from the middle of a very busy street, so this last morning I had to throw caution to the wind . . . ]

[And stop in the middle of the street for this shot!  At a height of 512 metres, Tibidabo [Magic Mountain] is the highest point of the Collserola sierra. It is popular because of its views of the city of Barcelona and its cultural and leisure facilities, which include Spain’s oldest amusement park, a neo-Gothic church, a modern communications tower, an astronomical observatory and, above all, magic! (http://www.barcelonabusturistic.ca)  We didn’t go there – time was of the essence.]

[This was a free day for us.  So, let’s take the subway somewhere . . . ]

[Waiting, then . . . ]

[Here comes our train . . . ]

[Aha, back to Parc Montjuic where we took the funicular (here) . . . ]

[Up to grab a cable car ride . . . ]

[And away we go for stunning views of the city . . . ]

[Gee, Bill!  I wish we had better weather for this??]

[Yes, a perfect day . . . ]

[And, again, Sagrada Familia is mid photo . . . ]

[And we had a right angle turn here . . . ]

[Arriving at Montjuïc Castle, an old military fortress, with roots dating back from 1640, built on top of Montjuic hill.  It currently serves as a Barcelona municipal facility (Wikipedia).]

[With many views over the port and city . . . ]

[A big gun (not available for conceal and carry) . . . ]

[Every fortress should be spruced up with a garden (well, actually a parterre) . . . ]

[Entrance (oh, you could tell from all the clues?) . . . ]

[Generically described as . . . ]

[As a naked woman statue.  Duh . . . ]

[(From the Super)]

[Another big gun not suited for concealment . . . ]

[View of a major port . . . ]

[Where big cruise ships hang out.  This must be the place where the Super and I previously disembarked from such a ship for a plane ride home . . . ]

[The Super and Anne with the A-lister overlook position . . . ]

[Meanwhile, back inside the fortress walls . . . ]

[Yeah, it’s her again . . . ]

[Yes, it’s way more than just a cruise ship port . . . ]

[What good is a fortress without a dungeon?]

[And from a different perspective looking inland . . . ]

[The Drummer of El Bruc Timbaler del Bruc . . . ]

[(From the Super)]

[All about the castle . . . ]

[Trying to catch the Super with an unfurled Catalonian flag . . . ]

[THIS IS THE CITY . . . BARCELONA, SPAIN . . . ]

[Here is a panoramic video of said city . . . ]

[What’s over there?]

[With views available . . . ]

[In all directions . . . ]

[A little more of the fortress aspects of the castle . . . ]

[(Three from the Super)]

[Again, trying to catch the flags unfurled in the breeze . . . ]

[A vertical sundial . . . ]

[On the building . . . ]

[The city, with Magic Mountain on the mountain top in the background . . . ]

[Time for lunch, a slight wait while they were opening . . . ]

[Why yes, we were anticipating a table with a view . . . ]

[And here it is!  Xalet de Montjuïc, described as an elegant restaurant with the best skyline of Barcelona – and it was adjacent to the Olympic diving pools.]

[This place had average dining reviews – but at this table, who cares?]

[My tuna, as I recall . . . ]

[Bill had fish (forgot brand) and beans . . . ]

[The Super had . . . something?]

[A meat stew of some sort?]

[And did Anne have . . . ]

[Lamb?]

[Anyway, we all thought everything was quite good, no doubt enhanced by the ambience!]

He had occasional flashes of silence that made his conversation perfectly delightful.  ~  Sydney Smith

Up Next:  Part 2 (at some point)?