Visiting Camp Nou and Espanyo's homel.

Buenas noches! This is Ken.
It means "good evening" in Spanish.


We've just come to Barcelona from Madrid.


I'll report what happened to us today.


It's 2 am here in Barcelona.
Everyday I'm so busy that it's already midnight when I get back home.


I wanna go to bed rather than to write my blog. 
My buddy is sleeping beside me.


I've just started writing the blog.


I'd rather make it quick and go to bed ASAP!
Otherwise, I will miss chances to see the scenery of town because I fall in sleep in the car on the road.


So I will shortcut it by posting bunch of pics.


For breakfast, we stopped at a Macdonald.

Tomato soup "Gazpacho". Limited to Spain.

Then we went to the embassy of Cote d'lvoire to get visas.

It took only 20 min. So quick!

The guy who handles us was so nice that I'm looking forward to visiting there.

Then we headed for Camp Nou, which is the main stadium of FC Barcelona.

The following pic was from the stadium touring that we joined at Camp Nou.

Lots of people queued at the box office.

A ticket costs 17 EURO.

It's little bit expensive, but it doesn't stop people from coming to see the games even in weekdays. This is FC Barcelona.


On the other hand, what about J League? There are a lot to be learned from this country.

The scenery from the pitch.

The colorful seats glinted in a ray of sunlight.
I wish I could have stepped on the pitch and the seats.


One of my friends Shota, who I met on the tour, told me that I could see a "Kyokai" inside of Camp Nou. "Kyokai" is spelled out, in a certain context,as "協会", which means "football association", in Japanese. 


At that time, I didn't understand what Shota was talking about and why I could see a football association inside.


But once I got in the stadium, I found that it was "教会", which is still pronounced as "Kyokai" but has a different meaning; "a church" in Japanese.

Players pray here before the games.

The press conference room.

I wanted to sit there. But not permitted.

The historical gallery of "Socio" membership cards.
A "Socio" is as same as a fan club (season tickets holder).

At a time, bar codes have been embedded. 

The version of 1979, which is the year I was born.

After the stadium touring, we went to the museum and the official shop.

This is the entrance to the Barcelona mega shop.

 It's so big!

Facing the shop, there is a scating rink.

The left is Carles Puyol. Who is the other one?

Then, we went to the stadium of another Barcelona based team Espanyol. 

The fantasy stadium at night.

The stadium is inconveniently located in suburb area.

Trading hour is till 20:00 even if a game is not on.

I found a poster there.

Nakamura is in the middle, which is not his game position.

A dummy was wearing a muffler, on which the name "Nakamura" was printed.

I bought it.

The taxi driver that I met this morning knows about Nakamura. 

He told me that many Japanese people are visiting here recently.

At night, we had a dinner with another Nakamura, one of my friends.

We enjoyed discussing soccer business and forgot to sleep again.

I hope our experience in all over the world could serve the Japanese soccer in the future.

Now I'm going to bed.

Good night, everyone.

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What I’m feeling on a rainy day in Naples

Buona sera!! This is Ken.

Separated from Atsushi in Rome, I am traveling by myself for a while.

I came down to Naples, about two hours away from Rome. Naples is the largest city in Southern Italy.

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When I was an university student, I took a graduation trip to Italy. I traveled only Northern Italy, such as Genoa, Milan, Pisa, Florence, Venice and Rome. So, I’ve decided to go to Southern Italy this time, even by myself.

Actually, I was planning to go from Naples to Isle of Capli by boat, which is famous for “Blue Grotto”. But I couldn’t make it because of my tight schedule. So, I decided to spend relaxing time in Naples for four days. 

Compared to other cities, Naples is infamous for its poor security.

However, I’ve heard that the city has become much safer, and the streets are getting cleaner step by step.

After arriving in Naples in the evening, I decided to take a walk around a hotel and station.

I name the city “Hong Kong in Italy” from the impression I got after walking around the city for about an hour.

But, don’t get it wrong! By naming so, I meant Kowloon City District in Hong Kong which still remains good-old-days atmosphere with something mysterious, not Hong Kong Island with many skyscrapers standing all around.

How can I put this… a port town has a unique atmosphere…something ‘fishy’…or should I say ‘mysterious’…

I have this perspective that Italian people are a bit dubious (oops, sorry!), but what is more, I feel that Southern Italy has gotten a more easy-going and dubious style.

Slipping into an alley, I found laundry poles popping out from flats’ windows, and the laundry was hung out even though it was raining.

There seem to be many immigrants with African background, who set up stalls in the streets. And what’s more, when it rains, umbrella vendors appear from somewhere.

An immigrant selling umbrellas in a baby stroller.

I often saw those umbrella vendors in China too.

Anyway, there are too many umbrella vendors here in Naples!! I ran into one of them every half minute.

You can see a clear imbalance between supply and demand.

In contrast, I also saw many construction sites, which may imply the possibility of the further development of the city.

Well, yes, it is raining in Naples…

Yesterday and Today were supposed to be the very sightseeing days for me… but it’s been raining all day...

Due to the weather, the event “playing football in Naples”, which one of my Italian ex-colleagues had arranged, had to be cancelled yesterday.

Moreover, Naples is among the top 3 best night views in the world…but I couldn’t see the view…

*By the way, the other two cities are Hakodate and Hong Kong. Considering this, Naples can be “Hong Kong in Italy”, though I don’t think these three cities have gotten the best night views in the world…

Although it was raining hard, I went to a harbor. But as soon as I started walking, I got soaked in the rain and couldn’t stand my wet jeans and jacket!! So I soon came back to a hotel.

I saw several cruise ships being anchored in the harbor.

*I’ve heard that FIFA is planning to locate these kinds of cruise ships in bay areas in South Africa so that they can be substituted for hotels. It is estimated that there wouldn’t be enough accommodations for visitors coming to see the World Cup games next year.

Well, when the weather is really bad, you can’t do anything, and you can’t have good memories of traveling.

In contrast, if it’s sunny, it just makes you feel good.

It’s not someone’s fault, but the weather is important factors that influence the memories and impression of the city you visit.

Anyway, it depends on your luck.

As for memories and impression of travelling, good memories occur through meeting people.

Of course, great scenery or football games can be good memories, but the best memories you remember clearly occur through meeting local people, especially when they treated you friendly and nicely.

Then, I feel that it would be great if Japanese people could also welcome people from other countries kindly and pleasantly as possible as they can.

I know it must be difficult for Japanese people as they are “shy”, but everyone can be a Japanese representative and can be one of the aspects that create the image of Japan.

I was thinking these things on the way back to hotel.

Anyway, because of this bad weather, I can only retreat into a room or eat…

Then, here it comes, gourmets!

OK, this is a “by the way, did you know that?” series.

“Naporitan” does not exist in Naples, even in Italy.

It seems that Japanese people made up the word.

So, instead, I ordered “Penne all’Arrabbiata” on the menu.

It was good, but a bid different from Japanese one

And,

“Pizza Margherita”,

as Naples is the birthplace of pizza.

Once upon a time, Queen Margherita (the house of Bourbon) 
held a pizza competition, and this pizza won the first prize.

Therefore, this pizza is called “Pizza Margherita”, huh!

I found a Yogurt named YOMO, which is my last name, actually.

Well…this one looks like… hahaha

And… look! These various color and flavor!!!

I feel that I’ve been uploading naughty pictures these days…

OK,

That’s enough for today!

I’ll fly to Barcelona tomorrow!!

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FIFA House in Zurich

Merci, this is Ken.

Merci is "Thank you" in French. French or German is spoken in Switzerland.

Today we visited FIFA headquarters office in Zurich without appointment.

FIFA statnds for Federation International de Football Association.

FIFA now includes over 200 member countries and regions.

We have visited many football associations world-widely such as Uzbekistan, South African, South Korean. But this is the first for European.

So, this time FIFA will be a big issue, I think.

ＦIFA headquarters also know as "FIFA House" is located beside a zoo, which is 10 minutes away from the center of Zurich by tram.

The sign leads you to FIFA.

On the way to the FIFA House, I saw this one.

FIFA street !

Walking about 100m on this street, you'll see the entrance of FIFA House.

FIFA House !

It is verdant.

An fantasy art work in the beautifully kempt garden.

On the way to the entrance of FIFA house, the pathway was made up from stones, some of which has a name of the membership of FIFA on it.

Alphabetical order, not FIFA ranked.

Surprisingly, there was a regular size soccer field by the building !

Turf ground.

Additionally, there was beach soccer place behind the soccer field!

The small goal in the distance is futsal field.

By the way, did you know the goal is so big.

I guess it is as same size as ones for kids.

At last, we came to the entrance.

Definitely, we are the first to stand in front of the FIFA logo,

wearing Japanese national team's jersey.

One of my friends, who visited here 10 years ago, said, "There was a museum inside and I got some souvenirs for free."

Then, we got into the building and talked to a receptionist.

She said, "There was a museum in the past FIFA House. But we've moved to a new building and we don't have it now."

Shocked.

But, her next line saved my ass.

She goes, "There is a shop and you can get some items there. Also some trophies are displayed. Feel free to go around every facilities. Of course, taking photos is permitted."

How exciting !

We've got it before our national team do this.

They gave us FIFA monthly.

I remember the design on the balls.

Turning the pages, I saw this one.

It's an article about 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding.

I think the people in the middle of the picture are the representatives of JFA (Japan Football Association). I hope the comp is in our country again. Good luck.

All of the scenes are edited as movie below.

Have a look at it !

I am very happy to get these items, though I couldn't see the museum.

Normally, they never distribute them except to children. I appreciate that.

Finally, have a look at Atushi wearing T shirt, on which the official character ZAKUMI is printed.

Somehow it's not cool.

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Football galore in Paris!

Je m'appelle, Ken. 
※ Je m'appelle means “I am called…” in French.

Today‘s entry is “Football Galore” in Paris series.

In the last entry, we showed you the photo of us two in front of the Eiffel Tower,

Actually, we took some video clips as well.

The first shot of “Football Galore” series is [lifting in front of the world famous Tower], The Eiffel Tower. 

By the way, we used the software called "VAIO Movie Story" from Sony for editing for your information.

And the second shot of “Football Galore” series is a live experience of watching the French A league, "Nancy vs. Paris Saint-Germain". 

We arrived at “Parc de France”, the home ground of the Paris SG around 6pm just one hour before kickoff.

the stadium was not even half full

"Unlike Germany and Spain, maybe soccer is not so popular here... It wasn’t crazy on the way to the stadium at all.” 

Is it? Wrong! 

Just before kickoff, the stadium has become packed with mostly Paris SG fans, except for some standing area which was closed.

I wasn’t sure what it was for, maybe a message for peace and hope or something? Lots of balloons were being handed out around the stadium.

What about Flu epidemic? The Balloons full of people’s spit were floating and bursting around like crazy.

I wonder if “ Mesdames et Messieurs” don’t care about it.

Then kick off. Just minutes ago we were wishing for peace and cheering up for both teams with balloons, now came the fire and smoke (like a warning flare) from the distant second floor.

Peace and hope has been burned to the ground without mercy w

Well, for the game, Nancy opened with the first goal shortly after kick-off. 


Paris SG however was pushing harder and they equalized in about 10 minutes after Nancy got the goal.

Unfortunately, Paris SG slowly started to lose the winning atmosphere. In the second half, the situation got even worse, the game finished with 1-1 draw after all. It was a frustrated game for Paris SG as a home team.

Somehow, despite this is the top A-leagues in Europe, I don’t think those teams much different to J-league team (Japanese league) in terms of their level of play as they are not real top teams in the league.

The individual skills and physical strength of French-African players are superb and very impressive, but for me it is far more interesting to watch the top J-league teams from perspective of their qualities and goal orientation as a team.

※Personally, I like watching St.Florence Hiroshima’s play. I just watched it on the TV before left Japan, it was excellent.

And to conclude our series of”Football Galore” we tried to move in the opposite direction from the stadium to the City after the match.

“Apparently it’s a cultural day today and there are lots of events in different spots across the city overnight. Why don’t you go to STALINGRAD station you can see the football event.”

A friend of us living in Paris recommended us, so we went there immediately.

Hey, some kind of grass football or what?

We couldn’t believe our eyes as it was a shocking ground!

Uneven surface ground, but with natural grass.

It was a 5-sided mini game, with soft rubber kind ball.
Of course, we jumped in and played the game!!

Instant, mixed team of 5, two French girls, PITO and us two.

Up against the local powerful kids team. 

lack of decisiveness, as a national team, was the problem and we lost the game, so this time we needed to recover our honor. 


 Here, Yomoken’s repeated hat-trick goals from the behind led the team to the victory of 3-2!

Some winning points were that flying high GK Assissi prevented about 5 points, and I, Yomoken was heading off the ball from 2.5m high by jumped up from the top of the hump, which was perfectly offensive-like attack against kids.

Throw-in if ball gone over the sideline

No French cuisine, no arts, we just enjoyed too much football here in Paris.

Now we are off to "Arch of Triumph prize" horse racing, in order to do something about our hardship as our financial situation is suffering in result of inflation and higher living cost in Europe

With a Trifecta, I sincerely wish to change our travel plan to the luxury five-star hotel style.