1st day of the Americas cup semifinals…the girls decided an afternoon at the fan zone was in order, with big screens etc…so a leisurely morning with a big breakky at one of the local cafes!
All going well so far – eggs on toast, coffee and off we headed at around midday…a visit to the local mall, which was a bit overwhelming as we really cannot fit any more in our little rolly bags….we then headed towards (what we thought was) the Americas cup fan zone!
Dressed in our new groupie t-shirts …..
Waiting patiently for the action to begin – gates opening at 2pm…meanwhile ….
The boats are warming up….zooming up and down the coast!
The beach was sporting a few more people in the sunshine…
There was even a fenced off doggy (and owners) area, where the dogs can run free!
We’d spied the seat we wanted to aim for in the grandstand ….so joined the queue….ready to race in!!! Getting a bit thirsty by this time.
Waiting in line we noticed groups of people in matching T Shirts, and athletic gear…we thought we were pretty cool in our matching (new) Team NZ t shirts….didnt feel out of place!(yet)
Average age 20! (That was a worry) Whilst waiting we were hearing very loud music and the big screens we could glimpse were showing…
WODELONA…which we thought was odd! But as we went to enter they asked to see our competitors band….to which we replied “they told us yesterday it was free” …. We were sent to another gate for supporters!!!
The penny dropped!….we were at the Barcelona Three day CrossFit competition..No wonder everyone was very fit and Young! And wearing athletic matching team gear!
Oh well, we were an hours walk away from the (Actual) Americas cup village, so decided we might as well act like we were meant to be here!
In we went…
With the rest of the supporters wandered through the merchandise tents, refrained from buying a sports bra and leggings, and….
Finally found the bar! Not even water! protein drinks and muesli bars!
The warmups had begun so we raced to the main grandstand and got our seat up the top…
Where we could still see the boats racing in the distance…
Loud music and CrossFit races followed…
We watched about three, clapped appropriately for the winners, and left to head to the nearest cabana for a drink!
Where we cooled off and watched the beach sights….some not so pleasant, but we could lift our gaze and see the yachts out to sea!
Nearing 4pm we headed back to one of our local cafes…
Taking a new route over the roads below…
And through more deserted open spaces, Trudi clutching her bag safely and both of us aware of any young people on scooters!
And….the Pizza place was closed, so we ordered a drink…and a Tex Mex meal to go…realising we were the only females at a Mexican restaurant….specialising in Shisha, Full of North African men (Moroccan I’m guessing) only…watching arrivals sniff some drug from tinfoil before settling in to smoking the Shisa pipes, which were about a meter tall….clutching our bags(again) whilst waiting for our takeaway order. Note the ladies toilet was very clean, possibly because never used by the all male clientele!
We had twice today found ourselves in places we least expected to be…oh well, again, might as well see the place while we are here…
Tomorrow, however we will resume our roles as yachting groupies!!!
All who wander are not Lost girls 