Everywhere

The temperature is rising, in more ways than one. On the thermometer and among the expedition members. It’s a question of luck and this is starting to be perceived everywhere, as there’s little that can be done facing the match. All the training is already on the hard disk and now what appears is the tension and concentration, each one in proportion and all the stimuli coming from the exterior, as if those coming from inside were few and far between, doesn’t feel like pressure in any way.

As proof of this the deluge of e-mails which, besides those written by the expedition, are received at the hotel. From Urretxindorra ikastola (school), who apart from sending complements to the blonde in fashion, Irati, Maddalen and Maider wrote collectively: “… zuek animatzeko idazten dizuegu gutun hau, jarraitu horrela eta denon artean lortuko dugu. Agur bero bat. 4.A ikasleak/ we have written this letter to cheer you on, keep it up and together we’ll win “. Beloki, in a coastal setting sends a photo of his dog Frida wearing the red-white colours, but also a request that those is charge at the hotel comply with, take good care of the players. José encloses a video for Caparros, the famous Llorente-Gibson one. A member of Barça TV tells us he thinks we’ll win (we prefer to believe it), a paper takes a fan photo of the coach’s son without him realising it and on the road to Valencia is Zorriketa by bicycle, what a coincidence, others in limousines or isocarro (old motorbike) while some agencies had to hire coaches from Iparralde .

A never-ending list which brings us back to the bird-related idiom of having goose pimples and along with all we have experienced in this Copa brings about a feeling of wanting to prepare, our hair, the list of rules to be followed by patrons of the boats which must follow the gabarra… if it weren’t for this being the name of the game. All of a sudden it’s Copa day, which we want it to become our day.