Catalunya Argentina

It's 11am. I've just got in. I've no idea what happened last night.

Yesterday i picked Mike up and took him to the Camp Nou so he could experience it's delights before he returns to America next month. The game, the last of the season, was Catalunya versus Argentina. Xavi, Iniesta, Bojan, Puyol were all missing, as was Carlos Tevez for Argentina having won the Champions League final with Man Utd on Wednesday, because they were with the Spanish team preparing for Euro 2008. The game was more like a training session and the ground was pretty empty with just 42 thousand spectators but it was still one hell of an experience. The national pride shown was spine tingling, not just from the Catalans but also the Argies. I thought the Brazilians were quite something with their samba bands and carnivalities when I saw them at Wembley last year but the Argies were not to be eclipsed as they too fiesta-ed in their bands before, during and after the match. They were united yet split into two sections - one red and white (River Plate) and one yellow and blue (Boca Juniors), represented by tshirts, flags and UMBRELLAS (it as a beautifully sunny day!!). It was quite incredible to see the two parties divided by colour but united with national pride in such a way. I cannot imagine the same happening in England, say 5000 Chelsea fans all dressed in blue alongside 5000 red Manchester United fans cheering on the national team (let's leave out the happy carnival atmosphere as that would never happen!) - it would just result in red-faced, bloated-bellied fisticuffs.
Despite only being a third full the atmosphere was greater than I've sometimes experienced with a packed crowd watching Barca. The 'match' finished 1-0 to Argentina, Mike got to see the current number one team in the world and the best/second best (delete as appropriate) player in the world, Messi. (I'm still in no doubt...Ronaldo has had the benefit of the world shop window and the greater stage, but on the ball it really is no contest...and given Ronaldo's brilliance that's quite something eh.)

So after the football we went to Mike's house, via the shop for a big bottle of rum. We made some pasta and set about making music. The last thing i remember is wailing Starman accompanied by guitar and accordion. Then I woke up this morning on his sofa to find another guy sleeping under the table (not Mike!) and a burn on my thumb. Who knows, anyway I hope to find out more later but I have managed to successfully navigate my way home on a bike in the pouring rain, to an empty room with just a note from Rose saying she's worried sick and now at work..eeek.