bunch of SA female fire fighters Spain

Take a bunch of female firefighters out of Africa - one being pregnant at the time to Barcelona Spain and add to that a Rugby World cup that South Africa wins and trouble will sure to follow!!

 

Barcelona is an amazing place, with some really interesting architecture.


My first swim in the Mediterranean sea, this proved initially as a challenge as none of the girls had brought swim suits, we had been informed that it was winter and lots of rain and as we had very limited time to sightsee we had left them behind. So we had to improvise which brought about many giggles and stealth mode operations into and out the cold water. but we were not going to miss out on swimming in the Med!!

a Sap in barcelona (cannot geet the pic the right way around no matter what!)

Then came across this amazing little flea market with some real little gems!!

the streets are lined with artists, stunning paintings and mime artists

 

 

We then came across a flea market under a bridge - we stumbled into it and when we went to take photos we were accosted and shouted at.  They were not happy that we were there let alone taking photos. it was a very seedy place so we moved on swiftly!! but not before sneaking in this photo!

we called this the "condom building" at it became our landmark back to our hotel on the Barcelona beachfront. we stayed in the Olympic complex area. It proved to be expensive to take taxi's as they would drive around the block several times or take really long routes that were quicker and more direct to walk!

it was now the World cup rugby Final South Africa vs England.  We ourselves were here representing South Africa at the World Rescue and Extrication Championships as the only all female team out of more than 90 teams of firefighters from across the world. The weather was miserable and gail winds howled - trees fell over and it was a struggle to walk straight - that was even before the Irish beer!!

In the week that we had stayed in Barcelona managed to keep track of the Rugby World cup games. We had also spent some time as the only 6 SA supporters in various pubs that played the games leading up to the final. When SA played against Argentina, we found this really seedy pub and had to climb down stairs into a dark dungeon type area. We sat up against the wall and every time a Springbok tackled an Argentinian player and he went down or we cheered our team we got death looks, soooo we kept quiet after half time and when it was certain we had won we made a hasty retreat out into the open, to safety and then promptly ran down the streets of Barcelona flying our SA flag and Sprinbok flags high yelling out our victory for all to hear.!! Girls!!

 for the actual final we found gold!! an Irish pub right in the middle of the Olympic village. We soon had converted the Irish pub into a solid South African Irish Pub. The owner even provided us with tape and pins.


The scene was set. Now all we needed was victory!!

there was no food available in the pub only snacks so I had to sneak out (there was a huge bodyguard who I did try to sweet talk but when he flexed those muscle Ay Tog!! I nearly fainted not sure if it was from fear or from drooling at the physic!

I was squatting outside the pub trying to watch on the screen getting blown off my feet eating my chicken burger. The  girls thought it very funny hence the unposed photo and food running down my face!

For those of you that know me know that I very rarely drink alcohol, it not that I don't enjoy the odd glass but I can get tipsy on half a glass of wine, so there is really no point in drinking! I know its hard to believe due to my verys strong Irish and Scottish routes but I do have some Spanish blood in me too! I did however have one glass of Irish draft after the girls insisted, and as no one was driving back to the hotel we all decided it was a great idea.

from these photos you can see we were winning and the Brits were not.....................

We found the only male South African Supporter who was on holiday in Barcelona and he was thrilled to come and join our "bokke" corner. 

Many of the Firefighter teams were from the UK and the Welsh team who we knew from previous world championships and actually one this years championships supported our team the whole way. so things really got louder. As you can image. Can't take us firefighters anywhere!

 
 and then of course the losers...the England Team great bunch of ladies tourists from London and the banter continued long after the final whistle and the wine and beer flowed. Not sure how they all got home....

 running through the streets of Barcelona in the rain and howling wind...but who cares we were once again the Rugby world Champs....

 of course we came across the Barcelona Firefighters on the job. the Bombero's were busy moving trees that had fallen into the road due to the wind. They were one of the teams that we had competed against. So once again the party was on........lots of banter, offers to take us back to our hotel in the fire engine or better still back to their station for hot chocolate.....

and so ended our awesome Barcelona adventure and we had to make our way back to SA.