Oleeeeee, ole, ole, oleeeee!!

It started with catching a TINY plane from Heathrow to Brussels - occupied by less than 50 people, half of which were part of a football team on their end of season trip. How I wished I was drinking with them. Our connecting flight from Brussels was delayed due to heavy rain. (Please note: Brussels is the worlds largest and most confusing airport EVER - after much frustration and laughter, we had to acquire a map of the airport to find check in and then to find the bar!!). Once on the plane (already 8 hours in transit) bottles of Johnny were ordered for all. We finally arrived around 10pm.... as we stepped outside I was hit with a feeling I hadn't felt in a long time... natural warmth!! It was 24 degrees - fantastic.

After finding our accommodation (We walked in just in time to hear our neighbours going for it. Welcome to Espanol!!) we hit Las Ramblas for a late night stroll. It was around 11pm, still about 23 degrees and there were people everywhere. The main drag was lined with human statues (freaky ones that yelled every once in a while. NOT funny) and, well, just people everywhere! As we made our way up the Ramblas, our attention was drawn to a hideous sight... "Hogan's", an 'Aussie' pub right there on the main street (and selling Fosters, no less). Ugh!!

The next day, Sunday, we woke up to a scorcher (and couldn't be happier). We ditched our shoes for thongs and hit the pavement. We made our way towards Port Vell where sitting overlooking the ocean made me feel homesick. It reminded me of home during the summertime.. fantastically sunny, steam beating off the pavement, smell of the ocean... waaah!! ;(

It was then we decided to head for the Sagrada Familia. As we popped out of the subway it loomed large behind us. Spinning around, I had to crane as far back as possible to see it in full. Before fully approaching it, it was time for.... gelati!! As we grabbed our icecream and headed for the park I got a call from Matt (saaafe!) - you always seem to call while I'm sightseeing!

After musing over this amazing structure (hard to call it a church as the inside is absolutely gutted and the roof is uncompleted!) it was off to bask in the 31 degree heat at the beach near the Olympic Port (sorry Matt, didn't quite get to the Olympic pool. But trust me, I WILL be returning!!). We finished the day off with another stroll of Las Ramblas then dinner with many jugs of sangria. Perfect!

Monday (28 degrees) saw us have breakfast on Las Ramblas and generally take in the sun. It was a special day and we were in no rush (yes, Tool were in town... I could feel it in my bones). Pre-Tool came a holiday tradition... Hard Rock Cafe. To our utter disappointment the bar was under construction and boarded up, but that didn't stop us from stopping in for dinner on our night of nights. I had just been given my cerveza when who but Wolfmother appear on the video screens... awesome! (Seems the Spaniards dig em too).

We finally found the Razzmataazz (an AWESOME little venue.. literally holds about 500 people MAX). Next. The ticket 'issue'. If you haven't been filled in on the pain we suffered at the hands of FUCKWIT COURIERS AT UPS I'm not going into it here. But, basically, after talking into a tiny window for ticket pickups and much loud talking and hand gestures a highly irritated Towsty came back with two tickets to paradise. We were well scared we'd never get in. Next came Andy's idea to thwart the security guards despite numerous warnings of what happens to those bring cameras into the venue. As I walked a step ahead of him he got literally pulled aside and there were Spanish comments a plenty (we had NO idea, but they were pissed). Andy was adamant that I go inside and wait... he was led up some dark staircase and I waited, and waited, and waited.... eventually he managed to dodge his way back down in the foyer and off we want. I had my fingers crossed nothing else would disrupt this evening!

The place was filling up quickly, it was SO hot and the stage was very small. Intimate, but when you're squashed in with hundreds, not so. 2 hours late they took the stage and my first live Tool experience was in full swing! I was mesmerised (I'm sorry, for non-OGT's, this part of the entry will mean nothing) I expected some grandiose show, but it was simple, pure and fucking awesome. Old tracks, new tracks and, the pinnacle, Lateralus. None of the crowd spoke english at all except 'SPIRAL OUT, KEEEEEP GOING'. The people next to us were literally singing guitar riffs due to lack of English skills... and they thought we were rad because we knew every word. To entice them out for an encore they started the mad soccer chant ("Olleeee, olleeeee, oleeee"!!), clapping madly. And I can't talk about this show without mentioning Maynard. He is god. He took the stage in hipster jeans and a cowboy hat, SO not what I expected. He spent most of the night gyrating and dancing oddly... absolutely brilliant! After a few tears (and another 30 minutes wait while Andy went to retrieve his confiscated camera) we retreated home, tired, SWEATY and fulfilled. Although I am conflicted on the quality of the show, it was still my first and one I'll never, ever forget.

The next day (a little overcast and cool), we dreadfully made our way back to the airport and off to London. I achieved my thong tan success - sock it to ya Leah!! And stupidly wore shorts home. As we descended the Captain announced that the curretn temperature at Gatwick was a lovely.... 11 degrees. Fanfuckingtastic.