Stare Jablonki, Poland

Woke up at 4 am, for a 6:45 am flight, 2 hour plane ride to Zurich, then another 2 hour plane ride to Warsaw, then a 4 hour shuttle bus ride to Stare Jablonki, and here we are! Made it safe!....and we are in the middle of nowhere! Lots of pastures and fields...peaceful.....but you would never think to hold an FIVB event here.
...............can't believe I'm in Poland

Sagrada Familia

Today we went to go check out The Sagrada Familia.. This is a BIG MASSIVE church that has been in construction for the past 80 years, and it's the work of the artist Antoni Gaudi. This cathedral is spectacular! It's so huge that you really could not fit it in one picture, I tried to take some shots, but i just couldn't take any good ones. It was too huge! with lots of detail. Apparently, this is one of the biggest tourist attractions here, and i can see why. But this artist Antoni Gaudi has many famous structures here in Barcelona, and they are all wierd, goddy, yet gothic looking...if you can imagine that.
Anyway, that was the highlight of our day, by the time we got done with that we were tired, and just headed back to the room.....where I am right now.
Headed to Stare Joblonki, Poland tomorrow morning for the next tourney........yes, I am going to Poland.

Second Day

Well........tough match today....tough draw. Lost in two, can't say that it was pretty. Bodies need to do some recovering, and minds need some clearing. We both got massages....did a little site seeing, and now we are pretty much spent. I guess 12 games in 3 days will do that to ya'.

Main Draw day

Well we won our first match against a German team, they were #5 seed, and we won in three....HUGE win for us! Then we played a Brazilian team, and lost in two....we got a new day tomorrow!

Barcelona

We made it in the main draw!! Our first round we played an Australian team, won in three. Second round we played a Canadian team and won in two. We play tomorrow at 11:00am against a German team. Keep your fingers crossed!
On another note, the venue and Barcelona is a pretty beautiful city. The venue is front of a humongous museum that looks like a big Cathedral. Couldn't take enough pictures!

Barcelona, Spain

Made it to Barcelona! Don't exactly know what time zone we are in right now, but it definitely feels good to be lying in a bed! Our original flight from LA was suppose to leave at 4:15pm on Saturday, we get to the airport and it says that we are delayed till 8 pm.....waiting in line to check in and then on the screen it says that the flight has been canceled...About 2 hours of waiting in line to check in, we finally get to the counter and they book us on a different airline going through London, and then to Barcelona. Which was fine because it got us into Barcelona a little earlier. But 10 hour flight to London, and 2 hour flight here to Barcelona, not much sleep on the first leg of the flight, and feeling pretty funny right now. Hopefully I will be able to get to sleep and start a day tomorrow, cuz we got some business to take care of!

Osaka airport

Took a 13th! We won our first match today against Austria and lost our second match against Germany. Good tourney for us though. Thanks for bringing in all the good luck. You guys rock!.....So right now, we are in the Osaka airport, waiting to get on a flight to Honolulu, then to LA!!! We get into LA at about 9:30pm and leave the next day at 4:15pm. Hey, I will take that! Won't be till about 2 months till we get to come back home, so that little bit definitely helps. Can't wait to sleep in my own bed and cuddle, even if it is for just one night:)

keep bringing it

Alright guys...mojo, taylorsville air, whatever it is, it's working. We won our second match and we continue to play tomorrow! Keep it comin'.

good job guys

Thanks for the good mojo guys! We are in, got China first round.....so feel free to bring in more :)

qualifier

okay so just got back from our meeting, and we play a Japan team the first round. WHEN we win that game we play a Spain team. We've played this Spain team before in Finland, and lost to them to get in the main draw. Bring in the good mojo people......

Osaka

Made it safely here to Osaka. Got here yesterday afternoon. Today we we practiced, and then attempted to watch a professional baseball game- The Hanshin Tigers. Got to the stadium and the tickets were all sold out! Big Bummer! It would have been so awesome to see one of those. We even tried to finagle our way in by talking to a PR, saying that we are here for the FIVB Beach Tournament, and if maybe we could watch the game- denied. eh, it was fun to try and walk around. Now back in our hotel, watching "the office", getting ready to go to sleep.

To Japan

Our last night in Korea, we ventured off in the subway, and found the Hard Rock Cafe. Ate some good burgers and fries, lots of military around.....almost felt like I was back in Waikiki :) We are headed off to Osaka, Japan tomorrow...last Asian stop of the tour.

results

well what can i say, we lost our two matches. First match went two games, and our second game was against Germany, went 3 and lost. We definitely know that we can beat these teams, and know that we can compete in the main draw. Learning from every experience and game and making ourselves better!

main draw

Finally got in! Our first match was a forfeit, ( hey we'll take it ), then we played Japan the next round. Just to let you know, this was our third time playing them, and the last two we lost. So "third times a charm" right? we play tomorrow at noon here, against Ana Paula/Shelda, who are a brazilian team, which means, yeah, they are pretty good. BRING IT!!!!

Today

We play Norway first round, and WHEN we win that game we play Japan. Our game starts at 1pm which is 9pm for all you Californians.
On another note almost lost my passport yesterday. Left it in the taxi on our way to the hotel. Taxi driver took off and realized i was missing a bag. About 2 hours later, he came back and returned it. Somebody up there is really looking out for me :)

Korea

Meeting tonight on who we play tomorrow.

Seoul, Korea

Made it into Korea yesterday morning at 6am, couldn't check into the till 2pm. Found a Mcdonald's to eat a little breaky, and went back to the hotel and found a nice little lounge area to sleep and watch 2 episodes of 24. Finally checked in the room, and got a good nap in. Ate some good Korean food for dinner, and watched two more episodes of 24, and crashed till about 10:30am this morning! Crazy!!!
On another note, it is Mother's Day in the states, so HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the mom's i know!!!

Mi Familia

Day 4

So since we've been here, we've gone to Green hills everyday, for either shopping or simply to eat. We've had practice Monday morning, Tuesday and today, taking tomorrow off and going Friday and Saturday, leave 1 am on Saturday....so technically EARLY Sunday morning. We are practicing at La Salle University in Green Hills, great facility, and nice a nice looking school. Staying with Tony's family, and they have been absolutely wonderful! Great to stay in a house than a hotel. We've started 24, watched about 4 episodes last night, and continuing today. 3 more days here, and off to Korea.

Manila

We are in Manila now....got here yesterday morning and we are here till the 11th. Last night, we went to Greenhills Mall, walked around and checked out all the cheap shopping.....fake bags, watches, clothes, SO CHEAP! Then we went to eat at CPK. Yummy........ Bought a bunch of cheap DVD's back in Shanghai, and watched about 4 movies yesterday. 27 Dresses, Year of the Dog, Rendition, and Step Up 2! We got about 20 more DVD's to go. ( Hee hee) oh by the way.....Step Up 2 is AWESOME!!!!........"apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur....."

taxi ride to Macdonna