Catalans 2012 - It was a RIOT !

When the RFL published the fixtures the 1st game I looked for was Catalans away, A break, A nice relaxing break in the sun with a game thrown in. How wrong was I ?? Reality was it was a nightmare from start to finish, A really good nightmare that I will never forget and cant wait to do it all again next year. I dont want to bore you with my "Holiday snaps and tales" but I think our trip from start to finish is really something to write (read blog) about. Me and Grandad Nip booked on with the infamous Murphy Tours and if anyone deserved a medal for going above and beyond their call of duty, Murph does, Booked 9 men on 3 different flights in the end, 3 different hotels and numerous frog buses. We ended up flying into Girona and spending a night in Barcelona. Realizing closer to the date that there was a general strike in Barcelona we had further doubts of being able to land, No biggy as sports photography from the air is something Id like to try. Anyway, We took off and more importantly landed fine, No issues at all and even the Barcelona buses were running. After a slight incident of skips and tyres creating a road block on the way into Barca we didnt really think too much off it. We dumped our bags and headed out into the City center. 1st impressions of Barcelona wasnt great, Rubbish everywhere but soon understood that the general strike clearly had a part to play. Upon wandering down "La Ramblas" we soon found ourselves to be the attention of the local "heavys", Obviously spotting the pale skinned, poor short wearing tourists with pockets full of Euros it seemed they fancied some rich pickings. Anyway, Doing what English lads do the best we stayed in the beer garden for few pints whilst they sat watching (Probably who held the beer kitty, Needless to say none of us were keen to be banker) but they soon got bored and obviously wandered off to find other suspect tourists. With out wits about us we headed down to the marina and its a different world entirely from just 100 yards back. Fantastic place with plenty of cafe bars, restaurants and street acts, My impressions of Barca changed again, Back to it being a decent city afterall....

After a wander around the beach for few hours watching the entertainment we headed back, Plan was a quick shower and back out for the nightlife. We managed to squeeze on the underground, More of a "chaaaaaarge" to be honest but we WAS getting on it. It was heaving with the locals finishing work and the limited schedule due to the strikes. When we got off a few stops down we found ourselves in the middle of a protest, All very peaceful and in parts quite good fun to be part of. Although the heavy police presence we was sure that was more of a precaution. We casually wandered with them for few hundred yards, All on route to our hotel.

Just after the main square in Barcelona, probably 100 yards from our hotel we walked around the corner quite literally into the start of the protest turned riot, Young people with half covered faces waving lump hammers, were slowly being rounded up by the police with rubber bullets galore. The deafening sounds of smashing glass, loud cheers and jeers and police sirens with gun fire was, shall I say, A little scary. It was amazing to see (I'm not saying good) but scary to know we shouldn't have been there, We were in the middle of something we knew nothing about, We didn't really know what the strikes were about. All we did know is we had to stick together, Look out for each other and try to keep safe. Now by stroke of luck you may say we found an Irish bar where we took temporary cover until the riots moved down out of our way so we could tag on behind them and go our hotel. God knows what happened to the crowds and rioters as it seemed to back track on us and kick off less than 50 yards away. The landlord locked us in his pub behind shutters for our own safety and there was no way out, Even if we wanted too, He wouldn't let us. In the pub was maybe another 10 people, All not phased one bit, Group playing darts, 1 man reading his book. So what can you do when your abroad locked in an Irish bar? Thats right, Drink bottles at 1 euro a go and have Poulet curry. In between drinks we had a nosey at the shutters, Rioters arrested and even shot right outside. The Starbucks just 50 yards away burnt out entirely and front page news next day shown just how close to the action we was.....

After performing terribly at darts I noticed more people coming into the pub for the karaoke night. We soon was told doors were open and all outside seemed quiet, So after 21 hours since leaving the house, Few of us (Older ones) headed back to the hotel, The place was like a war zone, Still plenty of police and mess and debris everywhere, Smell of burnt out buildings and shop windows smashed and looted guess what, My impressions of Barca changed again, The place was a dump!

Below is one of the remains of a rubber bullet, From what I've read these are covered with rubber coating and fired but "must" be bounced and not shot directly, Personally in that situation I wouldn't trust the marksmans aim. All I do know is I wouldn't want one fired at me!

After a decent nights sleep we only had few hours in the morning before we was out of Barcelona so decided to head up to the Olympic Stadium. Right on the top of Barcelona with it looking down over the city it was a fantastic place, My 1st real memories of the Olympics was the `92 series and to be there was awesome. A quick photo op and we were off, Tabbing with Sgt Eddie to make it back to collect our stuff and onto a 3 hour coach ride past the Pyrenees to Perpignan.

So after arriving in Southern France late on we went to be fed and quiet night watching the Saints v Wa... Warrr....No I cant say it! Our 1st night in Perpignan was such contrast to our previous nights adventures, More so the fact the 1 Euro bottle had finished and were now paying 6 !!! Joking aside Perpignan is a beautiful place and somewhere I could happily live as its so relaxed. I mean I couldn't imagine them protesting over anything, Just doesn't seem there thing.....Oh wait, Wrong, The next day we were again caught up in TWO demonstrations/Protests. The 1st one was an anti racism march through the little town, Very very pleasant walk with some really quirky songs (The NW Singing corner could learn from them). Once again, Nothing better to do when abroad than join in, So off we were again protesting.......

The 2nd protest of the day was fantastic, I believe it was to do with the Catalan region wanting to become independent and having their own language etc (?). They were very passionate and dramatic and such a fun thing to be part of. It was a true carnival atmosphere with plenty of sights. There was giant statues, Absailers of the Castillet, Fireworks and fancy dress. Add all that with the Catalans Dragons fans with their friendly banter and the Vikings invading their town in numbers and the 30oC weather the afternoon was awesome experience to be part of, I don't think the RFL could have given us a better weekend for it to fall on...

Having peeled ourselves away from the festivities to go the game, Up to Stade Gilbert Brutus we headed. The Rugby awaited, The thing we had all really come for awaited. Well after the weekend we just had the rugby had to be momentous to live upto everything else we went through. Momentous it was, Our biggest ever defeat in the history of the club, Just like the "I was there at Old Trafford" and "I was there at Canal St" this is another big event "I was there" for. Did it spoil my "relaxing" break? NO, Would I do it all again? YES. I just cant see any future trips topping this one though...Great weekend with some great people!

Again, As I always ask, Please leave your comments and please leave your name. You all cant be called anonymous in Widnes !  Merci !