San Sebastian, Spain

After a 2.5 hour plane ride on Vueling airlines from Amsterdam to Madrid...then a 4 hour layover in Madrid...then a 5.5 hour bus ride to San Sebastian/Donostia...we made it....This Spanish town is located on the northern coast of Spain, just kiddy corner to France. It is considered Basque country, and they speak both Spanish and Basque. It is amazing how little Spanish I know, but how far it can get you in Spain. So, after arriving via Continental Bus Line in San Sebastian, we hoofed it to our hostel (approx 2 km) away to Hospedaje Kati.....
The hostel was on the 5th floor of an old building. Very quaint and very cheap for a night's stay. We are going cheap from here on out. This morning we woke and taxi's it to Hotel Palacio de Aiete. This is the Main Draw hotel for the Satelite event we are here for. We are seeded 6 out of 16 teams, so we pray for the best and go out and play hard. Adios.

Heineken experience

Visited the Heineken brewery while in Amsterdam with our good Kiwi friend, Nikki. It was a blast. Very informative.....check out our video while on the tour of the brewery.
http://bluescreen.bitmove.tv/bitmove/cgi/receive.jsp?uid=FABD76BE49E6AF0BC438AC2625021B99&format=wmv

Amsterdamn'd

So we experienced the nightlife in Amsterdam. Wow....quite an eye opener. First, we did not leave the house until midnight (so tired.....) and then we made it back by 3:30 am. Guess it was not too late, but nonetheless, a unique experience.

Short trip in Paris

Paris was great, expensive but great. Beautiful weather and wonderful sights.....but we spent only 3.5 days there..........here it is

The Dutchie's in Holland

Well, we managed to take a 4 hours train from Paris to Amsterdam. Arriving with no idea which direction our friends lived, we gave the address to the taxi and 35 Euros later, we were there......Marlooes and Marleen are 2 great volleyball players we met last year in the Korea Exhibition event. We have kept in touch ever since for occasions like this.....THIS, meaning, down time in Europe and training needed! They welcomed us and it has been a cozy little place ever since.
We spent all yesterday training in the am and touring in the pm.....it was Steve's 29th birthday, so we dropped off in a little Italian restaurant to celebrate. Good times. We managed to spend at least 1.5 hours out of the pouring rain. Yes, it is pouring here, but thankfully, warm. Amsterdam is great. Cheers!

Chillin'

So we have now been in Portugal for 10 days. 5 of them pouring rain.....today being one of them. We spend hours upon hours sitting 'round hotel rooms on our computers because it's our connection to the world. Just to give you a run down of the typical "day with no play" in the world of a beach volleyball player.....so, Amanda is sitting next to me learning to crochet( I attempted to teach her), Jay is on his computer in the green chair over yonder, Heidi is talking to Steve (on her computer-he is in Paris), Wes and Alli (husband and wife-she came to visit for the week) are updating his newsletter for the fans back home in Canada......Besides Heidi and I it is an all Canadian room. Amanda, Heidi, and I joined the room to save money........Not uncommon for 8 people to share a room.....Qualifier Teams is what they call us......Actually, Canada also has to play a country quota match. Tangent-Short explanantion: Each country is allowed 4 teams that can play Qualifier or Main Draw. Canada has 7 teams that compete on the World Tour, therefore, there is always a couple country quota matches to knock out the bottom 3 teams so only 4 teams go on......did you get all that......In addition, qualifier teams get nothing paid for if they do NOT qualify. So, we all try to save mula....okay...see the pic of the rainy day........

Heidi and Diane.....

Team Philippines!!!

Climbing the Ladder

So, we played Tuesday against Portugal and Japan. First match of the day, 9 am, ct 5. Portugal match was solid. We played well and had the opportunity to feel the sand and enjoy the morning sun. We won in 2 sets.
Next match at 12pm, center court, rematch with Japan.......Tanaka and Koizumi. We played them in Korea and lost in 2 sets. We started off serving the right side player this time and thought we would take a different anlge of attack. It started off great. We were playing consistent all the way through. We had the 11-10 lead at the technical time-out and kept the lead until the 18-17 switch, Japan's up. Japan took point 19 as well. so.....it was a time-out for us. Coming out of the time-out we were on the GOOD side. I am serving, Heidi's up......we dig and transition for 18-19..still down by 1. Next serve, Heidi puts up a HUGE block.....19-19......we proceed to keep using the GOOD side. Finishing the set 21-19, we won......
Now, game 2. Not a great start......we played decent but not great. No details, but they win game 2 21-15.
So, game 3 starts... we are the BAD wind side and start out 0-2. Not going to elaborate, but I stunk it up......could not hit around the 5'7" blocker. We lose 15-9 (or something like that). The Japanese team goes on to qualify and now are ready to take at least a 17th place finish.
Weather is TERRIBLE......rain all day and heavy wind..........
Well, 4 more days here and going to have to find some time to train and make sure we qualify in the Montreal event.
Again, we will be seeded in the bottom half and have to knock off a top seed, which I KNOW we can do..................

Espinho

Pronounced Eshpee-No. A little town on the coast of Portugal. This is where we play our 3rd event of the season. Long story short.....we skipped Poland because we did not register in time.....so we then went home. Home to LA for a week to practice and refresh.
But, now we have been in Espinho for 3 days. It is your typical European little town on the coastline. Small cars, cute old buildings, quiet, and very busy at night. Heidi and I are staying at Hotel Solverde. It is super nice and has just about anything you may need on a vacation. So, we have taken full advantage of the pools, volleyball court, sauna, steam bath, lavendar mist shower, workout facility, continental breakfast, wireless in our rooms, and the best one.....free bikes for use while staying here. The bikes have been the greatest ammenity (?) we have discovered. Before we found them, we had been walking to town....and that's about 25 minutes away. Good exercises, tired legs........

Weather has been beautiful, we have been hanging with the Kiwis a bit and met some Canadian players. All in all, I am pumped to play Tuesday. Venue is great, body feels good, beds are comfy, and we are acclimated (I think).