The Newest Member of the Sevilla Linces

As soon as my brother Andres arrived in Spain the members of the Junior team kept asking me if my brother could play in the game. My brother actually practiced with the team for 2 days and did very well on defense. Andres was going up against 20 and 30 year olds without ever taking a break. During a drill in practice my brother was actually the only person who ever tackled me!!!

Practicing his long snaps with the junior players.

I've always wanted to suit up and play with my brother. Remember Andy, i'm still one centimeter taller than you!!!

The future of the Linces?

Madrugada and Viernes Santo

As soon as Maria, Andy and Mama Hiley were all landed in Sevilla we took them to Gato Azul (per always) for some pizza and then off to watch the culmination of Semana Santa. No better way to cure jet-lag than staying up til 5am watching thousands of Nazarenos parade by.... Maria, Alex and Xavi ready to head down for some Semana Santa viewing
Nazarenos from the Basilica de la Macarena making their way toward the cathedral early in the morning on Friday - we tried to go see more of the famous pasos of the "madrugada" but the streets were so packed that we couldn't even pass the center of town. Luckily we got stuck in the path of this one and had a front row view.

The Romans following the float of Christ

The Virgen de la Macarena coming down Calle Trajano about 4 in the morning

Luckily, unlike the Nazarenos we were able to go home and catch a few hours of sleep before watching the entrance at 1pm

Waiting for the "entrada" into the Basilica de la Macarena with my mother and several thousand of our closest friends .

The paso approaching the Puerta de la Macarena - one of the original doors to the city when it was still a Roman city (see the beginning of the Roman city wall to the left)

People watching from their balconies

Virgen de la Macarena - when she passed by someone in the crowd would yell "Macarrrreeeena!" and the crowd would respond "Guapa! Guapa! Guapa!" At the entrada of this paso there were 3 different singers so the ever so slow entrance was exceptionally slower than normal and the bearers of the floats necks were sooo swollen and chafed from the weight that it was almost painful to watch them come out. The crowd however was moved to tears with the passing of the float and there were men and women of all ages crying.

Jueves Santo (Holy Thursday) - Los Negritos

On Thursday I went to the parade for the Hermandad de los Negritos which was founded in the 1300's to help Africans in Spain. Our friend Corro's grandfather is now the oldest brother of the brotherhood so it was a really big deal for his family and they walk alongside the floats for 10 1/2 hours. Juan's family also belongs to the same brotherhood so they were there as well.Some of the Nazarenos
Baby nazareno with caramelos to give to the crowd

The singer for the Salida who sang an a capella

El Cristo de la Fundacion, 1622

The book of rules for Los Negritos

Juan's dad preparing to throw rose petals onto the float of the Virgen de los Angeles

The petals being thrown as the Virgen emerges from Capilla de los Angeles

Virgen de los Angeles, 17th Century

Juan, Brittany and Corro

Brittany, Corro and me

Some local Sevillanas with their mantillas

Miercoles Santa at the Duke's Apartment

On Wednesday we were invited over to the Duque Alfonso's (one of the guys that started the Linces in 1992) to watch one of the Semana Santa parades that was leaving on his street.... Toasting the salida from Iglesia San Bernardo - The Hermandad de San Bernardo was founded in 1763 and 1,900 Nazarenos march with the floats for 10 1/2 hours.
The Duke and his wife Alejandra had a very fancy spread of appetizers and wines so that we could watch the parade in style... everything from little cups of soup, tortillas (the Spanish kind), croquets, shrimp salad, red wines, different Spanish cheeses and coffee in super fancy china.

Me, Duke Alfonso, Corro and Brittany

El Cristo de la Salud (Christ of Health), 8th Century People throwing rose petals from the balconies and rooftops onto the Virgin's float

Virgen del Refugio (Virgin of Refuge) 1938

Facing off with my new 8-year old biffle Carlos

Jennie was really tired on the walk home

Later on we invited a bunch of our friends over to the apartment for pizza from Gato Azul...

Antonio eating an entire pizza in under 5 minutes

Corro, Brittany, Iris, Pablo and Raul - it was nice to sit down after being on our feet all day watching the parades.

We've got visitors! :)

Waiting for dinner with Maria and Andy on Saturday night after the game in Madrid - we ended up at a Turkish/Hindu fusion restraunt that had both the best Doner Kebabs ever as well as a full Tandoori menu. We all had Doner Kebabs and split garlic naan and raita (a yogurt/cucumber sauce).

Assesing Alex's post-game bruises

We got super lucky and found a last minute deal at the 4-star Hotel Gran Atlanta for 60 euro- a double room with real carpet (that's a big deal in Spain) and a double mattress (not two twins pushed together) and a bathroom that was floored with blue tile and had blue tile walls - it felt like you were under water. Definitely reccomend the hotel, but not their 12 euro breakfast. You can get an amazing breakfast for around 3 euro per person at any local cafe.

The metro in Madrid

Plaza Mayor - sadly without flamenco dancers this time

Andy attack!

Palacio Real in Madrid

View from the terrace at the Palace - must be nice to be the queen... Andy was convinced that he must have been separated from the Spanish Royal family at birth...

The boys tiptoeing through the tulips

Spring in Madrid is beautiful - it was amazing to see how much had changed since we were there in February... Now everything is green and blooming and the weather is perfect.

I don't remember why but we thought this was a really funny idea at the time...

Fountain on the Paseo del Prado

Thyssen Museum where we got to see Dali, Georgia O'Keefe, Monet, lots of Picasso, more Jackson Pollock, Degas and Chagall.... and we seriously barely made a dent in the collection. Below are a few favorites....
"New York with Moon" by Georgia O'Keefe, 1925
"Dream caused by the flight of a bee around a pomegranate a second before waking up" by Salvador Dali, 1944

Lyre!! I miss my Alpha Chi Omegas!!

Our first Semana Santa parade in Spain! It was amazing - a huge crowd of people but almost complete silence as the Nazarenos/penitents (in the pointy hats) passed by with the candles and the float.

The float being carried threw the streets - I can't even imagine how much it weighs or how bruised up the penitents are after carrying it.