Buds and mates

Here is a photo of Will and his mates at the Manchester United Soccer Camp from the summer of 2009.

Will is on the left on the bottom row. Along with Will is Ignacio, next to Will, Pedro, the second to the far right , bottom row, and Jordan, in the middle on the top row.

For more information on the residential courses in Manchester, click here.

sports bars

In Manchester the football club is Manchester United.

The drink is a pint of your favorite ale; the food, well, it is heavy and unappetizing. But, the fans come for the football and the ale anyway. Hey, maybe, it is an upset stomach from that spicy food that causes the English football fans to become so unruly.

"Manu," as the team is more familiarly known, is Will's favorite team. In England a great way to start a conversation is to wear a football jersey. You will get a response either way. Loyalties are intense and local.

final thoughts

We are staying at the Marriott near the Manchester Airport.

The nearest town is Hale. Lots of ManU footballers live here. Had dinner at a Thai restaurant in Hale, the Tamarind Duck for me, Pad Thai for Will. Both were delicious. The Thai food here is crispier than the States.



Football camp round-up was at the Old Trafford. The kids loved it, the parents enjoyed the ceremony.

It is back to the real world.

futbol

Nothing makes Will so happy as a soccer game. In Valencia and in Barcelona, Will was able to get into some street soccer games. There is no language barrier where there is a soccer ball.

His second biggest thrill was a visit to the Real Madrid soccer stadium and then the one in Barcelona.

The TV is 24 - 7 soccer, so Will is in soccer heaven.

casa botin madrid

Just off the Plaza Major in Madrid is the Casa Botin, the world's oldest continuously running restraurant since 1725. Will's dinner was the salad Botin and roasted baby lamb. Art had the gazpacho soup and roast suckling pig. The serve sangria, but I think that this drink is better left for the Catalan coast.


The gazpacho soup is an Andalusian specialty, cold and made from tomatoes, celery, and onion.





Poor pigs and lambs. They end up on a plate just after being born.

training on the eifel tower

The Eiffel Tower is Paris' most recognized tourist destination. For Will it is also a way to train as he races up the stairs to the second floor high above the streets of Paris.

No sweat.

No pain, no gain.

Just do it.

Hey, Real Madrid just paid 110 million Euros for Christian Renaldo. Not bad.

Soccer camps in Italy

My son Will, age 15, is looking for a soccer camp near Florence. He does not speak Italian. Can you help?

Mio figlio, 15 anni, e io sarò il vacationining vicino a Firenze. Si è interessato in un campo estivo di calcio giovanile per un week. He non parla italiano. Potete aiutarmi?

Let's try this link to Empoli F.C.

will's soccer camp in italy

When in Florence (Firenze) Will hopes to play soccer with a local club. Click here for information on what is available.

palyin soccer with the italians

When i reach Italy mid way in my eupopean trip with my father, I hope to develop my futbol game to a new level, i want to play as the italians do with finese and purpose, something the American style of play lacks. I will be attending a futbol camp in florence and hope to lean new skillz but also meet new players my own age to learn what its like to live in Italy. Once ive obtained general knoledge and skill in the Italian style, I will head to england for another camp. In England i hope to obtain the englands physical playing style, and intense focus on operating as a whole, not individual players. Then when I return to Wichita Kansas iw ill Hopefully beable to train hard and reach my goal of making Starting varsity at my local high school.

Will

Luke 12:48 “To whom much is given much is expected”.

Okay, so Will, my son who is 15 years old, gets to go to Europe. There we will tour France, Spain, Italy and England. It is an ambitious itinerary and I am sure that we will at times be traveling at break-neck speed to see it all. Even then, like at the dinner table, you have to push yourself away from the feast with your arms and say,"Enough!"

I ask a lot from my son, but I also ask that he enjoy life for it passes by all too quickly.

Will, I would like it if you would blog daily on your trip, so that you can learn the discipline and joy of writing. Hey, this is probably how Anthony Bourdain started out.