Can't Stop 13: Zurich

Stop 12: Vila-real, Sept 08: Villareal FC 1, Celtic FC 0

A shot I loved from Valencia

Stop 11: Valencia, Sept 08

I spent two days in Valencia. It has beautiful beaches and a lot of character. Unfortunately, much of the city is marred by wide swaths of concrete (which, I am increasingly convinced, is the ugliest substance known to man. I also understand that it is hugely environmentally unfriendly, requiring massive energy expenditure to create and heavily impacting the areas to which it is applied. Hell, most urban floods are caused by the fact that impermeable concrete prevents the normal absorption and diversion of water! I say we get rid of the junk entirely). Kudos are due to Valencia for attempting to keep its historical character in the old city by, among other things, retaining the original facades where new construction is necessary.

Stop 10: Barcelona, Sept 08

I spent only one night in Barcelona, en route to Villareal to catch their local side's Champions' League match vs. Celtic. Barcelona was, in parts, very pretty and interesting. I want to spend more time there. My one criticism -- which applies to each city I visited in Spain -- is that the metal storm grating with which Spanish people cover their storefronts at night makes any area look like a threatening ghetto. Is the minimal added security really worth destroying the character of an area??

The above shot shows the hostel room in which I slept. The tiered apartment compex behind it is typical for at least this area of Spain (with perhaps a little less laundry hanging outside than is usual!).

Stop 9: Zurich, Sept 08

Hey, I know the coach! This is a shot from halftime at the women's match between FIFA employees and UEFA employees (FIFA won in a high-scoring affair).

Stop 8: Berlin, Sept 08

I spent only one night in Berlin after driving in with friends in the late afternoon. I was not impressed with this bleak concrete city. There must be beauty in Berlin; I'd like to go back some day and find it. For now, the most appealing vista I found was this (faux?) castle which was blemished, like the rest of the city, with the detritus of our capitalist age.