Bre Does Barca

Paris, Prague, Athens and Vienna – these 4 cities make up only a fraction of places I hope to visit and experience one day. When? Only time will tell, but living abroad for the past 2 years has allowed me to cross off many desired destinations. From Tallin, Estonia to Venice, Italy - I’ve done my fair share of traveling and am constantly finding ways to plan future trips. This weekend I did just that and was able to put a line through another city, as I spent 3 fun filled, sleep-deprived days in Barcelona, Spain.

Warmed up and ready to go at practice last week, I was shocked to hear my regulated, routine induced coach announce that was giving us 3 days off rather than the customary 1. Taken aback, I took a moment to control my breathing while my heart thumped double time in my chest. After regaining composure, my mind started to mentally plan out realistic destinations. Eventually Barcelona won out, with London coming in a close second.

With flights booked and bags packed, Casey and I were too excited to sleep, chatting well into the night about the respective adventures we were about to embark on. Casey to Holland to see her husband and myself to Spain – a country friends have only raved about. Up a mere 4 hours later with ticket in hand, I was ready to experience yet another country. Tired from the lack of sleep the night before, Casey and I bid goodbye and headed our separate ways. Passed out the duration of the flight to Lisbon and repeating the same action from Lisbon to Barcelona, I felt revived when deplaning into the afternoon sun.

Grabbing my bag off the carousel, I headed towards the exit and immediately spotted my good friend (and former UW teammate) Jill Bell. After hugging and trading huge smiles, we picked up right were we had left off 7 months ago. Hopping on the metro, we were off to take a walking tour of downtown - but not before stopping at Subway for lunch. You’re probably thinking Subway? While in Barcelona? Since Madeira doesn’t have any of the comforts of home, (i.e. Starbucks, Subway, Olive Garden etc) I ended up breaking one of my European rules and allowed myself to eat at the American restaurant. The thought of passing on foot long sweet chicken teriyaki inches from my grasp was too much to bear.

Satisfied after a great sandwich, we decided to walk around the city centurm. I can’t believe how Americanized Barcelona is. From the Hard Rock Café and McDonalds, to Starbucks on every other corner, (you should be proud – I didn’t drink there once!) the Nike Store and a massive department store that was essentially Nordstrom in disguise - I almost felt as though I was walking around downtown Seattle. Weird. I was also surprised by the amount of people out in the street – again struck by the thought of “does anyone work in Europe?” Jill informed me it was siesta time (a 3-hour lunch break from 2-5 pm) and that everyone was either at home napping or out socializing with friends. During this break most stores close, with the exception of the city center, where most tourists and many Barcelonians can be found.

After wandering down the main streets, enjoying the local farmers market, taking pictures at Casa Batlló and seeing too much PDA in the park, Jill and I took a much needed café break. Here were 2 former coffee haters drinking coffee like it was going out of style. It was hilarious! Chatting about the irony, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see us drinking designer drinks again. I was pleasantly surprised with the coffee quality in Barca, ranking it a close second to my Madeira Chinesa! Walking around a little longer, we eventually jumped on the metro and headed to Jill’s flat to rest our feet before her practice.

Watching Jill’s practice as an outsider, I found myself noticing the obvious differences of our respective situations. European basketball is such a business and you have to fight for everything you’re promised. Seeing her situation in Spain makes me appreciate what I have and where I’m at.

After practice (where no one on her team speaks a word of English - not even the coach) Jill and I walked towards her place, stopping to eat dinner at a local restaurant she frequents. I was surprised when we entered a hole in the wall called La Cava. Walking inside, I was intrigued by how small and packed the place was. Here was a restaurant that held a maximum of 20 people, jam packed with locals to the point you could barely maneuver to the bathroom. As we sat down, Jill chatted with the owner and ordered dinner. La Cava had a great atmosphere, giving me a taste of Spanish culture. Most tables were filled with 6 people or more, drinking wine and laughing the night away. There was food galore and the air was heavy with a thick smog of smoke (after leaving I felt like I had smoked a pack – ugh.) People took their time to eat and were more concerned with telling stories than devouring their food. It was a complete 360° compared to what I’ve seen at home. The food was fabulous and our 2-hour dinner concluded after midnight. Tired and full, it was back to the flat for the night to recharge for the next full day of sight seeing.

Reflecting on my first day in Spain, I found I was genuinely impressed with Jill’s Spanish - as all day she conversed almost fluently with locals and understood everything being said to her. I’m so proud! She has really gained independence in Spain and gets around with ease – which I learned is no easy feat. People here DO NOT want to speak English, even if they know how. It’s almost rude. Most people refuse and pretend they don’t know a word of what you’re saying. I’m all about assimilating to new cultures and respecting peoples traditions, but when I’m trying to speak Spanish and you show no patience or look at me like I’m stupid – I don’t appreciate it. As someone with absolutely no Spanish background, (French is my second language) I found myself mixing Portuguese, French and English into one language I decided to call Portu-Franglish. Jill understood it, but the Spanish people did not. ☺

Out the door the next morning at 11am, we again hopped on the metro and were off to tour Gaudi Park (Park Güell.) This is one of the sites I was most excited to see. It didn’t disappoint, as it was everything and more than I expected it to be. Being a Saturday, the place was packed and getting a good photo was a tough feat, however, I managed to get some great shots while appreciating the architecture, walking through the cavernous open areas, weaving through the columns and enjoying the unique tiled details of Antoni Gaudi's work. My favorite part of the park was at the top where you are able to look out on the city. It was a beautiful day with the Mediterranean shining bright blue in the distance. Wow – what a view! After appreciating Antoni Gaudi’s work and enjoying the moment, we left to grab lunch and stop at the Nordstrom replica store where I could buy some Mac blush. Wandering around downtown, I was about to take in the picturesque buildings, street protests and note the culture differences. I couldn’t help but think – am I really here? This is what I love most about traveling. The differences and similarities that make you appreciate the beauty of the country you live in and the country you are a visitor in.

Tired and in need of some rest, it was back to Jill’s flat. While she was grabbing some Z’s before her evening game, I went online to check my bracket and watch some NCAA games. Oh, how I love March madness – too bad I was a Wake Forest fan this year. They completely destroyed my bracket! With Jill revived, her ride picked us up and we were off to the game. A close second half unfortunately ended in a 1-point loss for Jill’s team. Though the girls were dejected, I was impressed their fan support. It was an away game – about 30 minutes from Barcelona and Lima Horta (Jill’s team) had more fans than the opposing team did in their home gym. They were loud the whole game singing cheers, blowing horns and whistling (which is Europe is a boo) at the refs. Even after the loss the fans were quick to console the girls and pat them on their backs.

Finally home, Jill and I ate at a local diner before turning on the Internet to follow our UW men in the round of 32. The game didn’t start until 11pm Barcelona time, so we cheered on the purple and gold while getting ready to go out for the evening. A close game with a heartbreaking finish ended just in time for Jill and I to catch the metro down to the water at 1:15am. I know what you’re thinking, 1:15am? Well apparently that’s early. Most people don’t head out until after 2am. No wonder they have 3-hour siestas in the middle of the day! We ended up meeting a friend at Catwalk, one of the popular nightclubs known for its hip-hop music. A late night turned into an early morning, as we didn’t arrive home until 5am.

A mere 5 hours later we were up at 10:30am, ready to tackle the last couple of tourist sites on my list. Tired, we quickly downed 2 coffees each and were off to the Sagrada Familia Church – one of the most famous sites in this well-known city. After stepping off the metro we rounded the corner and boom! There it was. I was shocked by its sheer size - the monument is monstrous! I was overwhelmed with the detail and beauty of this enormous structure. To think that it started being built in 1882 and is still under construction to this very day is mind blowing. The projected completion date is 2026. Once inside, the two of us wandered around to view the stained glass windows, massive columns and detailed architecture. It was an amazing site, something to see if you ever visit Barcelona. There is only so much to view on the ground floor, which is why they make you pay more if you’re willing to wait in line for an hour to take an elevator to the top. When in Rome…of course I had to get the full experience so Jill and I chatted in line until it was our turn to go up. It was well worth the wait, as the view from the top was breathtaking. I could see the whole city and places we had visited days before. What a great experience, one I won’t forget.

After a quick lunch, we spent the rest of the day by the water people watching until it was time to head back home to get ready for the FC Barcelona Futebol match. You read that correctly. Jill and I managed to score one of the toughest tickets in European sports. FC Barcelona is considered one of the top 3 futebol clubs in the world and employ the likes of the Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o. I could barely contain my excitement as we headed toward the stadium. The atmosphere was electric and fans rowdy. Sitting down in my seat, I found myself hardly watching the match, as I couldn’t believe how large the stadium was and how a 99,000 seat arena (largest in Europe) was completely sold out. It was loud, full of songs, chants and cheers. Prying myself away from watching the fans I was able to enjoy the match and was up on my feat 6 times for Barca goals. A blowout made for an impressive display of offense. It was great. Walking out of the stadium I was taken aback by the sheer joy and happiness of fans. Thousands of people were out in the streets blowing horns, singing and cheering. What an experience!

Upon conclusion of the game, Jill and I met up with some of her friends and spent the rest of the evening at a local bar. It was a great way to end my trip. Saying our goodbyes and thanking Jill for a great weekend, I grabbed a cab to the airport, reflecting on my Barcelona experience.

-BW

Sidenote: Be sure to read this article my good friend Lindsey Wilson wrote for the NEW YORK TIMES! Nice! You can also read about her European adventures by clicking here.

Terceira, Azores Islands

I’m going to mix it up a bit, with this weeks post being somewhat of a journal entry detailing a typical day/roadtrip in the life of a professional basketball player. Here’s a taste…enjoy!

Friday March 13, 10:00am

This morning at practice I was really tired. Even though it was light with a lot of shooting and half court drills, my legs were heavy and I felt as though I was using all my energy to get up and down the floor. I’m not sure why I was so exhausted, but this past week my muscles were really sore and my body felt run down. It probably had a lot to do with the fact that I was getting over a cold and our late night practices (9-11pm) which are followed by morning workouts only 11 hours later (10am) were making it tough for my body to completely recover. I’ve been sleeping fine, but sometimes you need time to rest. A lot of people have knocked my profession, suggesting that it’s easy to only play basketball as a job. But what they don’t realize is that even though I only ‘work’ 4 hours a day, every single ounce of energy I have in me is expended during that short period of time. I’m the type of person that gives everything I have in whatever I do. There’s no coffee break here, just 100% effort put out and left on the floor. Some days are tougher than others, but you find a way to make it through.

While eating lunch as a team at the gym's café, I made sure to sit in the sun and soak up its warm rays - deciding it was easily one of the most beautiful afternoons I’ve experienced on Madeira. Too bad we left for the Azores a few hours later...After lunch we hopped in the van and headed for the airport. With no direct flight from Funchal to Terceira, this was going to be the longest road trip of the season. We left Funchal at 2pm for Lisbon, after a 2 hour layover caught the Lisbon to Terceira flight and finally landed on the Azores at 7:30pm - gaining an hour in the process. Tired, sore and hungry, Casey and I collapsed in our hotel room and played cards for almost 2 hours before the scheduled 9pm team dinner. Ahhh, how I love European travel itinerary…

Fun fact: Terceira is closer to the USA than it is to Lisbon.

Saturday, March 14, 9:30am

Happy Birthday to me! Today I’m 24 and feel as though I’m 30! Seriously, I didn’t sleep a wink last night - which probably had a lot to do with the fact that our hotel room reeked of mold. It was disgusting! Opening the windows didn't help, as the smell was embedded in the pillows, sheets and towels. Even grosser? Casey’s sheets were damp. Sick! Apparently Terceira is known to have a lot of mold problems because of its humidity and dampness. The combination of these two is not a good one, thus, the nose crinkling smell of mold is everywhere. Ugh!

Heading down to breakfast I expected at least a happy birthday from one of my teammates. Nope, just bom dia’s (good morning) all round. I was kind of crushed, but Casey had made me stay up the night before until midnight Madeira time (11pm on Terceira) to wish me happy birthday and give me a hug. At almost the same time I received a phone call from Jason (one of our men’s players) and a couple text messages from friends not on the trip with us. It was nice and made my day. After breakfast Case and I caught a couple more hours of sleep before heading to team lunch. Still no birthday wishes – sad. Ah well, I’ll live. After eating, Casey and I wandered around downtown to take pictures and explore a bit of the historical city. Terceira is very unique, lined with old buildings and cobblestone streets. Some stores were painted bright colors while others barely clung to their old brick foundations. One of my favorite parts of playing pro ball is experiencing and walking around random unique cities - places I would never dream of visiting or knew existed had I not decided to play professional basketball. I know I say this all the time, but I’m so thankful for what basketball has given me.

Near the end of our walking tour we came across a store called Loja Americana. Low and behold, it was a grocery store that sold only imported American food. From Ritz Crackers to Pop Tarts to Betty Crocker cakes – a little slice of home was all right there. Both of us were ecstatic to grab a taste of home and pulled on the door handle only to find out it was locked. Just our luck! It had closed at 1pm and it was 1:30pm. Talk about bad timing. Oogling at the goodies inside, we managed to tear ourselves away, trudging back to the hotel.

Once we returned to our room we changed into our jerseys and cranked the music to get pumped up. Casey and I were ready to face Boa Viagem (4th place team we had lost to earlier in the season) in the last game of the regular season. With the gym only 2 blocks from our hotel, we headed into battle on foot. Upon entering the gym, I immediately started coughing. If I thought the hotel had a moldy smell, it was nothing compared to the gym. Wondering how I was going to get enough oxygen to my lungs from the stagnant arena air, I thought positive thoughts and tried to acclimate as quickly as possible.

Starting the first quarter strong, CAB raced out to a 5-point lead. However, that quickly diminished and we found ourselves down by 10 for most of the game. BV’s American player is much bigger and stronger than me and I had a tough time defending her myself. Switching to a ¾ front with the double coming from the weak side, Casey and I were able to contain her much better; but with no rotation on the pass out, the two of us became extremely frustrated because BV seemed to be scoring at will. After throwing in some junk defense and playing tougher ‘D’ on the help side, we were able to stay in the game. With most my shots rolling out in the first half, I quickly found my rhythm in the second and rattled off 6 straight points. Tighter defense on their American led to her collecting a frustration foul on offense. She didn’t like the call, or our guard who boxed her out and quickly turned her direction and punched her in the neck! No joke! Thank goodness for the ref being in the right place at the right time. He immediately issued her a intentional foul and she was out of the game. Crazy. I was so proud of our young player who caught her breath, collected herself and knocked down both free throws. Not bad for 17! This was the momentum change we needed and we started playing with a passion and energy we lacked in the first. Though the game was close the rest of the way, I had a feeling we were going to pull this one out. Down 5 with a minute 30 to go, I rebounded an offensive board and threw it out to our wing who buried an open 3. Next possession we created a turnover and our PG hit 1 of 2 FT. With 13 seconds left in the game and us down by 1, coach drew up a play for Casey who had hit her last 2 shots. The set broke down on offense and their guard doubled down on Casey. Reacting, I quickly sealed my player inside. Our PG immediately saw the opening and passed me the ball inside. Making a quick move middle and spinning the other way, I banked a hook shot off the glass – up and in!!! Timeout Boa Viagem with 7 seconds left to play. Hype after gaining our first lead since the first quarter, we were all pumped to play some sticky ‘D’. Receiving our assignments - it was now or never. Once the ball was in play Carla, our best defensive player, locked up their best guard and she turned the ball over! We quickly in bounded the ball and ran out the time – victory!!! A great win and huge character builder for our team heading into playoffs. Phew! We all embraced at half court and quickly shook hands with the other team. As we walked back to our bench the girls surrounded me and sang happy birthday in Portuguese at the top of their lungs. I couldn’t stop smiling and decided to do an impromptu dance inside the circle. What a great birthday gift!

After showering and changing clothes, we were off to dinner, where the lights were dimmed and happy birthday was sang once again with cake. The girls explained that they knew it was my birthday, but wanted to get the ‘W’ and surprise me at dinner. Thank goodness we won…

Returning to our hotel room in high spirits around 10pm, Casey and I decided we didn’t want the night to end quite yet. Since I had just turned the big 24, we asked Juca (our coach) if it was ok if we could go to a local bar and hang out for the rest of the evening. He told us to be smart and make sure we were at breakfast at 8:30am. No prob. After chatting with the guy at the front desk, we learned about of couple of the hot spots and chose one to test out. Catching a cab we were off, with our destination being an indoor/outdoor bar on the water. It was awesome. Here we were sitting on a dock, looking out onto the ocean while house music thumped in the background. It was pretty amazing and a nice way to take in the atmosphere. Casey and I had a great time people watching, viewing passing ships and admiring the old buildings surrounding the scene. I don’t know how many times we said to each other “look where we are right now! How many people get to experience this?” Of course on such a small island, it should be no surprise that we bumped into 2 American men who played on Terceira team. We spent most of the evening talking to them about home and our experiences abroad. They were nice guys and it was a great way to spend the last hours of my birthday.

Fun fact: cows outnumber people living on the island of Terceira.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Up bright and early for our jaunt back to Funchal, the girls and I couldn’t wait to get home (Madeira.) After surviving layovers and flight transfers we finally arrived in Funchal at 5:30pm. I couldn’t wait to get to the house, relax and grab some dinner. However, Casey had other plans. After jumping out of the shower, my awesome roommate had another b-day surprise planned. Who walks in but our 3 men’s players with a bunch of groceries. Imagine my surprise when they announced they were cooking dinner for my 24th and that all I had to do was sit back, relax and just be the DJ. A dinner of fried chicken, home made mac and cheese and sweet potatoes was topped off with ice cream and a couple of gifts! Wow, what great people I have surrounding me this year. I couldn’t believe the generosity of my North American counterparts and couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. We closed out the evening at our favorite bar full of transplants from all over the world. New Zealand, England, South Africa, Sweden and so on. It’s a great place with good people and we love going there to just hang out. This is a birthday I won’t forget. What a fabulous weekend, thanks Casey – you’re the best!

Fun Fact: Terceira is home to Lajes U.S. Air Base, which is strategically located between North America and Europe in the North Atlantic Ocean. Lajes provides support to 15,000 aircraft, including fighters from the US and 20 other allied nations each year. The geographic position has made this airbase very important to both America's and NATO's war fighting capability.

-BW

Sidenote: My brother’s university (UBC – University of British Columbia) made the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) National Championship final Sunday night in Ottawa. While Casey and the guys were cooking we all watched the broadcast online. After dominating the first half and leading by 5 into the break, they played an uninspired second and ended up losing by 10. It was disappointing, especially because they were clearly the better team. Number 2 in Canada is nothing to scoff at, but it’s hard losing a close game like that. I’m proud of you bro!

EuroStyle

It’s amazing how different Europeans are from their (North) American counterparts. From culture and history to food, fashion and mannerisms – distinctness is apparent and actually, is one of my favorite things about living abroad. Seeing this diversity first hand is both refreshing and humbling. I’ve learned a lot about myself because of it and it has helped me realize what’s most important in life. Reflecting further, I’ve become conscious of the fact that many Canadians and Americans take too much for granted and tend to lose sight of what is most important to them.

Time moves slowly in Europe. From afternoon siestas to coffee breaks every 15 minutes, time isn’t of the essence. It’s more important to grab a mid-afternoon drink with a friend than to be constantly on the go completing a thousand different tasks at once. Europeans like to sit down and enjoy meals, investing time with each course. Americans grab everything on the go because we can’t spare a moment to sit down and enjoy our food.

As cliché as it sounds, time is money. Why is it that when I have a free moment I subconsciously feel as though I’m not working hard enough? Americans are so used to being busy during the workweek that it can be hard to find time to grab a bite or even take a bathroom break. Every time I return to Europe I’m continually amazed by how many people I see wandering the streets, relaxing at cafes, chatting at coffee bars or reading by the water. Do these people not have jobs? Most do, but Europeans don’t seem to be pre-occupied with the notion that life revolves around money and power. Instead, relationships are of high importance. They’re what matter most and fulfill something money can’t.

Money of course is a necessity in life and changes the way people live their lives. Because I’ve been fortunate enough to travel around the world and live in different countries, I’ve found it easy to see how much more materialistic Americans are than Europeans. As a whole we seem to feel the need to own the iPhone, carry a Louis Vuitton purse, show off our platinum engagement rings or drive the biggest SUVs. We’re so concerned with what others think of us – that it affects how we present ourselves. Europe is different in that respect. Most cars here are compact and environmentally friendly. Wedding rings are simple gold bands and you seldom see women toting oversized brand name purses. This isn’t to say that Europeans don’t wear brand name clothing or flashy accessories - of course they do, but Americans tend to think too much about what others think of them, rather than being comfortable as themselves.

From fashion to conversation, it’s interesting to see the difference in mannerisms from country to country. Americans tend to sugarcoat criticisms or try to soften blunt remarks. Many don’t speak their mind and make indirect comments. Americans tend to sugarcoat criticisms or try to soften blunt remarks.. Many don’t speak their mind and prefer to make indirect comments. Yet reducing the blow of a comment can lead to confusion and further questions. In my European experiences I’ve found that people are very direct and forward in their comments, to the point of being rude. However, I think a lot of this is due to the language being lost in translation. Example: I was eating lunch at the gym one day and was pretty tired and run down from the previous week. This must have been reflected in my face and/or body language, as the marketing director for CAB walked up to me and asked me what was wrong with my face. Excuse me? At first I thought I must have had a huge zit or food left on my chin. Nope, it was nothing like that. He was just telling me I looked like crap and wasn’t afraid to say so. At first I used to get offended by these very blunt, direct remarks. But as I spend more and more time in Europe, I continue to understand that it’s just the way people communicate over here. They’re going to tell you exactly what’s on their mind whether you like it or not. My skin is tougher now and a comment like “Breanne, you’re playing like s**t, get it together!” doesn’t bother me anymore. It’s definitely an adjustment, but it’s also refreshing in some respect. Bluntness lets you know exactly what the problem is and how to fix it. I thought I was blunt, but I’m a puppy compared to some of the comments made on this side of the Atlantic!

I could continue to write for days about the differences between Americans and Europeans, but I don’t want to bore you. Therefore, I’ll finish with my thoughts on sexuality. Nakedness in Europe is expected. Showing skin is almost a requirement. I’ve never seen so many bare bellies, low cut shirts and excessively tight pants. As someone who is somewhat of a conservative dresser, I get a kick out of shopping for clothes away from home. Finding pants/shorts/dresses long enough are few and far between and some of the shirts are so tiny I might as well walk around public in just a bra. This is not to say I’m a prude, but I think some things are better left to the imagination, rather than being on display for everyone to see. From bikini thongs to old men in speedos – anything goes. It’s quite different than home. I remember after college games we would shower in separate curtained off showered areas. No one was about to let anyone else see their bare butt, whereas here, the locker room is one massive skin show. Everyone is naked. Whether conversing about current events, the weather or what is happening later that night no clothing is necessary. There is no shyness or self-consciousness like in America. It’s normal; it’s comfortable. During my first season I was completely paranoid and nervous to be butt naked with a group of people I barely knew. You’d find me hiding behind my towel or cowering in the corner until everyone else was done. How things have changed! It’s a part of the routine and is something I’ve learned to become comfortable with. Men do it all the time, but American women have this stigma about being judged and are way too self-conscious for their own good. It’s a part of life and is a new experience I’m now embracing.

Basketball Update: This weekend was a free weekend. It was much needed to rest our tired, aching bodies. My achilles feel pretty good, so we’ll see tonight in practice how beneficial these couple of days off were. Our men’s team played Benfica on Sunday and unfortunately didn’t get the result they had hoped for. It was a clash of the league titans as 2nd place CAB faced the league leaders. They played a great first half, down 2 at the break but were unable to keep up the momentum in the second. The gym was packed and the crowd loud and even though we lost, it was a fun atmosphere to be a part of. This weekend we play our last regular season game on the Azores Islands. We face Boa Viagem, a team we lost to earlier in the season. A win is a must, as I’d like to celebrate a victory on my 24th birthday!

-BW

I Heart Carbs

Atkins Diet be damned. I love carbs and can’t imagine life without them. They’re a staple of my everyday diet and the thought of cutting them out completely? Forget it. I don’t know if I could survive a day without bread, cereal or pasta. Willpower? When carbohydrates are involved I have none.

Of course I am a competitive athlete and eating carbs is one of the best ways to keep my body fueled. Thankfully, I don’t have to worry too much about what I consume. However, since arriving on Madeira - aka the land of fresh baked everything, I’m convinced I eat enough carbs to feed 3 people. Allow me to explain. In Madeira it’s tradition to start your morning with a small, strong, sweet bica (coffee) and a few pieces of warm, soft, fresh baked bread straight from the oven. This aromatic scent is second to none and seems to grab hold of my appetite without shame. Having the willpower to stop after 2 pieces is a common goal and after enjoying the luscious taste of said bread, the thought of eating store bought full of preservatives is revolting. I can’t believe how spoiled I’ve been this season in Portugal. Not only do I live on a beautiful island with gorgeous weather, (except for the past week and a half of rain) but I get to consume fresh baked everything everyday – which can be quite dangerous…

A pastry a day (or more!) keeps the doctor away. At least that’s the motto Casey and I have taken up since living in Madeira. Everywhere you walk you can’t help but stumble upon a small café selling coffee and fresh baked pastries. And at €0.60 a pop, it’s a crime not to walk in and buy a filo de chocolate or pastel de nata. I would necessarily call this a good habit, but when your job requires you to workout a minimum of 3 hours a day, 6 days a week, I think it’s ok. If this wasn’t the case I’d definitely kick the habit, or else I’d be carrying an extra 10 pounds of unwanted weight!

These sweet treats are hard to resist – the smell, softness and warmth make them an everyday necessity and have me craving another after each bite. The hardest part is knowing when to stop. I wish I was joking, but Casey and I probably consume at least 2 a day, cutting down from our previous high of 3.

But it doesn’t end with pastries. As mentioned earlier, the fresh bread here is amazing and is used in many different ways. My personal favorite is Bolo de Caco (garlic bread.) You haven’t experienced great garlic bread until you’ve eaten a Bolo de Caco. To sum it up in one word - amazing, mouthwatering, irresistible. Ok, that’s 3, but I think you get my point. The warm, soft, circular shaped flat bread is cut in half and smothered with warm garlic butter and oregano. Mmmmm….I can’t even begin to describe its wonderful taste. It’s something that must be experienced and sadly can only be found in Madeira and not mainland Portugal. In fact I think I’ll go get one tonight…

As much as I enjoy eating and experiencing the assortment of fresh baked goods on this island, I feel somewhat guilty writing about the topic, as both my brother and dad have Celiac disease. Sorry guys! Sadly, they can’t eat anything that contains wheat, gluten, barley or rye. If they do, the reaction is very unfavorable and bad for their health. Thank goodness their willpower is stronger than mine. I’m not sure how they do it, but I guess I’m glad they’re not here or I fear the temptation would be too great!

Basketball Update: Last night we played Olivais for the 3rd time this season. It was a Cup game, which doesn’t count against league standings but is almost as important, if not more important. Winning the Portuguese Cup comes with high regard – it’s like winning the league. Unfortunately, our draw had us facing our rivals to get into the Final 4, when really, it should have been the Cup final. Olivais won’t have any trouble securing the Cup now after beating us. We had defeated Olivais twice this season, both close games by 3-4 points. It’s always difficult beating a team 3 times in a row and that proved true last night. We played an inspired 1st half, only down 5 at the break. However, the 2nd half was a complete disaster. We didn’t play as a team. And that’s exactly why we lost. Instead of playing together to get a ‘W’ people were dribbling down the court going one on one whenever they touched the ball. We rarely ran a play, no one boxed out and there was no help side defense or rotation. Too many people were looking out for themselves. It was like we were a high school team playing seasoned pros. It was embarrassing. A team we had been victorious over twice this season beat us by 18. Eighteen!!! Unacceptable. I hate the feeling of losing, especially when not experiencing it much. We’ve only lost 4 games this year and I wasn’t here for 2 of them. The last time we lost was at the beginning of December – so I had forgotten what it felt like. This is a good reminder, as I don’t want to feel it again. Though we lost, Casey and I both had solid games, shooting better than 50% from the field. I finished with 16 and 10 and Case had 16 and 8. I shot 8 times and only had 2 shots in the 2nd half…hmmmm…that doesn’t seem right. With no game this coming weekend coach is going to work us hard with 2 a day practices all week. Interesting…

On a brighter note, Casey and I participated in the All-Star game last weekend in Moimenta Da Beira (a TINY, I’m talking mini, town in Northern Portugal.) Our hotel was almost 30 minutes from the gym, as it was the closest accommodation. They had the men staying at a different hotel, which was probably a good idea. At social hour Casey and I felt like we were being surrounded by a pack of wolves. It was funny and made for very interesting conversation…haha. The festivities were fun and on the first day we were down on the court supporting Jason (our men’s player) in the 3-point contest. He shot great and made it to the finals. In the championship match he hit way more 3’s than the other guy, but missed almost all the money balls, losing 18-21. It was too bad, as he was clearly the better shooter. The dunk contest was somewhat entertaining as there were only 2 guys who were good dunkers. We were joking with the Olivais girls that we should have entered and done fancy layups; no joke, we probably would have received higher scores than some guys who put up some seriously weak dunks. The next day the teams took the court with our Sul team (South) being quite a bit weaker than the Norte (North) team. However, we only lost by 7 (102-95.) I started the game and finished with 12 and 11. All-Star games are always weird to play in because everyone is trying to show off and get up as many shots as they can. I came in with the attitude that I was going to run the floor and rebound, which is basically how I scored all my points. I had fun during the game and afterward spent time chatting with the other (North) Americans about life abroad. It’s always nice to spend time with people who can relate with what you’re going through. After our game we showered and sat courtside to watch the men. In all honesty I think our game was much more entertaining. The guys didn’t want to pass the ball to one another and were going 1 on 1 every time down the court. It wasn’t that fun to watch. I was pleasantly surprised with the crowd that was on hand. The facilities were the best I’ve seen so far in Portugal and the gym was full of spectators. They were loud and supportive with little kids running around like crazy trying to get each player to sign their t-shirts. All in all it was a fun weekend, one I was glad I was a part of.

I was hoping to take some of the strain off my swollen achilles this week, but after our horrific loss I don’t see that happening. I guess I'll have to suck it up. Our men (who are in 2nd place) play Benfica – the best team in the league Sunday. It’s going to be a great game and I can’t wait to cheer the guys on.

-BW

Sidenote: Congrats to the UW men who clinched a share of the Pac-10 title Saturday. Ahhhhhh BOW DOWN!